Rüştü Reçber

Rüştü Reçber — Biography

Rüştü Reçber is remembered as the most-capped player in the history of the Turkish national team and one of the country's best goalkeepers. He kept goal in Turkey's third-place run at the 2002 World Cup and in league-title seasons for both Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş; by the time he said goodbye to the national side in 2012 he had played 120 matches. Since retiring he has commentated on beIN Sports.

Born in the village of Küçükköy in Korkuteli, he began as a forward and moved to goal because of his height. He broke through at Antalyaspor; a serious car crash in 1993 cost him a move to Beşiktaş. He signed for Fenerbahçe the same year; he became captain and won the league in 1995-96 and 2000-01. In 2003 he went to Barcelona, but Frank Rijkaard preferred Víctor Valdés and he played seven games. He returned to Fenerbahçe on loan in 2004 and won the 2004-05 and 2006-07 titles. At Beşiktaş, which he joined in 2007, he won the league and cup in 2008-09 and the cup again in 2010-11.

He made his national debut against Iceland in 1994. In 2002 he was named in the tournament's best team and in the UEFA Team of the Year, and in 2004 Pelé picked him for the FIFA 100 list. At the Euro 2008 quarter-final against Croatia he saved Mladen Petrić's kick in the shoot-out, taking Turkey to its first European Championship semi-final. His son Burak is a footballer who came up through Galatasaray's academy.