Özgür Aktaş Explained

Özgür Aktaş
Birth Date:27 January 1997
Birth Place:Cuijk, Netherlands[1]
Height:1.90 m
Position:Defender
Currentclub:MVV
Clubnumber:2
Youthyears1:–2012
Youthclubs1:JVC Cuijk
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:Vitesse
Youthyears3:2015–2018
Youthclubs3:NEC
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:Jong Vitesse
Caps1:28
Goals1:4
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:Vitesse
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2021
Clubs3:Fortuna Sittard
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2021
Clubs4:Dordrecht (loan)
Caps4:34
Goals4:2
Years5:2021–2023
Clubs5:Telstar
Caps5:70
Goals5:5
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:MVV
Caps6:37
Goals6:2
Club-Update:08:16, 9 June 2024 (UTC)

Özgür Aktaş (born 27 January 1997) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for club MVV.

Club career

Vitesse

Born in Cuijk, Aktaş started his career at local club JVC Cuijk and joined the youth academy of Vitesse in 2012. In 2015, he moved to the youth academy of NEC. In March 2017, Aktaş, together with Lars Kramer, was promoted to the first team by head coach Peter Hyballa due to injuries on their position.[2] On 5 April 2017, he sat on the bench once during the away match in the Eredivisie against FC Groningen, but did not make an appearance.[3] In the 2017–18 season, Aktaş again played for the second team, Jong NEC, in the Beloften Eredivisie.

In 2018, Aktaş returned to Vitesse where he joined their second team, Jong Vitesse, who competed in the Tweede Divisie. He made 28 appearances in which he scored 4 goals. At the end of the 2018–19 season, he was brought into the first-team squad and sat on the bench twice during the play-offs. The 2019–20 season again saw Aktaş play for Jong Vitesse, now playing in the Beloften Competitie. At the beginning of September, a transfer to FC Den Bosch did not materialise and later that month, Aktaş, together with Patrick Vroegh, were promoted to the Vitesse first team by head coach Leonid Slutsky.[4] [5] Under caretaker manager Joseph Oosting, Aktaş made his professional debut for Vitesse on 17 December 2019 in the KNVB Cup home matchup against ODIN '59 in which he replaced Danilho Doekhi after 85 minutes.[6] His contract expired in the summer of 2020, making him a free agent.

Fortuna Sittard and Dordrecht

In August 2020, Aktaş was signed by Fortuna Sittard, who sent him directly on a season-long loan to Eerste Divisie club FC Dordrecht.[7] After returning from his loan, his contract was not renewed, making him a free agent.[8]

Telstar

In August 2021, Aktaş signed with SC Telstar.[9] He made his official debut on 13 August in a 2–2 draw against NAC Breda, coming on as a substitute for Jip Molenaar in the 75th minute.[10] On 17 September, he scored his first goal for Telstar, which proved to be the match-winner in the 1–0 away win over his former club Dordrecht.[11] [12]

MVV

On 14 July 2023, Aktaş joined Eerste Divisie club MVV on a two-year contract.[13] He made his debut for the Sterrendragers on the first matchday of the season, starting in a 3–1 win over VVV-Venlo.[14] [15] On 6 November, he scored his first goal for the club, opening the score by heading in a Tunahan Taşçı corner-kick in a 1–1 league draw against Emmen.[16]

International career

He is available to represent for either the Netherlands or Turkey, being born in the Netherlands and is of Turkish descent.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueKNVB CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Vitesse2018–19Tweede Divisie284284
Vitesse2019–20Eredivisie001010
Fortuna Sittard2020–21Eredivisie000000
Dordrecht (loan)2020–21Eerste Divisie34200342
Telstar2021–22Eerste Divisie36531396
2022–23Eerste Divisie34020360
Total70551756
MVV2023–24Eerste Divisie37210382
Career total16913710017614

Notes and References

  1. News: Pichel . Dominique . Cuijkse Vitessenaar Özgür Aktas klopt op de deur: Ik kijk tegen niemand op . 20 October 2020 . de Gelderlander . 29 February 2020 . Dutch.
  2. News: NEC vult defensie aan met jeugdspelers . 20 October 2020 . Omroep Gelderland . 20 March 2017 . Dutch.
  3. Web site: FC Groningen vs. NEC . int.soccerway.com . Perform Group . 20 October 2020.
  4. News: Lammers . Lex . Transfer Aktas van Vitesse naar Den Bosch op slotdag afgeketst . 20 October 2020 . De Gelderlander . 5 September 2019 . Dutch.
  5. News: Jeugdspelers sluiten definitief aan bij eerste elftal Vitesse . 20 October 2020 . Omroep Gelderland . 19 September 2019 . Dutch.
  6. News: Lammers . Lex . Vitesse eenvoudig naar derde ronde van de KNVB-beker . 20 October 2020 . De Gelderlander . 17 September 2019 . Dutch.
  7. Web site: Nieuwkomer Özgür Aktas op huurbasis naar Dordrecht . fortunasittard.nl . Fortuna Sittard . 20 October 2020 . Dutch . 11 August 2020.
  8. News: Overzicht: Alle afgeronde zomertransfers in de Eredivisie . NU . 28 June 2021 . nl.
  9. News: Brinkman . Erik-Jan . Vier nieuwe contracten getekend bij Telstar: Getalsmatig zijn we rond . NH Nieuws . 13 August 2021 . nl.
  10. Web site: NAC Breda vs. Telstar - 13 August 2021 - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . 25 September 2021.
  11. Web site: Dordrecht vs. Telstar - 17 September 2021 - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . 25 September 2021.
  12. News: Swagers . Stef . Eindelijk weer drie punten voor Telstar; eerste overwinning in zes maanden . NH Nieuws . 17 September 2021 . nl.
  13. Centrale verdediger Özgür Aktas naar MVV . MVV Maastricht . 19 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230719165157/https://www.mvv.nl/nieuws/centrale-verdediger-ozgur-aktas-naar-mvv . 19 July 2023 . nl . 14 July 2023.
  14. Web site: VVV vs. MVV 1–3: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 5 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240105111854/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/13/netherlands/eerste-divisie/vvv-venlo/stichting-mvv/4097218/ . 5 January 2024.
  15. News: MVV opent eerste divisie met winst in Limburgse derby bij VVV, Willem II speelt gelijk . 5 January 2024 . NOS . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822023508/https://nos.nl/artikel/2486554-mvv-opent-eerste-divisie-met-winst-in-limburgse-derby-bij-vvv-willem-ii-speelt-gelijk . 22 August 2023 . nl.
  16. News: Appeven . Stephan van . MVV en Emmen in evenwicht: 1-1 . 14 April 2024 . RTV Maastricht . 6 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201101646/https://rtvmaastricht.nl/nieuws/artikel/mvv-en-emmen-in-evenwicht-1-1 . 1 December 2023 . nl.