Utku Yuvakuran
Utku Yuvakuran (born 2 November 1997) is a Turkish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Beşiktaş.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 November 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Beşiktaş | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2011 | Beylerbeyi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Beylerbeyi | 35 | (0) |
| 2016– | Beşiktaş | 8 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2016 | Turkey U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2015 | Turkey U20 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 March 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 09 November 2017 | |||
Professional career
Utku made his professional debut with Beşiktaş in a 1-1 Turkish Cup tie with Kayserispor on 26 January 2017.[1]
He made his Süper Lig debut with Beşiktaş in 26 August 2018 against Antalyaspor in Vodafone Park. Utku replaced Tolga Zengin in their match against Antalyaspor, because Tolga Zengin's injury. Unfortunately Beşiktaş lost the match as 2-3, on his debut. Utku made his European debut in the play-off round of 2018-19 UEFA Europa League against Partizan in 30 August 2018. Beşiktaş defeated Partizan in a score of 3-0. During the season when Loris Karius signs with Beşiktaş Utku became the second goalkeeper.
In the 2020-21 season of the Süper Lig Utku started as the second goalkeeper in Beşiktaş behind Ersin Destanoğlu. In 24 September 2020, Utku was the goalkeeper of Beşiktaş in the third qualifying round of 2020-21 UEFA Europa League. They played against Rio Ave in Vodafone Park. The match ended 1-1, but in the penalty shoot-out they lost it as 2-4, eventually Beşiktaş was eliminated. In the tenth week of Süper Lig, in 29 November 2020, Beşiktaş faced Fenerbahçe in Kadıköy. In the absence of Ersin Destanoğlu, Utku replace him in the derby. Beşiktaş defeat Fenerbahçe with the score of 3-4. They defeat them after 15 years in Kadıköy, Utku was the goalkeeper in this important match. At the end of the season Beşiktaş becomes the Champion.
Career statistics
As of 20 May 2020.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Beylerbeyi | 2015–16 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2016–17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 43 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 0 | ||
Personal life
Utku is the son of Semih Yuvakuran, a former Turkish international footballer. He is one of three triplets, all of whom are footballers.[2]