Former Schalke player Levent Mercan has developed into a real leader in Turkey. A tactical trick by Andrea Pirlo played a decisive role in this.
In 2018/2019, FC Schalke 04’s U19 team secured first place in the A-Junior Bundesliga West for the last time, with one point more than Borussia Dortmund. However, the team was unable to reward itself with the big title, as it was knocked out of the German championship semifinals by BVB of all teams (2-2, 0-2).
One name in particular stands out from this successful team at Schalke: Malick Thiaw. Now 22, he made it into the first team and joined AC Milan in the summer of 2022 for just under nine million euros. In Italy, the center back became a regular and even a German international.
Mercan, Kutucu, and Aydin with important roles in Turkey
But Thiaw is not the only one who has been able to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Alongside Lukas Ahrend (SSV Ulm 1848) and Sava-Arangel Cestic (Heracles Almelo), three players from this age group found happiness in Turkey. Mehmet Aydin now plays regularly for Trabzonspor, Ahmet Kutucu is the top scorer in the second division for Eyüpspor, and Levent Mercan is under contract with Fatih Karagümrük.
The latter in particular is causing a stir – even though Mercan hardly got a look-in with Schalke’s first team between 2019 and 2021. The Recklinghausen-born midfielder was granted just six substitute appearances and one start over 45 minutes (scoring one goal).
In the summer of 2021, he was initially loaned to Fatih Karagümrük in the Süper Lig, where he made such an impression in 22 appearances, albeit mostly as a substitute, that he was signed on a permanent deal the following summer.
Mercan becomes a regular after Pirlo’s change
In his first year on a permanent contract with Fatih Karagümrük, legendary coach Andrea Pirlo made a change that was to rapidly accelerate Mercan’s career. After a mixed start to the season with a few brief appearances, the Italian, who coached Karagümrük last season, moved the playmaker back to left-back. Mercan immediately established himself there, missing only two games and otherwise always starting.
Mercan is also a regular left-back in the new season and started the first 13 games. After the last start for nominal captain Salih Dursun, the 22-year-old even took over the armband and led the team, currently 13th in the Süper Lig, onto the field in the last twelve games.
He has increased his market value to three million euros (via transfermarkt.de), making him the most valuable player at Fatih Karagümrük. By way of comparison, he would currently be the second most valuable player at Schalke after Assan Ouedraogo (six million).
National team? “Would make me very proud”
It goes without saying that these performances have not gone unnoticed in Turkey. Mercan is even being linked with the Turkish national team. After the narrow 1-2 defeat at leaders Fenerbahce Istanbul at the weekend, the Turkish portal “Ajansspor” quoted him as saying: “Getting into the national team would make me very proud. It’s what everyone wants to achieve. But right now, I’m thinking about Karagümrük, we’re on the right track.”
Perhaps Mercan’s personal journey will take him back to Germany or even Gelsenkirchen in the summer of 2024 – but then in the jersey of the Turkish national team.