Ravil Tagir

Ravil Tagir — Biography

Ravil Tagir is a center-back born in Taraz in Kazakhstan's Jambyl Region who represents Turkey at international level and holds Turkish and Kazakh citizenship. His family background lies with the Meskhetian Turks exiled to Kazakhstan. The 1.82-metre young defender came through at Altınordu, reached the Süper Lig with İstanbul Başakşehir, played for Westerlo in Belgium, and is now with UAE Pro League side Al Jazira.

He began playing at Bursa Kültürspor and, after a tryout in Bursa, joined Altınordu in İzmir at twelve, staying about five years. In June 2019 he signed his first professional contract, made his First League debut as a starter against Hatayspor on August 18, 2019, and scored his first goal against Osmanlıspor on February 14, 2020. On September 28, 2020, he moved to Başakşehir for 2.5 million euros on a three-year contract. He made his Süper Lig debut against Denizlispor on November 28, 2020, and scored his first Başakşehir goal in the Turkish Cup in January 2021. In June 2022 he went on a two-season loan to Westerlo, and on August 12, 2024, he moved to Al Jazira.

He has played for Turkey's youth teams from under-15 level, scoring the opener against Scotland in an under-16 match, and made his under-21 debut against England in 2019. In September 2022 he was called up to the senior squad for Nations League matches. He has said he modeled himself on Çağlar Söyüncü and Cengiz Ünder.