Şener Özbayraklı

Şener Özbayraklı — Biography

Born on 23 January 1990 in the Borçka district of Artvin as the third child of a biology teacher and a homemaker, Şener Özbayraklı grew up in several towns due to his father's frequent job transfers and took up football at 13 in his hometown; he drew attention through spells at Arsinspor, Ankaraspor and, from 2009, Keçiörengücü, followed by a standout season at Bugsaşspor. He moved to Bursaspor midway through the 2012-13 season for a fee of 750,000 lira, scored a long-range winner against Trabzonspor in March 2013, and was named to the Süper Lig Team of the Season for 2014-15 before being sold to Fenerbahçe in 2015 after two strong campaigns. He went on to play for Galatasaray and İstanbul Başakşehir, becoming a free agent after his contract with Başakşehir was mutually terminated in 2023. A Turkey national team player, he was part of the squad at UEFA Euro 2016, and he married actress Şilan Makal in May 2020 after their February 2020 engagement.