Turkey is not leading in football termsa country, however, you can safely say that sometimes there are very talented Turkish footballers who manage to reach the very top. One of these athletes was Hamit Altintop. This central midfielder, who is already gradually moving towards the end of his professional career, was one of the most sought-after European players a few years ago. What career path did this footballer do? What clubs did Hamit Altyntop play for and what did you achieve with them?
Carier start
Hamit Altintop is a native of Germany - heborn in 1982 in the city of Gelsenkirchen. However, from early childhood, he knew that he would play for the Turkish national team. He went through several football academies in Germany until, at the age of 15, he ended up at the Academy of the Wattenscheid Club. When the young Turk turned 18, it was this club that offered him his first professional contract. Then very few people considered it promising. That is why for two and a half years the Turks played for the lower division club of Germany, where he played a total of 75 matches, scoring 12 goals. Only then was the 21-year-old Hamit Altintop seen by scouts from other larger German teams.
And in 2003, a miracle happened - for two millionThe euro to an unknown midfielder moved to one of the strongest clubs in Germany, "Schalke". It was then that began his ascent in the big football.
The rise in "Schalke"
Many were surprised that the trainer "Schalke"almost immediately entrusted the young inexperienced Turk to a place at the base, because all the performances of the latter in professional football were in the regional league. However, even more fans were surprised when the Turkish football player began to show an outstanding game. Already in the first season, he played 33 matches, scoring five goals and demonstrating incredible abilities. For four years Altintop played for Schalke, in 2005, winning his first trophy - the German League Cup. And a year before that, he was recognized in his national team - Hamit made his debut in the Turkish team in 2004 at the age of 22.
Naturally, these figures did not remainunnoticed football grandees. In 2007, the dream of any football player came true: Altyntop's contract with Schalke expired, but Bayern Munich, Germany’s strongest club and one of the best in the world, signed the new one.
Flourishing in Bavaria
When the Turk came to Bavaria, he was considered veryan interesting and quite promising player, so it became quite often to play in the base or to replace. Of course, he understood that after 149 matches for “Schalke” in “Bavaria” he doesn’t have so much match practice if he isn’t completely given to football. And he did everything in his power. He could play almost any position and was always ready to help the team.
Together with the "Bavaria" Hamit played 86 matches forfour years - the first two seasons he pursued injuries, and in the second two injuries became less, but Hamit simply did not fall into the basis of the level. This did not prevent him from winning the Bavaria German Championship twice, the German Cup twice, the League Cup and the German Super Cup once, and in 2010 to get to the Champions League final. When there was a chance to go to another great club, Altintop did not miss it.
Sunset in "Real"
In 2011, the 29-year-old football player moved toReal Madrid, where, however, he was assigned only the role of a reservist. For the whole year, Hamit played just 12 games, but he managed to win the Spanish Championship before he realized that the top clubs are far from his level. As a result, he moved to FC Galatasaray.
Performances for "Galatasaray"
Turkey's strongest club paid for Altyntop"Real" three and a half million euros, and to date, these costs more than paid off. Hamit became an important part of the team: in the first season, he played forty matches and helped his club become the champion of the country, as well as win the Turkish Super Cup. But next season, injuries returned, and the midfielder played only eight games. He spent the third season again at a height of 32 matches and two goals, but he spent the last year completely in the infirmary, never appearing on the field. His contract is valid for one more year, and if the player’s health does not improve, he will have to end his career at 34 years.
