Kerimoglu, Tugay

Glasgow Rangers & Turkey

Birthdate: August 24, 1970
Birthplace: Trabzon, Turkey
Height: 1.76 mts
Weight: 73 kgs
Position: Midfielder
International: 50 caps, 2 goals (as of August 1, 2000)
World Cups: 0
Previous Clubs: Trabzonspor, Galatasaray
Transfer Fee: $1.85 Millions of Dollars
The talented midfielder, rated by no less a judge than Gheorghe Hagi as one of the best in Europe, won four league titles and played 240 Turkish league matches and 52 UEFA club competition matches with Galatasaray SK, scoring a total of 43 goals. However he decided to move on after losing his first-team place. On the recommendation of former Galatasaray and Rangers FC boss Graeme Souness, Rangers made a £1.3 million swoop from Tugay in January 2000, although the midfield star had also been attracting attention from Newcastle United FC and Valencia CF. In signing for Rangers Tugay became the first Turk to ever play in the Scottish league. An attacking midfielder, he poses a real danger when arriving late in the penalty box and, despite his lack of club appearances this season, national team coach Mustafa Denizli has on several occasions pointed out how crucial to Turkey’s Euro 2000 cause he feels Tugay is.