Hikmet Karaman

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Lore & Background

Hikmet Karaman was born in Tirebolu, Giresun, Turkey. He started his football career in the junior category of Kocaelispor as a striker, then midfielder, and finally left-back. While studying in Berlin, Germany, he played for Rot-Weiß, Normania 08, and served as a trainer-player for Berlin Turkspor 1965. He later worked as an assistant coach at Galatasaray, Kocaelispor, and Fenerbahçe. As a head coach, he managed clubs including Kocaelispor, Zeytinburnuspor, Erzurumspor, Çaykur Rizespor, Adanaspor, Kayserispor, MKE Ankaragücü, Ankaraspor, Antalyaspor, Manisaspor, and Gaziantepspor.

In Their Own Story

Hikmet Karaman's Kocaelispor faced Beşiktaş, coached by Christoph Daum. The score was 4–0, a jaw-dropping victory that secured the cup and a place in the UEFA Cup. Earlier that season, during a preparatory camp, his team had defeated Arsenal, coached by Arsène Wenger, with a remarkable score of 4–1. These moments defined a manager who could lift underdogs to stunning heights.

Reader's Guide

Hikmet Karaman is a Turkish football manager with a UEFA Pro License. He is known for saving teams from relegation and winning the Turkish Cup with Kocaelispor in 2001–02. He also won promotion to the Süper Lig with Antalyaspor and the TFF 1. Lig title with Çaykur Rizespor and Antalyaspor.

Did You Know?

• Hikmet Karaman played as a striker, midfielder, and left-back during his playing career.
• He won the Turkish Cup with Kocaelispor in 2001–02, defeating Beşiktaş 4–0 in the final.
• He speaks German at an advanced level and English at an elementary level.
• He holds a UEFA Pro License and earned his coaching licenses at the Köln Hennef Sportschule.