Volkan Demirel

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Volkan Demirel's path to becoming Fenerbahçe's starting goalkeeper was a long battle with competition. After Reçber's transfer to Barcelona, Demirel competed in 19 league matches in the 2003–04 season, splitting time with Recep Biler (who played in 14 matches). He won the 2003–04 Süper Lig title with Fenerbahçe. The following season, he won another Süper Lig title, but was relegated to the bench after Rüştü Reçber returned to the club. Demirel was the starting goalkeeper at the start of the 2005–06 season, but was benched halfway through. At the start of the 2006–07, Demirel was the first choice keeper, but was supplanted by Reçber for a second time. After Reçber suffered an injury, Serdar Kulbilge took over as starting goalkeeper in favor of Demirel for the rest of the season. Demirel played in 25 league matches the following season, with Kulbilge playing the rest. Following Kulbilge's transfer to Kocaelispor, Demirel took over as starting goalkeeper and signed a four-year contract extension at the end of the 2008–09 season.

In Their Own Story

In the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie with Sevilla, Demirel made several mistakes, costing two goals. However, he went on to save three penalties in the penalty shootout, helping Fenerbahçe progress to the quarter-finals, the first time in club history. Fenerbahçe went on to face Chelsea, losing 2–3 on aggregate. At UEFA Euro 2008, Demirel was the starting goalkeeper for the Turkey national team, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in team history. He started all three group stage matches, but was suspended for two matches after receiving a red card against the Czech Republic for viciously pushing Jan Koller to the ground after Jan for unknown reasons ran and shouted at him.

Reader's Guide

Volkan Demirel's career at Fenerbahçe was defined by competition and resilience. He won five Süper Lig titles (2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2013–14), two Turkish Cups (2011–12, 2012–13), and three Turkish Super Cups (2007, 2009, 2014). He also earned a bronze medal with Turkey at UEFA Euro 2008. After retiring as a player on 2 September 2019, he worked as an assistant coach at Fenerbahçe under Ersun Yanal, Tahir Karapınar, Erol Bulut and Emre Belözoğlu. He ended his assistant coaching career at Fenerbahçe on 14 July 2021. He then managed Fatih Karagümrük (signed 17 December 2021, first match a 1–0 away win over Göztepe on 19 December), Hatayspor (signed 21 September 2022 for one season with an option to extend), and Bodrum (appointed 30 October 2024, parted ways by mutual agreement on 3 February 2025).

Did You Know?

• Demirel was born in Fatih, Istanbul to a family from Artvin with Georgian and Laz roots.
• He is married to former Miss Belgium Zeynep Sever and they have two daughters named Yade (born February 2014) and Yeda (born September 2017).
• His nickname 'Ayı Volkan' ('Volkan the Bear') was given due to his imposing physique and passionate demeanor; Demirel has stated he is not bothered by the nickname and takes it in good humour.
• In 2014, just before a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Kazakhstan, Demirel left the Turkey national team after a dispute with a fan.
• He saved three penalties in the penalty shootout against Sevilla in the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, helping Fenerbahçe reach the quarter-finals for the first time in club history.