Alpay Özalan

Alpay Özalan (born 29 May 1973 in Izmir) is a Turkish football player. He is a strong, skilful full back who helped Turkey national football team reaching the semi-finals in the World Cup 2002. He has frequently courted controversy for his antics. Alpay was named in the World Cup select XI that year, and returned to Aston Villa demanding an extremely large pay increase. This lead to him becoming a very unpopular figure at Villa Park, missing much of the 2002-03 season under Graham Taylor. Alpay returned to the Villa team for the beginning of the 2003/04 season, but was again dropped due to the angry reaction of Villa fans after a goal celebration served to mock them.Later, Alpay made a name for himself at the end of 2003 by clashing with England captain David Beckham. The incident caused a rift with Alpay and the English fans, and that, along with the controversies he was previously involved in meant that he was sacked by Aston Villa and removed from Turkish National team. He travelled to K-League side Incheon United's first foray into professional football in 2004.Alpay spent less than six months with the team before moving to the K-League with Incheon United and J. League with Urawa Red Diamonds. The Japanese club annulled his contract due to disciplinary problems.On 1 August 2005, Alpay signed a one-year-contract with the German Bundesliga team 1. FC Köln. On May 24, 2006 he has extended his contract with 1. FC Köln for two more years although 1. FC Köln will play in the 2nd Bundesliga at least for one season.In 2005 Alpay was re-called to the play-off match of the 2006 WC Qualifying in Istanbul by the manager Fatih Terim to face Switzerland. Turkey needed to win the match by three goals but in the first minute of the match Alpay handled the ball in the penalty area and this action gave the Swiss the 1-0 lead, Turkey needing a 4-1 score.It did not happen even though Turkey won the match 4-2 thanks to a hat trick by Fenerbahçe's young attacking midfielder Tuncay Sanli and Galatasaray's Necati Ates, Turkey failed to make it to the finals in Germany. At the end of the match Swiss fled towards the dressing room Turkish players led by Alpay chasing behind them.Few days after the Istanbul incident Alpay returned to his club 1. FC Köln (FC Cologne) and received a four match ban from the German Football Federation for an ugly elbow incident in a weekend defeat at Hamburg.Alpay, now 32, hit Hamburg defender Guy Demel with his elbow in the 65th minute of the game but referee Drees didn't see the incident and TV footage was required to punish Alpay Özalan.A very memorable moment in Alpay's career in complete contrast to his general fame was during Euro 96 in the game between Croatia and Turkey. In a counter attack, he allowed Croatian Goran Vlaovic to dribble the ball half the field without fouling him to stop the attack. In consequence, Vlaovic scored the single goal of the game and Turkey lost. Alpay was awarded with a fair-play award due to his action.Although he is a determined, solid defender he is usually victimised to be accused of being too aggressive.