Semih Kaya

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

Semih Kaya
Semih playing for Galatasaray in 2012
Personal information
Full name Semih Kaya
Date of birth (1991-02-24) 24 February 1991
Place of birth Bergama, Turkey
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
2001–2004 Petkimspor
2004 Helvacı Bld. Gençlik ve Spor
2004–2006 Altay
2006–2009 Galatasaray
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2017 Galatasaray 140 (5)
2010 → Gaziantepspor (loan) 1 (0)
2010–2011 → Kartalspor (loan) 18 (0)
2017–2020 Sparta Prague 28 (2)
2019 → Galatasaray (loan) 5 (0)
2020–2022 Yeni Malatyaspor 54 (1)
2022 Galatasaray 2 (0)
International career
2006 Turkey U15 2 (0)
2006–2007 Turkey U16 9 (0)
2006–2008 Turkey U17 25 (1)
2007–2009 Turkey U18 10 (0)
2009 Turkey U19 2 (0)
2009–2011 Turkey U21 4 (0)
2012–2015 Turkey 23 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 January 2022

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).

The start of the 2008–09 season saw foreign interest in Kaya rise, with reports that Italian club Internazionale were monitoring him ahead of a transfer deal, though the rumours never materialized.[2]

Kaya's first Süper Lig appearance was against İstanbul B.B. on 19 February 2009.[3] After not receiving significant playing time, he joined fellow Süper Lig club Gaziantepspor on loan in January 2010 for the remainder of the season, and,[4] in the summer of 2010 he signed for Turkish First League side Kartalspor on loan. 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]

Galatasaray – third spell

On 3 February 2022, Kaya joined Galatasaray for the third time in his career.[8]

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.[9] He is part of the Turkey national team for Euro 2016.[10]

Personal life

Kaya's grandfather was Torbesh and he emigrated from Macedonia to the Turkish city of İzmir. He is the youngest of three brothers.[11]

Career statistics
As of 21 May 2017[12][13]

Club
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Galatasaray 2008–09 3010-0040
2011–12 30110--311
2012–13 2500010100360
2013–14 290501060410
2014–15 190106060320
2015–16 212006040312
2016–17 202700000272
Total 14751501402602025
Gaziantepspor
(loan)		 2009–10 1000--10
Total 1000000010
Kartalspor
(loan)		 2010–11 18010--190
Total 180100000190
Career total 16651701402602125

International
As of 12 June 2015
Turkey national team
YearAppsGoals
201280
201380
201450
201520
Total230

Honours
Galatasaray

AC Sparta Prag

Individual

References
  1. @semihkaya_26 (12 August 2022). "Veda zamanı..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. Inter Milan interest in Semih
  3. "Semih makes his debut". TFF.org. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  4. Duyuru: Semih Kaya
  5. "Semih ve Erhan Kartal'a". Pasfotomac.com.tr. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  6. "Samsunspor 2 – 4 Galatasaray". Galatasaray.org. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  7. "Galatasaray Semih'in sözleşmesini uzattı". Skorer. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  8. "Yuvana hoş geldin Semih Kaya!" (in Turkish). Galatasaray S.K. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. "Türkiye 1-2 Slovakya". TFF.org. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  10. "UEFA EURO 2016". UEFA. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  11. "Kaya gibi stoper: Semih Kaya". TFF.org. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  12. "Semih Kaya". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  13. "Futbolcu Bilgileri". Turkish Football Federation. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  14. "2015 ÖDÜL TÖRENİMİZ". markafutbol.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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