İbrahim Üzülmez

İbrahim Üzülmez — Biography

İbrahim Üzülmez is a former Turkish international left-back nicknamed "Deli İbo". He played for his boyhood dream club Beşiktaş for years from 2000-01 and won two Süper Lig titles. Since retiring as a player he has worked as a manager.

Spotted by Gönenspor at 16, Üzülmez passed through Kardemir Karabükspor, İskenderun Demir Çelik and Amasyaspor, where he did his military service, and moved to Beşiktaş after a season and a half at Gaziantepspor. He won the centenary title (2002-03) and the 2008-09 championship, three Turkish Cups and the 2006 Super Cup. He was team captain from 2006, and in the last match of 2008-09 Mustafa Denizli sent him on as captain. His 396 official appearances for Beşiktaş are the eighth most since 1959, and his 56 European matches are a club record. His contract was terminated in February 2011 and in July 2011 it was announced that he had retired. He first played for Turkey on February 12, 2003, against Ukraine, played 90 minutes in four matches as the side finished third at the 2003 Confederations Cup, and scored his only goal against Azerbaijan in 2009.

About a year later he began coaching as Denizli's assistant at Çaykur Rizespor. In January 2016 he took over Gençlerbirliği, and in October 2017 he led Rizespor to the 1. Lig title and promotion to the Süper Lig. In later years he managed Ankaragücü, Eyüpspor, Süper Lig side Pendikspor and, in 2025-26, Iğdır FK.