Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is best known for his time at Arsenal and Real Madrid. Ozil has been called "assist-king" in the media, due to his creative ability and offensive prowess as a playmaker, and is well renowned for his technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision.

Early Life

Mesut Ozil was born on October 15, 1988, in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany. Ozil's early life was heavily influenced by his father's love of football, and he began playing the sport at a young age. He joined a local club, Westfalia 04 Gelsenkirchen, when he was just four years old, and quickly began to show his talent on the field.

Ozil's family faced financial challenges when he was growing up, and he has spoken about the difficulties of balancing his football career with the need to work part-time jobs to support his family. However, his dedication and hard work paid off, and he was soon scouted by the youth academy of his hometown club, Schalke 04.

After several years in Schalke's youth system, Ozil joined the youth academy of Werder Bremen, where he continued to develop his skills and caught the attention of scouts from top European clubs.

Club Career

Ozil's professional club career began with Schalke 04, where he signed his first professional contract in 2006. However, he struggled to break into the first team and made just three appearances before moving to Werder Bremen in 2008.

At Werder Bremen, Ozil quickly established himself as a key player, and his performances on the field attracted attention from top European clubs. In 2010, he was signed by Spanish giants Real Madrid for a reported fee of €15 million.

Ozil enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Real Madrid, where he was part of a star-studded team that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Xabi Alonso. During his time in Madrid, he won the 2010-11 La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

In 2013, Ozil joined English Premier League side Arsenal for a then-club-record fee of £42.5 million. He quickly became a fan favorite at Arsenal, with his creativity and vision on the field earning him widespread acclaim. During his time at Arsenal, he won four FA Cup titles and was named the club's Player of the Season in 2016-17.

In 2018, Ozil signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, but his playing time was limited in the following seasons. He ultimately fell out of favor with manager Mikel Arteta, and in 2021 he terminated his contract with the club to join Turkish side Fenerbahce. He made 254 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 44 goals.

He spent two seasons Fenerbahce having moderate success, he scored nine goals in 37 appearances before having his contract mutually terminated ahead of the 2022-23 season. He then joined Istanbul Basaksehir on a one-year contract on July 14, 2022. He has only made seven appearances before announcing his retirement from football on March 22, 2023.

International Career

Ozil has represented the German national team at the international level. He made his debut for the team in February 2009 in a friendly against Norway, and he went on to play a key role in the team's success in the following years.

He was a part of the German team that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they were defeated by Spain. Ozil was a leading force in Germany qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2012 by scoring five goals and providing seven assists. They once again made it to the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Italy. He was named in the Team of the Tournament for his efforts.

He also played a key role in Germany's triumph at the 2014 World Cup, where he provided several assists and was named in the tournament's All-Star Team.

In total, Ozil made 92 appearances for the German national team, scoring 23 goals and providing 40 assists. He announced his retirement from international football in July 2018, citing criticism and discrimination he faced due to his Turkish heritage and his meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Records

• Ozil holds the record for the most assists in a single Bundesliga season, with 21 assists during the 2011-2012 season with Werder Bremen.

• During his time at Real Madrid, Ozil set a La Liga record for the most assists in a single season, with 17 assists during the 2011-2012 season.

• Ozil provided the most assists in the English Premier League during the 2015-2016 season, with 19 assists.

• Ozil is one of only two players (along with Juan Mata) to provide 15 or more assists in three different Premier League seasons.

• Ozil is the first player to win the German Football Ambassador award twice, in 2016 and 2018.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Ozil is a devout Muslim and has spoken publicly about his faith. He has also been involved in charitable work, including building a mosque in Turkey and supporting education programs for underprivileged children.

Ozil is known for his love of video games, and has even invested in a professional esports team. He has also been involved in the creation of a mobile football game, called "Mesut Ozil: The Wizard of Oz".

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $120 million.

Family

His parents are of Turkish descent, but he was born and raised in Germany. Ozil's father, Mustafa Ozil, worked as a metalworker and his mother, Gulizar Ozil, was a housewife.

Ozil has four siblings, two older brothers, and two younger sisters. His older brother, Mutlu, is his manager and has played a key role in his football career. Ozil has also credited his younger brother, Dugyu, with helping him stay grounded and providing support throughout his career.

Wife

Ozil has been in a long-term relationship with former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse, since 2017. The couple got married in 2019 and have a daughter together.

Houses

Ozil lived in a luxurious mansion in the Hampstead neighborhood, which he bought in 2016 for £10 million. The mansion features an indoor pool, a gym, and a cinema room, among other amenities.

In Istanbul, Ozil has a property in the upscale Etiler neighborhood. The property is a spacious villa with a large garden and a swimming pool. It is reported that Ozil bought the property in 2020 for around €4 million.