Kennedy Bakircioglu
{{Short description|Swedish footballer (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kennedy Bakircioglu
| image = Kennedy Bakircioglu, 2013-04-14.JPG
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Bakircioglu in 2013
| full_name = Kennedy Bakircioglu{{WorldFootball.net|kennedy-bakircioglu}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|11|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Södertälje, Sweden
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1996–1998 |clubs1 = Assyriska |caps1 = 34 |goals1 = 10
| years2 = 1999–2003 |clubs2 = Hammarby IF |caps2 = 127 |goals2 = 38
| years3 = 2003–2005 |clubs3 = Iraklis |caps3 = 24 |goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2005–2007 |clubs4 = Twente |caps4 = 66 |goals4 = 23
| years5 = 2007–2010 |clubs5 = Ajax |caps5 = 35 |goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2010–2012 |clubs6 = Racing Santander |caps6 = 39 |goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2012–2018 |clubs7 = Hammarby IF |caps7 = 142 |goals7 = 41
| totalcaps = 467 |totalgoals = 128
| nationalyears1 = 1996 |nationalteam1 = Sweden U17 |nationalcaps1 = 6 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1998–1999 |nationalteam2 = Sweden U19 |nationalcaps2 = 22 |nationalgoals2 = 5
| nationalyears3 = 1999–2001 |nationalteam3 = Sweden U21 |nationalcaps3 = 14 |nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2001–2008 |nationalteam4 = Sweden |nationalcaps4 = 14 |nationalgoals4 = 0
}}
Kennedy Bakircioglu (born 2 November 1980) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He is best remembered for his time with Hammarby IF, with whom he won the 2001 Allsvenskan and 2014 Superettan titles. He also represented Assyriska, Iraklis, Twente, Ajax and Racing de Santander, in a 22-year career.
A full international between 2001 and 2008, Bakircioglu won 14 caps for the Sweden national team.
Early life
Bakircioglu's family are ethnic Assyrians, followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church.{{cite news|url=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u281/AssyriskaFF/Kennedy.jpg|title=Zweedse Assyriër in Twente|trans-title=Swedish-Assyrian in Twente|newspaper=De Pers|first=Jeroen|last=Gunter|language=nl|date=9 March 2007|access-date=9 February 2013}} The family arrived in Sweden in 1972 from Midyat, Turkey.{{cite news|url=http://www.lt.se/sport/fotboll/kennedy-om-karriaren-och-framtiden|title=Kennedy om karriären och framtiden|trans-title=Kennedy about his career and the future|newspaper=Länstidningen|first=Robert|last=Tennisberg|language=sv|date=18 December 2015|access-date=25 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323015218/http://www.lt.se/sport/fotboll/kennedy-om-karriaren-och-framtiden|archive-date=23 March 2017}}
Born in Södertälje, Bakircioglu was named after the former United States president John F. Kennedy.{{cite web|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2835&grupp=12344&artikel=2068681|title=Mittfältare: Kennedy Bakircioglü – karriär|trans-title=Midfielder: Kennedy Bakircioglü – career|publisher=Sveriges Radio|first1=Lovisa|last1=Giertta|first2=Martin|last2=Hedberg|language=sv|date=28 August 2012|access-date=31 March 2015}} His father Benjamin was one of the first to play for newly founded Assyriska FF, a club established by the Assyrian diaspora,{{cite web|url=http://www.fenerbahce.com/haberler/7696.php|title=Kennedy Bakırcıoğlu'dan cevap geldi|trans-title=Kennedy Bakırcıoğlu replied|publisher=Fenerbahçe S.K|language=tr|date=13 January 2004|access-date=24 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123709/http://www.fenerbahce.com/haberler/7696.php|archive-date=28 September 2007}} going on to become its record goal scorer.{{cite web|url=http://assyriska.se/index.php?id=27&articleID=2796|title=Assyriska FF 40 år med Benjamin "Muller" Bakircioglu|trans-title=Assyriska FF 40 years with Benjamin "Muller" Bakircioglu|publisher=Assyriska FF|first=Rodi|last=Mardo|language=sv|date=23 May 2014|access-date=25 October 2017}}
Club career
=Assyriska=
Bakircioglu started his professional career with Assyriska, making his senior debut in 1996 at age 15. He would soon establish himself as a regular starter in Division 1, by then in the Swedish second tier, despite his young age.
In 1998, Bakircioglu saw a major breakthrough in his senior career and scored nine goals whilst also providing eight assists, in 25 league games. He had a trial with Manchester United during the winter of that year, but did not impress enough to secure a contract with the English team.{{cite news|url=http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/sport/9812/08/talang.html|title=Svensk 18-åring till Manchester United|trans-title=18-year-old Swede to Manchester United|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Nicklas|last=Brunzell|language=sv|date=8 December 1998|access-date=25 October 2017}}
=Hammarby=
Before the start of 1999, Bakircioglu transferred to Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan. He scored his first competitive goal for the Stockholm-based side on 1 July the same year, in a 3–0 home win against IFK Norrköping.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/1999.html|title=År 1999|trans-title=Year 1999|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=25 October 2017}} He quickly became a fan favourite at his new club,{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/article10204185.ab|title=Flickornas favorit|trans-title=The girls' favourite|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Simon|last=Bank|language=sv|date=2 April 2001|access-date=30 October 2017}} and ended the season playing 25 league matches, scoring twice.
On 4 July 1999, Bakircioglu made his continental debut in the second round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup, a 4–0 home victory over FC Gomel.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=50526/profile/index.html|title=Kennedy Bakircioglü|publisher=UEFA|access-date=30 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719182819/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=50526/profile/index.html|archive-date=19 July 2010}} In the away leg, he scored a brace to help to a 2–2 draw and subsequent qualification. At the end of the year, he was voted "Allsvenskan newcomer of the year".
During the 2000 campaign, Bakircioglu was a key player in manager Sören Cratz's squad, playing as attacking midfielder behind the strikers.{{cite news|url=http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/sport/0004/07/kennedy.html|title="Jag spelar"|trans-title=I will play|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Stefan|last=Holm|language=sv|date=7 April 2000|access-date=30 October 2017}} He made 26 league appearances and netted five times, but the side finished eighth.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/2000.html|title=År 2000|trans-title=Year 2000|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=30 October 2017}}
In 2001, Bakircioglu scored eight goals in 26 games to lead the team to their first-ever national championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/2001.html|title=År 2001|trans-title=Year 2001|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=30 October 2017}} He also provided seven assists throughout the domestic tournament,{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/kennedy-bakircioglu/c595f523-e48d-45c3-9007-5d2bec942a87/|title=Kennedy Bakircioglu|publisher=Swedish Football Association|language=sv|access-date=9 March 2021}} and was praised by pundits as player of the season at Hammarby.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/2000.html|title=Fakta: Svenska mästare på 2000-talet|trans-title=Facts: Swedish champions during the 2000s|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|date=30 October 2015|access-date=30 October 2017}} He scored in the title-deciding fixture against Örgryte IS on 21 October, a 3–2 win at Söderstadion.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/article10240007.ab|title=Guldmatchen minut för minut|trans-title=The title-winning match minute by minute|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Zendry|last=Svärdkrona|language=sv|date=21 October 2001|access-date=30 October 2017}}
Bakircioglu continued 2002 in similar fashion, and netted 11 goals from 26 appearances. His team, however, suffered a tough year in the table and failed to produce any sort of challenge, eventually ending in ninth position.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/2002.html|title=År 2002|trans-title=Year 2002|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=1 November 2017}} As reigning Swedish champions, they took part in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League where they faced the Serbian SuperLiga's FK Partizan, with the player being featured in both legs of the 5–1 aggregate loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0188-0e6a453b8266-56de7812a9a2-1000--partizan-hammer-hammarby/|title=Partizan hammer Hammarby|publisher=UEFA|date=7 August 2002|access-date=1 November 2017}} He reportedly attracted interest from Beşiktaş J.K. from Turkey during the season, but the deal fell through in the last minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/kennedy-det-har-kants-fornedrande/|title=Kennedy: "Det har känts förnedrande"|trans-title=Kennedy: "It felt degrading"|newspaper=Expressen|first=Joakim|last=Svensson|language=sv|date=7 January 2004|access-date=1 November 2017}}
In the 2003 campaign, Bakircioglu scored six goals in the league's first seven rounds – in an eventual total of 12 – as Hammarby went on an unbeaten streak.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/article10366546.ab|title=President Kennedy|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Christoffer|last=Bjäreborn|language=sv|date=20 May 2003|access-date=1 November 2017}} In September, the club's board of directors suspended both him and Mikael Andersson because the parties could not agree to extend their outgoing contracts. The decision was, however, revoked after only a few days,{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/article10397705.ab|title=Kennedy och Mikael Andersson får spela|trans-title=Kennedy and Mikael Andersson are allowed to play|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Peter|last=Wikström|language=sv|date=19 September 2003|access-date=1 November 2017}} roughly at the same time as the team was surpassed by city rivals Djurgårdens IF at the top of table and eventually finished second.{{cite web|url=http://www.hifhistoria.se/Historia/2003.html|title=År 2003|trans-title=Year 2003|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=1 November 2017}}
Bakircioglu left on a free transfer at the end of the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/kennedy-bakircioglu-till-grekland|title=Kennedy Bakircioglü till Grekland|trans-title=Kennedy Bakircioglü to Greece|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet|language=sv|date=12 January 2004|access-date=1 November 2017}} A year after his departure, he was voted the club's fourth greatest player of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/|title=Historik|trans-title=History|publisher=Hammarby IF|language=sv|access-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326220649/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/|archive-date=26 March 2011}}
=Iraklis=
On 12 January 2004, Bakircioglu moved to the Super League Greece with Iraklis FC. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, linking up with compatriot Mats Jingblad who held the managerial position at his new club.
Bakircioglu was sparingly used in his only full campaign in Thessaloniki.
=Twente=
Bakircioglu moved teams and countries again in the 2005 off-season, joining FC Twente in the Netherlands and impressing manager Fred Rutten straight away to become a first-team regular. In 2006–07, he scored 15 goals in the Eredivisie as the Enschede side finished fourth and qualified to the UEFA Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/sport/1078887/ajax-legt-bakircioglu-vast.html|title=Ajax legt Bakircioglu vast|trans-title=Ajax capture Bakircioglu|publisher=NU.nl|language=nl|date=15 May 2007|access-date=8 May 2018}}
=Ajax=
On 5 May 2007, newspaper De Telegraaf announced that Bakircioglu had reached an agreement with fellow league club AFC Ajax.{{cite news|url=http://www.telesport.nl/voetbal/1572012/Bakircioglu_kiest_Ajax.html|title=Bakircioglu kiest Ajax|trans-title=Bakircioglu chooses Ajax|newspaper=De Telegraaf|language=nl|date=5 May 2007|access-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913010750/http://www.telesport.nl/voetbal/1572012/Bakircioglu_kiest_Ajax.html|archive-date=13 September 2007}} He was officially signed ten days later, and scored on his official debut, an 8–1 away rout of De Graafschap.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/226326?cc=5739|title=De Graafschap 1–8 Ajax Amsterdam|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=19 August 2011|access-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721145156/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/226326?cc=5739|archive-date=21 July 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.graafschapfansite.nl/nieuws/925/de-graafschap-1-8-ajax.html|title=De Graafschap 1–8 Ajax|publisher=De Graafschap Doetinchem|language=nl|date=19 August 2011|access-date=28 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113100602/http://www.graafschapfansite.nl/nieuws/925/de-graafschap-1-8-ajax.html|archive-date=13 January 2016}}
In August 2008, new manager Marco van Basten deemed Bakircioglu surplus to requirements,{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/nl/news/213/eredivisie/2008/10/31/941981/bakir%C3%A7ioglu-ziet-geen-toekomst-meer-bij-ajax|title=Bakirçioglu ziet geen toekomst meer bij Ajax|trans-title=Bakirçioglu sees no future at Ajax|publisher=Goal|language=nl|date=31 October 2008|access-date=28 December 2015}} but the latter decided to stay,{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/voetbal/article20866298.ece|title=Van Basten verrast met Bakircioglu|trans-title=Van Basten surprised at Bakircioglu|newspaper=De Telegraaf|language=nl|date=15 February 2009|access-date=28 December 2015}} being restricted to only 17 league games over two seasons. He did manage, however, a crucial goal for the Amsterdam team, in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, in a 1–0 away win against ACF Fiorentina in the round of 32 (2–1 aggregate victory).{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01d6-0e70e0aec2f5-cf7cb9800e3d-1000--bakircioglu-wins-it-for-ajax-in-florence/|title=Bakircioglü wins it for Ajax in Florence|publisher=UEFA|date=19 February 2009|access-date=28 December 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nrc.nl/handelsblad/2009/02/20/mythe-van-basten-leeft-voort-in-italie-11686767|title=Mythe Van Basten leeft voort in Italië|trans-title=Van Basten myth lives on in Italy|newspaper=NRC|language=nl|date=20 February 2009|access-date=28 December 2015}}
=Racing Santander=
Bakircioglu left Ajax in June 2010, signing for Spain's Racing de Santander early in the following month.{{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/artikel/170008-bakircioglu-naar-racing-santander.html|title=Bakircioglü naar Racing Santander|trans-title=Bakircioglü to Racing Santander|publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|language=nl|date=6 July 2010|access-date=9 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.realracingclub.es/comunicacion/actualidad/ampliar.php?Id_contenido=4802|title=El internacional sueco Kennedy Bakircioglü, tercer fichaje del Racing 2010/11|trans-title=Swedish international Kennedy Bakircioglü, third Racing signing for 2010/11|publisher=Racing Santander|language=es|date=5 July 2010|access-date=9 February 2013}} He started in all but two matches he appeared in his first season, as the Cantabrians retained their La Liga status. Three of his league goals came in the last month of competition, against RCD Mallorca (2–0 home win),{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/301938?cc=5739|title=Santander bank on safety|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=1 May 2011|access-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509022709/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/301938?cc=5739|archive-date=9 May 2011}} Atlético Madrid (2–1, home){{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302051?cc=5739|title=Racing secure survival|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=10 May 2011|access-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722050958/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302051?cc=5739|archive-date=22 July 2012}} and Athletic Bilbao (1–2 loss also at the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero).{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/301914?cc=5739|title=Bilbao end on a high|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=21 May 2011|access-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525085720/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/301914?cc=5739|archive-date=25 May 2011}}
Bakircioglu spent the vast majority of 2011–12 nursing an achilles tendon injury,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2011/10/20/futbol/equipos/racing/1319097768.html|title=Kennedy pone fin a los rumores sobre su lesión|trans-title=Kennedy ends rumours about his injury|newspaper=Marca|first=Pedro|last=Fernández|language=es|date=20 October 2011|access-date=9 February 2013}} and Racing would also return to Segunda División after one full decade in the top flight.
=Return to Hammarby=
At the end of August 2012, Bakircioglu returned to Hammarby, now in the Superettan.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/superettan/hammarby/article15322153.ab|title=Den som inte spelat här vet inte vad det innebär|trans-title=Those who haven't played here do not know what it means|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first1=Fredrik|last1=Jönsson|first2=Oskar|last2=Månsson|language=sv|date=28 August 2012|access-date=9 February 2013}} On 23 June 2013, they faced Ängelholms FF in the last football game at Söderstadion, that had been the club's home ground since 1967; the game ended 1–1, with his team securing a late draw when he scored from a free kick.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/RxovXr/kennedy-sista-malskytten-pa-soderstadion|title=Kennedy sista målskytten på Söderstadion|trans-title=Kennedy scored the last goal at Söderstadion|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first=Erik|last=Karlsson|language=sv|date=23 June 2013|access-date=12 May 2021}}
Bakircioglu led all scorers with 17 goals and contributed seven decisive passes in the 2014 campaign, helping to a return to the top division whilst also acting as captain.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/allsvenskan/hammarby/article19793244.ab|title=Kennedy sköt upp Bajen till allsvenskan|trans-title=A Kennedy strike promoted Bajen to Allsvenskan|newspaper=Aftonbladet|first1=Fredrik|last1=Jönsson|first2=Per|last2=Bohman|first3=Jonatan|last3=Jonasson|language=sv|date=2 November 2014|access-date=28 December 2015}} A regular in both 2015 and 2016, with the team finishing 11th on both occasions, the 36-year-old signed a new one-year contract in December 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/kennedy-forlanger-kontraktet-langtar-till-nasta-sasong/|title=Kennedy förlänger kontraktet – "Längtar till nästa säsong"|trans-title=Kennedy extends contract – "Looking forward to the next season"|publisher=Hammarby IF|first=Axel|last=Pershagen|language=sv|date=14 December 2016|access-date=9 January 2017}}
In his later years, Bakircioglu repositioned himself as a central midfielder, dictating the game as a playmaker.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/kennedy-drar-sig-tillbaka-pa-planen/|title=Kennedy drar sig tillbaka – på planen|trans-title=Kennedy retracts – on the field|newspaper=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|date=4 April 2016|access-date=31 January 2017}} He agreed to a new one-year deal on 22 October 2017, and simultaneously announced that he would retire from football when it expired.{{cite web|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/kennedy-forlanger-med-hammarby-det-kanns-otroligt-skont/|title=Kennedy förlänger med Hammarby – "Det känns otroligt skönt"|trans-title=Kennedy extends at Hammarby – "It feels incredibly nice"|publisher=Hammarby IF|first=Axel|last=Pershagen|language=sv|date=22 October 2017|access-date=12 May 2021}} On 1 October 2018, at the end of his last season, he scored from a spectacular free kick to make it 3–0 in the league fixture against IFK Göteborg, and proceeded to celebrate the goal in front of the home fans by catching and drinking from a cup of beer that was thrown towards him from the stands.{{cite web|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/han-kastade-in-olen-till-kennedy--av-misstag-blev-annu-mer-hysterisk/|title=Han kastade in ölen till Kennedy – av misstag: "Blev ännu mer hysterisk"|trans-title=He threw the beer to Kennedy – by mistake: "Got even more hysterical"|publisher=Fotbollskanalen Europa|first=Alexander|last=Rosenlund|language=sv|date=2 October 2018|access-date=2 October 2018}}
International career
Bakircioglu made over 40 appearances for Sweden at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his full debut on 20 November 2003 in a friendly against the Czech Republic. He appeared in three UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying games in 2007, but did not make the squad for the final tournament.
Bakircioglu played his 14th and last international match on 26 May 2008, in a friendly with Slovenia.
In popular culture
Bakircioglu gained fame and cult status early in his career thanks to the computer game Championship Manager: Season 01/02, where he was considered one of the greatest "hidden gem" players of all time.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/Picture-galleries/8810502/Football-Manager-Cult-Players-XI.html?image=8|title=Kennedy Bakircioglu – Football Manager cult players XI|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 October 2011|access-date=10 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/kennedy-bakircioglu-the-true-story-of-the-champ-man-icon-man-utd-trialist/|title=Kennedy Bakircioglu: The true story of the Champ Man icon & Man Utd trialist|publisher=Planet Football|first=Jack|last=Beresford|date=19 December 2019|access-date=29 June 2022}}
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/kennedy-bakircioglu/2459/|title=K. Bakircioglu|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=28 December 2015}} | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Assyriska
|1996 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 1997
|8 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 1 | |||||
| 1998
|Division 1 Norra |25 | 9 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 9 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!34 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 10 | |||||
| rowspan="6"|Hammarby
|1999 |25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2000
|Allsvenskan |26 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 5 | |||||
| 2001
|Allsvenskan |26 | 8 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 8 | |||||
| 2002
|Allsvenskan |25 | 11 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 11 | ||||
| 2003
|Allsvenskan |25 | 12 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 12 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!127 | 38 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 130 | 38 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Iraklis
|7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 2 | |||
| 2004–05
|Alpha Ethniki |17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 4 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Twente
|32 | 8 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 8 | |||||
| 2006–07
|Eredivisie |34 | 15 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 15 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!66 | 23 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 70 | 23 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Ajax
|Eredivisie |18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2008–09
|Eredivisie |8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10
|Eredivisie |9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 5 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!35 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 10 | |
| rowspan="3"|Racing Santander
|32 | 6 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 7 | |||
| 2011–12
|La Liga |7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!39 | 6 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 44 | 7 | |||
| rowspan="8"|Hammarby
|2012 |9 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 5 | ||||
| 2013
|Superettan |23 | 7 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 7 | |||
| 2014
|Superettan |28 | 17 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 18 | |||
| 2015
|Allsvenskan |22 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 4 | ||||
| 2016
|Allsvenskan |27 | 6 | 6 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 9 | |||
| 2017
|Allsvenskan |21 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 2 | |||
| 2018
|Allsvenskan |12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!142 | 41 | 20 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 161 | 47 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!467 | 128 | 31 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 517 | 139 |
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="8"|Sweden
|2001 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 14 | 0 |
Honours
Hammarby
Ajax
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vi.nl/Spelers/Speler/KennedyBakircioglu.htm Stats at Voetbal International] {{in lang|nl}}
- {{BDFutbol|8614}}
- {{NFT player|6374}}
- {{FIFA player|186151}}
- {{UEFA player|50526}}
- {{EU-Football.info|24936}}
{{Commons}}
{{Superettan top scorers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakircioglu, Kennedy}}
Category:Swedish people of Assyrian descent
Category:Syriac Orthodox Christians
Category:21st-century Swedish sportsmen
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Södertälje
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Hammarby Fotboll players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players
Category:Racing de Santander players
Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers
Category:Sweden men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Sweden men's international footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Greece