Gökhan Ünal

Gökhan Ünal — Biography

Born on 23 July 1982 in Ankara, striker Gökhan Ünal began his career as an amateur at Petrol Ofisi, turned professional at Gençlerbirliği in 2000, and scored his first Süper Lig goal against Kocaelispor at just 18. After a loan spell at Yozgatspor, he joined Kayserispor in 2003, where he finished the 2005-06 season as the Süper Lig's top scorer with 25 goals, helped the club win the UEFA Intertoto Cup that same season, and won the Turkish Cup in 2007-08. In 2008 he moved to Trabzonspor for what was reported as a club-record fee, and in 2010 he was transferred to Fenerbahçe in a deal that also involved Burak Yılmaz.

He went on to play for İstanbul BB, Kayserispor again, Kardemir Karabükspor, Ankaraspor, Balıkesirspor, Karşıyaka, and Menemen Belediyespor, reaching the Süper Lig's "100 Club" with a goal for Balıkesirspor. He made his senior national team debut in 2006, scored his first international goal that same year, and in 2007 scored what was recorded as Turkey's 550th goal, against Greece. After retiring as a player he took up coaching, managing clubs including Altınordu and 24 Erzincanspor, and led Erciyes 38 FK until late 2025. In early 2026 he was referred to the disciplinary board amid a Turkish football betting investigation, admitted to having placed bets, and was banned as a result.