Fatih Sonkaya
Encyclopedia
Fatih Sonkaya is a Turkish
footballer who plays for Kayseri Erciyesspor
as a right defender.
He also holds Dutch
nationality, due to the many years spent in that country.
, Eastern Anatolia
, Turkey
, Sonkaya spent most of his youth in Heerlen
, Netherlands
where he, together with older brother Özcan, started playing soccer at RKSV Heerlen. He started his professional career at Roda JC in 1998 and, after six seasons (three as first-choice), with a loan to VVV-Venlo in between, transferred to Beşiktaş J.K.
in his homeland.
In 2005–06, Sonkaya moved to Portuguese
club F.C. Porto, and collected the league winner's medal, albeit playing sparingly. The following season he was loaned to Académica de Coimbra also in the country, appearing in just four top division contests.
After another loan, now back in Holland with Roda, Sonkaya was released in June 2008 and joined Bursaspor
. However, midway through the season, he moved to Azerbaijan
's FK Khazar Lankaran.
In February 2010, Sonkaya returned to his country, signing with Kayseri Erciyesspor
in the second level
.
since 2003, Sonkaya gained six caps
, and appeared twice in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
, as the national side finished third.
.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
footballer who plays for Kayseri Erciyesspor
Kayseri Erciyesspor
Kayseri Erciyesspor is a Turkish sports club based in Kayseri from the year 1932. Kayseri Erciyesspor currently plays in TFF 1. League. On 2004, Kayserispor switched names with Erciyesspor...
as a right defender.
He also holds Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
nationality, due to the many years spent in that country.
Club career
Although born in OltuOltu
Oltu is a town and district of Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The mayor is İbrahim Ziyrek . The population is 19,969 .-History:...
, Eastern Anatolia
Eastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Sonkaya spent most of his youth in Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
where he, together with older brother Özcan, started playing soccer at RKSV Heerlen. He started his professional career at Roda JC in 1998 and, after six seasons (three as first-choice), with a loan to VVV-Venlo in between, transferred to Beşiktaş J.K.
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
in his homeland.
In 2005–06, Sonkaya moved to Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
club F.C. Porto, and collected the league winner's medal, albeit playing sparingly. The following season he was loaned to Académica de Coimbra also in the country, appearing in just four top division contests.
After another loan, now back in Holland with Roda, Sonkaya was released in June 2008 and joined Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
. However, midway through the season, he moved to Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's FK Khazar Lankaran.
In February 2010, Sonkaya returned to his country, signing with Kayseri Erciyesspor
Kayseri Erciyesspor
Kayseri Erciyesspor is a Turkish sports club based in Kayseri from the year 1932. Kayseri Erciyesspor currently plays in TFF 1. League. On 2004, Kayserispor switched names with Erciyesspor...
in the second level
TFF First League
The TFF First League is the second level of the Turkish football league system. The league was founded in 2000 after it was separated from the Turkish Second League Category B during reorganizing Second League, who was second level of Turkish league between 1963–2001...
.
International career
A Turkish internationalTurkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
since 2003, Sonkaya gained six caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, and appeared twice in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...
, as the national side finished third.
Honours
- TurkeyTurkey national football teamThe Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
:- FIFA Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: Third place 20032003 FIFA Confederations CupThe 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...
- FIFA Confederations Cup
- Porto:
- Portuguese League: 2005–06
- Portuguese Supercup: 2005
Personal
On some soccer websites, Sonkaya and his brother were sometimes confused, placing Özcan at Roda, while Fatih is viewed as playing for MVV MaastrichtMVV Maastricht
MVV Maastricht is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Maastricht, founded on April 2, 1902...
.