Bilal Kısa

Bilal Kısa — Biography

Bilal Kısa is a former Turkey international midfielder, a playmaker known for his technical moves and long passes, usually deployed in front of two defensive midfielders. He was nicknamed "Pirlo Bilal" in a nod to the Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo, and Akhisar Belediyespor supporters called him "Maestro". After retiring as a player he moved into coaching and has been in charge of Kahramanmaraş İstiklalspor since March 2026.

He developed in Fenerbahçe's academy; he signed a professional contract in 2002 but did not reach the first team and moved to İzmirspor in 2003. He reached the Süper Lig with Malatyaspor, spent three seasons at Ankaraspor from 2006, and then wore the shirts of Ankaragücü, Karşıyaka and Kardemir Karabükspor. At Akhisar Belediyespor, which he joined in the second half of 2012-13, he helped the team stay up, and his form in the opening weeks of 2013-14 caught Fatih Terim's eye: he was called back to the national team after about seven and a half years. His first senior cap had come in 2006 against Estonia, as a replacement for Hamit Altıntop.

At Galatasaray in 2015-16 he scored 8 goals in 36 official matches, and made his first Champions League appearance against Astana, scoring in it. He won the Turkish Cup and the Super Cup with Galatasaray. After his contract was ended by mutual consent in June 2016 he signed a two-year deal with Bursaspor, and with Akhisarspor he later won the 2017-18 Turkish Cup and the 2018 Super Cup. In coaching he was in charge of Menemen FK in early 2026, left in March and was appointed at İstiklalspor the same month.