1. Overview
Okan Buruk (Okan Buruk[oˈkan buɾuk]Turkish, born October 19, 1973) is a Turkish professional football manager and former player, currently managing Galatasaray in the Süper Lig. Recognized as one of the most influential figures in Turkish football of the 21st century, Buruk holds the record for the most championships in the Süper Lig's history, with seven titles as a player and three as a manager.
As a midfielder, Buruk enjoyed a successful playing career spanning nearly two decades, representing prominent clubs such as Galatasaray, Inter Milan, Beşiktaş, and İstanbul Başakşehir. His notable achievements as a player include winning six Süper Lig titles and four Turkish Cups with Galatasaray, as well as being an instrumental part of the squad that secured the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup-making Galatasaray the first Turkish team to achieve this milestone-and the 2000 UEFA Super Cup. Internationally, he earned 56 caps for the Turkey national team, representing his country at UEFA Euro 2000 and earning a bronze medal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which remains the nation's best-ever finish in the tournament.
Transitioning into management, Buruk has achieved significant success. He notably guided Istanbul Başakşehir to their first-ever Süper Lig title in the 2019-20 Süper Lig season, becoming only the second manager to win the league without leading one of the traditional "Big Four" Istanbul clubs (traditionally consisting of Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor). His managerial success continued with Galatasaray, where he led the team to consecutive Süper Lig titles in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Buruk is known for his high-tempo pressing football and strong player-management skills.
2. Early life and personal background
Okan Buruk was born on October 19, 1973, in Istanbul, Turkey. He originally hails from Akçaabat in Trabzon. His brother, Fuat Buruk, is also a former professional footballer and currently works as a coach.
On July 3, 2007, Okan Buruk married Nihan Akkuş, a model who was previously crowned Miss Turkey and Top Model of the World in 2003. The couple welcomed their son, Ali Yiğit, in 2009. Their marriage concluded in February 2024.
3. Playing career
Okan Buruk had an extensive playing career spanning nearly two decades, during which he was a versatile midfielder for several prominent clubs and an integral part of the Turkish national team.
3.1. Club career
Buruk's club career saw him play for several major Turkish teams, including two spells at Galatasaray, and a period abroad with Italian club Inter Milan.
3.1.1. Galatasaray (first spell)
Okan Buruk began his professional football career with Galatasaray on July 1, 1992, remaining with the club until June 30, 2001. During his nine-year initial tenure, he played a pivotal role in Galatasaray's domestic and European successes. He contributed to six Süper Lig titles and four Turkish Cups. He was also a crucial member of the squad that won the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup, marking the first time a Turkish club had achieved such a milestone in a major European competition. Following this, on August 25, 2000, Buruk was named Man of the Match in the 2000 UEFA Super Cup, where Galatasaray famously defeated Real Madrid 2-1.
3.1.2. Inter Milan
In 2001, Okan Buruk made a move to Italy, joining Inter Milan. He made his Serie A debut on August 26, 2001, in a match against Perugia, coming on as a substitute for Clarence Seedorf. On October 21, 2001, in the Milan Derby against AC Milan, Okan provided an assist to Mohamed Kallon, though Inter ultimately lost 4-2. His UEFA Champions League debut occurred on September 25, 2002, in a home victory against Ajax. Buruk scored his first goal for Inter on November 16, 2002, in the 89th minute, securing a 2-2 draw in an away match against Roma. He played for Inter until June 30, 2004, and was recognized for his relentless energy and versatility in midfield. His former coach, Héctor Cúper, was known to urge him to stay in position, a testament to Buruk's boundless movement on the field.
3.1.3. Beşiktaş
On July 1, 2004, Okan Buruk signed with Beşiktaş. During his two seasons with the club, he achieved a significant milestone by winning the Turkish Cup on May 3, 2006.
3.1.4. Galatasaray (second spell)
Following his spell at Beşiktaş, Okan Buruk rejoined Galatasaray on July 1, 2006, signing a two-year contract. He was part of the squad that secured the 2007-08 Süper Lig title on May 11, 2008. After his contract expired on June 30, 2008, he departed from the club for the second time.
3.1.5. İstanbul Başakşehir
On July 1, 2008, Okan Buruk signed a two-year deal with İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor (now İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.). He continued to play professionally until his retirement on May 22, 2010, following a friendly match against the Czech Republic in Leipzig.
3.2. International career
Okan Buruk earned 56 caps for the Turkey national team, representing his country in major international tournaments. He participated in UEFA Euro 2000, where he scored Turkey's first-ever European Championship goal, an equalizer in a 2-1 loss to Italy in Arnhem.
Buruk was also part of the squad that achieved a bronze medal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, marking Turkey's best-ever finish in the tournament. Due to an injury, his only appearance in the World Cup was as a substitute in the 3-2 victory against co-host nation South Korea in the third-place play-off.
4. Managerial career
Okan Buruk transitioned from a distinguished playing career to a successful managerial one, leading several Turkish clubs and achieving significant domestic titles.
4.1. Early coaching roles
Buruk's early coaching career involved roles with the national team and his first managerial positions, which laid the groundwork for his development as a head coach.
4.1.1. Turkish National Team (assistant)
Okan Buruk initially served as the Administrative Coordinator of the Turkish national team during the Guus Hiddink era. In November 2011, following Abdullah Avcı's appointment as head coach, Buruk became his assistant coach. He served as Avcı's assistant for 18 matches before leaving his position in August 2013, after Avcı's resignation.
4.1.2. Elazığspor
On October 30, 2013, Okan Buruk signed a two-year contract with Elazığspor, marking his first managerial experience in the 10th week of the league season. However, after the team was relegated from the Süper Lig, he resigned on June 2, 2014.
4.1.3. Gaziantepspor
For the 2014-15 season, Buruk signed a three-year contract with Gaziantepspor on June 5, 2014. After guiding the team to a mid-table finish, he mutually terminated his contract on June 7, 2015, due to disagreements regarding the plans for the upcoming season.
4.1.4. Sivasspor
On October 26, 2015, Buruk signed a one-year contract with Sivasspor, taking over after Sergen Yalçın vacated the managerial role. His tenure began in the 10th week of the season. After achieving a record of 2 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws in 11 matches, Buruk resigned on February 6, 2016.
4.1.5. Göztepe
On June 1, 2016, Buruk signed a three-year contract with TFF 1. Lig team Göztepe. Following a series of poor results, he announced his resignation on March 20, 2017.
4.2. Akhisarspor
On March 28, 2017, Okan Buruk replaced Tolunay Kafkas as the manager of Akhisarspor, signing a 1.5-year contract. Under Buruk's leadership, Akhisarspor achieved a historic milestone on May 11, 2018, by securing their first-ever Turkish Cup victory. In the 2017-18 Turkish Cup Final, Akhisarspor defeated Fenerbahçe 3-2, marking a significant achievement for the club. This victory not only earned them the prestigious trophy but also secured Akhisarspor a spot in the group stage of the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League, allowing them to compete on the European stage for the first time in their history. Despite this success, Buruk and Akhisarspor parted ways at the end of the season due to unsuccessful contract negotiations. Reports indicated that Buruk, who was among the lowest-paid managers in the Süper Lig at the time, sought a salary increase in recognition of his achievements, but an agreement could not be reached.
4.3. Çaykur Rizespor
On September 19, 2018, Buruk was appointed as the head coach of Çaykur Rizespor following the departure of İbrahim Üzülmez. Under his management, the team notably managed to avoid relegation in the 2018-19 Super League season, showcasing an impressive improvement in form during the second half of the season. On May 28, 2019, Buruk announced his departure from Çaykur Rizespor, citing personal reasons and expressing gratitude for his time at the club. In a message shared via Instagram, Buruk thanked the club, players, and supporters for their trust and support, describing his decision to leave as difficult but necessary.
4.4. İstanbul Başakşehir
Okan Buruk's tenure at İstanbul Başakşehir marked a significant period of success, culminating in the club's first Süper Lig title and notable European campaigns.
4.4.1. Süper Lig title and European campaigns
On June 11, 2019, Okan Buruk was appointed as head coach of Başakşehir, succeeding Abdullah Avcı. In the 2019-20 season, Başakşehir adopted the slogan "New Vision, Same Goal." After being eliminated by Olympiacos in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League play-off, the team competed in the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League, where they were drawn into Group J alongside Roma, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Wolfsberger. Despite an initial 4-0 loss to Roma, Başakşehir topped the group with notable wins, including a 3-0 victory over Wolfsberger and a dramatic 2-1 away win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, securing first place in their group.
In the Round of 32, Başakşehir faced Sporting CP. After losing the first leg 3-1 in Lisbon, Başakşehir mounted a surprising comeback in the second leg in Istanbul, defeating Sporting CP 4-1 after extra time, thanks to a last-minute goal by Edin Višća, to progress 5-4 on aggregate. This victory was regarded as a remarkable achievement for the club in European competition.
In the Round of 16, Başakşehir played Copenhagen. They won the first leg 1-0 in Istanbul with a penalty goal from Edin Višća. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, all second-leg matches, originally scheduled for March 19, 2020, were postponed indefinitely. When the competition resumed in August, the second leg in Copenhagen saw Başakşehir lose 3-0, resulting in their elimination with a 3-1 aggregate defeat.
On July 19, 2020, Başakşehir were crowned champions of the Süper Lig for the first time in the club's history under Buruk's management. They became only the sixth club in the competition's history to win the league title and the fourth club from Istanbul to do so.
Following their domestic success, Başakşehir qualified directly for the group stage of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League. They were placed in Group H alongside Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, and Manchester United. Despite finishing fourth in the group, Başakşehir secured a historic 2-1 home victory against Manchester United, with goals from Demba Ba and Edin Višća. This win marked a significant milestone for the club.
Buruk mutually terminated his contract with Başakşehir on January 29, 2021, during the 2020-21 season, after a challenging campaign.
4.5. Galatasaray
Okan Buruk returned to Galatasaray as manager, continuing his track record of domestic success and leading the club to consecutive Süper Lig titles.
4.5.1. 2022-23 Season
On June 22, 2022, Buruk returned to Galatasaray, this time as head coach. He signed a two-year contract with an additional option for one more year. In his debut season, Buruk guided Galatasaray to a record-breaking 14 consecutive league wins, which was the longest winning streak in the club's history. Under his management, the team showcased dominant performances throughout the season, highlighted by key derby victories and consistent defensive solidity. Galatasaray secured the 2022-23 Super League title two weeks before the end of the season, marking Buruk's second league championship as a manager and the club's 23rd overall. The team also finished the season with the best attacking and defensive records, scoring 83 goals and conceding just 27 across 36 matches. Buruk's tactical approach was praised for reviving the team's attacking identity and for effectively incorporating young talents into the squad. His success in his first season established a strong foundation for Galatasaray's ambitions to compete both domestically and in European competitions.
4.5.2. 2023-24 Season
In the 2023-24 season, Galatasaray qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League by progressing through three preliminary rounds. They finished third in Group A, which included Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, and Manchester United. Highlights from their Champions League campaign included a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford and a thrilling 3-3 draw in Istanbul. Their group stage performance secured them a place in the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs.
In the Europa League, Galatasaray faced Sparta Prague in the knockout round play-offs. Despite winning the first leg 3-2 at home, they suffered a 4-1 defeat in the second leg, resulting in a 6-4 aggregate loss and elimination from European competitions.
In December 2023, the Turkish Super Cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, scheduled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was canceled due to a dispute. Both teams intended to honor Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, with specific banners and T-shirts, especially considering the timing of the match, which was the centennial of the Turkish Republic. However, Saudi authorities prohibited these displays, leading the clubs to refuse participation. The match was subsequently rescheduled to April.
On April 12, 2024, Galatasaray finally faced their arch-rivals Fenerbahçe in Şanlıurfa for the 2023 Turkish Super Cup final. In a controversial turn, Fenerbahçe fielded their Under-19 team as a form of protest against the Turkish Football Federation, citing "unjust treatment." Just 50 seconds into the game, Galatasaray's Mauro Icardi scored, putting his team ahead 1-0. Following this early goal, Fenerbahçe's young players, acting on instructions from their technical staff, left the field, leading to the match being abandoned. As a result, the match was awarded to Galatasaray with a default 3-0 victory, and they were crowned Turkish Super Cup champions.
In the highly anticipated derby match against Fenerbahçe during the 37th week, Galatasaray had the opportunity to secure the league title. However, the team suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat in front of their home crowd at the Rams Park. This loss delayed their chance to celebrate the championship and added pressure going into the final matchday.
Despite the setback, Galatasaray bounced back in the final week of the season with a dominant 3-1 away victory against Konyaspor on May 26, 2024. With this win, the team clinched the 2023-24 Süper Lig title, their second consecutive league championship under Buruk. This victory also marked Galatasaray's record-breaking 24th Süper Lig title, solidifying their status as Turkey's most successful club in the league. During the season, Galatasaray and Okan Buruk broke several league, club, and personal records, including achieving the most points won in a season (102) and the most consecutive wins in a season (17).
4.5.3. 2024-25 Season
On June 7, 2024, ahead of the 2024-25 season, Buruk signed a new two-year contract with Galatasaray, extending his tenure with the club. On August 3, 2024, Galatasaray faced their rivals Beşiktaş in the 2024 Turkish Super Cup final. Despite entering the match as favorites, Galatasaray suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. This result marked one of the club's most significant losses in a domestic final. Just weeks later, Galatasaray's bid to qualify for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League group stage ended in disappointment when they faced Young Boys in the play-off round. In the first leg on August 21, 2024, Galatasaray suffered a 3-2 defeat. In the second leg on August 27, 2024, Galatasaray lost 1-0 at the Rams Park in Istanbul and were eliminated on a 4-2 aggregate.
Despite early criticism following their heavy defeat to Beşiktaş and elimination from the Champions League, Galatasaray remained focused on their domestic campaign under Buruk. The setbacks served as motivation for the team to recover in the ongoing Süper Lig season. On September 21, 2024, Galatasaray faced arch-rivals Fenerbahçe in the first derby of the 2024-25 season at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. This match also marked the first derby for Fenerbahçe's new manager, José Mourinho. Galatasaray delivered a commanding performance, defeating Fenerbahçe 3-1 in front of 44,514 spectators. Despite a challenging start to the 2024-25 season, Galatasaray ended the first half on a high note, particularly with their strong performances in the Europa League league phase. Domestically, they bounced back with consistent performances, including a record-breaking streak of 15 consecutive away wins, which continued into the 2024-25 season. In the second half of the season, Galatasaray suffered setbacks including elimination from the Europa League and a 0-0 home draw against title rivals Fenerbahçe, although they continue to lead the race with a 6-point advantage.
5. Achievements and honours
Okan Buruk has accumulated a significant number of collective trophies and individual accolades throughout his distinguished playing and managerial careers.
5.1. As a player
Galatasaray
- UEFA Cup: 1999-2000
- UEFA Super Cup: 2000
- Süper Lig: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2007-08
- Turkish Cup: 1992-93, 1995-96, 1998-99, 1999-2000
- Turkish Super Cup: 1993, 1996, 1997
Beşiktaş
- Turkish Cup: 2005-06
Turkey National Team
- FIFA World Cup third place: 2002
Individual
- UEFA Super Cup Man of the Match: 2000
- Turkish State Medal of Distinguished Service
5.2. As a manager
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig: 2022-23, 2023-24
- Turkish Super Cup: 2023
İstanbul Başakşehir
- Süper Lig: 2019-20
Akhisarspor
- Turkish Cup: 2017-18
6. Career statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data for Okan Buruk's career as both a player and a manager.
6.1. Player statistics
Detailed statistics recorded for Okan Buruk as a player, including appearances and goals for both club and national teams.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Galatasaray | 1991-92 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 2 | |||
| 1992-93 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 21 | 0 | |||
| 1993-94 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1994-95 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 27 | 1 | |||
| 1995-96 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 1 | |||
| 1996-97 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
| 1997-98 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 6 | ||
| 1998-99 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 1 | - | 42 | 12 | |||
| 1999-2000 | 28 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 3 | - | 48 | 12 | |||
| 2000-01 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 2 | ||
| Total | 188 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 52 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 274 | 39 | ||
| Internazionale | 2001-02 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2002-03 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2003-04 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| Total | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | - | 41 | 2 | |||
| Beşiktaş | 2004-05 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | - | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2005-06 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | - | 29 | 2 | |||
| Total | 43 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | - | 55 | 4 | |||
| Galatasaray | 2006-07 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | 22 | 2 | ||
| 2007-08 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | |||
| Total | 19 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | - | 30 | 3 | |||
| İstanbul BB | 2008-09 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2009-10 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 302 | 37 | 44 | 3 | 80 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 431 | 48 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 8 | |
6.2. Managerial statistics
Detailed statistics recorded for Okan Buruk as a manager, including games managed, wins, draws, losses, and winning percentage for each team. Statistics are accurate as of match played February 27, 2025.
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | |||
| Elazığspor | October 30, 2013 | June 2, 2014 | 33 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 33.33 |
| Gaziantepspor | August 1, 2014 | June 10, 2015 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 35.71 |
| Sivasspor | October 27, 2015 | February 8, 2016 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 18.18 |
| Göztepe | August 1, 2016 | March 22, 2017 | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 43.75 |
| Akhisarspor | March 28, 2017 | June 30, 2018 | 54 | 24 | 11 | 19 | 44.44 |
| Çaykur Rizespor | September 24, 2018 | May 29, 2019 | 32 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 34.38 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | June 11, 2019 | January 29, 2021 | 79 | 36 | 18 | 25 | 45.57 |
| Galatasaray | June 23, 2022 | present | 137 | 99 | 21 | 17 | 72.26 |
| Total | 420 | 212 | 86 | 122 | 50.48 | ||