When Huseyin and Naime welcomed their son Hakan in Mannheim, Germany, during the World Cup year of 1994, they had no idea they were bringing a future football star into the world. From the moment Hakan was born, it was clear he was destined for greatness. Growing up with his younger brother Muhammed, Hakan spent his childhood playing street soccer with neighborhood kids, a pastime his parents, Huseyin and Naime, encouraged.
Originally from Konursu village in Bayburt Province, Turkey, Hakan’s journey into professional football began at the age of seven. Recognizing his son’s potential, Huseyin enrolled young Hakan in a local football academy, setting him on a path that would shape his future. What started with a boy simply enjoying kicking a ball has blossomed into a remarkable career. This article will explore Hakan Calhanoglu’s early years and his rise in the world of football.
Turkey’s Box Office Star: Tracing Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s Origins and Rise
Our biography of Hakan Calhanoglu offers a detailed look into his life, covering everything from his early childhood and family background to his rise as a renowned footballer.
We delve into facts about his upbringing in Mannheim, his parents Huseyin and Naime Calhanoglu, his family life, including his wife and children. In essence, this account traces the midfielder’s journey from his boyhood days through to his ascent to fame in the football world.
To give you a glimpse of what to expect, we’ve included a gallery showcasing Hakan Calhanoglu’s early years and his journey to success. This Turkish football star has truly come a long way, and his story is one of incredible perseverance and achievement.
Hakan Calhanoglu Biography – Behold his Early Life and Great Rise.
It’s clear that Hakan Calhanoglu shares similarities with Bernardo Silva and Martin Ødegaard, boasting exceptional ball control, precise passing, and a powerful left foot. His ability to orchestrate play from midfield or excel in advanced roles showcases his versatility on the pitch. However, despite the acclaim, many fans might not be aware of the challenges Hakan has faced along his journey. That’s why we’ve put together this biography to shed light on his inspiring story. Let’s dive into the details and uncover the remarkable journey of this Turkish playmaker.
Hakan Calhanoglu Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, Hakan Calhanoglu was born on the 8th day of February 1994. He came into this world through his father, Huseyin Calhanoglu and his mother, Naime Calhanoglu, in Mannheim, Germany.
Do you know?… The free-kick genius is the eldest of two children born of the union between his parents pictured here.
Meet his wonderful parents, Huseyin and Naime Calhanoglu.
Early Life and Growing Up Days:
From the onset, the young Turk was raised with his kid brother, Muhammed, in the streets of Mannheim.
There, they cultivated the habit of playing street soccer with other kids. Because his father had a profound love for football, he never objected to the constant evening routine of his sons with their peers.
Hakan Calhanoglu Family Origin:
Being born in Germany does not mean that the Turk forgot about the existence of his fatherland. As an established player, Calhanoglu has paid many visits to his place of Origin.
What’s more?… He is a native of the Konursu village of Bayburt Province in Turkey. As of 2010, his hometown had an estimated population of about 1,573 people.
This is the Bayburt Province in Turkey, where Hakan’s family comes from.
Family Background:
First and foremost, the members of Hakan Calhanoglu’s household were not the type that one could describe as super-rich. However, they were financially stable and even graced Hakan’s childhood with the latest toy collections of his time. Thankfully, the young lad’s parents had a good financial education. Hence, they could manage their funds in the most economical way.
Football Story:
The joy of the game: Young Hakan Calhanoglu smiling as he lives out his dream on the football field
When the Turk clocked 7, his father had him enrol at a local institute in their vicinity. Back then, Calhanoglu was an innocent kid who only knew how to kick the ball in any direction.
But his parents had high hopes that their son would make a resounding improvement as he joined Waldhof Mannheim Academy.
At first, the midfielder could not easily meet up to the directives of his trainers. However, he often put his filial duty to his parents first before thinking of his discomfort.
Hence, Calhanoglu strived hard to improve on his potential and make his family proud.
Early Years (Career):
After eight years of featuring for Waldhof, the set-piece taker was scouted by Karsruher SC, who took him into their youth team. There he started to gain traction in soccer.
During that same period, Calhanoglu, who looked up to Mesut Ozil, was called up to feature for his home country on different occasions.
His days at Karsruher SC were glorious.
With his parents on the lookout for more excellent achievements, the long-shot taker moved to Hamburger SV in 2013. His time with the German club was brief.
However, it was at Hamburger that the Turkish player dared to exhibit Cristiano Ronaldo in taking free kicks. Of course, he was so good at taking distant set pieces.
Hakan Calhanoglu Biography – Road to Fame Story:
After his move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, the 20-year-old saw himself growing beyond the dreams of his father.
Interestingly, he ensured that the €14.5 million invested in acquiring him didn’t go to waste. Hence, he began scoring goals and making so many assists.
There is no greater joy for Hakan than the moment he scores a goal.
Did you know? In 2017, Hakan Çalhanoğlu took a major step in his football career by joining Serie A Giants and AC Milan. He signed a contract with the Italian Powerhouse, a milestone that filled his mother with immense pride.
He Crossed another milestone by signing with AC Milan.
Being given jersey number 10 made many fans expect an extraordinary performance from the Turk. Sadly, the first son of the Calhanoglu family did not meet up to supporters’ surmise.
He was inconsistent on the pitch and worked hard to improve on his lacking capabilities.
Success Story:
In no distant time, the free-kick genius made a meteoric improvement, which got many analysts talking about his rise. Guess what?… His name made history as he provided an assist for Rafael Leao, who scored the fastest goal in Serie A on 21st December 2020. More so, the goal, which was netted at precisely 6.2 seconds on the clock, became the quickest goal ever scored in Europe’s top five leagues.
He assisted Rafael Leao in scoring the fastest goal in Serie A history.
As I write this Bio, many clubs are on the hunt for his signature. While Juventus pushed to sign Hakan Calhanoglu in 2021, Inter Milan finally won his signature.
Hakan joins the likes of Arda Güler and Arda Turan as Turkish midfielders who have witnessed a gigantic rise in Europe in recent years. The rest, as they say, is history.
About Sinem Gundogdu – Hakan Calhanoglu’s Wife:
When it comes to matters of the heart, the set-piece taker has taken a further step than his compatriot, Cengiz Under. As a matter of fact, Hakan married his childhood girlfriend, Sinem Gundogdu, in Mannheim in 2017.
Hakan Calhanoglu Marriage to Sinem Gundogdu.
However, their love story did not go as smoothly as those in a fairy tale. Just a few months after his wedding, his relationship with Calhanoglu fractured because his wife accused him of flirting with another woman.
Hence, he was on the brink of divorcing his long-time girlfriend turned wife.
Thankfully, the couples reconciled in 2018 and decided to give their marriage a new dawn. Hence, their union led to the birth of a beautiful daughter named Liya.
As I write this Bio, the father of Liya, who is also Ibrahimovic’s buddy, is expecting his second-born child.
“Another little miracle is coming to our family. We are happy that our Liya will soon become a sister to our unborn child. Come, healthy baby.”
With his wife and Daughter, Hakan feels quite accomplished.
Personal Life:
Many fans have likened his humble personality to that of Caglar Soyuncu. Of course, he is gentle, honest and instinctive. Apparently, there are times when Calhanoglu indulges in some children just to relieve stress and catch up on lost time with friends.
Outside the pitch, there are no dull moments with the 24-year-old Turk.
The midfielder is also endowed with great musical talent. When his friends have a birthday or two to celebrate, Hakan is always the man who fills the show with liveliness. Certainly, he would have made a great DJ if soccer had never worked out for him.
His DJ skills go beyond average.
Hakan Calhanoglu Lifestyle:
While featuring for AC Milan, his annual salary has soared up to an estimated sum of €2.5 million (2021 Stats). As I write this Bio, the boy who grew up in Mannheim lives a luxurious lifestyle.
With his earnings, he has bought so many flashy cars and a beautiful house. He even travels with his family on an expensive private jet.
Research shows that Hakan Calhanoglu has amassed an estimated Net Worth of €9.9 million as of 2021.
His life is easygoing and filled with exuberant experience.
Hakan Calhanoglu Family Life:
Behind his career success, there are a few persons whose unwavering faith has given him the gut to work harder.
They celebrate with him whenever he excels and encourages him when things go wrong. Behold an informative section about his family members.
His happiness multiplies whenever he spends some time with his family.
About Hakan Calhanoglu’s Mother:
Thanks to his mom (Naime Calhanoglu), the midfielder has grown up with a great sense of morality. There won’t be enough words to describe the excellence of Mrs Naime in raising her sons. All we know is that she was an educated and caring mother who put her children’s welfare first before her comfort.
His mother looks too young as compared to her age.
About Hakan Calhanoglu’s Father:
The pioneer of Hakan’s interest in sport is his dad, Huseyin Calhanoglu. He was a non-league soccer player whose passion for sports never died, even in his old age.
Meet Hakan’s dad, the mastermind behind his soccer expedition.
After his retirement, Mr Huseyin went on to coach many children into building great careers in football.
What’s more?… Hakan’s father is the founder of Calhanoglu Football Centre (a sports institute in Mannheim).
About Hakan Calhanoglu’s Siblings:
Being the first son of his family means that the German-bred player would have to set a good example for his brother, Muhammed Calhanoglu.
Of course, he did, and today, his younger sibling has taken the same path as him and his father.
Seems like his brother has got a more beautiful smile than him.
Muhammed is a midfielder who had his youth career at the same academy (Waldhof and Karlsruher SC) as his big bro.
Sadly, he has not established himself in the upper echelons of international football.
About Hakan Calhanoglu’s Relatives:
As of the year 2021, two of Hakan’s cousins, Turan and Kerim, are featuring Hoffenheim U19 and FC Schalke 04, respectively.
Amongst them, Turan Calhanoglu has got the goal-scoring ability in his blood. As I write this Bio, there is no information about his grandparents.
Meet his cousins, Turan (L) and Kerim (R).
Untold Facts:
To wrap up our Distant Shooter’s Life Story, here are a few facts about him that would help you get a complete understanding of his Biography.
Legal Case with Trabzonspor:
Before his deal came to a close at Bayer Leverkusen, FIFA banned Calhanoglu for four months because of a breach of contract. Having received €100,000 from Turkish club Trabzonspor, the Distance Shooter ended up extending his contract with Karlsruhe in 2011.
Hence, FIFA had to step into the picture of the misunderstanding and had him refund the €100,000 he received from Trabzonspor. It was a difficult period for the set-piece taker, but his mother and dad helped him bounce back to his feet again.
A Crazy Gun Story:
One of the most dangerous scenarios encountered by Hakan, as revealed by his father in 2014, was tagged the Crazy Gun Story. It all happened after Turkey lost a World Cup qualifying match to the Netherlands in October 2013.
Back then, Hakan and Omer Toprak were in their hotel when their fellow teammate, Gokhan Tore, and an unknown armed friend threatened both of them at gunpoint.
Tore masterminded such heinous action because his ex-girlfriend was dating Toprak’s friend. Thankfully, the entire ordeal ended with no casualties.
Research shows that an average Turkish citizen will have to work for at least five years to earn what Hakan receives in a month.
We’ve strategically put up an analysis of his salary as the clock ticks. Find out for yourself how much he has earned since you came here.
Hakan Calhanoglu Religion:
Like his fellow countryman, Cenk Tosun, Hakan is a devoted Muslim. In fact, he is one of the 4.4 million people who practise Islam in Germany.
From his childhood days, his mother has often taught him about the laws and edicts of his Muslim faith. In 2015, Calhanoglu, alongside his father and brother, visited Kaaba in Mecca.
His family has never neglected the integral practice of their religion.
FIFA Stats:
No doubt his potential has superseded that of his compatriot, Arda Turan. Wielding a lot of skills in his arsenal, the German-born player has established himself as a weapon that many clubs would need in their midfield. To improve his ratings, he would have to work on his ability to dominate the ball in the air. Haken joins the likes of Orkun Kokcu as the most versatile midfielders of their Turkish generation.
Find here the most valuable FIFA assets of Turkish footballers.
EndNote:
Finally, the Life Story of Calhanoglu, one of the World’s best midfielders, has shown that we lose the excitement of possibilities without leaps of imagination or dreams. Even though his father created a pathway for him, Hakan was responsible for fulfilling the clarion call of destiny.
It behoves us to commend his mother, who was always there to encourage him in trying times. Also, the efforts of Huseyin (his dad) and Muhammed (his brother) have helped spice up Hakan’s career pursuit. It’s all thanks to them that he has been able to achieve so much in soccer.
Thank you for reading our Hakan Calhanoglu Childhood Story and Biography Facts. Bear in mind that our team at we are on the look to satisfy you with fascinating boyhood stories of your revered footballers (active or retired). The Life story of Vincenzo Montella and Ilkay Gundogan should excite you. Kindly contact us if you find anything that doesn’t seem right with our article.
