Atakan Karazor
{{short description|Turkish footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Atakan Karazor
| image = Atakan karazor.jpg
| caption = Karazor with VfB Stuttgart in 2019
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|10|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Essen, Germany
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub = VfB Stuttgart
| clubnumber = 16
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012
| youthclubs1 = Schwarz-Weiß Essen
| youthyears2 = 2012–2015
| youthclubs2 = VfL Bochum
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Borussia Dortmund II
| caps1 = 59
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2017–2018
| clubs2 = Holstein Kiel II
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2017–2019
| clubs3 = Holstein Kiel
| caps3 = 26
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2019–
| clubs4 = VfB Stuttgart
| caps4 = 159
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2020
| clubs5 = VfB Stuttgart II
| caps5 = 2
| goals5 = 0
| club-update = 17 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Atakan Karazor (born 13 October 1996){{Cite web |title=Atakan Karazor {{!}} VfB Stuttgart {{!}} Player Profile {{!}} Bundesliga |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/atakan-karazor |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.bundesliga.com |language=en}} is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder and captains Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart.{{Cite web |title=Atakan Karazor |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/atakan-karazor/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}} Born in Germany, he has opted to play for the Turkey national team.
He began his senior career at Borussia Dortmund II in the Regionalliga West before playing for Holstein Kiel for two seasons in the 2. Bundesliga. In 2019, he joined Stuttgart,{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=VfB Stuttgart's Atakan Karazor chooses to represent the Turkish national team - Get German Football News |url=https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2024/vfb-stuttgarts-atakan-karazor-chooses-to-represent-the-turkish-national-team/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.getfootballnewsgermany.com |language=en-US}} where he won promotion to the Bundesliga in his first season.
Club career
=Early years=
Born in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Karazor played as a youth for local Schwarz-Weiß Essen and VfL Bochum.
In 2015, Karazor joined Borussia Dortmund, where he made his senior debut with the reserve team in the Regionalliga West, playing 59 games over two seasons and scoring on 4 October 2015 in a 2–0 win at 1. FC Köln II.{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=RL West: Leitner schießt Dortmund zum Sieg |url=https://www.media-sportservice.de/2015/10/04/rl-west-leitner-schiesst-dortmund-zum-sieg/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=MSPW - Media Sportservice |language=de}}
=Holstein Kiel=
In June 2017, Karazor left his native region and signed for Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=U23s: Atakan Karazor set for move to the second tier |url=https://www.bvb.de/eng/News/Overview/U23s-Atakan-Karazor-set-for-move-to-the-second-tier |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=Borussia Dortmund |date=14 June 2017}} He injured his ankle ligaments in pre-season, recovering to make the squad in November,{{cite news |last1=Geidel |first1=Andreas |title=Holstein Kiel: Atakan Karazor schaltet in den Angriffs-Modus |url=https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/holstein-kiel-atakan-karazor-schaltet-in-den-angriffs-modus/ |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=Sport Buzzer |date=15 November 2017 |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121122234/https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/holstein-kiel-atakan-karazor-schaltet-in-den-angriffs-modus/ |url-status=dead }} before making his professional debut on 23 January by starting in a 2–2 home draw with 1. FC Union Berlin.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-05 |title=Der Familienmensch |url=https://www.holstein-kiel.de/news/der-familienmensch/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240222230533/https://www.holstein-kiel.de/news/der-familienmensch/ |archive-date=2024-02-22 |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e. V. |language=de-DE}} He scored his first professional goals in 2018–19, equalising in a draw of the same score against SpVgg Greuther Fürth at the Holstein-Stadion on 17 February,{{cite news |title=Wahl rettet Kiel mit Last-Minute-Tor einen Punkt |url=https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/zweiteliga/holstein-kiel-und-spvgg-greuther-fuerth-trennen-sich-2-2_aid-36821835 |access-date=16 June 2022 |work=Rheinische Post |date=17 February 2019 |language=German}} and in a 1–1 draw away to FC Ingolstadt 04 on 14 April.{{cite news |title=Remis hilft weder Ingolstadt noch Kiel weiter |url=https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/zweiteliga/ingolstadt-und-kiel-trennen-sich-unentschieden_aid-38098975 |access-date=16 June 2022 |work=Rheinische Post |date=14 April 2019 |language=German}}
=VfB Stuttgart=
In May 2019, it was announced Karazor would move to VfB Stuttgart on a contract until 2023.{{cite web |last1=Preiß |first1=Dirk |title=VfB holt Atakan Karazor von Holstein Kiel |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.neuzugang-beim-vfb-stuttgart-vfb-holt-atakan-karazor-von-holstein-kiel.0652d54b-e2a0-44f4-b28d-1f802e43326a.html |website=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |accessdate=15 May 2019 |language=German |date=15 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=VfB verpflichtet Kiels Karazor |url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-verpflichtet-kiels-karazor-749272/artikel |website=kicker |access-date=15 May 2019 |language=German |date=15 May 2019}} The transfer fee paid to Kiel was reported as about €1 million or €800,000. He played 23 games in his first season as the team won promotion to the Bundesliga as runners-up, and he scored twice on 21 June 2020 in a 6–0 win at 1. FC Nürnberg.{{Cite web |title=Doppelpacker Gonzalez und Karazor: Stuttgart fertigt Nürnberg ab |url=https://www.kicker.de/nuernberg-gegen-stuttgart-2020-bundesliga-4589234/analyse |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=kicker |language=de-DE}} Karazor made his top-flight debut on 3 October 2020 in a 1–1 draw at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, as an 84th-minute substitute for Daniel Didavi.{{Cite web |title=Matchday 30 talking points: Leverkusen leave it late again, Bayern back to their best |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/matchday-30-talking-points-harry-kane-bayern-munich-bayer-leverkusen-borussia-dortmund-27058 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.bundesliga.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yannik Keitel |date=2025-03-22 |title=RR88 |url=https://rr88.channel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330033619/https://rr88.channel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=30 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en}} On 24 October the following year, he was sent off for the first time in his career in a game of the same score against Union Berlin at the Mercedes-Benz Arena for two yellow cards in the space of 35 seconds.{{cite news |title=Union Berlin gibt sicher geglaubten Sieg in Stuttgart aus der Hand |url=https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/karazor-platzverweis-union-berlin-siegt-beim-vfb-stuttgart/ |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=Sport Buzzer |date=24 October 2021 |language=German |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121122235/https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/karazor-platzverweis-union-berlin-siegt-beim-vfb-stuttgart/ |url-status=dead }}
On 19 May 2022, Karazor extended his contract with VfB Stuttgart until June 2026.{{Cite web |title=Atakan Karazor signs extension; permanent deal for Dinos Mavropanos |url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2122/vertragsverlaengerung-atakan-karazor/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=VfB Stuttgart |language=de}} He returned to training and playing after his arrest and bail in Spain over the summer; the decision for the club to play him was endorsed by sporting director Sven Mislintat who cited the presumption of innocence.{{Cite web |last=Nachrichten |first=Stuttgarter |title=Streit über Banner in Bremer Fankurve: Der schwierige Umgang des VfB Stuttgart mit Atakan Karazor |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.streit-um-banner-in-bremer-fankurve-der-schwierige-umgang-des-vfb-stuttgart-mit-atakan-karazor.2632d295-2f2f-459c-a918-47d2e95be503.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=stuttgarter-nachrichten.de |language=de}} On 12 June 2024, Karazor and VfB Stuttgart extended his contract with the club until June 2028.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2324/vfb-stuttgart-verlaengert-mit-atakan-karazor-/|title=Atakan Karazor extends VfB contract|work=vfb.de|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=12 June 2024|access-date=12 June 2024}} In the summer of 2024, he became the new captain of VfB Stuttgart.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2425/atakan-karazor-kapitaen-2024-2025-/|title=Atakan Karazor named new captain|work=vfb.de|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=13 August 2024|access-date=13 August 2024}}
International career
Karazor is eligible to represent Germany or Turkey at international level, and ended up choosing the latter.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Türkei statt Deutschland! Atakan Karazor lässt mit seiner Begründung aufhorchen {{!}} Goal.com Deutschland |url=https://www.goal.com/de/listen/tuerkei-statt-deutschland-atakan-karazor-laesst-mit-seiner-begruendung-aufhorchen/bltd46f91edc777e7ec |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=goal.com |language=de}}
On 14 March 2025, Karazor was called up by Vincenzo Montella to the Turkey national team for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs against Hungary.{{Cite web |title=A Millî Takımımızın Macaristan Maçları Aday Kadrosu Açıklandı – A Milli Takım Haber Detayları TFF |url=https://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=202&ftxtID=47025 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=tff.org}}
Personal life
Born in Germany, Karazor is of Turkish descent.{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalturkishfootballers.com/dortmund-altyapisindan-yeni-turk-yetenek/|title=International Turkish Footballers – Dortmund altyapısından yeni Türk yetenek|website=www.internationalturkishfootballers.com|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628044337/http://www.internationalturkishfootballers.com/dortmund-altyapisindan-yeni-turk-yetenek/|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=dead|language=Turkish}}
On 11 June 2022, VfB Stuttgart confirmed via the club's website that Karazor had been arrested while on holiday in Ibiza on accounts of sexually assaulting an 18 year old woman.{{Cite web |title=Ermittlungen gegen Atakan Karazor |trans-title=Investigations against Atakan Karazor |url=https://www.vfb.de/de/vfb/aktuell/neues/profis/2122/atakan-karazor/?awc=18419_1654959397_2c482b48478b894105a650f81f055b3b |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=VfB Stuttgart |language=de}} He was remanded in custody while investigations continue; Spanish law permits a maximum of two years' pre-trial detention.{{cite news |last1=Bollenbacher |first1=Michael |last2=Köstler |first2=Andreas |last3=Seemüller |first3=Johannes |title=Der VfB Stuttgart ohne inhaftierten Karazor: "Wir denken täglich an ihn" |trans-title=VfB Stuttgart without imprisoned Karazor: "We think of him every day"|url=https://www.swr.de/sport/fussball/vfb-stuttgart/karazor-ist-immer-dabei-100.html |access-date=19 July 2022 |publisher=Südwestrundfunk |date=16 July 2022 |language=German}} On 21 July, he was released after paying €50,000 in bail and permitted to leave Spain, due to Germany's law enforcement cooperation with Spain and his professional career presenting a low risk of absconding to a third country.{{cite news |title=El futbolista Atakan Karazor, acusado de agresión sexual en Ibiza, paga 50.000 euros para salir de la cárcel|trans-title=Footballer Atakan Karazor, accused of sexual assault in Ibiza, pays 50,000 euros to leave prison|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/sucesos/futbolista-atakan-karazor-acusado-agresion-14138296 |access-date=21 July 2022 |work=Sport |date=21 July 2022 |language=Spanish}}{{cite news |title=Vergewaltigungsvorwurf auf Ibiza: Stuttgarter Fußballprofi Atakan Karazor kommt auf Kaution frei|trans-title=Rape accusation in Ibiza: Stuttgart professional footballer Atakan Karazor released on bail|url=https://www.mallorcazeitung.es/panorama/2022/07/21/vergewaltigungsvorwurf-ibiza-atakan-karazor-68577408.html |access-date=21 July 2022 |work=Mallorca Zeitung |date=21 July 2022 |language=German}}{{cite news |title=Stuttgarts Atakan Karazor in Spanien aus U-Haft entlassen|trans-title=Stuttgart's Atakan Karazor released from custody in Spain|url=https://www.mz.de/sport/fussball/stuttgarts-atakan-karazor-in-spanien-aus-u-haft-entlassen-3412375 |access-date=21 July 2022 |work=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung |date=21 July 2022 |language=German}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 24 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|DFB-Pokal !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total !rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Borussia Dortmund II
|30 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 1 | ||||
| 2016–17
|Regionalliga West |29 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!59 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 59 | 1 | — | |||
| rowspan="3"|Holstein Kiel
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19
|2. Bundesliga |22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 2 | — | ||
| rowspan="3"|Holstein Kiel II
|2017–18 |5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19
|2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!7 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 1 | — | |||
| rowspan="7"|VfB Stuttgart
|2. Bundesliga |23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 2 | |||
| 2020–21
|19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Bundesliga |24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23
|Bundesliga |29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Bundesliga |33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|Bundesliga |31 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in DFL-Supercup}} | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!159 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 186 | 5 | — |
| VfB Stuttgart II
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!252 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 281 | 9 | — |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{VfB Stuttgart squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karazor, Atakan}}
Category:Footballers from Essen
Category:Turkish men's footballers
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Borussia Dortmund II players
Category:Holstein Kiel players
Category:Holstein Kiel II players
Category:VfB Stuttgart players
Category:VfB Stuttgart II players
Category:2. Bundesliga players