23 Facts About Ufuk Talay

Ufuk Talay was born on 26 March 1976 and is an Australian football coach and former player.

Ufuk Talay is currently the head coach of Sydney FC.

Ufuk Talay was the manager of Wellington Phoenix from 2019 to 2023.

Marconi went on to win the grand final with seventeen-year-old Ufuk Talay watching as an unused substitute.

Ufuk Talay remained with Marconi for a further two years, becoming a regular starter in the first team.

Ufuk Talay spent time on loan out to other sides in the Turkish top flight and lower divisions with Antalyaspor, Karabukspor and Bursaspor, followed by a brief six-month stint in the French second division with Nimes Olympique, before Galatasaray transferred him to Gaziantepspor in 2002.

Ufuk Talay shortly moved again to second division side Mersin Idman Yurdu, before being enticed to return to Australia with Sydney FC in the new A-League competition.

Ufuk Talay has been described by Socceroo Josip Skoko as "the best player to never represent Australia", and Talay has expressed his desire for a full international cap.

Ufuk Talay took over penalty-duties for the side, making the most of the opportunity twice in the year.

Two yellow cards in the final league match saw Ufuk Talay suspended for Sydney's first leg final against Newcastle but on return for the second leg he could not prevent the club's elimination.

Ufuk Talay played all six group-stage games, scoring goals against Shanghai Shenhua and Urawa.

Ufuk Talay Joined fellow Australians Mark Rudan and Newcastle's Joel Griffiths becoming the third Australian in their squad.

Ufuk Talay was an immediate success, scoring twice in three games, and netting a third in his fifth game.

Ufuk Talay returned to Australia in 2009 after signing a two-year deal with newly established A-League franchise North Queensland Fury FC, after expressing interest in returning home to his family.

Ufuk Talay was recommended as captain by former teammate Robbie Middleby.

Ufuk Talay joined the squad in a number of Youth World Cup qualifiers and retained his place for the 1995 Youth World Cup in Qatar.

Ufuk Talay was assistant coach at the FFA Centre of Excellence and the Australia under-17 team, before replacing Paul Okon as head coach of the under-20 team in September 2016.

Ufuk Talay's tenure started with four consecutive defeats, the worst start in club history.

However, Ufuk Talay helped the Phoenix achieve a top three finish for the first time in the Phoenix's 13-year history, capping off of a historic season which included a club record-equalling four match winning streak and a nine-match unbeaten run from 10 Nov 2019 to 11 Jan 2020.

Ufuk Talay introduced a fast-paced, free-flowing style of Phoenix football that had many pundits branding the Phoenix as the A-League's most exciting team to watch.

Ufuk Talay reiterated his commitment to the Phoenix, knocking back offers from A-league clubs Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers.

On 21 May 2021, Ufuk Talay signed a two-year extension to his contract.

Ufuk Talay is of Turkish descent, and is able to speak Turkish fluently.