Hakan Çalhanoğlu was born on February 8, 1994, in Mannheim. He began his football career in Germany, starting in the youth academy of PSV Mannheim before transferring to the Mannheim youth team. Between 2009 and 2013, he played for Karlsruhe U17, Karlsruhe U19, and the senior Karlsruhe team, while also spending a short loan period at Hamburg. In 2014, he transferred from Hamburg to Leverkusen. On July 3, 2017, Çalhanoğlu moved to Milan, and on July 1, 2021, he joined to Inter in Serie A. Currently, Çalhanoğlu continues his football career at Inter and he is the captain of the Turkish National Team.

Football Career

He started his football journey in Mannheim. Between 2011 and 2013, he played 55 matches for Karlsruhe, scoring 17 goals and providing 17 assists. He made his official debut in Bundesliga 2 in a match between Karlsruhe and Erzgebirge Aue. During the 2012–2013 season, Çalhanoğlu was named Player of the Season at Karlsruhe, as the team was promoted to the Bundesliga 2. In the 2013–2014 season, he scored 11 goals and made 5 assists in 38 matches for Hamburg.

He played for Bayer 04 Leverkusen between 2014–2017. He scored his first goal for the team in the 7th minute of the UEFA Champions League qualifier between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Copenhagen. Çalhanoğlu appeared in 115 matches for Leverkusen, finishing his time there with 28 goals and 29 assists. At the age of 20, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a match between Leverkusen and Benfica. He also scored his first goal in the Europa League in a match against Sporting Lisbon.

Between 2017 and 2021, he played for Milan, making 172 appearances and recording 32 goals and 47 assists. In 2021, he signed to Inter. Hakan Çalhanoğlu made his Serie A debut on August 20, 2017. In the match between FC Crotone and AC Milan, Vincenzo Montella included him in the starting eleven. He scored his first Serie A goal in the 55th minute of the Chievo Verona–AC Milan match. With Inter, Çalhanoğlu has played 170 matches so far, contributing 37 goals and 28 assists as he continues his career.

Ballon d'Or

The captain of the Turkish National Team and Inter’s number 10, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, ranked 20th in the 2024 Men’s Ballon d'Or standings.

National Career

Hakan Çalhanoğlu began his international career with the Turkish national team. Despite persistent offers from Germany, he never wavered in his decision. In interviews, one of the most frequently asked questions is: "Why did you choose to play for our national team?" To which he often replies:

"I chose without hesitation. I wanted to achieve all my success with the Turkish National Team."

He played for Turkish National Team at the U16, U17, U19, U20, and U21 age groups. In total, he made 43 appearances at youth level and scored 9 goals. Hakan Çalhanoğlu received his first call-up to the senior national team by head coach Fatih Terim on August 31, 2012, for the matches against Andorra and Romania. He made his senior debut on September 6, 2013. On October 10, 2015, in a European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic, he scored his first official goal in the 80th minute with an assist from Arda Turan.

Currently serving as the captain of the national team, Hakan Çalhanoğlu has made 97 appearances and scored 21 goals, making him the sixth-highest goal scorer in the history of the Turkish National Team.

Personal Life

Hakan Çalhanoğlu married Sinem Gündoğdu in 2017. The couple has a daughter named Liya and two sons named Ayaz and Asil Can.

Achievements

Transfermarkt Player of the Season: Italy – 2024

Karlsruhe

German 3. Liga Champion: 2012–2013
Player of the Season: 2012–2013
Promotion to 2. Bundesliga: 2012–2013
Baden Cup Winner: 2012–2013

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

UEFA Champions League Participant: 2014–2015
UEFA Champions League Participant: 2015–2016
UEFA Champions League Participant: 2016–2017
UEFA Europa League Participant: 2015–2016

AC Milan

UEFA Europa League Participant: 2017–2018
UEFA Europa League Participant: 2018–2019
UEFA Europa League Participant: 2020–2021

Inter Milan

UEFA Champions League Participant: 2021–2022
UEFA Champions League Participant: 2022–2023
UEFA Champions League Participant: 2023–2024
UEFA Champions League Finalist: 2022–2023
Italian Super Cup Winner: 2021–2022
Italian Super Cup Winner: 2022–2023
Italian Super Cup Winner: 2023–2024
Coppa Italia Winner: 2021–2022
Coppa Italia Winner: 2022–2023
Serie A Champion: 2023–2024

National Team

Footballer of the Year (Türkiye): 2021
FIFA U20 World Cup Participant: 2013
UEFA European Championship Participant: 2016
UEFA European Championship Participant: 2021
UEFA European Championship Participant: 2024