Hakan back at Galatasaray
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Article summary
Galatasaray SK have re-signed striker Hakan Sükür and also agreed a deal for midfield player Abdullah Ercan.
Article body
Galatasaray SK have signed striker Hakan Sükür from English side Blackburn Rovers FC while also agreeing a deal for midfield player Abdullah Ercan.
Back in Turkey
The club's website announced that the 31-year-old Hakan has come back to Turkey to join Galatasaray and is ready to travel with the squad to their pre-season training camp in Austria. He has signed a blank contract with the club, with the details to be decided in the future.
Resounding success
Hakan started his professional career at Bursaspor in the 1990/91 season, joining Galatasaray two years later, after scoring 12 goals in 43 games. His first spell at the Istanbul club was to prove a resounding success as he scored 173 goals and was the league's top scorer in three successive seasons - 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99.
Second move
The striker spent a few games on loan with Torino Calcio during the 1995/96 season, and made a second move to Italy in 2000/01 as he joined Internazionale FC from Galatasaray. After two seasons at the club he moved on to Parma AC and subsequently Blackburn.
Galatasaray excitement
Hakan's return is sure to spark excitement at Galatasaray as they prepare to start their UEFA Champions League campaign in the third qualifying round. The striker is the Turkish national team's all-time top scorer, with 38 goals in 84 games, and played in the finals of EURO 96™, EURO 2000™ and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Free transfer
To add more experience to the squad, Galatasaray have also signed Turkish international Abdullah on a one-year contract. The 31-year-old was a free agent after being released by Fenerbahçe SK. He spent four seasons at the Sükrü Saraçoglu stadium but found his chances limited in 2002/03.
Plenty of experience
Abdullah, who spent nine years with Trabzonspor before joining Fenerbahçe, has 71 caps for Turkey but has not played an international since the February friendly against Ukraine. Like Hakan, he was included in Turkey's squad at the last two UEFA European Championships and the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.
