Altan Aksoy

Altan Aksoy — Biography

Altan Aksoy is a retired midfielder, associated with Adanaspor's rise in the late 1990s, who was known as a playmaker and for his free kicks. Born in Rize, he played a career that stretched from Göztepe to Giresunspor, and he also wore the shirts of Galatasaray and the senior national team. He was part of sides that won promotion to the Süper Lig three times.

He came through the Göztepe youth system and, aged 17, played his first official match on 2 May 1993 against Sakaryaspor. After promotion to the Süper Lig with İstanbulspor in 1994-95 he moved to Adanaspor in 1996, where in six seasons he played 183 league matches and, counting cup games, scored 82 goals. In 1997-98 he scored 22 goals and contributed greatly to the title; in later years he dropped into central midfield as a playmaker and was again decisive in Adanaspor's return to the Süper Lig in 2001-02. After a short stay at Kocaelispor, from 2003 he spent two seasons as Konyaspor's playmaker, and this form led to a move to Galatasaray in 2005. With little playing time at Galatasaray he left of his own accord and was loaned to Çaykur Rizespor, where he scored 12 goals in 59 matches.

His later stops were Mersin İdman Yurdu (promotion to the 1. Lig in 2008-09), Eyüpspor and Giresunspor, where he ended his career in 2010-11. He played for the youth and Olympic national teams, was in the squad that finished second at the 1997 Mediterranean Games, and won one cap for the senior side.