Hakan Şükür. Turkish legend and scorer of the fastest ever goal at a World Cup. 11 seconds for Turkey against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup Third-Place play-off.
10.89 seconds to be precise.
From kick off, Korea pass the ball backwards, the press from the Turkish front two pushing the ball all the way back to the centre back, who dallies on the ball for too long. The ball is won, and Şükür takes one touch before smashing the ball home past the goalkeeper and falling over in the same movement.
Turkey would end up winning the match (and 3rd place) 3-2 against the co-hosts.
51 goals in 112 caps for Turkey. The greatest ever goalscorer from the country. And he scored the fastest goal in World Cup history. Turkey finished 3rd in the 2002 World Cup, a feat that has led to them being dubbed dark horses at every international tournament they’ve qualified for since.
He’s still the all-time leading goalscorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 249 goals. It was a career mainly spent with Galatasaray where he won eight league titles, five Turkish cups, and the UEFA Cup in 1999/2000. Throw in 5 Turkish player of the year awards and it’s a stellar career like no other Turkish player can get close to.
So, how did he end up in the USA driving an Uber and selling books?
Back in February 2016, Şükür was charged with insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Twitter. After an attempted coup in August of the same year, an arrest warrant was issued stating Şükür was a member of the now designated terrorist organisation the Gülen movement. Şükür had left Turkey to live in California after his term as a member of parliament had ended in 2015. Since moving to the States, he has been a part-owner of a café/bar, has worked as an Uber driver, and sold books. His properties, businesses, and bank accounts had been seized by the Turkish government, so now one of the most famous people in Turkey was frozen out. He is still living in the USA with his family.
There are few like Erdoğan to hold a grudge (oh these delicate leaders), and during a match between Morocco and Canada at the World Cup in 2022, a Turkish state-run broadcaster mentioned Şükür’s name in commentary in reference to an early goal. He was removed at half-time and sacked from his job the same day.
For any players out there, be wary of scoring a goal toooooo early in a big match.
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