Taha Özcelik

Taha Özcelik
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-05) 5 September 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Finland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tampere United
Number 17
Youth career
TPV
0000–2017 Ilves
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2022 Ilves II 46 (2)
2021 Ilves 15 (1)
2023– Tampere United 49 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2024

Taha Özcelik (born 5 September 2000) is a Finnish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Tampere United in Kakkonen.

Club career

Özcelik started football in the youth sector of Tampereen Pallo-Veikot (TPV) when aged nine, before joining Ilves.[1]

Özcelik debuted in Veikkausliiga with Ilves first team in the 2021 season. He scored his first league goal on 23 June 2021, in a win against Inter Turku.[2][1]

On 17 February 2023, Özcelik signed with fellow Tampere-based club Tampere United (TamU), competing in third-tier Kakkonen.[3] On 19 December 2023, he extended his deal with TamU.[4] At the end of the 2024 season, Özcelik helped TamU to win a promotion to third-tier Ykkönen, by beating HJS in the promotion play-offs.[5]

Personal life

Born in Finland, Özcelik is of Turkish descent,[6] and holds a dual Finnish-Turkish citizenship. His brother Berkin Özcelik is also a footballer, playing for Ilves II reserve team.[1]

Career statistics

As of 22 October 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ilves II 2017 Kolmonen 1 0 – – – 1 0
2018 Kolmonen 15 0 – – – 15 0
2019 Kakkonen 4 2 2 0 – – 6 2
2020 Kakkonen 11 0 – – – 11 0
2021 Kakkonen 3 0 1 0 – – 4 0
2022 Kakkonen 12 0 – – – 12 0
Total 46 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 49 2
Ilves 2021 Veikkausliiga 14 1 – – – 14 1
Tampere United 2023 Kakkonen 22 4 2 0 – – 24 4
2024 Kakkonen 27 2 1 0 – – 28 2
Total 49 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 52 6
Career total 109 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 115 9
  1. ^ Includes Suomen Cup

References

  1. ^ a b c Turkin ja Suomen kansalainen Özcelik puski voittomaalin Ilvekselle – FC Lahden Kari Arkivuo jäi ilman syntymäpäivävoittoa, Yle, 23 June 2021
  2. ^ Taha Özcelik säkenöi uransa toisessa liigapelissään ja ratkaisi tuikitärkein voiton: ”Sanoin että heittäkää kulma taakse ja pistin sisään”, Aamuposti, 23 June 2021
  3. ^ TAHA ÖZCELIK TUO LIIGAKOKEMUSTA SINIPAITOIHIN, tampereunited.fi, 17 February 2023
  4. ^ TAHA ÖZCELIK JATKAA TAMUSSA 1+1-VUOTISELLA SOPIMUKSELLA, tampereunited.fi, 19 December 2023
  5. ^ TamU:n matka Ykköseen sai sinetin – katso kuvakooste Tammelan stadionin riemusta Tampereella, Aamulehti, 20 October 2024
  6. ^ TAHA ÖZCELIK PÄÄSI LOUKKAANTUMISTEN JA JÄNNITTÄMISEN YLI, ilvesedustus.fi