Turkey is not a leading country in terms of football, but we can safely say that sometimes very talented Turkish football players appear who manage to get to the very tops. Hamit Altıntop became one of these athletes. This central midfielder, which is already gradually moving towards the end of his professional career, several years ago was one of the most sought after players in Europe. What career path did this footballer do? What clubs did Hamit Altıntop play for and what did he achieve with them?
Carier start
Hamit Altıntop is a native of Germany - he was born in 1982 in the city of Gelsenkirchen. However, from early childhood he knew that he would play for the Turkish national team. He went through several football academies in Germany until at the age of 15 he ended up at the Wattenscheid Club Academy. When the young Turk was 18 years old, it was this club that offered him his first professional contract. Then few people thought it was promising. That is why for two and a half years, the Turks played for the club of the lower division of Germany, where he played a total of 75 matches, scoring 12 goals. Only then, the 21-year-old Hamit Altıntop was spotted by scouts from other larger German teams.
And in 2003 a miracle happened - for two million euros an unknown midfielder moved to one of the strongest clubs in Germany, Schalke. It was then that he began his ascent in big football.
The rise in Schalke
Many were surprised that the Schalke coach almost immediately entrusted the young inexperienced Turk with a place at the base, because all the latter's appearances in professional football were in the regional league. However, the fans were even more surprised when the Turkish footballer began to show an outstanding game. Already in the first season, he played 33 matches, scoring five goals and showing incredible abilities. For four years, Altintop played for Schalke, in 2005 winning his first trophy - the German League Cup. And the year before, he was recognized in his national team - Hamit made his debut in the Turkish team in 2004 at the age of 22 years.
Naturally, such indicators did not go unnoticed by football grandees. In 2007, any football player’s dream came true: Altyntop’s contract with Schalke expired, but the new one was signed by Munich Bavaria, Germany’s strongest club and one of the best in the world.
The heyday of Bavaria
When the Turk came to Bayern, he was considered a very interesting and rather promising footballer, so he often began to play in the base or come on as a substitute. Of course, he understood that after 149 matches for Schalke in Bayern, he wouldn’t have so much playing practice if he didn’t give himself completely to football. And he did everything in his power. He could play in almost any position and was always ready to help the team.
Together with Bayern, Hamit played 86 matches in four years - the first two seasons were followed by injuries, and in the second two injuries became fewer, but Hamit simply did not get into the main level. This did not stop him from winning the German Championship twice with Bavaria, the German Cup twice, the League Cup and the German Super Cup once, and also in 2010 to reach the Champions League final. When there was a chance to move to another great club, Altintop did not miss him.
Sunset at Real Madrid
In 2011, a 29-year-old footballer moved to Real Madrid, where, however, he was assigned only the role of a reservist. For the whole year, Hamit played in only 12 matches, but at the same time managed to win the championship of Spain before he realized that top clubs are already far from his level. As a result of this, he moved to FC Galatasaray.
Performances for Galatasaray
The strongest club in Turkey paid three and a half million euros for Altıntop Real Madrid, and to date, these costs have more than paid off. Hamit became an important part of the team: in the first season he played forty matches and helped his club become the country's champion, as well as win the Turkish Super Cup. But next season, injuries returned, and the midfielder played in only eight games. He spent the third season again at an altitude of 32 matches and two goals, but the last year he completely lay in the infirmary without appearing on the field even once. His contract is valid for another year, and if the player’s health does not improve, then he will have to end his career at 34.