Thursday, 8 March 2018

A president, a soccer star and life in exile

 Hakan Sukur is Turkey's most famous footballer ever

Hakan Sukur is Turkey's most famous soccer star ever

The famous striker was a hero for Galatasaray fans and a national treasure.  This was until he was accused of insulting President Erdogan.  Now living in exile, Sukur manages a coffee shop in Palo Alto, near San Francisco.

The chances are that if Hakan Sukur steps foot in his own country, it's likely he'll face the death penalty or a life in prison.  This is why he lives in exile in the US and runs a bakery.


 Inside Hakan Sukur's cafe in California near the famous Stanford University


Back in the 1990s, the prolific striker was the life and soul of Istanbul.

Kids messing around the local bazaars all had Gala shirts with his famed number nine on the back. He could do no wrong.

The player scored 295 goals in three spells with the Turkish giants, played Premier League football with Blackburn for a season and had a spell in Serie A for Torino.

Although it didn't work out for him in Italy and England, he was welcomed back to his own country with open arms.


 In 2016, Hakan Sukur was charged with insulting Presideny Erdogan on Twitter
In 2016, Hakan was charged with insulting President Erdogan on Twitter.

That summer, a trial began in absentia.  Hakan insisted it wasn't his intention to insult Erdogan, but prosecutors disagreed.

Somehow, Hakan had managed to flee to America.

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