Utku Yuvakuran

Utku Yuvakuran

Yuvakuran with Beşiktaş, 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-11-02) 2 November 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) [1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Tuzlaspor
Number	97
Youth career
2008–2011	Beylerbeyi
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2016	Beylerbeyi	35	(0)
2016–2024	Beşiktaş	8	(0)
2017	→ Beylerbeyi (loan)	0	(0)
2021–2022	→ Fatih Karagümrük (loan)	0	(0)
2024–	Tuzlaspor	10	(0)
International career‡
2016	Turkey U19	1	(0)
2015	Turkey U20	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 November 2017

Utku Yuvakuran (born 2 November 1997) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for TFF Second League club Tuzlaspor.

Professional career

Yuvakuran made his professional debut with Beşiktaş in a 1–1 Turkish Cup tie with Kayserispor on 26 January 2017. ^[2]

He made his Süper Lig debut with Beşiktaş in 26 August 2018 against Antalyaspor in Vodafone Park. Yuvakuran replaced Tolga Zengin in their match against Antalyaspor, because Tolga Zengin's injury. Unfortunately Beşiktaş lost the match as 2-3, on his debut. Yuvakuran 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 Yuvakuran became the second goalkeeper.

In the 2020–21 season of the Süper Lig Yuvakuran started as the second goalkeeper in Beşiktaş behind Ersin Destanoğlu. In 24 September 2020, Yuvakuran 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, Yuvakuran replaced him in the derby. Beşiktaş defeated Fenerbahçe with a score of 3–4. Yuvakuran was the goalkeeper in this historic event, as this was the first away victory for Beşiktaş against Fenerbahçe after 15 years. At the end of the season, Beşiktaş won the title in Süper Lig.

On 31 August 2021, Yuvakuran was loaned to Fatih Karagümrük. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

Career statistics

As of 20 May 2020.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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

Honours

Club

Beşiktaş J.K.

• Süper Lig: 2016–17, 2020–21
• Türkiye Kupası: 2020–21, 2023–24

References

1. "Utku Yuvakuran". Beşiktaş J.K. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
2. "KAYSERİSPOR BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş. - Maç Detayları TFF". www.tff.org.
3. "GÜMRÜK'E YERLİ KALECİ!" (Press release) (in Turkish). Fatih Karagümrük. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
4. "3 Büyükler Utku Yuvakuran'ın peşinde!".

External links

• Utku Yuvakuran – UEFA competition record ( archive )