Mustafa Denizli is a former
TurkishTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
football player and coach. He has won the Turkish League title five times, all with the 'Istanbul Big Three' (Fenerbahçe,
GalatasarayGalatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
and
BeşiktaşBeşiktaş 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...
). He is currently the only manager in history to win the Turkish league with three different clubs. He also managed the
Turkish national 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...
and reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.
Playing career
He spent 17 years with his hometown club
Altay SKAltay Spor Kulübü is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of İzmir. Formed in 1914, Altay are nicknamed Büyük Altay . The club colours are black and white, and they play their home matches at İzmir Alsancak Stadium....
in İzmir, gaining a reputation as one of the best left-sided forwards in the league. In 1980, he became topscorer with 12 goals. Denizli transferred then in 1983 to
GalatasarayGalatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
after Altay's relegation in 1982–83 season, but retired at the end of the season 1983–1984 from active sport. During his playing time, he was capped 33 times for the national team.
Galatasaray
He started his next career as the assistant coach to
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Jupp Derwall and served three years in this position at Galatasaray. In 1987, he took over his master’s position as coach and won the Turkish league. For the same season, Denizli was appointed head coach of the Turkish national football team. In the season 1988–1989, he reached the semi-finals of the European Cup with Galatasaray, but the road to the final was blocked by Steaua Bucuresti.
Alemannia Aachen
For the season 1989–1990, Denizli signed a contract with the German second league side
Alemannia AachenAlemannia Aachen is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three-year turn in the top flight in the late 1960s and, after a successful 2005–06 campaign, returned to first division play...
. Denizli had installed a new type of attacking football for the German club but he left from this club due to
Alemannia AachenAlemannia Aachen is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three-year turn in the top flight in the late 1960s and, after a successful 2005–06 campaign, returned to first division play...
was faced with relegation to third league.
Galatasaray
Returned to Turkey after one season, he was responsible for Galatasaray again. The team won Turkish Cup under his management in 1990–1991 and played in the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup.
Turkey
From 1992 to 1995, he coached Kocaelispor and then he was appointed the second time head coach for the national team, he served until 2000. At the 2000 European Football Championship, Turkey played quarter finals with him, first time ever in the country’s history.
Fenerbahçe
In 2000, Fenerbahçe offered him a position, and at the end of the season 2000–2001, Fenerbahçe won the league championship title after 5 years again. Denizli is the first Turkish coach of Fenerbahçe ever to win the league championship, but he enjoyed a rather poor
Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
run with defeats against
FC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and
Bayer LeverkusenBayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
. In 2002 the Nigerian national football team wanted to sign Denizli for their
2002 World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
campaign but due to several problems it was cancelled. He then transferred to Vestel Manisaspor.
Pas Tehran
In 2004, Denizli received several offers from
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South-Korea, but he chose to use his knowledge for
IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
to coach the
premier leagueThe Iran Pro League , is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.The league system resembles the system being used in England currently...
champion
Pas TehranPas Tehran Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran.Pas F.C. was the football club of the multisport Pas Cultural and Sport Club....
. Denizli made a run for the league title but became only second in the league. There were rumours that Denizli would be the coach of the
Iran national football teamThe national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
to lead it to a successful
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. He also reached the quarterfinals of the
AFC Champions LeagueThe AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
with Pas, where he was knocked out 4–4 on aggregate by
Al AinAl-Ain Sports and Cultural Club is a professional association football and mult-sports club based in the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The football section of Al Ain won the 2003 AFC Champions League competition with a 2-1 aggregate victory over BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand.Al Ain...
. Denizli said he was going to leave Pas and headback for Turkey, although he had an option to sign a contract in
DubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. It was said that Denizli would take over the Iranian national team after
Branko IvankovicBranko Ivanković is a Croatian football coach and former player. After a 12-year playing career at Varteks Varaždin, Ivanković started his coaching career at the same club in 1991. He led the Iranian national football team at the 2006 World Cup...
failed to make an impression on the world stage, but the
IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian
Amir GhalenoeiAmir Ghalenoei is an Iranian football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of Tractor Sazi...
was chosen over him.
Persepolis
In August 2006, Denizli was hired as the manager of the Iranian giants, Persepolis, after
Arie Haan was fired. He resigned on 3 June 2007 after an unsuccessful season with Persepolis in which he failed in the
Hazfi CupThe Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion....
with an embarrassing 4–1 defeat to Sepahan and more importantly the
IPLThe Iran Pro League , is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.The league system resembles the system being used in England currently...
in which his immensely talented team only managed a third place finish.
Denizli announced he was a little interested in becoming Iran National football team manager, provided he can reach agreements with the IRIFF.
http://www.iranproleague.net/news/Morenews.cfm?News=3573
Beşiktaş
On 9 October 2008 he signed a 1 year contract with
BesiktasBeşiktaş 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...
. On 30 May the club claimed its 13th Turkish Super League title under his guidance. Denizli is the only one in Turkey who have managed to win the national league with the "three biggest" football clubs (Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray) as a manager. With 2008/09 league title, Denizli also clings to the achievement of being "the one and only Turkish coach
Beşiktaş 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...
earned the league title with". 2 June 2010 According to a number of reports from Turkey, experienced gaffer Denizli has resigned as head coach of Turkcell Super Lig titans Besiktas due to medical reasons.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/467/turkey/2010/06/02/1955254/mustafa-denizli-resigns-as-besiktas-coach-report
Managerial statistics
| Team |
From |
To |
Record |
| G | W | D | L | Win % |
 GalatasarayGalatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
|
1987 |
1989
|
 Alemannia AachenAlemannia Aachen is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three-year turn in the top flight in the late 1960s and, after a successful 2005–06 campaign, returned to first division play...
|
1989 |
1990
|
| Galatasaray Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
|
1990 |
1992
|
| Kocaelispor Kocaelispor, is the football team of İzmit, Turkey. They were founded in 1966 and played in the Turkish football league between 1980–1988 and 1992–2003. The best result for them was the 4th position in 1992–93 season...
|
1994 |
1996
|
| Turkey 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...
|
1996 |
2000
|
| Fenerbahçe |
2000 |
2001
|
| Vestel Manisaspor |
2003 |
2004
|
 PAS Tehran |
2004 |
2006
|
| Persepolis |
2006 |
2007
|
| Beşiktaş 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...
|
2008 |
2010
|
Total
|
Managerial honours
- Galatasaray
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
- Turkish League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
: 1 (1987–88)
- President Cup
The TFF Süper Kupa, as it is currently known, is the annual super cup football match contested between the previous season's Süper Lig champions and the Turkish Cup winners in Turkey. It was originally known as the Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kupası from 1966 to 1998. No competition was held between 1999 and...
: 2 (1988, 1991)
- Turkish Cup: 1 (1990–91)
- European Cup
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: Semi-final
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: Quarter-final
- Turkish national football team
- Fenerbahçe
- Turkish League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
: 1 (2000–01)
- PAS Tehran
- Iran Pro League: Winner (2003–04)
- AFC Champions League 2005
The 2005 AFC Champions League was the 24th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 3rd edition under the current AFC Champions League title....
: Quarter-final
- Persepolis
- Hazfi Cup
The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion....
: Runner-Up (2005–06)
- Beşiktaş
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...
- Turkish Cup: 1 (2008–09)
- Turkish League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
: 1 (2008–09)
- Individual
- IFFHS's 11th best national team coach in the world 2000.
External links