08.11.2026 15:21
21-year-old goalkeeper Serhat Öztaşdelen, the first footballer from Kocaelispor to be called up to the senior national team after 18 years, will end the green-and-blacks' 25-year wait for a national match appearance if he plays.
Kocaelispor's young goalkeeper Serhat Öztaşdelen has become the first player from the green-and-black club to be called up to the Turkish National Football Team after 18 years.
SENT A PLAYER TO THE SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM AFTER 18 YEARS
After Serdar Kulbilge, the Körfez team's last goalkeeper to be called up to the national team in 2008, another goalkeeper has been called up to the Senior National Team. 21-year-old Serhat Öztaşdelen, who is among the goalkeepers in the provisional squad announced by Turkish National Football Team Technical Director Sergen Yalçın for the matches against Belgium and France, has passed an important milestone in his career. The fact that a goalkeeper has been called up to the national team again 18 years after Serdar Kulbilge brought pride and joy to the Kocaelispor community.
HE RECEIVED HIS FOOTBALL EDUCATION AT ALTINORDU
Serhat Öztaşdelen, born in İzmir on December 9, 2004, began his football career at Çaymahalle Demirköprüspor. Joining the Altınordu youth academy when he was only 10 years old, the young goalkeeper wore the jersey in different age categories from an early age.
Drawing attention with his performance in the youth teams, Serhat Öztaşdelen was included in the Altınordu first team squad in the 2020-2021 season. Wearing the jersey of the İzmir representative in his professional career, the young goalkeeper became one of his team's important figures, especially in his last two seasons.
After the years he spent at Altınordu, Serhat Öztaşdelen joined the squad of Kocaelispor, which had been promoted to the Süper Lig that season, on July 23, 2025. Thus opening a new page in his career, the young goalkeeper found the opportunity to play in the Süper Lig.
HE STOOD OUT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT HE SHOWED IN HIS FIRST SEASON
With his performance over the two seasons he spent at Kocaelispor, Serhat Öztaşdelen rose to the level of the Senior National Team. Last season in the Süper Lig, the young goalkeeper played 630 minutes in 7 matches, conceding 6 goals while making 17 saves. Keeping a clean sheet in one match, Serhat achieved a save rate of 73.91%.
This season, however, Serhat Öztaşdelen, taking responsibility as the team's first-choice goalkeeper, played 900 minutes in 10 league matches. Conceding 9 goals in these matches, the young goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in 4 matches and achieved a save rate of 78%. The fact that Serhat, who played in 7 matches last season, protected the goal in all of the first 10 weeks this season strengthened his position within the team.
FROM THE YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM TO THE SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM
Having previously also played for the youth national teams, Serhat Öztaşdelen served in the Under-21 National Team after the Under-18 and Under-20 National Teams. The young goalkeeper was among the goalkeepers in the provisional squad announced by Sergen Yalçın, alongside Uğurcan Çakır, Berke Özer and Ersin Destanoğlu. The Turkish National Football Team will host Belgium in İzmir on November 12 in the UEFA Nations League A, and will compete away to France on November 15.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE FIELD IN THE NATIONAL JERSEY AFTER 25 YEARS
The last goalkeeper called up from Kocaelispor to the Turkish National Football Team was Serdar Kulbilge in 2008, but the experienced goalkeeper did not get a chance to play at that time. The last Kocaelispor player to take the field for the Senior National Team was Nuri Çolak, who came on in the 74th minute in the match against Albania in 2001.
If Serhat Öztaşdelen plays in the Belgium or France matches, he will become the first player to take the field for the Senior National Team while wearing the Kocaelispor jersey after 25 years.