AHMET YILMAZ ÇALIK

Ahmet Yılmaz Çalık's Life

Ahmet Yılmaz Çalık was born in Ankara on February 26, 1994. Ahmet, whose father is from Gümüşhane and mother is from Isparta, has an older brother who is five years older and a younger sister who is 11 years younger. Çalık began playing football in 2004 with the Gençlerbirliği youth academy and quickly attracted attention with his solid defensive presence, commitment to playing discipline, and leadership skills. His successful performances at club level paved the way for his promotion to the Turkish national team.

Promoted to the senior team as a professional in the summer of 2011, Ahmet played in three matches in the Turkish Cup that same season. He made his senior debut for the senior team on April 21, 2013, in a Süper Lig match against Fenerbahçe. His impressive performance in that match contributed to a 2-0 victory and established him as a regular player for the team. In the 2015-2016 season, he became one of the team captains of Gençlerbirliği, where he had come through the youth academy.

Ahmet Çalık, who transferred to Galatasaray during the mid-season transfer window of the 2016-2017 season, made his official debut for the yellow-and-reds in a Turkish Cup match against Elazığspor on January 17th. In his 3.5 seasons at Galatasaray, he played in 56 matches and scored three goals.

Çalık transferred to Konyaspor on October 4, 2020, signing a two-year contract. He played 51 matches for Konyaspor until his death, maintaining his consistent performance.

Ahmet Çalık played regularly for the Turkish U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21 national teams. He earned more than 50 caps in total across these categories. His consistent performances in the youth age groups earned him a place on the senior national team's preliminary squad.

Ahmet, who made his national team debut on November 17, 2015, in a friendly against Greece, quickly earned the trust of the coaches. He was included in the squad for EURO 2016, one of the most prestigious football competitions. He played for the senior national team eight times in his career.

However, a tragic event that saddened Turkish football cut short this promising career. Ahmet Çalık passed away in a tragic car accident on January 11, 2022, at the age of 27. Ahmet Yılmaz Çalık lives on in the hearts of the Turkish sports community not only for his footballing prowess but also for his humble personality and exemplary stance.