Mert Günok ends his national team career after 37 appearances

Mert Günok announced in a message posted on his Instagram account that he had ended his national team career. Günok first wore the national team jersey on May 24, 2012, and made a total of 37 appearances for the star-and-crescent team.

Thirty-seven-year-old goalkeeper Mert Günok announced in a message posted on his Instagram account that he had ended his national team career. Günok titled his message “It was a great honor for me.”

Günok said he first wore the national team jersey on May 24, 2012, adding that taking the field in the jersey every Turkish footballer dreams of had great meaning for him. Saying that he had experienced successes and disappointments throughout his career, Günok described working hard and never giving up as his guiding principles.

Mert Günok announced the end of his 14-year national team career

He discussed playing time and his teammates

Günok said he had attended numerous camps with the national team, but had received less playing time than the number of camps he had joined. The experienced goalkeeper said this was one of the situations that can occur in goalkeeping, adding that he tried to do his best in the matches he played with the pride of carrying the Turkish flag on his chest.

Günok said he supported the teammates who played when he was not on the field, and noted that being part of the national team was not limited to appearing on the pitch. He said that having the honor of competing under the Turkish flag held value in itself.

He described the 2020 and 2024 tournaments

Günok recalled that although he had performed well in the group stage of the 2020 European Championship, the finals were postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic. Saying he was deeply disappointed that he could not play in the finals, Günok added that he then suffered one of the most serious injuries a footballer can experience in his career.

Günok said he did not give up on his dreams or himself despite the injury, adding that in 2024 he had the opportunity to play in a successful tournament during which the national team spirit grew stronger again. Referring to one of the most special saves of his career, Günok said that moment may have inspired many children to take an interest in goalkeeping through Özkan Öztürk’s commentary.

Günok said he had played in many matches and achieved successes throughout his football career, adding that being part of a moment that brought happiness to the people of his country was more valuable to him than anything else.

Striking statistic about Mert Günok’s historic save

He made 37 appearances for the national team

Günok said deciding to end his national team career had not been easy, and thanked the teammates he had played with, the coaches who had contributed to his development and the staff who had worked for the national team over the years.

Günok said they had felt the support of the Turkish people even in matches played in different parts of the world, adding that representing his country and millions of people while wearing the national team jersey had always been a special feeling for him.

Mert Günok, who first wore the national team jersey in 2012, made a total of 37 appearances for the star-and-crescent team.