GUIDE ON FOOTBALL
Mesut Özil (German pronunciation: [ˈmeːzut ˈøːzil], Turkish: [meˈsut œˈzil]; born 15
October 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as
an attacking midfielder. Known for his technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and
vision, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders and playmakers of
his generation.[4][5][6] He could also play as a wide midfielder.
Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for
hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
After winning the DFB-Pokal in his first season, his individual performances led to a
move to Real Madrid in 2010.[7] There, he helped the club win a La Liga title, and
ranked first in league assists for three straight seasons.[8] In 2013, Özil signed
for Arsenal in a transfer worth up to £42.5 million (€50 million), becoming the most
expensive German player ever at the time. It was also a club-record transfer fee for
Arsenal until 2017.[9] In England, he won four FA Cups and helped end
Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought, while recording the second most assists ever
(19) in a Premier League season. In 2021, Özil joined Fenerbahçe on a free transfer;
after his contract with the club was terminated in 2022, he signed with İstanbul
Başakşehir, before retiring in 2023.
A German international for over nine years,[10] Özil holds the record for the
most German National Team Player of the Year awards (5). He made his senior
debut for the Germany national team in 2009 at age 20, and appeared in five major
tournaments. He was the top assist provider at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA
Euro 2012, where he helped Germany twice reach the semi-final. Özil helped
Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but retired from international competition in
2018, alleging discrimination and disrespect by the German Football
Association (DFB) and the German media.
Early life
Özil[11] was born on 15 October 1988[12] in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, as
a son of Turkish immigrants.[13] His grandfather moved as
a Gastarbeiter from Zonguldak, Turkey to West Germany.[14] He played, at youth
level, for various clubs in Gelsenkirchen during 1995–2000, before a five-year stint
for Rot-Weiss Essen.[citation needed]
Club career
Schalke 04
In 2005, Özil moved to the youth system of Schalke 04. He was deployed a
midfielder and wore 17 as his squad number, after starting as a playmaker and
central attacking midfielder in the place of the suspended Lincoln in DFL-
Ligapokal matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.[15] Upon making
the first team at Schalke, he was described as "the next big thing". However, soon
after declining an offer from Schalke 04, claiming that a yearly salary of €1.5 million
would not be enough, he eventually fell out with club management and moved on
to Werder Bremen in January 2008.[16] This led to Mirko Slomka, the then-Schalke
manager, claiming that Özil would not play another match for Schalke.[17]
Werder Bremen
On 31 January 2008, Özil moved to Werder Bremen for a reported fee of €5 million,
signing a contract with the German club until 30 June 2011. Other than Werder
Bremen, Hannover 96 and VfB Stuttgart were reportedly interested as well in binding
Özil to their respective clubs, however did not want to pay such a high transfer fee.
[18]
After transferring to Werder Bremen, Özil got the jersey number 11. On 26 April
2008 (30th match day) Özil scored the go-ahead goal in the 33rd minute
against Karlsruher SC, to put his team up 2–1. This was Özil's first Bundesliga goal.
He played in twelve games throughout the second half of the season, six times
playing in the starting formation, becoming second with Werder Bremen in the
Bundesliga at the end of the 2007–08 season.[citation needed]
Özil with Werder Bremen in 2010
Although Bremen failed to get going in their 2008–09 Bundesliga season, eventually
finishing a disappointing tenth, Özil managed to make a significant impact in most
games and came away with a respectable three goals and 15 assists that highlighted
his attacking credentials.[19] He helped lead the North German club to the 2009 DFB-
Pokal with the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Berlin.[20] He
also excelled in Europe where he led Werder Bremen to the final of the last
ever UEFA Cup, losing out to Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.[19]
In the 2009–10 season, Özil became the key playmaker of Werder Bremen, stepping
into the shoes of Brazilian Diego who had left for Juventus, was named the best
player of the first leg of the 2009 Bundesliga season.[21] On 1 May 2010, the 33rd
match day, Özil played his 100th Bundesliga game, scoring the 1–0 lead in a 2–0
win against his former club Schalke. Özil went on and led Werder Bremen to become
third in the league and again to the DFB-Pokal final, however this time it was lost
against Bayern Munich by 0–4. In his second season, Bremen finished a respectable
third, with Özil contributing 9 goals and 17 assists in 31 league fixture appearances.
During the 2009–10 season, Özil was also declared as the "best player of the first
half of the season".[22]
