Nihat Kahveci

Lore & Background

Nihat is a product of Beşiktaş's youth system and was discovered by Hürser Mustafa Cindir when Nihat played in Beşiktaş in the 1996–97 season. He joined the first team at Beşiktaş in the 1997–98 season when he was just 17. In January 2002, Nihat was transferred to Real Sociedad for €5 million by his former Beşiktaş coach John Toshack. He had his debut on 26 January in a 3–1 loss against Celta de Vigo. His first goal came in a 2–2 draw against Rayo Vallecano on 24 February 2002. In the 2002–03 season, he scored 23 goals, making him the league's joint-second highest scorer. That season, Real Sociedad finished second in La Liga. He formed a fruitful strike partnership with Serbian forward Darko Kovačević. In his third season at Real Sociedad, Nihat made 32 appearances scoring 14 goals and played in the UEFA Champions League. He won the Don Balón Award for Best Foreign Player. In his fourth season, he tore his ACL during a match against Sevilla. On 16 May 2006, Nihat agreed to join Villarreal CF on a five-year contract on a Bosman transfer. He tore his ACL again on 22 November 2006 during a training ground collision with Javi Venta. In his second season at Villarreal, he scored 18 goals in the league and four goals in the UEFA Cup, helping the club finish second in La Liga. On 27 June 2009, Nihat returned to Beşiktaş on a four-year deal. Over two seasons he managed 34 appearances in the league, netting only three goals. On 18 May 2011, Beşiktaş terminated Nihat's contract. On 12 January 2012, Nihat announced his retirement from football. He later joined the coaching staff at Villarreal as an assistant-manager of the youth team.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium as the clock ticked past eighty minutes. The crowd roared, sensing something special in the air. Nihat received the ball near the halfway line, his yellow jersey flashing under the lights. He accelerated, leaving defenders trailing in his wake like ghosts. With a simple touch inside, he curled the shot into the top corner. The stadium erupted, a sea of yellow and navy celebrating another moment of pure magic.

Reader's Guide

Nihat is a Turkish former professional footballer who played as a forward and right winger. He is known for his blistering speed and technical precision. He scored twice in a pivotal Euro 2008 group match against the Czech Republic, helping Turkey win 3–2. He was ruled out of the semi-final with Germany due to a thigh injury. He works as a football commentator for TRT.

Did You Know?

• Nihat's shirt carries his first name, Nihat, rather than his family name, Kahveci.
• He married Pınar Kaşgören on 5 July 2003; their daughter Selin was born in May 2008.
• He scored a brace in the Basque derby in the 2002–03 season, helping Real Sociedad win 4–2.
• He was nicknamed 'Little' in the 'Little and Large' partnership with Darko Kovačević due to their height difference.
• He won the Don Balón Award for Best Foreign Player in the 2003–04 season.