1. Overview
Veli Kavlak (born 3 November 1988) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played primarily as a midfielder for Rapid Wien and the Turkish club Beşiktaş. Born in Vienna, Austria, to Turkish parents, Kavlak holds dual Austrian and Turkish citizenship. He is known for his tireless running and stamina as a defensive box-to-box midfielder. Throughout his career, he made 31 appearances for the Austria national team, scoring one goal. He achieved significant club success, winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Rapid Wien and two Süper Lig titles with Beşiktaş.
2. Early Life and Background
Veli Kavlak was born on 3 November 1988, in Vienna, Austria. He is of Turkish descent, with both of his parents being Turkish. As a result of his heritage and birthplace, Kavlak holds dual citizenship, being a citizen of both Austria and Turkey. He is fluent in the Turkish language.
3. Club Career
Veli Kavlak's professional club career spanned from 2004 to 2018, primarily with SK Rapid Wien in Austria and Beşiktaş J.K. in Turkey.
3.1. SK Rapid Wien
Kavlak began his football journey in the youth academy of SK Rapid Wien, one of Austria's most prominent clubs. He progressed through the club's satellite team before being promoted to the senior squad. He made his debut in the Austrian Football Bundesliga at just 16 years old. By the age of 17, he had already made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Kavlak quickly established himself as a regular starter for Rapid Wien at the age of 18, similar to the career trajectory of Andreas Ivanschitz. During his tenure with Rapid Wien, he contributed to the team winning the Austrian Bundesliga title twice, in the 2004-05 and 2007-08 seasons. He played for Rapid Wien until 2011, accumulating 146 league appearances and scoring 13 goals.
3.2. Beşiktaş JK
On 27 May 2011, Veli Kavlak transferred from his long-time club SK Rapid Wien to the Turkish club Beşiktaş J.K.. In Turkey, he continued to play a pivotal role in midfield. With Beşiktaş, Kavlak achieved further success, winning the Süper Lig title in consecutive seasons, the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns. He remained with Beşiktaş until 2018, making 115 league appearances and scoring 6 goals during his time in the Super Lig.
4. International Career
Veli Kavlak represented Austria at various levels of international football, from youth teams to the senior national squad.
4.1. Austria National Team
Kavlak received his first call-up to the Austrian senior national team at the young age of 19. He made 31 appearances for Austria, scoring one international goal. This goal came on 15 August 2012, in a friendly match against Turkey, the home country of his parents. Kavlak scored in the 3rd minute of the match, contributing to Austria's 2-0 victory.
4.2. Youth International Career
Before his senior international career, Veli Kavlak was a key player for Austria's youth national teams. He participated in the UEFA U-19 European Championship 2006, where Austria finished in third place. He also played a significant role in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, helping the Austrian U-20 team reach the semi-finals, ultimately finishing in fourth place in the tournament.
5. Playing Style
Veli Kavlak is primarily known as a defensive box-to-box midfielder. His tactical role on the field is characterized by his tireless running and exceptional stamina, making him a crucial presence in the midfield. At club level, he was often deployed in a holding role, acting as a key pivot in the midfield. He is also recognized as a hardworking leader on the pitch. While not known for unsportsmanlike conduct, he earned a reputation as a "hatchet man" in midfield, indicating his combative and tenacious approach to winning the ball. Kavlak was frequently paired with a more offensive central midfielder, such as Manuel Fernandes or Oğuzhan Özyakup, to balance the midfield. However, when playing for the national team, he often featured in a more advanced position, operating in front of a dedicated holding midfielder. His height is 69 in (176 cm) and his weight is 154 lb (70 kg).
6. Personal Life
Veli Kavlak was born in Vienna, Austria. He comes from a Turkish family, with both of his parents being of Turkish descent. He holds dual citizenship for both Austria and Turkey. Kavlak is fluent in the Turkish language, reflecting his strong connection to his heritage.
7. Honours
Veli Kavlak achieved several significant team honors during his professional club career:
- Rapid Wien
- Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2004-05, 2007-08
- Beşiktaş
- Süper Lig: 2015-16, 2016-17
8. Statistics
Veli Kavlak's career statistics provide a comprehensive overview of his appearances and goals at both club and international levels.
8.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rapid Wien | 2004-05 | Austrian Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2005-06 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2006-07 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2007-08 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2008-09 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 5 | ||
| 2009-10 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2010-11 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 34 | 1 | ||
| Total | 146 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 181 | 16 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2011-12 | Super Lig | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| 2012-13 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2013-14 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 3 | ||
| 2014-15 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2016-17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2017-18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 115 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 152 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 261 | 19 | 27 | 3 | 45 | 1 | 333 | 23 | ||
8.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 1 | |
Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kavlak goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 August 2012 | Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria | Turkey | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |