Tuncay Şanlı (January 16, 1982, Sakarya) is a Turkish footballer who plays for Middlesbrough in the Premier League since joining from Fenerbahçe on June 22, 2007. He plays either as striker or winger and is known for his energy, flair and dribbling skills.

Playing career

Fenerbahçe S.K.

Before playing for Fenerbahçe SK, Tuncay plied his trade in the second division at Sakaryaspor. There, Tuncay was playing as a right winger/forward. After his transfer to Fenerbahçe, he began playing first as a forward and then as a left winger.

He was cited as an upcoming football star by Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger after the France–Turkey Confederations Cup match in 2003.^{[citation needed]} In the same tournament, he won the Silver Ball and the Silver Shoe awards for being selected as the second best player of the tournament and being the second top-scorer respectively, with 3 goals and 1 assist.

In 2004, Şanlı became the first Turkish player ever to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League, scoring all of the three goals in Fenerbahçe's 3–0 victory over the Premier League side Manchester United.^[2] He became the second player to ever score a hat trick against Manchester United in Europe, the other being Brazilian Ronaldo for Real Madrid.

He is currently the all-time top scorer for Fenerbahçe in European cups with 12 goals.

Middlesbrough

On June 13, 2007, Middlesbrough F.C. confirmed they had agreed personal terms with Tuncay and the move was now subject to a medical. Tuncay arrived in Middlesbrough on June 18, 2007 to complete his medical.^[3] After passing his medical on June 22, 2007,^[4] he attained a work permit on July 4, 2007, and completed his free transfer to Middlesbrough.^[5]

On July 12, 2007, Tuncay was interviewed by the Evening Gazette and talked about his ambitions for the upcoming season. He said:

"My aim was to play in Europe one day and I have done that in previous seasons. It is also very important for me to play in the Premier League and that, too, is going to happen. But I want to get Middlesbrough back into Europe. That is my target." ^[6]

On July 15 Tuncay made his debut in Boro shirt against German team, Schalke 04, at neutral venue in Austria. He played the first half and was substituted at the interval. The game ended with Boro being beaten 3–0.^[7]

Known for his passionate affinity with fans at his beloved Fenerbahçe SK, Tuncay has stated that he hopes to develop the same kind of relationship with the fans of Middlesbrough FC.

After he had left Fenerbahçe, his former trainer Zico stated:

"Tuncay has been a great loss to us, he was the one giving us the soul and the hope. Now that he is gone we miss that piece of soul and hope. He is a great person, and I wish him the best of luck in his new team. Even though he is now gone, I still wish he will come back to Fenerbahçe."

He went 12 league games without a goal, until he scored his first Premiership goal for Middlesbrough on 1 December 2007 in a 1–1 draw against Reading. He scored his second the following week in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal and a third in as many games in a 1–0 victory over Derby County, a fine volley from a Stewart Downing cross which won that won BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Month, was later nominated for Goal of the Season. He scored against Portsmouth F.C. and that's his fourth, to help Middlesbrough an away win, winning 1–0. Then, he had his fifth. He scored a seventh minute header against Liverpool F.C. to give them the lead. Unfortunately, due to Fernando Torres's hat trick, Middlesbrough conceded a 3–2 loss at Anfield. On 31st match-day of season, he scored the winning goal against Derby County as the match ended 1–0. Tuncay then scored goals against sunderland and portsmouth later on in the season to take his tally to 8 goals for the season.

International career

Tuncay's latest hat trick came for the Turkey national football team in a World Cup Qualifying play-off match against Switzerland, but a 4–2 result allowed the Swiss to advance on the away goal rule.^[8]

Honours

• Turkey
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2003 (3rd place)
  • FIFA Confederations Cup 2003 (Silver Ball & Silver Shoe winner)

• Fenerbahçe
  • 2004 Turkish Super League (Champion)
  • 2005 Turkish Super League (Champion)
  • 2007 Turkish Super League (Champion)

References