Yasin Özdenak

Yasin Özdenak — Biography

Yasin Özdenak is remembered as the goalkeeper behind Galatasaray's three consecutive league titles in the early 1970s, and later, under the name Erol Yasin, as a New York Cosmos teammate of Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer. After retiring he coached at the same club and then in Australia with Sydney Crescent Star and Hume City.

He won the goalkeeper's place at İstanbulspor at 17, moved to Galatasaray in 1967 with his brother Gökmen and took over the goal at 19 after Turgay Şeren. After falling to third choice in 1968-69, a title year, he became first choice again under Brian Birch; in 1970-71 the team conceded only 18 goals in 30 matches. He kept goal until 1976, played in the European Cup against Bayern München and Atlético Madrid, and won the 1972-73 and 1975-76 Turkish Cups. He earned 15 caps for Turkey, debuting against Poland on December 5, 1971.

He joined the Cosmos in 1977 and won the US title in his first season as second-choice keeper; he played the second half against Pelé at his farewell game. In 1978 he was first choice, won a second title and played against an Argentina under-20 side featuring 18-year-old Diego Maradona. He stopped playing in 1979 and, as assistant coach, shared in another title in 1980. In 2001-02 he worked under Mircea Lucescu at Galatasaray in a title season, and he won the Continental Cup with Sydney Crescent Star in his first season there.