Transfer Story of Arda Güler from Fenerbahçe to Real Madrid

“Just give him a ball, he wouldn’t want anything else. He always played ball when he came to the village in the summer. He would put me in the goal and play football.” That’s what her grandma tells it Arda Guler. as it is now at Real Madrid You are not surprised that it is. However, behind this success lies a much longer and more difficult story than it seems.

This story we’re talking about sports science, scouting and infrastructure It shows us how important such concepts are. We consider all these elements that make success inevitable. in Fenerbahçe He served as scout chief, in the discovery of Arda Güler and to the yellow-dark blue people. in the transfer playing a big role To Serhat Pekmezci we ask.

Arda Güler, who started football at the age of 9 in Gençlerbirliği, one of the well-established teams of Ankara, the city where he was born, attracted the attention of football authorities at the age of 13.

Gençlerbirliği-Osmanlıspor U14 match in 2018 was the turning point of Arda’s football career. Our guest today, Serhat Pekmezci, noticed Arda’s talents in this match and opened the doors of his transfer to Fenerbahçe.

Arda Güler, who started to play in the Fenerbahçe A Team in 2021, proved once again how important infrastructure and scouting are with his contribution to his team every minute he plays. The young football player was officially transferred to Real Madrid, the nirvana of football, last week. A brand new process awaits Arda now.

Now, let’s leave the word to Pekmezci and take a deeper look at Arda Güler’s story…

Altınordu also has a trace in his career: First of all, can we get to know you? For those who don’t know, who is Serhat Pekmezci?

”I was born in 1977 in Kocaeli. I graduated from Celal Bayar University Coaching Department, Marmara University Physical Education and Sports School (BESYO) Football Management Department. I played professional football for 8 years. For 8 years, I worked as an assistant coach in the Super League and the 1st League. I worked as an Academy Chief Scout for 6 years in Altınordu and 3 years in Fenerbahçe.”

Can we hear from you the story of the discovery of Arda Güler? What kind of difficulties did you have during the transfer of Arda to Fenerbahçe, what was the process like?

“I was the Fenerbahçe Football Academy Player Discovery and Recruitment Manager. We divided our transfer criteria into four. Technique, athleticism and physical fitness, mental characteristics and perception, social adaptation. What we really look at, rather than performance It was potential and the will to win.. Arda Gençlerbirliği was fighting with the U14 team against Osmanlıspor. We did not receive an invitation from the Gençlerbirliği club, it was my choice to watch that match. Arda was checking the perimeter many times before the ball came to him. His head was like a radar. He wasn’t playing football, he was dancing on the field with the grace of a ballet dancer. It was clear that he was very open to improvement.

‘Arda finished the match in pain and crying’

He injured his left ankle in the 65th minute of that match and they were defeated 2-1 at the time. In order to turn the competition, you have to spend the last 15 minutes. finished in pain and crying. I followed him until the competition was over and he got into his father’s car. His pain and sorrow were sincere. At that moment, I felt confident that he would become a huge star.”

‘They did not take my report about Arda seriously, I reached the driver of Ali Koç’s son at the expense of losing my job’

“I wanted to get to know Arda’s family the night the competition ended and I stayed in Ankara. We had a very warm meeting that day, but they had some hesitations. Fenerbahçe has not been a team that gave many chances to players under the age of 19 for 115 years, and they were afraid of it, but they convinced Arda that he was a boy who would play in the A Team at the age of 16, in the National Team at the age of 17, and who could go to Real Madrid at the age of 18. I did. Afterwards, I prepared a very comprehensive report on Arda and his family. I shared it with my superiors, but at that time higher units did not take my report seriously. I at the expense of my job I did not give up and prepared a DVD about Arda and on it. ‘Very important and special’ I delivered it to the driver of our president, Ali Koç’s son, in an envelope that reads. After watching our president, he called me and said, ‘How much are you paying for?’ So I asked him to offer some share in the sale, as we could not buy Arda by just giving money. After long negotiations, Arda transferred and moved to Istanbul, we found a job for his father and sister, our club helped a lot in terms of adaptation.”

We know Arda Güler’s talent on the field. So, what other features does he have that brought him to Real Madrid, what kind of training did he receive to improve his skills?

”The most important feature of Arda is his character. He was born to win. His only rival is himself. Therefore, there is no limit to what they can do. He always continued to work towards this. He received training on receiving feedback, comparing with elite players of his age, self-confidence and coping with anxiety. He does whatever he puts his mind to. a very special talent.”

How do you evaluate Arda’s transfer to Real Madrid, what kind of process do you think awaits him? We believe it will take time, but can he make the starting 11?

“I think Real Madrid is the right club for Arda, players such as Nuri Şahin, Hamit Altıntop and Mesut Özil, Roberto Carlos will be guides for Arda. I think Arda is in the right place at the right time. And believe me He will be the captain of Real Madrid one day in a row.”

The transfer of Arda Güler to Real Madrid is one of the most important steps in the history of Turkish football. So, will the new Ardalar come, how are we in both scouting and infrastructures?

”Three midfielders, a left-back, a forward and two wingers. I know 7-8 players in Arda Güler potential.. I don’t want to put pressure on children by naming them. We foresee that the real potential of naturally talented players may be overshadowed by unconscious infrastructure coaches. Scouting system in Turkey is even behind Africa.…”

Finally, we know that the score contribution of young athletes is low. What data is analyzed when discovering a good young athlete?

”Technique, athletics and physical fitness, mental characteristics and perception, social adaptation. First contact with the ball on the field, proneness to the ball, elasticity, central nervous system and perception, as well as the ability to see the entire field are the aspects we look at first. In addition, decision-making, the time to implement the decision and the time to change the decision are very important criteria for us. Correct posture, lack of inward or outward opening of the feet, and the risk of flat feet are other factors we are trying to explore. Regardless of the age of a player, the less the difference between the time it takes to decide on the action to do what he wants to do on the field and the time to successfully implement the decision, the less we are looking for. kinetic intelligence It means we found it. Intention to use the other foot in control and passes in addition to the dominant foot are very important clues for us to be open to improvement.”

‘We look at the player’s social skills, not just on the field’

”What we mean by social skills; Making eye contact while talking and being able to speak his expressions clearly is an important tool in learning the imagination process of the actor when he is alone. Apparatuses about the player’s being a leader and a winner are also associated with how much he has in-game concentration and focusing skills independent of the result of the competition. Children who cannot express their dreams in a concrete way are those who have not been able to store their ideals at subconscious levels enough. ”

BONUS: Photos shared with us by Serhat Pekmezci, from the time Arda just came to Fenerbahçe…

We would like to thank Serhat Pekmezci for his sincere answers. We congratulate Arda Güler and wish him success in his Real Madrid career 🙂

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