Arda Guler, the 19-year-old Actual Madrid participant lighting up Turkish soccer, has the highlight in Turkey’s 2024 Euro marketing campaign in Germany, with two assists and one (completely excellent) aim within the match thus far.
His precocious potential is likely one of the largest elements to Turkey being a part of the eight groups left within the competitors, heading into the quarter finals the place they are going to play the Netherlands within the Olympiastadion on July 6. Regardless of his younger age, Guler has performed with unimaginable confidence and expertise however – additionally been confronted with damage points and setbacks.
However who’s he?
Who’s Arda Guler?
At simply 9 years previous, Guler started his profession at Ankara-based membership Genclerbirligi in 2014, earlier than becoming a member of Fenerbahce, within the youth ranks in 2019. After two years on the membership, was deemed to be a giant prospect for the longer term to be provided a two-and-a-half-year skilled contract in 2021. His first ever skilled recreation of his soccer profession was made on the nineteenth of August 2021 the place Fenerbahce confronted Finnish membership HJK: though not making an enormous impression on this recreation Fenerbahce ended the bout with a 1-0 victory and some days later, in his first Turkish Tremendous League match, Guler assisted Miha Zajc in a 2-0 win over Antalyaspor.
He gained elevated enjoying time steadily and ultimately grew to become the crew’s youngest-ever goal-scorer In March 2022, having turned 17 solely 3 weeks prior. By Might 2022, he had scored three targets and registered assists, which made him a key speaking level for giant golf equipment resembling Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
The next season began on a excessive with him being granted Fenerbahce’s No.10 shirt as a result of departure of German celebrity Mesut Ozil, and Guler started the primary match of the season scoring two targets in 21 minutes, cementing himself as one of many biggest younger prospects in soccer and bringing himself extra consideration from massive golf equipment. Throughout the season, he scored his first ever European aim and obtained an help in a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev within the Europa league group stage. The 18-year previous wonderkid additionally put up a man-of-the-match efficiency in a 2-0 win in opposition to Istanbul Basaksehir within the Turkish cup remaining.
Arda’s time at Fenerbahce ended on July 6 2023, as he introduced his departure from the membership by way of Instagram to affix Actual Madrid on a six-year contract – however catastrophe struck when Guler picked up a muscle damage, and couldn’t play immediately and start making an impression for his new membership. It was a substantial blow to him as he was in kind and coaching nicely for Madrid. Ancelotti acknowledged that Guler was “depressed” whereas sitting on the sidelines in late 2023 nevertheless he additionally recognises the pure expertise of the lad, saying that his future is “most lovely”.
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After months of medical remedy and help Guler lastly was capable of make his debut for Actual Madrid in January 2024, precisely six months after signing for the membership in opposition to Arandina within the Copa del Rey. He helped the crew massively on this 3-1 victory, then later within the month, gained his first trophy within the Supercopa de España remaining in opposition to Barcelona the place they comfortably beat them 4-1. It took till March to get on the scoresheet for the Spanish giants, scoring Madrid’s final aim in a 4-0 win over Celta Vigo in stoppage time.
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Nonetheless, his goalscoring continued after his first aim, as he grew to become the quickest Actual Madrid participant in historical past to attain 6 La Liga targets, doing so in solely 330 minutes of being on the pitch. Regardless of not enjoying any matches, Guler additionally grew to become the primary Turkish participant to win the Champions League after his crew beat Borussia Dortmund within the remaining on June 1.
Guler has now applied himself as a key a part of the Turkish nationwide crew throughout these Euros finals. He solely scored his first aim for the nation within the tournaments qualifying rounds in opposition to Wales however is clearly Turkey’s stand out expertise.
He was awarded man of the match within the first group stage recreation in opposition to Georgia in a 3-1 win, through which he scored a surprising 25-yard screamer within the sixty fifth minute of the match. This aim made Guler the primary teenager to attain on his European Championship debut since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.
Sadly, Turkey was crushed 3-0 by Portugal of their second group stage recreation however had been again to profitable methods of their third, with Guler offering an help of their 2-1 win over Austria. Within the round-of-16 he put in two excellent crosses from setpieces permitting teammate Merih Demiral to attain two and once more beating Austria 2-1 to safe Turkey’s place within the final 8 of the competitors, with their subsequent opponents being the Netherlands.
Can Guler sustain this prime kind and assist Turkey to their second ever semi-final in a European competitors or will the Netherlands be an excessive amount of for the 19-year-old sensation.
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