Alim Öztürk

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Alim Öztürk

|image = Alim zturk-1530019333 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Öztürk in 2018

|fullname = Alim Öztürk{{cite web |url=https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=526&kisiId=1569033 |title=Ali̇m Öztürk |publisher=Turkish Football Federation |access-date=15 October 2019 |language=tr}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|17|df=y}}

|birth_place = Alkmaar, Netherlands

|height = 1.91 m{{cite web | url = http://trabzonspor.org.tr/default.asp?Sayfa=SporcuDetay&IND=397 | title = Alim Öztürk | publisher = Trabzonspor.org.tr | access-date = 17 February 2014 | language = tr | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222052156/http://trabzonspor.org.tr/default.asp?Sayfa=SporcuDetay&IND=397 | archive-date = 22 February 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}

|position = Defender

|currentclub = Iğdır

|clubnumber = 4

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = AFC '34

|youthyears2 =

|youthclubs2 = Hellas Sport Combinatie

|youthyears3 =

|youthclubs3 = Groningen

|years1 = 2011–2013

|clubs1 = Cambuur

|caps1 = 13

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2013–2014

|clubs2 = Trabzonspor

|caps2 = 0

|goals2 = 0

|years4 = 2013–2014

|clubs4 = → 1461 Trabzon (loan)

|caps4 = 18

|goals4 = 2

|years5 = 2014–2017

|clubs5 = Heart of Midlothian

|caps5 = 62

|goals5 = 5

|years6 = 2017–2018

|clubs6 = Boluspor

|caps6 = 40

|goals6 = 1

|years7 = 2018–2020

|clubs7 = Sunderland

|caps7 = 35

|goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2020–2022

|clubs8 = Ümraniyespor

|caps8 = 33

|goals8 = 4

|years9 = 2022–2024

|clubs9 = Samsunspor

|caps9 = 57

|goals9 = 3

|years10 = 2024–

|clubs10 = Iğdır

|caps10 = 26

|goals10 = 0

|totalcaps =

|totalgoals =

|nationalyears1 = 2013

|nationalteam1 = Turkey U21

|nationalcaps1 = 6

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|medaltemplates =

|club-update = 7 March 2025

|nationalteam-update =

}}

Alim Öztürk (born 17 November 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Iğdır. Born in the Netherlands, he represented Turkey at youth level.

Öztürk has previously played for Dutch club SC Cambuur, Trabzonspor, 1461 Trabzon, Scottish club Heart of Midlothian, Boluspor and Sunderland.

Career

=Playing in Netherlands=

Born in Alkmaar, Netherlands, to his Turkish parents, Öztürk grew up with three siblings and started playing football when he was nine years old and joining AFC '34 youth team. His parents kept distance from Öztürk playing football.{{cite news|title=DEFANSA iLAÇ OLABiLECEK BÜYÜK YETENEK!|url=http://yetenekliturkfutbolcu.de.tl/ALiM--Oe-ZT-Ue-RK--k1-FC-GRONINGEN-k2-.htm|publisher=Yteneki Turk Futbolcular Website|date=22 April 2011|access-date=26 June 2014}} He then joined FC Groningen. In 2011, Öztürk joined Eerste Divisie side SC Cambuur, where he quickly went through to the first team and made his Eerste Divisie debut for Cambuur on 22 January 2012.{{cite web | url = http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=526&kisiID=1569033 | title = ALİM ÖZTÜRK – Player Details | publisher = TFF.org | access-date = 17 February 2014}}

=Playing in Turkey=

He moved to Turkish club Trabzonspor in 2013{{cite news|title=Cambuur sells Öztürk at Trabzonspor|trans-title=Cambuur verkoopt Öztürk aan Trabzonspor|url=http://www.goal.com/nl/news/786/transfers/2013/01/31/3716041/cambuur-verkoopt-%C3%B6zt%C3%BCrk-aan-trabzonspor|publisher=Goal.com|language=nl|date=31 January 2013|access-date=26 June 2014}} for €125,000 on a three-year contract, depending on the ongoing payment,{{cite news|title=Scholars Ozturk Trabzonspor|trans-title=Alim Öztürk Trabzonspor'da|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/alim-ozturk-trabzonspor-da-trabzonspor-1662929-skorerhaber/|publisher=Milliyet News|language=tr|date=31 January 2013|access-date=26 June 2014}} but did not break into their first team.

After struggling to break into the first team, Öztürk was sent to join 1461 Trabzon on loan for the 2013–14 season.{{cite news|title=Uğur ve Alim 1461 yolunda|trans-title=Uğur ve Alim 1461 yolunda|url=http://www.61saat.com/futbol/ugur-ve-alim-1461-yolunda-h54649.html|publisher=61 Saat Official Website|language=tr|date=19 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2014}} After a half season with the club, Öztürk left Trabzonspor by mutual consent.{{cite news|title=Trabzon, Alim Öztürk'ü serbest bıraktı|trans-title=Trabzon, Alim Öztürk'ü serbest bıraktı|url=http://www.spor365.com/Trabzon--Alim-Ozturku-serbest-birakti_23829.html|publisher=Sports 365 Official Website|language=tr|date=24 June 2014|access-date=26 June 2014}} Öztürk later described playing in Turkey as difficult, citing more long balls, more fights and unsatisfied playing in the second division.{{cite news|title=Alim Ozturk already feels at home at with Hearts|url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/alim-ozturk-already-feels-at-home-at-with-hearts-1-3480785|publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|date=18 July 2014|access-date=30 June 2015}}

=Heart of Midlothian=

Öztürk moved to then Scottish Championship side Hearts in June 2014 on a three-year contract.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28042411 Hearts recruit Turkish defender Alim Ozturk], BBC Sport Öztürk made his Hearts debut, playing in the centre-back along with Danny Wilson, in a 2–1 win over Rangers in the opening game of the season.{{cite news|title=Rangers 1 – 2 Hearts|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28647379|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2014|access-date=30 December 2014}} On 26 October 2014, Öztürk scored his first goal for the club, a 40-yard screamer against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29679479 | title=Hearts rescued their unbeaten league record with a late Alim Ozturk strike that secured a draw against Hibernian. | publisher=BBC Sport | work=bbc.co.uk/sport/ | date=26 October 2014 | access-date=26 October 2014}} He also scored with long-range efforts against Raith Rovers,{{cite news|title=Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Raith Rovers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29860330|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 November 2014|access-date=30 June 2015}} Cowdenbeath,{{cite news|title=Heart of Midlothian 10–0 Cowdenbeath|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31563172|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 February 2015|access-date=30 June 2015}} and he scored a free-kick against Queen of the South.{{cite news|title=Hearts 2–0 Queen of the South|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31997291|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 March 2015|access-date=30 June 2015}} Alim Öztürk was the main free-kick taker at Hearts. With 33 appearances and scoring four times in his first season at Hearts, Öztürk was among six players to be named 2014–15 Championship's Team of the Year.{{cite news|title=Capital clubs dominate PFA Team of the Year|url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/capital-clubs-dominate-pfa-team-of-the-year-1-3760479|publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|date=1 May 2015|access-date=30 June 2015}} Öztürk was also won Goal of the Season and Memorable Moment at the club's award ceremony.{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4320|title=THE WINNERS ARE IN!|publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C.|date=27 April 2015|access-date=7 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502153839/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4320|archive-date=2 May 2015 |url-status=live}}

Following the club's promotion to the Scottish Premiership and Wilson's departure, it was announced that Öztürk was appointed as the new captain at Hearts.{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4469|title=SKIPPER SPEAKS|publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C.|date=22 July 2015|access-date=7 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731183241/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4469|archive-date=31 July 2015 |url-status=live}} He had previously spoke about becoming the club's captain ahead of the 2015–16 season.{{cite news|title=I'd love to be king of Hearts: Alim Ozturk sets his sights on Jambos captaincy|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/id-love-king-hearts-alim-6009956|publisher=Daily Record|date=6 July 2015|access-date=7 August 2015}} Öztürk's first game as Hearts' captain came in the opening game of the season, in a 4–3 win over St Johnstone.{{cite news|last1=Lindsay|first1=Clive|title=Hearts 4–3 St Johnstone|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33667195|access-date=7 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 August 2015}} On 21 September 2016, the captaincy was transferred to Perry Kitchen.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37432739 |title=Kitchen replaces Ozturk as Hearts captain as Anderson takes St Johnstone armband |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=21 September 2016 |access-date=21 September 2016}}

=Boluspor=

Öztürk returned to Turkish football in January 2017, signing an 18-month contract with TFF First League club Boluspor.{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/alim-ozturk-leaves-hearts-for-turkish-club-boluspor-1-4334589 |first=Barry |last=Anderson |title=Alim Ozturk leaves Hearts for Turkish club Boluspor |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=8 January 2017 |access-date=8 January 2017}}

=Sunderland=

On 21 June 2018, EFL League One club Sunderland announced the signing of Öztürk on a free transfer with a two-year contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2018/june/alim-ozturk-joins-sunderland |title=Ozturk becomes first summer signing |work=SAFC.com |publisher=SAFC.com |date=21 June 2018 |access-date=21 June 2018}}

Ozturk struggled to cement his place in the team and it was announced on 17 June 2020 that he would be leaving Sunderland, bringing to an end his two years at the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-retained-list-duncan-watmore-one-five-leave-jon-mclaughlin-chris-maguire-and-tom-flanagan-offered-new-deals-2887477|title = Sunderland retained list: Duncan Watmore one of five to leave as Jon McLaughlin, Chris Maguire and Tom Flanagan offered new deals}}

=Ümraniyespor=

On 26 August 2020, Öztürk joined TFF First League club Ümraniyespor.{{cite tweet|number=1298579018611134465|user=Umraniyespor|title=Hoş geldin Alim! ❤️🤍 |date=26 August 2020}}

Personal life

Öztürk speaks Dutch, Turkish and English.{{cite news|title=Derby gave Alim Ozturk an appetite for all things Hearts|url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/derby-gave-alim-ozturk-an-appetite-for-all-things-hearts-1-3460830|work=Edinburgh Evening News|date=30 June 2015|access-date=30 June 2015}} Öztürk was so popular with Hearts supporters that they named a beer after him.{{cite news|title='40 yard Screamer' beer honours Hearts' Ozturk|url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/40-yard-screamer-beer-honours-hearts-ozturk-1-3619079|work=Edinburgh Evening News|date=28 November 2014|access-date=30 June 2015}}