Semih Kaya
Birth date24 February 1991 (age 35)
Birth placeBergama, Turkey
Height1.83 m
PositionCentre back
Youthyears 12001–2004
Youthclubs 1Petkimspor
Youthyears 22004
Youthclubs 2Helvacı Bld. Gençlik ve Spor
Youthyears 32004–2006
Youthclubs 3Altay
Youthyears 42006–2009
Youthclubs 4Galatasaray
Years 12009–2017
Clubs 1Galatasaray
Caps 1147
Goals 15
Years 22010
Clubs 2→ Gaziantepspor (loan)
Caps 21
Goals 20
Years 32010–2011
Clubs 3→ Kartalspor (loan)
Caps 318
Goals 30
Years 42017–2020
Clubs 4Sparta Prague
Caps 428
Goals 42
Years 52019
Clubs 5→ Galatasaray (loan)
Caps 55
Goals 50
Years 62020–2022
Clubs 6Yeni Malatyaspor
Caps 654
Goals 61
Years 72022
Clubs 7Galatasaray
Caps 72
Goals 70
Totalcaps255
Totalgoals8
Nationalyears 12006
Nationalteam 1Turkey U15
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22006–2007
Nationalteam 2Turkey U16
Nationalcaps 29
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32006–2008
Nationalteam 3Turkey U17
Nationalcaps 325
Nationalgoals 31
Nationalyears 42007–2009
Nationalteam 4Turkey U18
Nationalcaps 410
Nationalgoals 40
Nationalyears 52009
Nationalteam 5Turkey U19
Nationalcaps 52
Nationalgoals 50
Nationalyears 62009–2011
Nationalteam 6Turkey U21
Nationalcaps 64
Nationalgoals 60
Nationalyears 72012–2015
Nationalteam 7Turkey
Nationalcaps 723
Nationalgoals 70

Semih Kaya (semih kaja, born 24 February 1991) is a Turkish former professional footballer who played as a centre back, most recently for Galatasaray. On 12 August 2022, he announced on his social media accounts that he was leaving football.[1]

Club career

Early career

Kaya joined Galatasaray's youth academy from Altay's youth team when he was 15.

On 25 February 2007, when he was playing against older young players in the season of Süper Gençler Ligi (Super Youth League) against Beşiktaş, in the fifth minute of the game, a kick from Batuhan Karadeniz collided with his head, forcing him to leave the game; he later went to a hospital to undergo head surgery (coagulation).

Kaya's first Süper Lig appearance was against İstanbul B.B. on 19 February 2009.[2] After not receiving significant playing time, he joined fellow Süper Lig club Gaziantepspor on loan in January 2010 for the remainder of the season.[3] In the summer of 2010, he signed for Turkish First League side Kartalspor on loan.[4] On 18 October 2010, he scored two goals in the A2 Lig game against Altay.[5]

Return to Galatasaray

At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Kaya was not typically selected for Galatasaray's starting line-up, but following injuries to other players, notably Gökhan Zan, and a fall in form of Servet Çetin, Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim granted him a chance to prove himself. Following a series of solid performances, he soon became first-choice centreback alongside the Czech Tomáš Ujfaluši.

Kaya scored his first goal for the club against Samsunspor on 7 January 2012 in the 51st minute of a 2–0 comeback, with the game ending 4–2 for Galatasaray.[6] In the 2011–12 season, he played 30 games and was a key member of the championship-winning squad. He continued to be first choice centre-back for the club and country, delivering calm and confident performances despite against top teams such as Manchester United and, internationally, against the Netherlands. He finished his second year with 36 appearances in all competitions. On 18 November 2013, his contract was extended for three years until 2016.[7]

In June 2014 Inter Milan was reportedly interested in Kaya.[8]

Sparta Prague

On 14 July 2017, Kaya left Galatasaray and joined Czech club Sparta Prague, signing a three-year contract.[9][10] He was loaned to Galatasaray on 18 January 2019, for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, with the Turkish club covering his wages.[11] On 13 July 2020, Sparta Prague announced the departure of Kaya, after an injury-plagued spell in the Czech Republic.[12]

Yeni Malatyaspor

On 29 September 2020, Kaya joined Yeni Malatyaspor as a free agent.[13] He left the club on 31 January 2022 on a mutual contract termination.[14]

Galatasaray – third spell

On 3 February 2022, Kaya joined Galatasaray for the third time in his career.[15] On 12 August 2022, he announced his retirement from professional football.[16]

International career

Kaya has played for all levels of the Turkey national team, including the under-21 level despite being at a younger age at the time. He made his debut for senior Turkish side on 29 February 2012, playing the entire game against Slovakia in a 2–1 loss.[17] He is part of the Turkey national team for Euro 2016.[18]

Personal life

Kaya's grandfather was Macedonian Muslim or Torbeš and he emigrated from Macedonia to the Turkish city of İzmir. He is the youngest of three brothers.[19]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[20][21]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Galatasaray2008–09Süper Lig3010—0040
2011–1230110——311
2012–132500010100360
2013–14290501060410
2014–15190106060320
2015–16212006040312
2016–17202700000272
Total14751501402602025
Gaziantepspor (loan)2009–10Süper Lig1000——10
Kartalspor (loan)2010–11TFF First League18010——190
Sparta Prague2017–18Czech First League8000—1090
2018–1910000—20120
2019–2010220—00122
Total282200030332
Galatasaray (loan)2018–19Süper Lig5020——70
Yeni Malatyaspor2020–21Süper Lig32120——341
2021–2222000——220
Total541200000561
Galatasaray2021–22Süper Lig2000——20
Career total25582301402903218

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[20]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Turkey201280
201380
201450
201520
Total230

Honours

Galatasaray

Sparta Prag

References

  1. ^ "Veda zamanı..." (in Turkish). No. 1558029878456467461. Archived August 12, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Semih makes his debut". TFF.org. 2009-04-19. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  3. ^ "Galatasaray'da büyük değişim" (in Turkish). ntv.com.tr. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  4. ^ "TRANSFER DOSYASI" (in Turkish). NTVSpor.net. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  5. ^ "Semih ve Erhan Kartal'a". Pasfotomac.com.tr. 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  6. ^ "Samsunspor 2 – 4 Galatasaray". Galatasaray.org. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  7. ^ "Galatasaray Semih'in sözleşmesini uzattı". Skorer. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  8. ^ "Semih Kaya'ya kanca" [Hook to Semih Kaya] (in Turkish). Fotomaç. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Semih Kaya resmen Sparta Prag'da" (in Turkish). NTVSpor.net. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  10. ^ AC Sparta Prague (2017-07-14). "Defender Semih Kaya completed his move to Sparta from Galatasaray!". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  11. ^ "Galatasaray re-sign defender Semih Kaya". Turkish Football News. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  12. ^ Calli, Muhammed Enes (2020-07-13). "Turkish defender Semih Kaya leaves Sparta Prague". aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  13. ^ "Yeni Malatyaspor, Semih Kaya'yı kadrosuna kattı | Goal.com Türkçe" (in Turkish). goal.com. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  14. ^ "Yeni Malatyaspor, Semih Kaya ile yollarını ayırdı" (in Turkish). NTVSpor.net. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  15. ^ "Yuvana hoş geldin Semih Kaya!" (in Turkish). Galatasaray S.K. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Bir devrin sonu: Semih Kaya emekli oldu" [The end of an era: Semih Kaya retires] (in Turkish). Gaste 24. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  17. ^ "Türkiye 1-2 Slovakya". TFF.org. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  18. ^ "UEFA EURO 2016". UEFA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Kaya gibi stoper: Semih Kaya". TFF.org. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  20. ^
  21. ^ "Futbolcu Bilgileri". Turkish Football Federation. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.