Levin Öztunalı

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Levin Öztunalı

|image = 20161011 U21 AUT GER 9309 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Öztunalı representing Germany U21 in 2016

|fullname = Levin Mete Öztunalı

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|15|df=y}}

|birth_place = Hamburg, Germany

|height = 1.84 m{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/fussball/profis/kader/detail/Levin-Oeztunali-11975c/2022-23-67e/ |title=Levin Öztunalı |publisher=1. FC Union Berlin |access-date=4 August 2022}}

|position = Midfielder

|currentclub = Hamburger SV

|clubnumber = 21

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = TuRa Harksheide

|youthyears2 = 2004–2006

|youthclubs2 = Eintracht Norderstedt

|youthyears3 = 2006–2013

|youthclubs3 = Hamburger SV

|years1 = 2013–2014

|clubs1 = Bayer Leverkusen II

|caps1 = 13

|goals1 = 1

|years2 = 2013–2016

|clubs2 = Bayer Leverkusen

|caps2 = 15

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2015–2016

|clubs3 = → Werder Bremen (loan)

|caps3 = 41

|goals3 = 2

|years4 = 2016–2021

|clubs4 = Mainz 05

|caps4 = 114

|goals4 = 9

|years5 = 2021–2023

|clubs5 = Union Berlin

|caps5 = 20

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2023–

|clubs6 = Hamburger SV

|caps6 = 21

|goals6 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2010–2011

|nationalteam1 = Germany U15

|nationalcaps1 = 4

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|nationalyears2 = 2011–2012

|nationalteam2 = Germany U16

|nationalcaps2 = 5

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|nationalyears3 = 2012–2013

|nationalteam3 = Germany U17

|nationalcaps3 = 14

|nationalgoals3 = 0

|nationalyears4 = 2013–2014

|nationalteam4 = Germany U19

|nationalcaps4 = 11

|nationalgoals4 = 3

|nationalyears5 = 2014–2015

|nationalteam5 = Germany U20

|nationalcaps5 = 11

|nationalgoals5 = 1

|nationalyears6 = 2015–2019

|nationalteam6 = Germany U21

|nationalcaps6 = 30

|nationalgoals6 = 7

|pcupdate = 24 December 2024

|ntupdate =

|medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}}

}}

Levin Mete Öztunalı (born 15 March 1996) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Hamburger SV.{{Soccerway|258664}}

Following seven years in the academy of Hamburger SV, Öztunalı made his senior debut with Bayer Leverkusen in 2013. He made 15 league appearances for the club before joining Werder Bremen on a season-and-a-half loan deal two years later. Following the expiration of the loan in 2016, Öztunalı joined Mainz, where he spent 5 years before joining Union Berlin in 2021. After two years there, he returned to Hamburg in 2023.

He has also represented Germany at various youth levels and was part of the squads which won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2014 and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2017. He gained 30 caps and scored 7 goals until 2019.

Club career

=Bayer Leverkusen=

file:Levin-Oeztunali.jpg

On 2 February 2013, Bayer Leverkusen announced the signing of Öztunalı from Bundesliga rivals Hamburg on a five-year deal, with the transfer to be completed at the end of the season.{{cite web | date = 2 February 2013 |url=http://www.bayer04.de/b04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-4134|title=Bayer 04 sign Levin Öztunalı| website = Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=19 January 2016}} He made his debut on 10 August, coming on as a late substitute for Gonzalo Castro in a 3-1 win over Freiburg.{{cite news |last= McCauley|first= Kevin | date = 10 August 2013 |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/8/10/4608766/bayer-vs-freiburg-final-score-result-2013-bundesliga|title=Bayer 04 sign Levin Öztunalı| website = SB Nation|access-date=19 January 2016}} At 17 years and 146 days old, Öztunalı became the youngest player to ever play for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and the 11th youngest player in the history of the competition.{{cite news|url=http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/levin-oeztunali/seeler-enkel-schreibt-geschichte-31787340.bild.html|title=Seeler grandson writes history|website=Bild|date=12 August 2013|access-date=3 May 2016 | language = de}} On 26 August 2014, Öztunalı was voted the second-best u-18 player in Germany behind teammate Julian Brandt, and in doing so, he was awarded the silver Fritz Walter Medal.{{cite web | date = 26 August 2014 |url=http://www.bayer04.de/b04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-5202|title=Brandt awarded gold Fritz Walter medal| website = Bayer Leverkusen|access-date=19 January 2016}}

==Loan spell at Werder Bremen==

On 21 December 2014, Öztunalı joined Werder Bremen on an 18-month loan deal, running until the end of the 2015–16 campaign.{{cite web | date = 21 December 2014 | url = https://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/52949.php | title = Levin Öztunalı amplifies the SV Werder | website = Werder Bremen | access-date = 19 January 2016 | language = de | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160124133206/http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/52949.php | archive-date = 24 January 2016 | url-status = dead }} Upon his arrival in Bremen, Chief Executive Thomas Eichin described Öztunalı as "one of the most sought-after talents in the Bundesliga."{{cite web |last= Killen|first= Stephen | date = 21 December 2014 |url=http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/428341-german-u-20-national-team-levin-oztunali-joins-werder-bremen-on-loan-till-2016.html|title=German U-20 Levin Öztunalı joins Werder Bremen on loan 'til 2016| website = Vavel|access-date=19 January 2016}} His first goal for Die Grün-Weißen came on the final day of the 2014–15 season when he netted in a 3–2 loss to Borussia Dortmund.{{cite web |last= Thompson|first= Peter | date = 23 May 2015 |url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/borussia-dortmund-vs-werder-bremen/1713981/report|title=Borussia Dortmund 3–2 Werder Bremen: Dortmund seals European spot as Klopp says farewell| website = Goal.com |access-date=19 January 2016}} Öztunalı had to wait until May of the following season to score his next goal for the club, netting one and assisting another in a 6–2 drubbing of Stuttgart. The result saw Bremen climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of their opponents.{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/german-bundesliga/match/426844/werder-bremen-vfb-stuttgart/report|title=Werder Bremen go clear of relegation zone with rout of Stuttgart|website=ESPN|date=2 May 2016|access-date=3 May 2016}} He made his final appearance for the club on 14 May, playing for 77 minutes as Bremen beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1–0 to avoid relegation.{{cite news |url=http://talksport.com/football/bundesliga-results-werder-bremen-avoid-relegation-thanks-djilobodji-goal-and-amazing|title=Bundesliga results: Werder Bremen avoid relegation thanks to Djilobodji goal and amazing support |website=talkSPORT|date=14 May 2016|access-date=4 June 2016}}

On 2 June 2016, amid speculation that Öztunalı would remain at Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen director of football Rudi Völler confirmed that he would be returning to Leverkusen and would be part of the squad for the following season.{{cite web |last=Lußem|first=Frank | date = 2 June 2016|url=https://www.kicker.de/oeztunali_voeller-schiebt-den-riegel-vor-653153/artikel|title=Öztunalı: Völler schiebt den Riegel vor|website=kicker|access-date=4 June 2016 }} Öztunalı amassed a total of 46 appearances across all competitions during his 18-month spell with Werder Bremen.

=Mainz 05=

On 25 August 2016, Leverkusen's Bundesliga rivals Mainz 05 announced the signing of Öztunalı on a five-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.mainz05.de/mainz05/en/aktuell/news/news-detail/article/oeztunali-wird-05er.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826142244/http://www.mainz05.de/mainz05/en/aktuell/news/news-detail/article/oeztunali-wird-05er.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2016|title=Öztunalı is a Zerofiver|website=Mainz 05|date=25 August 2016|access-date=25 August 2016}} He made his debut against Borussia Dortmund on 27 August, coming on as a second half half substitutesubstitute for Suat Serdar, and scored his first goal for the club in the following match-week in a 4–4 draw with Hoffenheim.{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.com/german-bundesliga/story/2948254/werder-bremen-held-down-by-augsburg;-hoffenheim-storm-back-in-mainz-draw|title=Augsburg keep down Werder Bremen; Hoffenheim storm back in Mainz draw|website=ESPN|date=11 September 2016|access-date=11 September 2016}} He scored his first-ever European goal on 29 September, netting the winner in a 3–2 UEFA Europa League victory over Azerbaijani side Qabala.{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-europa-league/story/2962180/inter-milan-lose-second-straight-in-europa-league-as-southampton-draw|title=Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifts Man United as Inter lose again in Europa League|website=ESPN|date=29 September 2016|access-date=30 September 2016}} He ultimately made 36 appearances in the season across all competitions, including 23 starts and five goals in the league as Mainz narrowly avoided the relegation play-offs.{{cite web|url=http://kwese.espn.com/football/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/3220261/scouting-spotlight-jorginho-mikel-oyarzabal-levin-oztunali|title=Scouting Spotlight: Jorginho, Mikel Oyarzabal, Levin Oztunali|website=ESPN|last=Stanger|first=Matthew|date=7 October 2017|access-date=8 February 2018}}

=Hamburger SV=

On 27 June 2023, Öztunalı joined Hamburger SV on a free transfer, on a contract until 2026.{{cite news|url=https://www.hsv.de/en/hsv-sign-levin-oeztunali|title=HSV sign Levin Öztunalı|website=www.hsv.de|date=4 July 2023| language = English}}

International career

He has represented various German youth teams, however, as he is not capped at senior international level, he is eligible to represent for Germany or Turkey.

=German national youth teams=

File:2017083211455 2017-03-24 Fussball U21 Deutschland vs England - Sven - 1D X II - 0335 - AK8I3148 mod.jpg against England U21 in 2017]]

Öztunalı has represented Germany at various youth levels since his debut for the U15 side in 2010. In 2014, he was part of the squad which took part in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Hungary. He scored the third goal in a semi-final victory over Austria and started in the final as Germany claimed the title with a 1–0 win over Portugal.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/news/0257-0ded26790c91-d928d49378e0-1000--germany-planning-pays-off-for-oztunali/|title=Germany planning pays off for Öztunalı|website=UEFA|last=Haslam|first=Andrew|date=29 July 2014|access-date=3 May 2017}} His form throughout the competition saw him named in the Team of the Tournament alongside top scorer Davie Selke and four other countrymen.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2014/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914012505/http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2014/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2014|title=The UEFA Technical Team Team of the Tournament|website=UEFA|access-date=3 May 2017}}

In 2017, Öztunalı was one of 23 players selected in Stefan Kuntz's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Poland.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/history/teams/200047--germany/|title=Under-21 - Germany|website=UEFA|access-date=22 June 2017}} Germany were ultimately crowned champions, beating Spain 1–0 in the final to claim the title.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40451698|title=Germany won their second European Under-21 Championship with victory over four-time champions Spain in Poland|website=BBC|date=30 June 2017|access-date=1 July 2017}}

Personal life

Öztunalı is the grandson of former German international footballer and World Cup finalist Uwe Seeler.{{cite web |last= Bogena|first= Kai Niels | date = 7 November 2015 |url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/werder-bremen/article148507944/Der-Karriere-Knick-des-Uwe-Seeler-Enkels.html|title=Die Karriere-Knick des Uwe-Seeler-Enkels | website = Die Welt |access-date=19 January 2016}}{{in lang|de}} His father is Turkish and previously served as a scout for Hamburger SV.{{cite web |url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/seeler-wuetet-nach-wechsel-seines-enkels-zu-bayer-04-aid-1.3166201|title=Seeler wütet nach Wechsel seines Enkels zu Bayer 04|website=RD Online|date=4 February 2013|access-date=3 May 2016 | language = de}}

Career statistics

{{updated|7 July 2022}}{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/levin-oeztunali/2/ |title=Levin Öztunalı Club matches |publisher= World Football |access-date=19 January 2016}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup{{efn\|Includes DFB Pokal matches}} !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League matches.}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
League !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
Bayer Leverkusen II \|2013–14 \|Regionalliga \|13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
rowspan="3"\|Bayer Leverkusen \|2013–14 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|9	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
2014–15 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|6	0	1	0	1	0	8	0
colspan="2"\|Total !15	0	1	0	1	0	17	0
rowspan="3"\|Werder Bremen (loan) \|2014–15 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|16	1	1	0	0	0	17	1
2015–16 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|25	1	4	0	0	0	29	1
colspan="2"\|Total !41	2	5	0	0	0	46	2
rowspan="6"\|Mainz 05 \|2016–17 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|30	4	1	0	5	1	36	5
2017–18 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|25	0	1	0	0	0	26	0
2018–19 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|15	0	1	0	0	0	16	0
2019–20 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|27	4	0	0	0	0	31	4
2020–21 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|17	1	1	0	0	0	18	1
colspan="2"\|Total !114	9	8	0	5	1	127	10
rowspan="3"\|Union Berlin \|2021–22 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|18	0	1	0	5{{efn\|Includes one appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase.}}	0	24	0
2022–23 \|rowspan="1"\|Bundesliga \|2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
colspan="2"\|Total !20	0	1	0	5	0	26	0
Hamburger SV \|2023–24 \|rowspan="1"\|2. Bundesliga \|9	0	2	0	0	0	11	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !212	12	17	0	11	1	240	13

Honours

Germany U19

UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2014

Germany U21

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2017{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/deutschland-gegen-spanien-2017-u-em-3796218/analyse | title = Weisers Kopfball macht den EM-Traum wahr | language = de | website = Kicker | date = 30 June 2017 | access-date = 30 June 2017}}

Individual