Mevlüt Erdinç
Mevlüt Erdinç | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1987 Saint-Claude, Jura, France |
| Other names | Erding (in France) |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (retired) |
| Years active | 2005–2022 |
| Known for | Striker for multiple clubs including Sochaux, Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes, Saint-Étienne; Turkey national team player |
Mevlüt Erdinç (known as Erding in France; born 25 February 1987) is a retired professional football player who operated primarily as a striker.
Erdinç, born in France to Turkish parents, spent the majority of his playing years in the French leagues, featuring in 295 Ligue 1 fixtures and netting 92 goals. He achieved the Coupe de France title twice: first with Sochaux in 2007 and later with Paris Saint-Germain in 2010. His Ligue 1 tenure also included periods at Rennes, Saint-Étienne, Guingamp, and Metz.
On the international stage, Erdinç represented France at the under-17 level before switching his allegiance to Turkey starting from the under-19 category. Between 2008 and 2016, he earned 34 senior caps for Turkey, scoring eight goals, and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2008.
Sochaux
Originating from Saint-Claude, Jura, Erdinç began his football journey with local clubs including his hometown team and Jura Sud Foot before moving to Sochaux in 2000.
He was promoted to Sochaux’s senior squad during the 2005–06 season, making an immediate impact by scoring a last-minute winner on his debut against Ajaccio. By the 2007–08 season, he had established himself as a key player, finishing as Sochaux’s leading scorer with 11 goals from 28 matches. In the decisive final game of the 2008–09 season, Erdinç scored a vital goal that helped secure Sochaux's place in Ligue 1. He again topped the club’s scoring charts that season with 12 goals.
Paris Saint-Germain
On 28 June 2009, Erdinç agreed to a four-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, reportedly for €9 million. Before this transfer, several English clubs such as Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle United, and Wigan Athletic, along with French teams like Bordeaux and Lyon, had shown interest.
His first goal for PSG came during a pre-season friendly against Fiorentina on 29 July 2009. He opened his Ligue 1 scoring account early in the 2009–10 season with a goal in a 3–1 victory over Le Mans. Erdinç earned the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award for August 2009 after tallying six goals in eleven appearances before a foot injury sidelined him for four weeks.
In March 2010, he achieved his inaugural hat-trick for PSG in a commanding 4–1 win over his former side Sochaux. He ended that campaign as PSG’s top league scorer with fifteen goals and was honored as Paris Saint-Germain's Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.
During the 2010–11 season, injuries hampered his performance, restricting him to nine goals across all competitions. After PSG’s acquisition by the Qatar Investment Authority in 2011 and subsequent high-profile signings like Javier Pastore, competition for places intensified. Despite interest from clubs including Newcastle United, Rennes, and Galatasaray, Erdinç remained at PSG. Early in the following season (2011–12), he contributed significantly, scoring and assisting during an important victory over Toulouse.
On 23 September 2011, Erdinç extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain by one year, securing his stay until the conclusion of the 2013–14 season after demonstrating consistent form.
Rennes
On 25 January 2012, after limited opportunities under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Erdinç moved to Rennes for a transfer fee of €7.5 million, agreeing to a contract lasting three and a half years.
Saint-Étienne
Erdinç transferred to Saint-Étienne on the final day of the transfer window, 1 September 2013, in a deal valued at approximately €4 million. He made his first appearance on 14 September, playing 81 minutes in a 3–1 victory against Valenciennes. His inaugural goal for Saint-Étienne came on 24 November 2013, when he scored the match-winner away at Nice, capitalizing on a goalkeeper mistake. Over the next five games, he netted four more goals, including the concluding strike in a 4–0 triumph over Stade Reims on 30 November, a consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat to his former team Rennes, the equalizer in a 2–1 Coupe de la Ligue loss to PSG, and a penalty goal securing a 2–0 win against Nantes on 21 December.
In one of the final league fixtures of the 2013–14 season, Erdinç scored twice as Saint-Étienne overcame Nantes 3–1 on 10 May 2014. He added another goal on 17 May in a 3–1 win over Ajaccio, helping the team clinch fourth place and qualify for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League. He concluded the campaign as Saint-Étienne’s leading scorer with 11 goals in Ligue 1 and 12 across all competitions.
The opening game of the 2014–15 season saw Erdinç score both goals in Saint-Étienne’s 2–0 victory against Guingamp on 9 August 2014. In the following league match, he contributed both an assist and a goal during a comeback win of 3–1 over Reims, helping maintain the club’s unbeaten record at that stage.
Hannover 96
Erdinç signed a three-year deal with Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on 17 July 2015 for an estimated transfer fee of €3.5 million.
Guingamp (Loan)
On 7 January 2016, Erdinç was loaned out to Guingamp until the end of the 2015–16 Ligue 1 season. During this spell, he scored four goals in fifteen league appearances.
Metz (Loan)
For the 2016–17 season, Erdinç joined newly promoted Ligue 1 club FC Metz on loan starting from 10 June 2016.
İstanbul Başakşehir
Erdinç made his first move to Turkey by signing with İstanbul Başakşehir on 13 July 2017. That summer, he was part of a group of international signings including Gaël Clichy, Eljero Elia, Gökhan Inler, and Manuel da Costa.
Following his debut season with Başakşehir, Erdinç stated his desire to conclude his playing career at the club.
Antalyaspor (Loan)
On transfer deadline day, 31 August 2018, Erdinç was loaned to Antalyaspor for the duration of the 2018–19 Süper Lig campaign. His loan period concluded on 31 May 2019, after which he returned to İstanbul Başakşehir.
Fenerbahçe
Erdinç signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahçe S.K. on 30 August 2019.
Fatih Karagümrük
On 3 September 2020, he joined newly promoted Süper Lig outfit Fatih Karagümrük.
Kocaelispor
In 2021, Erdinç inked a deal with Kocaelispor, competing in the TFF 1. Lig.
Ümraniyespor
In 2022, Erdinç transferred to Ümraniyespor, a club in the TFF 1. Lig, concluding his contract following the close of the 2021–22 campaign.
Racing Besançon and retirement
On 2 July 2022, Erdinç committed to Racing Besançon, participating in the Championnat National 2 for the 2022–23 season. However, after two months without featuring in any matches, he and the club agreed to end his contract, leading to his retirement announcement.
International career
Eligible to represent both Turkey and France, Erdinç earned his debut senior cap for Turkey on 26 March 2008 during a 2–2 draw against Belarus. On 10 May 2008, then-coach Fatih Terim included him in Turkey's squad for UEFA Euro 2008. He was in the starting lineup against Portugal but was substituted at halftime in a 2–0 defeat and later appeared as a substitute in the second half of the semi-final loss to Germany.
His inaugural international goal came on 11 October 2008, securing a 2–1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the course of 2010 World Cup qualifiers. During the 2014 qualifying rounds, he netted twice: opening the scoring in a 3–1 defeat to Hungary and contributing the decisive goal in a 2–0 win against Romania, although Turkey ultimately failed to qualify.
Erdinç was included by Terim in Turkey's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, but he did not make the final team selection.
Personal life
Erdinç is the youngest among eight siblings born to parents who emigrated from Yozgat, Turkey, to France in 1973. In January 2010, his hometown of Saint-Claude honoured him with a medal of distinction.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sochaux | 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| 2006–07 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 29 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 11 | ||
| 2008–09 | 36 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 38 | 12 | |||
| Total | 79 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 89 | 25 | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 37 | 19 | |
| 2010–11 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 53 | 9 | ||
| 2011–12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||
| Total | 76 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 109 | 30 | ||
| Rennes | 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 4 | |
| 2012–13 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 37 | 13 | |||
| 2013–14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | |||
| Total | 48 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 55 | 18 | |||
| Saint-Étienne | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 11 | 1 | 0 | (1) | 1 | — | 29 | 12 | |
| 2014-15 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 1 | (1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 9 | ||
| Total | 53 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 65 | 21 | ||
| Hannover 96 | 2015-16 Hannover 96 season | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| Guingamp (loan) | 2015-16 En Avant de Guingamp season | Ligue 1 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 4 | |
| Metz (loan) | 2016-17 FC Metz season | Ligue 1 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 6 | |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2017-18 Süper Lig | Süper Lig | 16 | 4 | 4 | — | 6 | 0 | 26 | 6 | ||
| Antalyaspor (loan) | 2018-19 Süper Lig | Süper Lig | 24 | 12 | 3 | — colspan = "2" | — | 27 | 14 | ||||
| Fenerbahçe | 2019-20 Fenerbahçe S.K. season | Süper Lig | 12 | 0 | 7 | — colspan = "2" | — | 19 | 4 | ||||
| Fatih Karagumruk | 2020-21 Fatih Karagümrük S.K. season | Süper Lig | 30 | — colspan = "2" | — colspan = "2" | — | 32 | 3 | ||||||
| Kocaelispor | 2021-22 TFF First League | TFF First League | 8 | 0 | 1 | — colspan = "2" | — colspan = "2" | — | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Ümraniyespor | 2021-22 TFF First League | TFF First League | 2 | 0 colspan ="6" rowspan= "6" style= "text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| colspan= "3" Career total | 398 | 111 | 48 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 27 | 1 | 489 | 132 | ||
International
- In the following list, Turkey's goals are presented first, with the score reflecting the situation immediately after each goal by Erdinç.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 October 2008 | BJK İnönü Stadium, Istanbul | Template:Fb | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 16 October 2012 | Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 14 November 2012 | Türk Telekom Arena, Istanbul | Template:Fb | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 10 September 2013 | Arena Națională, Bucharest | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 15 November 2013 | 5 Ocak Stadium, Adana | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 5 March 2014 | 19 Mayıs Stadium, Ankara | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 30 May 2014 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C. | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 31 March 2015 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
Honours
Sochaux
- Winner of the Coupe de France: 2006–07 Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
- Secured the Coupe de France title: 2009–10 Coupe de France
Turkey
- Achieved third place in the UEFA European Championship: 2008 UEFA European Championship
External links
- 1987 births
- Living people
- People from Saint-Claude, Jura
- Footballers from Jura (department)
- French men's footballers
- France men's youth international footballers
- Turkish men's footballers
- Turkey men's youth international footballers
- Turkey men's under-21 international footballers
- Turkey men's international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players
- Paris Saint-Germain FC players
- Stade Rennais FC players
- AS Saint-Étienne players
- Hannover 96 players
- En Avant Guingamp players
- FC Metz players
- İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. players
- Antalyaspor footballers
- Fenerbahçe S.K. footballers
- Fatih Karagümrük S.K. footballers
- Kocaelispor footballers
- Ligue 1 players
- Bundesliga players
- Süper Lig players
- UEFA Euro 2008 players
- Turkish expatriate men's footballers
- French expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
- Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- French expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- French sportspeople of Turkish descent
- Ümraniyespor footballers
- 21st-century French sportsmen
- 21st-century Turkish sportsmen