Sinan Bolat

Sinan Bolat
Bolat with Galatasaray in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-09-03) 3 September 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Kayseri, Turkey
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Westerlo
Number 1
Youth career
1992–1996 FC Zonhoven
1996–2005 Genk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Genk 5 (0)
2009–2013 Standard Liège 96 (0)
2013–2017 Porto B 4 (0)
2013–2017 Porto 0 (0)
2014 → Kayserispor (loan) 14 (0)
2014–2015 → Galatasaray (loan) 2 (0)
2015–2016 → Club Brugge (loan) 3 (0)
2016–2017 → Nacional (loan) 0 (0)
2017 → Arouca (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2020 Antwerp 105 (0)
2020–2022 Gent 58 (0)
2022– Westerlo 78 (0)
International career
2007–2008 Turkey U19 4 (0)
2008–2009 Turkey U21 3 (0)
2009–2019 Turkey 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024

Sinan Bolat (born 3 September 1988) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian club Westerlo.[2] He has played for Turkey both at youth level and senior level.

Club career

Early years

Bolat began his professional career at age 17 with Genk in 2005, but only managed a handful of matches in the league, including three starts.[3] He transferred to Standard Liège on 29 December 2008, six months before his contract was due to expire with Genk.[4][5] He had previously been linked to both Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor of the Turkish Süper Lig.[6]

Standard Liège

Bolat is reported to have moved to Standard Liège for a transfer fee of just €150,000 in the January 2009 transfer window, on a 4.5-year contract.[7]

2008–09 season

Bolat was Liège's preferred starting goalkeeper in the second half of the 2008–09 season due to Rorys Aragón losing favour. Bolat started the last seven matches of the season and kept five clean sheets, conceding only two goals: one in a 3–1 win against Germinal Beerschot and another in a 4–1 win against KV Mechelen. Bolat started the UEFA Cup match against S.C. Braga on 26 February 2009, and managed to keep a clean sheet during the first half. However, he was substituted off at half-time for the experienced Rorys Aragón, as the match finished 1–1.[8]

In the final match of the 2008–09 season, Standard needed to win their match away to Gent in order to force a play-off against Anderlecht for the championship title. (If both points and number of matches won are tied, then a two-legged play-off decides the ultimate winner.) Standard were 1–0 ahead until the 92nd minute, when a penalty was awarded against them. Bolat became the hero of the night as he pulled off a magnificent save from Bryan Ruiz, ensuring the play-off.[9] Standard went on to win the resulting play-off, winning 2–1 on aggregate, with Bolat keeping another clean sheet in the process, and were crowned champions on 24 May 2009. In his first season, he managed to keep six clean sheets out of nine matches and also saved a penalty. Winning the league automatically qualified Liège for the group stages of UEFA Champions League in the 2009–10 season. English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal were said to have made an offer for him in May 2009.[10]

2009–10 season

Prior to the start of the 2009–10 season, Bolat helped his side to a 2–0 win in the 2009 Belgian Supercup final against Genk on 27 July 2009.[11] In Liège's final UEFA Champions League group stage match, against AZ on 9 December, Bolat pushed upfield when a free-kick was awarded in the 95th minute, and he scored a headed goal to tie the match at 1–1.[12] The draw clinched third place in the group for Liège and gave them a place in the UEFA Europa League at the expense of AZ.[13][14] This enabled Bolat to earn his place in history as the first goalkeeper ever to score a goal in open-play in the UEFA Champions League.[15]

Porto

Bolat joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Porto on 30 July 2013 on a free transfer, signing a five-year contract.[16]

Kayserispor

On 24 January 2014, Bolat joined Turkish side Kayserispor on loan, for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[17]

Galatasaray

On 22 July 2014, Bolat joined Süper Lig club Galatasaray on a one-year loan.[18]

Club Brugge

On 23 July 2015, Bolat joined Club Brugge on loan from Porto for the 2015–16 season,[19] after Brugge starting goalkeeper Mathew Ryan left the side to join Valencia.

Nacional

Bolat joined Primeira Liga side Nacional on 31 August 2016, on a one-year loan.[20]

Arouca

On 31 January 2017, Bolat left Nacional and joined Arouca on loan until the end of season, after only playing one game for Nacional.[21]

Royal Antwerp

On 17 July 2017, Bolat returned to Belgium, joining Royal Antwerp on a three-year contract.[22]

Gent

On 27 August 2020, Bolat joined rival Gent on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.[23]

Westerlo

On 2 June 2022, Westerlo announced the signing of Bolat, on a four-year contract.[24]

International career

Bolat has played at youth level for Turkey, winning four caps at the under-19 level and three at the under-21 level. He was called up by the senior national team for Turkey by then-head coach Fatih Terim for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in September 2009, but was an unused substitute.[25]

Bolat gained his first cap on 10 August 2011 in a friendly match against Estonia at Türk Telekom Arena, a 3–0 victory.

Career statistics

As of match played 9 November 2024[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Genk 2006–07 Belgian First Division 1 0 1 0 — — — 2 0
2007–08 Belgian First Division 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 4 0
Total 5 0 1 0 — 0 0 — 6 0
Standard Liège 2008–09 Belgian First Division 9 0 0 0 — 1[b] 0 0 0 10 0
2009–10 Belgian Pro League 31 0 1 0 — 12[c] 1 1[d] 0 45 1
2010–11 Belgian Pro League 24 0 3 0 — — — 27 0
2011–12 Belgian Pro League 32 0 2 0 — 13[e] 0 1[d] 0 48 0
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 0 0 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 96 0 6 0 — 26 1 2 0 130 1
Porto B 2013–14 Segunda Liga 4 0 — — — — 4 0
Porto 2013–14 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kayserispor (loan) 2013–14 Süper Lig 14 0 0 0 — — — 14 0
Galatasaray (loan) 2014–15 Süper Lig 2 0 9 0 — 1[f] 0 0 0 12 0
Club Brugge (loan) 2015–16 Belgian Pro League 3 0 0 0 — 2[g] 0 0 0 5 0
Nacional (loan) 2016–17 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
Arouca (loan) 2016–17 Primeira Liga 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 0
Royal Antwerp 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 37 0 2 0 — — — 39 0
2018–19 Belgian First Division A 41 0 1 0 — — — 42 0
2019–20 Belgian First Division A 27 0 5 0 — 4[h] 0 — 36 0
Total 105 0 8 0 — 4 0 — 117 0
Gent 2020–21 Belgian First Division A 33 0 2 0 — 2[h] 0 — 37 0
2021–22 Belgian First Division A 25 0 4 0 — 10[i] 0 — 39 0
Total 58 0 6 0 — 12 0 — 76 0
Westerlo 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 36 0 0 0 — — — 36 0
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 31 0 0 0 — — — 31 0
2024–25 Belgian Pro League 11 0 0 0 — — — 11 0
Total 78 0 0 0 — — — 78 0
Career total 378 0 30 0 1 0 45 1 2 0 495 1
  1. ^ Includes Croky Cup, Turkish Cup and Taça de Portugal
  2. ^ Appearance in UEFA Cup
  3. ^ Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  5. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eleven appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  7. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Standard Liège

Galatasaray

Club Brugge

Gent

References

  1. ^ "Sinan Bolat'ın doğum günü kutlandı" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  2. ^ "OFICIAL: Sinan Bolat (Ex-FC Porto) reforça campeão da II liga belga".
  3. ^ "Sinan Bolat eerste selectie voor Turkije | Voetbal België". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  4. ^ "Sinan Bolat Profile on TransferMarketWeb". transfermarketweb.com. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  5. ^ Sinan Bolat's Transfer
  6. ^ "Sinan a target for Fenerbahce?". fanatik.net. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Standard snap up Genk youngster Bolat". UEFA. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  8. ^ "Standard Liege 1 – 1 Braga". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Belgian Championship undecided after missed penalty". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Epl clubs after Sinan". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Standard win the Supercup". Standard Liege Official Site. Retrieved 27 July 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ Sinan bolat goal page
  13. ^ "SLiege late show stuns AZ". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  14. ^ Szczepanik, Nick (10 December 2009). "Goalkeeper's header keeps Standard in Europe". Times Online. London. Retrieved 10 December 2009.[dead link‍]
  15. ^ European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics
  16. ^ UEFA.com (30 July 2013). "Goalkeeper Bolat swaps Standard for Porto | UEFA Champions League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Kayserispor Sinan Bolat'la anlaştı!". NTVSpor.net (in Turkish). 24 January 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Sinan Bolat Galatasaray'da". galatasaray.org (in Turkish). 22 July 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Sinan Bolat Club Brugge'de!". www.trtspor.com.tr (in Turkish). 23 July 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Sinan Bolat chega à Madeira cedido pelo FC Porto". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). 31 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Sinan Bolat é reforço até final da época". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  22. ^ Magazine, Sport/Foot (17 July 2017). "Sinan Bolat s'engage avec l'Antwerp". Le Vif (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Welkom Sinan! | KAA Gent Website". KAA Gent (in Dutch). 27 August 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Sinan Bolat signs for 4 seasons!". X (formerly Twitter). 2 June 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Bolat kiest voor Turkije | Voetbal België". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  26. ^ Sinan Bolat at Soccerway