Mehmet Topal

Mehmet Topal (born 3 March 1986) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. as a defensive midfielder. He was nicknamed Örümcek (Spider), due to his ability to use his long legs to win loose balls or cut passes.[1][2]

Mehmet Topal
Topal with Turkey in 2016
Personal information
Full name Mehmet Topal
Date of birth (1986-03-03) 3 March 1986
Place of birth Malatya, Turkey
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 İstanbul Başakşehir
Number 5
Youth career
1999–2002 Malatyaspor
2002–2004 Dardanelspor
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Dardanelspor 42 (4)
2006–2010 Galatasaray 82 (2)
2010–2012 Valencia 43 (1)
2012–2019 Fenerbahçe 206 (16)
2019– İstanbul Başakşehir 39 (2)
National team‡
2006–2007 Turkey U21 13 (1)
2008–2018 Turkey 81 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 November 2018

He spent most of his career with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, winning five major trophies both clubs combined. He also had a two-year spell in La Liga, with Valencia.

A Turkish international since 2008, Topal represented the nation in two European Championships.

Club career

Early years

Born in Malatya, Topal started his football career at local Malatya B.S. at the age of 13. He made his senior debuts with lowly Dardanel Spor A.Ş. in the third division.

In September 2006, Topal joined Süper Lig powerhouse Galatasaray SK, moving to the club alongside Japanese Junichi Inamoto.

Galatasaray

Topal appeared in only 11 games in his first season in Istanbul. However, due to an injury to Swedish international Tobias Linderoth, he was handed his chance in the starting XI, later commenting on his teammate: "He helped me a lot, told me about the areas I should improve and how to do so. Sadly, I got my chance through his injury but I want him to recover in the shortest time possible."[3]

In April 2008, Topal extended his contract with Gala for five years, having played 26 matches during the campaign to help the team win the national championship and also reaching the Turkish national team in that timeframe. In the 2008 summer transfer window, there were rumours surrounding a move to Everton in the Premier League, with David Moyes apparently keen to bring the player to Goodison Park.[4][5][6]

Topal eventually stayed put, appearing in an average of 22 games in the following seasons but also having to deal with injury early into 2009–10.

Valencia

Topal signed for Valencia CF on 12 May 2010, for a fee believed to be in the region of €5.5 million.[7] On 14 September, he made he first UEFA Champions League appearance with his new club, playing the full 90 minutes against Turkish side Bursaspor in a 4–0 group stage win.[8]

Topal scored his first goal with the Che at Sporting de Gijón, on 25 September 2010 (2–0).[9] In the UEFA Europa League, he netted the game's only goal away against Stoke City on 17 February 2012 in the round of 32 to take his side through 2–0 on aggregate; the 30-yard strike was widely regarded as one of the best goals of that tournament.[10] He contributed with six games to help his team reach the semifinals of the latter competition, but overall played second-fiddle to legendary David Albelda during his stint even though the former was ostracized by manager Unai Emery for a period of time.[11][12]

Fenerbahçe
Topal with Fenerbahçe in 2016

On 1 July 2012, Topal moved to Fenerbahçe SK for a reported fee of €4.5 million. He signed a four-year contract with a €2 million annually salary, plus bonuses.[13][14][15] He contributed with 27 games and three goals in his second season, as the club won the national championship after a three-year wait.

On 11 August 2015, whilst he drove home after training accompanied by youth player Uygar Mert, Topal's car was shot at by unknown men.[16][17] He appeared in 11 games in the Europa League round-of-16 run and, precisely in that stage, against S.C. Braga, he scored the only goal in the first leg at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium;[18] in the second match, he was sent off for two bookable offenses – the second of which resulted in a penalty – as his team had a further two players ejected in an eventual 4–2 aggregate loss.[19]

On 26 June 2019, the 33-year-old Topal left by mutual consent.[20][21]

Istanbul Başakşehir

On 26 August 2019, Topal joined İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. on a two-year deal, the latter one being optional.[22] After conquering the domestic league at the end of the campaign, he became the first footballer to achieve the feat with three teams.[23]

International career

Topal earned his first cap for Turkey on 6 February 2008, coming on for Emre Belözoğlu in the 78th minute of a 0–0 friendly home draw with Sweden. Shortly after, he was selected by manager Fatih Terim for his UEFA Euro 2008 squad,[24] playing all the games in Austria and Switzerland but one for the eventual semi-finalists.

On 22 May 2016, Topal captained the nation for the first time, in their 1–2 friendly loss to England at the City of Manchester Stadium.[25] A week later, he scored his first international goal on his 58th cap, the only one of a last-minute victory over Montenegro in Antalya.[26] Picked for Euro 2016,[27] he started in all the matches, featuring as a central defender in a 0–3 group stage defeat against Spain.[28]

Career statistics

Club
As of 19 June 2020[29][30]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Europe Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dardanelspor 2004–05 TFF First League 91——91
2005–06 30310—313
Total 39410—404
Galatasaray 2006–07 Süper Lig 1102040170
2007–08 2618150392
2008–09 2115060321
2009–10 2404081361
Total 8221912311244
Valencia 2010–11 La Liga 2311050291
2011–12 2001092302
Total 43120142593
Fenerbahçe 2012–13 Süper Lig 27381160514
2013–14 2731030313
2014–15 33282—414
2015–16 33170132533
2016–17 29450110454
2017–18 2928140413
2018–19 2812161363
Total 2061639553329824
İstanbul Başakşehir 2019–20 Süper Lig 1900060250
Career total 3992361696654635
  1. Includes Turkish Super Cup

International
Topal (left) alongside Ahmet Yılmaz Çalık
As of 20 November 2018[31]
Turkey
YearAppsGoals
2008110
200920
201030
201160
2012100
201380
201460
201580
2016131
201760
201881
Total812

International goals
As of 23 March 2018 (Turkey score listed first, score column indicates score after each Topal goal)[31]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 May 2016Antalya Arena, Antalya, Turkey58 Montenegro1–01–0Friendly
2 23 March 201874 Republic of Ireland1–01–0

Honours

Galatasaray

Fenerbahçe

İstanbul Başakşehir

Turkey

References
  1. Summerscales, Robert (20 April 2016). "Mehmet Topal to Tottenham on free transfer agreed in principle". Caught Offside. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. Sarigul, Emre (7 June 2016). "Shot at twice and still thriving: Mehmet 'The Spider' Topal is Turkey's rock". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. "Mehmet Topal GS TV'ye Konuştu" [Mehmet Topal GS TV chat] (in Turkish). Galatasaray SK. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. Hunter, Andy (29 August 2008). "Everton line up Topal as fall-back if Sporting rebuff Moutinho bid". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  5. "Everton may go for Turkey star Mehmet Topal". Liverpool Echo. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  6. "Everton FC are priced out of Mehmet Topal deal". Liverpool Daily Post. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  7. "Topal se suma al Valencia de Champions" [Topal added to Champions' Valencia]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 13 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  8. Pardo Latre, Clara (14 September 2010). "El Valencia sale líder del infierno turco" [Valencia emerge leader from Turkish hell]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  9. Malagón, Manuel (25 September 2010). "El Valencia se gusta" [Valencia enjoying themselves]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. "Potters undone at home". ESPN Soccernet. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. Calero, Toni (12 April 2012). "Topal: "Albelda es nuestro primer capitán, un jugador muy importante"" [Topal: "Albelda is our first captain, a very important player"]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  12. Ros, Cayetano (20 April 2012). "Emery entona el adiós" [Emery rehearses goodbye]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  13. "Topal signs four-year contract with Fenerbahçe". Hürriyet Daily News. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  14. "Mehmet Topal Fenerbahçe'de" [Mehmet Topal to Fenerbahçe] (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe SK. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  15. "Fenerbahce swoop for Valencia's Topal". ESPN Star Sports. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  16. Sarigul, Emre (11 August 2015). "Fenerbahce confirm Mehmet Topal's car was shot at in attack after training". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  17. "Fenerbahce midfielder Mehmet Topal's car shot at after training". ESPN FC. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  18. "Mehmet Topal gives Fenerbahçe edge over Braga". UEFA. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  19. "Braga put an end to Fenerbahçe hopes". UEFA. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  20. "Mehmet Topal'la yollar ayrıldı" [Mehmet Topal leaves organisation] (in Turkish). NTV Spor. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  21. "Mehmet Topal'a Teşekkürlerimizle" [Thanks and all the best for Mehmet Topal] (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe S.K. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  22. "Mehmet Topal, Medipol Başakşehir'de" [Mehmet Topal, to Medipol Başakşehir] (in Turkish). NTV Spor. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  23. Enes Calli, Muhammed (20 July 2020). "Basaksehir become 6th club to lift Turkish league title". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  24. "UEFA EURO 2008™ squad lists announced" (PDF). UEFA. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  25. Taylor, Daniel (22 May 2016). "Jamie Vardy pounces to give England win against Turkey in friendly". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  26. "International friendlies: Slovakia shock Germany, Spain stroll past Bosnia". Sport 360. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  27. "Barcelona's Arda Turan leads Turkey Euro 2016 squad". ESPN FC. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  28. "Spain cruise past Turkey to advance to knockout stage". ESPN FC. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  29. "Mehmet Topal" (in Turkish). Mackolik. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  30. "M. Topal". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  31. "Mehmet Topal". European Football. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  32. "M. Topal – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  33. "Başakşehir wins Süper Lig title for 1st time". Daily Sabah. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  34. "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  35. "Germany 3–2 Turkey". UEFA. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  36. "UEFA EURO 2008™ squad lists announced" (PDF). UEFA. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
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