Türkiye got off to a winning start in Euro 2024 beating Georgia in their opening game of Group F by 3-1 at Signal Iduna Park.
The 19-year-old winger Arda Guler starred the show, bending a beautiful curler into the top corner in the 65th minute which helped Türkiye to regain their lead. With this goal, he surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo to become the youngest-ever debutant to score a goal at the Euros.
Guler created three chances in the first half which was the most than any other player. He was also the only player to complete 100% of his passes in the opening 45 minutes.
His defensive work was also nothing short of spectacular making a team-high of three successful tackles.
Personal Life
Arda Guler was born on 25 February 2005, in Altındağ, Türkiye. He had a dream of becoming a professional footballer since childhood and his father, Umit, had a significant impact on his journey.
When he was a toddler, his father would place balloons in front of Guler’s left foot to encourage him to kick with his left side and practice. He started his football journey at the age of 9 when he joined a local academy Gençlerbirliği.
He impressed everyone with his dribbling and visionary skills and caught the attention of scouts of the Istanbul clubs.
Güler’s Heroics As a Ball boy
During his days at Gençlerbirliği academy, Guler had to work as a ballboy in certain games. In 2018, his club’s senior men’s team faced Trabzonspor.
Güler was close to the goal and felt he knew where the taker was going with the ball.
He shouted to his side’s goalkeeper, Johannes Hopf, to dive to the right. That’s exactly what the shot-stopper did, and he saved the spot kick.
Club Career
He made a switch to Fernabache in 2019. Guler started to play in the U16 team of the Fenerbahce, and two years later, he was promoted to the U19 team where he was regarded as the best player of the team.
He was given his senior team debut at the age of 16 years and 174 days in a Europa League qualification match.
His Turkish Super League debut was against Fraport TAV Antalyaspor in the 2021-22 season when he came on as a second-half substitute and assisted a goal.
He went on to score 7 goals in his debut Super League season pleasing his team and fans with his success.
In the 2022-23 season, Guler again was one of Fernabache’s important players as they lifted the Turkish cup. He had most assists per 90 minutes and most key passes per 90 minutes in the Turkish cup.
Guler joined Real Madrid from Fernabache in 2023, and is often labelled as Mesut Ozil replacement.
Ozil has had a great influence on Guler’s career having mentored him during his Fernabache days and the 19 year old is now poised to replicate former Real Madrid No 10’s career at the Bernabeu.
Road To Türkiye National Team
Arda Guler did not take long to break into Turkish National team. He got his first international cap in 2021 at the age of 16 years 06 months 09 days against Azerbaijan. He scored his first-ever goal for Türkiye in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Wales.
Arda Guler’s contract details and Weekly Wages
Arda Guler has signed a six year contract with Real Madrid which would last until June 2029.
According to Football España, the transfer was a total of 50 million euros, of which Guler’s father will receive more than €15 million in commission for the deal.
He reportedly gets paid an annual wage of €4.4 million.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
