İbrahim Üzülmez

Lore & Background

Üzülmez was born to a family of farmers in İzmit, Turkey. He would often sneak out of doing his farmer duties to go play football with friends. It was always his dream to play for Beşiktaş J.K. one day, as he listened to all their matches on the radio. At age 16, he was spotted playing football with friends in Gönen; impressed passersby called in scouts.

Gönenspor signed him for one year, then he moved to Karabükspor. After national military duties, he signed for Gaziantepspor, his first major professional team, staying 1.5 years. Beşiktaş then signed him. He shined in the 2002–03 season and was selected for the Turkey national team.

In 2006, after Sergen Yalçın's departure and Tümer Metin's signing with Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş named Üzülmez captain. His performance against Barcelona in the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League group stage is still remembered; he helped his team to a famous 3–0 win. In June 2008, he had a serious accident returning from Antalya holidays, hitting another car in Manisa and colliding with a tree, but came out safe. In the second half of the 2010–11 season, during half-time of a league game against MKE Ankaragücü, a fiery quarrel emerged with teammate İbrahim Toraman in the dressing room; details are unconfirmed, but the press reported Üzülmez punched Toraman on the head and Toraman remained unresponsive until other team members intervened.

Following the game, Üzülmez's contract was terminated by unanimous board decision, while Toraman was banished from speaking publicly. The next day, chairman Yıldırım Demirören arranged a press release with Üzülmez, stating he was an important figure in Beşiktaş history and his memory would be cherished; all his receivables were to be paid in a single sum. It is a strong opinion that the occurrence had preceding roots in another fight at Beşiktaş's 2008 pre-season camp in Austria, known as the 'slipper fight': Üzülmez asked Toraman why he came to lunch with slippers while others wore sports equipment; Toraman did not take it lightly and they clenched fists.

During his playing career, Üzülmez was often referred to by nicknames 'Deli İbrahim' or 'Deli İbo'. On 5 July 2011, he retired from professional football. In October 2019, he took over as coach of TFF First League side Çaykur Rizespor with a contract until the end of the season.

Reader's Guide

İbrahim Üzülmez is a former left-back and captain of Beşiktaş, known for his passionate play and nicknames 'Deli İbrahim' or 'Deli İbo'. He won multiple Süper Lig and Turkish Cup titles with Beşiktaş, and earned a third-place finish with Turkey at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. His managerial career began in 2019 with Çaykur Rizespor.