Kocaelispor sent a goalkeeper to the national team after 18 years

After Serdar Kulbilge, the last goalkeeper of the Gulf team who was invited to the national team in 2008, another goalkeeper was called to the National Team.

21-year-old Serhat Öztaşdelen, who is among the goalkeepers in the candidate squad announced by National Football Team Coach Sergen Yalçın for the matches against Belgium and France, has left behind an important threshold in his career.

The invitation of another goalkeeper to the national team, 18 years after Serdar Kulbilge, brought pride and joy to the Kocaelispor community.

HE RECEIVED HIS FOOTBALL TRAINING IN ALTINORDU

Serhat Öztaşdelen, who was born on December 9, 2004 in Izmir, started his football life at Çaymahalle Demirköprüspor. The young goalkeeper, who joined the Altınordu infrastructure when he was only 10 years old, played in different age categories from an early age.

Serhat Öztaşdelen, who attracted attention with his performance in the youth teams, was included in the Altınordu A Team squad in the 2020-2021 season. The young goalkeeper, who played for the Izmir representative in his professional career, became one of the important names of his team, especially in the last two seasons.

After the years he spent in Altınordu, Serhat Öztaşdelen joined the squad of Kocaelispor, which was promoted to the Super League that season, on July 23, 2025. Thus, the young goalkeeper, who opened a new page in his career, had the opportunity to play in the Super League.

HE STANDED OUT WITH HIS DEVELOPMENT IN TWO SEASONS

Serhat Öztaşdelen rose to the A National Team level with his performance in the two seasons he spent in Kocaelispor.

The young goalkeeper, who played for 630 minutes in 7 matches in the Super League last season, conceded 6 goals and made 17 saves. Serhat, who kept a goal in one match, achieved a save rate of 73.91 percent.

This season, Serhat Öztaşdelen, who assumed responsibility as the first goalkeeper of the team, played for 900 minutes in 10 matches in the league. The young goalkeeper, who conceded 9 goals in these matches, kept a clean sheet in 4 matches and achieved a save rate of 78 percent.

Serhat, who played in 7 matches last season, protected the goal in the first 10 weeks of this season, strengthening his position within the team.

FROM ÜMİT NATIONAL TEAM TO A NATIONAL TEAM

Serhat Öztaşdelen, who previously played in the youth national teams, also played in the Under-21 National Team after the Under-18 and 20 National Teams. The young goalkeeper was among the goalkeepers, along with Uğurcan Çakır, Berke Özer and Ersin Destanoğlu, in the candidate squad announced by Sergen Yalçın.

The National Football Team will host Belgium in Izmir on 12 November in the UEFA Nations A League, and will play away against France on 15 November.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ON THE FIELD IN THE NATIONAL JERSEY AFTER 25 YEARS

The last goalkeeper to be invited to the National Football Team from Kocaelispor was Serdar Kulbilge in 2008, but the experienced goalkeeper did not have the chance to play at that time. The last player from Kocaelispor to take the field in the National Team was Nuri Çolak, who entered the game in the 74th minute in the match against Albania in 2001.

If Serhat Öztaşdelen takes part in the matches against Belgium or France, he will be the first football player to take the field in the National Team while playing for Kocaelispor after 25 years.