Recep Çetin

Recep Çetin
	Recep Cetin (1998)
Personal information
Full name	Recep Çetin
Date of birth	1 October 1965 (age 56)
Place of birth	Sakarya, Turkey
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Right back
Youth career
1979–1984	Sakaryaspor
Senior career*
Years	Team
1984–1988	Boluspor
1988–1998	Beşiktaş
1998–1999	Trabzonspor
1999–2001	İstanbulspor
National team
1984	Turkey U18
1986–1987	Turkey U21
1998	Turkey U23
1988–1997	Turkey
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Recep Çetin (born 1 October 1965 in Karasu) is a Turkish footballer whose career as a defender lasted from 1979 to 2002.^[2]

Career[]

A native of the town of Karasu in the Marmara Region's Sakarya Province, Recep Çetin began his football career in 1979 at the age of 14 as a youth trainee in the Sakaryaspor football club, where he remained upon turning professional at 19 in 1984. He joined Boluspor in 1984. He was upset due to his team relegated to second level after placing last in the table in 1984-85 season.^[3] However, he won Second League championship at Group B and returned to top level in 1985-86 season.^[4] Transferrring to Beşiktaş J.K. in 1988, he was selected to play for the Turkey national football team 56 times and played 10 seasons in Beşiktaş. He won 4 league titles, 3 Turkish Cups, 4 President's Cups, 2 Prime Minister's Cups and 5 TSYD Cup championships. Upon leaving Beşiktaş he transferred to Trabzonspor in 1998 and then to İstanbulspor in 1999, ultimately retiring in 2001.

Known for his versatile playing style, defensive strength, and charismatic looks, he was nicknamed "Takoz Recep". His goal against Switzerland elevated Takoz to legend status. He remains a football icon in Turkey with a cult following.