Veli Kavlak

Veli Kavlak (born 3 November 1988) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Rapid Wien and Turkish club Beşiktaş. He made 31 appearances for the Austria at international level scoring one goal.

Veli Kavlak

Kavlak with Beşiktaş in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Veli Kavlak[1]
Date of birth	(1988-11-03) 3 November 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Vienna, Austria
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	SK Slovan HAC
2003–2004	Rapid Wien
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2011	Rapid Wien	146	(13)
2011–2018	Beşiktaş	115	(6)
Total		261	(19)
International career
2005–2006	Austria U19	4	(0)
2006–2007	Austria U20	7	(0)
2007–2010	Austria U21	18	(1)
2007–2014	Austria	31	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

International career

On 15 August 2012 he scored against his parents' home country Turkey playing for Austria in the 3rd minute. Austria went on to win that game 2–0.

Style of play

Kavlak is a defensive box-to-box midfielder. At club level, he is deployed in the holding role and is key in midfield with his tireless running and endless stamina. He is also a hardworking leader and although not being known for unsportsmanlike acts, he is known to be a hatchet man in midfield. Kavlak is often accompanied by another more offensive central midfielder such as Manuel Fernandes and Oğuzhan Özyakup. At international level, however, he has most prominently featured in a more advanced position in front of a holding midfielder.

Personal life

Veli Kavlak was born to Turkish parents.^[3] He also holds Turkish citizenship.^[4] He speaks Turkish fluently.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rapid Wien	2004–05	Austrian Bundesliga	2	0	0	0	–		2	0
	2005–06		14	2	2	0	1	0	17	2
	2006–07		29	3	1	0	–		30	3
	2007–08		27	2	4	1	–		31	3
	2008–09		29	4	3	1	2	0	34	5
	2009–10		24	2	2	0	7	0	33	2
	2010–11		21	0	3	0	10	1	34	1
	Total		146	13	15	2	20	1	181	16
Beşiktaş	2011–12	Super Lig	33	1	1	1	11	0	45	2
	2012–13		30	1	3	0	0	0	33	1
	2013–14		29	3	0	0	2	0	31	3
	2014–15		22	1	1	0	12	0	35	2
	2015–16		1	0	5	0	0	0	6	0
	2016–17		0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0
	2017–18		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		115	6	12	1	25	0	152	7
Career total			261	19	27	3	45	1	333	23

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Austria	2007	3	0
	2008	1	0
	2009	3	0
	2010	5	0
	2011	3	0
	2012	7	1
	2013	7	0
	2014	2	0
Total		31	1

Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kavlak goal.

List of international goals scored by Veli Kavlak

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 August 2012	Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria	Turkey	1–0	2–0	Friendly

Honours

Rapid Wien

• Austrian Bundesliga: 2004–05, 2007–08

Beşiktaş

• Süper Lig: 2015–16, 2016–17