Arda Turan shared his football journey at PAU

Arda Turan, the Technical Director of Eyüpspor, was the guest of the Sports Science Festivals organized by Pamukkale University (PAU) Faculty of Sports Sciences. The interview titled ‘Arda Turan’s Football Journey’, moderated by Prof. Dr. Utku Alemdaroğlu, attracted great interest from students.

As part of the Sports Science Festivals organized by PAU Faculty of Sports Sciences, former Turkish National Football Team player and captain Arda Turan met with students at Hüseyin Yılmaz Congress and Culture Center. Arda Turan shared his career journey and memories related to his football and coaching career, starting from his professional football days at Manisaspor to Barcelona and then Eyüpsor.

During the interview, Eyüpspor Technical Director Arda Turan provided information to university students about his football and coaching career, stating, ‘Unfortunately, as you know, in our country, especially in Denizli, there are very few areas where children can play this game. When I visited the Barcelona youth academy, I was curious about what they were doing. They were only letting kids play matches and teaching them how to pass the ball up to the age of 11-12. Many of you are involved in sports. The job of athletes is very tough in this aspect. Opportunities are very limited. However, I think that this process is a period between the ages of 17 and 21. We should not take away the chance for a player to play badly, to make mistakes. I was born in 1987 and the best players were from that period, I can say the 87s were the best. But a player from that age group managed to play at Barcelona, and three or four played in the Super League. While saying this, I want to emphasize that not everyone can be an attacking player, not everyone can be a star. This process develops like this, friends. You join the A team, an opportunity comes your way. Just like when I came to Galatasaray after Manisa. If I hadn’t taken advantage of that opportunity, maybe I wouldn’t be sitting in front of you right now.’

Turan, who said ‘Sports is a process,’ continued: ‘Sports is something based on human performance, and that’s why we need to remind people that they are humans before athletes. You also need to remember that you are human. Give yourself the right to make mistakes and never give up your right to dream. The Barcelona period is more precious to me. Because for the first six months, I didn’t play and I had the opportunity to have lessons every morning with players who were experts in on-field analysis, on tactics and systems. This expanded my horizons. The first six months at Barcelona were like a doctrine. Of course, you are in a constant adaptation process. It’s not easy; it’s the world’s biggest team. We are eager to wear the jersey of a team that has achieved great successes. I waited for 6 months, but what I experienced afterwards was very beautiful. It was a great experience. We won trophies together, we lost trophies. There are things that failures teach people a lot. It was a magnificent thing to see how the world’s greatest players were saddened after losing, how they sat down and cried, and what they worked for in those moments. If you work hard in life and you are very good, no one can take you anywhere. You reach good places because you work hard. Never break your dreams. Arda Güler, you see, is doing wonderful things today. Mete Gazoz is like my brother, he is one of the greatest athletes in history, Mete Gazoz. Do not just take examples from popular sports. The potential of this country is huge. Our country has a young population as large as the population of Spain. Please be aware of your potential.’

The interview with Arda Turan ended with the answering of questions from the students.