Serdar Aziz retires, calls missing Fenerbahçe title his big regret

Serdar Aziz, the former Turkey international centre-back who played for Bursaspor, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, has confirmed he is retiring from professional football. Speaking at a media gathering organised by the Bursa branch of the Turkish Sports Writers Association (TSYD), Aziz said he has signed up for a coaching course and intends to continue his career as a coach once he earns his licence. The announcement was reported on 3 November 2026 by TRT Spor, Hürriyet, Ajansspor and other Turkish outlets.

Why did Serdar Aziz retire?

Serdar Aziz said he had in fact stopped playing some time ago but had never made the decision public. According to Ajansspor, the experienced defender explained that he stepped away from the pressure of playing for big clubs and spent the recent period focusing on his family.

According to ScoreLab data, 2023/2024 was Aziz's final Süper Lig season. He made 12 league appearances for Fenerbahçe that campaign, playing 872 minutes, starting 11 matches and providing 2 assists. ScoreLab data holds no record of him playing an official match for any club after that season.

What are Serdar Aziz's coaching plans?

Serdar Aziz stressed he will not rush his move into coaching. He wants to start by working on the staff of an experienced head coach to learn the trade, and said he has some plans and projects in mind that will take shape over time. No timeline was given for completing the course or for a first job.

Aziz singled out former Fenerbahçe coach Jorge Jesus, telling reporters, as quoted by TRT Spor, that he is on very good terms with the Portuguese and counts him among the coaches he admires most. Ajansspor added that he remains in contact with Emre Belözoğlu and Arda Turan, who played alongside him and have since moved into management.

What did Serdar Aziz say about Fenerbahçe?

Looking back on his honours, Serdar Aziz said he won league titles with Bursaspor and Galatasaray, but never managed to do so with Fenerbahçe. He described that missing title in Istanbul as the one thing that will stay with him from his playing career.

Aziz also said he regrets not leaving Bursaspor, his first club, in the way he would have wished, adding that his heart stayed with Bursaspor even while he played elsewhere. At the close of the event, the head of the association's Bursa branch, Mehmet Ali Ekmekçi, thanked him with a plaque.

Who is Serdar Aziz?

Born in 1990, Serdar Aziz is a centre-back who played for Bursaspor, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe and represented the Turkey national team. According to ScoreLab data, Fenerbahçe was his last club, and he played in the Süper Lig for them from the 2019/2020 season through to 2023/2024.

He was also a regular at Galatasaray: ScoreLab data shows 27 league appearances and 2199 minutes in 2017/2018, and 3 goals in 20 league matches in 2018/2019. In his 2015/2016 season with Bursaspor he scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists in 21 Süper Lig games.

What's next for Serdar Aziz?

Serdar Aziz's first step is to complete his coaching licence. Once qualified, he said he would rather join the staff of an experienced head coach than take charge of a team straight away. Which club or which coach he might work with has not yet been made public.