Fenerbahce’s rising star Yusuf Akcicek turns heads in Lyon, impressses European scouts

Fenerbahce, the Turkish Super League giant, played a goalless draw against Lyon in the UEFA Europa League, but it was the performance of young defender Yusuf Akcicek that captured everyone’s attention on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Bayern Munich scouts were seen following the 18-year-old closely from the stands, taking detailed notes on his abilities.

After the match, Fenerbahce’s head coach, Jose Mourinho, praised Akcicek’s professionalism and potential, further highlighting the rising star’s promising future.

Yusuf Akcicek’s breakout performance on big stage

Having several key players missing, Fenerbahce fielded Yusuf Akcicek in their starting lineup for the UEFA Europa League clash against Lyon. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but Akcicek’s individual performance stood out as one of the highlights.

The young defender was key to Fenerbahce’s solid defensive showing and showcased a mature, composed performance that did not go unnoticed.

Bayern Munich scouts were reportedly in the stands watching Akcicek closely, taking extensive notes and offering high praise for the young player.

Impressive stats: A defender with potential

Akcicek cleared the ball three times and won possession once. In aerial duels, he contested four headers and successfully won two. Akcicek also had an impressive 54 touches on the ball, completing 39 out of 45 attempted passes, which equates to a pass accuracy rate of 87%. Additionally, three of his seven long pass attempts were accurate.

One of his standout moments came when he broke up a potentially dangerous attack from Lyon by intercepting the ball with precision.

Despite the pressure, Akcicek remained composed, finishing the game with a yellow card, a reflection of his aggressive and committed approach.

Mourinho praises Akcicek’s professionalism and potential

After the match, Fenerbahce’s coach Jose Mourinho shared his thoughts on Akcicek’s performance, which he described as unsurprising given the young player’s attitude and commitment.

“Yusuf Akcicek is not a surprise for me,” Mourinho said. “Despite being just 18-years-old, he is extremely professional. He’s one of the first to arrive at training and one of the last to leave. I didn’t want to throw him into the lion’s den by playing him at left-back, but Seba had to play with some sacrifice on the left side, and he helped the team a lot. Yusuf is a player with great potential.”