Servet Çetin

Lore & Background

Çetin joined Kartalspor in 1990 after the club manager called his house looking for his older brother İrfan. Servet informed the manager that his brother was not home, and upon learning Servet was interested in football, he was invited to join as an amateur and played that day as a right-back. He signed professional terms at the start of the 1999–2000 season. He joined Göztepe at the start of the 2001–02 season.

He was signed by Rıza Çalımbay for Denizlispor at the start of the 2002–03 season. Denizlispor eliminated Lorient, Sparta Prague, and Lyon in the UEFA Cup before losing to eventual winners Porto. Çetin became a household name in Turkish football. Fenerbahçe reached an agreement with Denizlispor for a reported $1.5 million for Çetin to start the 2003–04 season. He made eight league appearances in his first season as Fenerbahçe won the Süper Lig.

In 2004–05, Fenerbahçe won the Süper Lig again, with Çetin partnering Fabio Luciano for most of the season. An injury in March 2005 cut his season short; he returned in September 2005. After Christoph Daum was sacked, Zico signed Diego Lugano and Edu Dracena, and Çetin joined Sivasspor on transfer deadline day in 2006 with Fenerbahçe not demanding a fee. At Sivasspor, he helped lead the team to 7th place.

On 15 April 2007, Çetin signed a three-year contract with Galatasaray. He made almost 50 appearances and scored five goals in the league-winning campaign, becoming a fixture in the Turkey national team and being selected for UEFA Euro 2008. After the 2011–12 season, Galatasaray did not renew his contract. On 1 July 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Eskişehirspor.

His contract was not extended at the end of the 2013–14 season. He then signed a one-year contract with Mersin İdman Yurdu. After the end of the 2015–16 season, Çetin retired from playing. From 2017 to 2023, he served as an assistant coach under Rıza Çalımbay. On 26 June 2023, after Çalımbay left Sivasspor, Çetin took over as head coach.

Reader's Guide

Servet Çetin is a former centre-back known for his height and strength, earning the nickname "Ayıboğan." He won the Süper Lig twice with Fenerbahçe (2003–04, 2004–05) and once with Galatasaray (2007–08). He played for Turkey at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and UEFA Euro 2008, where Turkey reached the semi-finals. He later became a manager, currently coaching Sarıyer.

Did You Know?

• Çetin's nickname 'Ayıboğan' literally means 'a man who could choke a bear.'
• He made his professional debut as a right-back for Kartalspor in 1990 after a chance phone call.
• He once played as a goalkeeper for Eskişehirspor in a match against Bursaspor on 25 January 2014, saving a penalty.
• He captained the Turkey national team for the first time in a 2–1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2008.