Uğur Yıldırım (Turkish pronunciation: [uːɾ jɯldɯˈɾɯm]; born 8 May 1982) is a Dutch football coach and former professional player. He especially impressed during his time with SC Heerenveen and became free kick world champion. After retiring, he began working as a coach at the Go Ahead Eagles youth academy.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Uğur Yıldırım | ||
| Date of birth | 8 May 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Apeldoorn, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–1998 | Brink en Orden | ||
| 1998–1999 | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2004 | Go Ahead Eagles | 119 | (44) |
| 2004–2007 | Heerenveen | 83 | (12) |
| 2007–2008 | Gaziantepspor | 18 | (5) |
| 2008 | Sivasspor | 12 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | Kasımpaşa | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | AGOVV | 16 | (1) |
| 2012–2015 | CSV Apeldoorn | ||
| Total | 252 | (64) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005 | Netherlands | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He made one appearance for the Netherlands national team.
Club career
editA freekick specialist, Yıldırım progressed through the Go Ahead Eagles youth academy. In the 2003–04 season he scored six goals in an Eerste Divisie match against Cambuur.[1] This unique feat drew attention of bigger clubs and Yıldırım signed a contract at Heerenveen, with whom he had an outstanding debut season.[2] In 2004, Yıldırım won a free kick tournament held in Marbella, beating out players such as Zinédine Zidane.[3]
In July 2007, he signed a three-year contract with Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantepspor.[4] During his time at the club, he scored three goals for his team. He subsequently moved to title challengers Sivasspor after claiming that Gaziantepspor had not paid his wages for several months.[5] His time in Sivasspor was disappointing and he left after only six months on a free transfer.[6] After his unsuccessful stay in Turkey, Yıldırım had several trials in 2008, but failed to impress with English clubs Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Watford.[7] He then trialled with Azerbaijani club Neftçi Baku and Dutch side FC Zwolle.[8] The result of this unsuccessful period of trials was a eventually a contract with Kasımpaşa in January 2009 until the end of the season, where he was released in June 2009.[9][10]
In August 2010 Yıldırım agreed to join Dutch Eerste Divisie side AGOVV, signing a one-year contract for the club from his native town.[11] Afterwards, he began playing on amateur level with CSV Apeldoorn.[12]
International career
editAfter Yıldırım took the decision on 22 January 2005 to represent the Netherlands internationally – after having to choose between the Netherlands and Turkey.[13] He gained his only international cap on 9 February 2005 against England. In the 64th minute he came on as a substitute for Feyenoord-player Romeo Castelen, as the game ended in 0–0 draw.[14] As the match against England was a friendly, Yıldırım could still opt to play for Turkey.[15]
Coaching career
editAfter his playing career, Yıldırım began coaching teams in the Go Ahead Eagles youth academy while taking his coaching diploma.[16][17][18] He also coached Vierde Klasse team TKA between 2017 and 2019.[19] On 1 July 2020, he began coaching the Go Ahead Eagles U16 team.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Zes goals Yildirim evenaring record". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 23 May 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "De ziel van SC Heerenveen: van schaatscafé tot volksverhuizing | Eredivisie". eredivisie.nl (in Dutch). 9 October 2018.
- ^ Bouwes, Ernst (4 January 2005). "A tale of two coaches". ESPN. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
- ^ "Yildirim kiest voor Gaziantepspor én Turkije". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 24 July 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Onbetaalde Yildirim stapt over naar koploper". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 16 January 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Yildirim vertrekt per direct bij Sivasspor". www.soccernews.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ Kruyt, Bart (27 October 2010). "'Het leven in Turkije is fantastisch, maar als voetballer is het vreselijk'". Voetbalzone (in Dutch).
- ^ "Yildirim dicht bij derde Turkse club binnen het jaar". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 19 November 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Nusselder, Peter (30 July 2010). "Yildirim is af van Kasimpasa en kan op jacht naar nieuw contract". Voetbalzone (in Dutch).
- ^ "Yildirim: 'Kasimpasa laat me nu gewoon stikken'". Elfvoetbal.nl (in Dutch). 3 March 2010.
- ^ "Ugur Yildirim AGOVV'er!" (in Dutch). AGOVV Apeldoorn. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ "Ugur Yildirim blijft bij csv Apeldoorn". tweenul.nl (in Dutch). 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Yildirim kwam al eens uit voor Oranje". Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). 2 February 2005.
- ^ "Yildirim: 'Spijt heb ik niet'". www.onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). 17 May 2013.
- ^ "Yildirim kiest alsnog voor Turkije". www.soccernews.nl (in Dutch). 25 October 2006.
- ^ "Beginnend trainer Ugur Yildirim kan het voetballen niet laten". Rob Kruitbosch (in Dutch). 25 December 2016.
- ^ "Voormalig speler Ugur Yildirim keert terug bij Go Ahead Eagles". RTV Oost (in Dutch). 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Yildirim, Berghuis en Ellenbroek langer verbonden aan Go Ahead Eagles Voetbalopleiding". Go Ahead Eagles (in Dutch). 24 April 2019.
- ^ Waning, René (18 November 2018). "Yildirim vertrekt als trainer TKA". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Hoofdtrainers voetbalopleiding Go Ahead Eagles vastgelegd voor 2021/2022". DRTV (in Dutch). 8 December 2020.
External links
edit- Profile at TFF
- Uğur Yıldırım at National-Football-Teams.com