14.04.2025 16:30
Oğuzhan Özyakup, a former player of our national team and Beşiktaş, made a striking confession regarding the period when he retired from football. The 32-year-old, who ended his career as "Oğuzhan of Beşiktaş," stated, "I thought about returning to Beşiktaş to play for a year and then retire. There were discussions, but the management at that time focused on different transfers."
Former national football player Oğuzhan Özyakup, who announced that he would retire from football as "Beşiktaşlı Oğuzhan" in the summer of 2024, explained the background of his decision. Oğuzhan, who has a special place in the hearts of the black-and-white fans, made a striking confession about that period.
HE WANTED TO MAKE HIS RETIREMENT AT BEŞİKTAŞ
Speaking to Kafa Sports, the 32-year-old former footballer stated that he no longer enjoyed football, saying, "I thought about returning to Beşiktaş, playing for a year, and then retiring. There were discussions, but the management at that time focused on different transfers. Everyone knew that I didn't want to play for another club in Turkey. In the Netherlands, there was no team that would give me joy," he expressed. Oğuzhan stated that he made the decision to end his career for these reasons.
HE RETIRED AS "BEŞİKTAŞLI OĞUZHAN"
Oğuzhan Özyakup, who last wore the Fortuna Sittard jersey, ended his football career last summer. In his statement, Oğuzhan included the following remarks;
"As long as I can remember, I have played football very happily and with joy. Football has never just been football for me. It has been my life and will always be a part of my life. I am very lucky to have had the chance to play in teams with goals and dreams. I have played in matches that are as special as championships and trophies, and that I will never forget. When I look back, I have moments and memories that most footballers will not experience. However, even though I played difficult and exciting matches in the last two seasons, I realized that I was no longer happy with the style of football I was playing and that I was far from where I wanted to be.
For the past few months, I have thought a lot about making this decision. Playing football has never been 'a job where I earn money' for me. Therefore, I knew that I would play football as long as I enjoyed it, and that I would say goodbye the moment I could not play with my own football philosophy. I would like to thank all the teams that made offers from the Super League this summer for their interest. But since I always felt like Beşiktaşlı Oğuzhan and always wanted to be remembered that way, it was not possible for me to play for another club. I have thought a lot about making this decision regarding my football career for the past few months, and it was not easy for me. However, due to the lack of sufficient goals in return for my endless love and value for football, I decided to end my professional football career. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to my career."
OĞUZHAN'S FOOTBALL CAREER
Oğuzhan started his football journey in the youth team of Hellas Sport in the Netherlands and transferred to the AZ Alkmaar youth team in 2005. In 2008, he transferred to the under-18 team of the English giant Arsenal, where he signed professionally and had the chance to wear the Arsenal first team jersey twice.
In the summer transfer period of 2012, Oğuzhan Özyakup joined Beşiktaş for 500,000 euros, and during his 9.5 seasons in the black-and-white jersey, he played a total of 310 matches and scored 35 goals. The 31-year-old player, who went on loan to Feyenoord during the winter break of the 2019-2020 season, only played 4 matches there and scored 1 goal. Oğuzhan Özyakup celebrated 3 Süper Lig championships, 1 Türkiye Kupası, and 1 Süper Kupa with Beşiktaş.
After his contract with Beşiktaş ended in 2022, Özyakup returned to the Netherlands, where he played 47 matches with Fortuna Sittard in the last two seasons, scoring 4 goals and providing 1 assist.