Kemal "Kem" Izzet (; born 29 September 1980) is an English football coach and former professional player. He most notably played for Colchester United between 2001 and 2013, where he made over 400 league appearances. He was previously on the books at Charlton Athletic but failed to break into the first-team setup at The Valley. He spent three years with Needham Market after leaving Colchester.
Playing career Charlton Athletic Izzet started his career with Premier League club Charlton Athletic and played in the youth system. However, he did not break into the first team at Charlton Athletic. He had previously played for London-based Sunday league side Senrab alongside Jermain Defoe, Ledley King, Jlloyd Samuel, John Terry and Bobby Zamora.
Colchester United In February 2001, Izzet went on trial with the Second Division side Reading, alongside Anthony Allman. The following month, he joined Colchester United on a one-month loan period.
After quickly impressing the club's reserve team, Izzet made his Colchester United debut, coming on as a 31st-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win against Luton Town on 31 March 2001. Just into making two appearances for the club, he joined Colchester United on a permanent basis. Having set a target to score his first goal for the club, Izzet's target came true when he scored the equalising goal, in a 2–2 draw against Peterborough United on 17 April 2001. After the match, he said: "Now I've opened my account I hope it's the first of many." However, in a 2–1 win against Reading on 28 April 2001, Izzet suffered an injury and did not play for the rest of the 2000–01 season. At the end of the 2000–01 season, he made six appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2001–02 season, Izzet was given Colchester United's number 10 shirt following the departure of Steve McGavin. He began to establish himself in the first team, playing in the midfield position. On 21 August 2001, Izzet scored his first goal of the season, which turned out to be a winning goal against Portsmouth in the first round of the League Cup. The club's manager Steve Whitton praised both and Thomas Pinault’s performances, due to "their skillful and competitive midfields in the league". On 18 September 2001, he scored his first league goal of the season, in a 2–1 win against Oldham Athletic. Izzet scored on 13 October 2001 and 16 October 2001 against Blackpool and Swindon Town respectively. However, during the FA Cup match against York City, he suffered a damaged ankle ligaments and was substituted in the 38th minute, as Colchester United drew 0–0. After being out for a month, Izzet returned from injury, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute, in a 3–2 win against Northampton Town on 26 December 2001. Later that year, he was linked with Ipswich Town and Leicester City but was happy to stay with the club. Following his return from injury, Izzet said his aim was to help Colchester United reach the Second Division play–offs and resumed his place in the first team. He also began to play "wearing a lightweight cast to protect his broken wrist injury". On 2 March 2002, he scored his fifth goal of the season, in a 4–1 loss against Oldham Athletic. On 19 March 2002, Izzet ended the transfer speculation by signing a long-term contract with the club. In his first full season at Colchester United, he made forty–five appearances and scoring five goals in all competitions.
Despite suffering from a minor back injury at the start of the 2002–03 season, Izzet continued to remain in the first team, playing in the midfield position. He then scored his first goals of the season, in a 2–0 win against Chesterfield on 18 October 2002. Throughout October, Izzet played through with a broken wrist and it was emerged in late–November that saw him out for weeks. On 14 December 2002, he made his return from his injury, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Luton Town. Izzet scored on 26 December 2002 and 28 December 2002 against Peterborough United and Blackpool respectively. He, once again, scored on 15 March 2003 and 18 March 2003 against Huddersfield Town and Chesterfield. Izzet scored his seventh goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against Swindon Town two weeks later on 29 March 2003. He scored his eighth goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against Cardiff City on 19 April 2003. At the end of the 2002–03 season, Izzet made forty–eight appearances and scoring eight goals in all competitions. For his performances, he finished second place in Colchester United/Evening Gazette Supporters' Player-of-the-Year. But Izzet won his second award for the club's Young Player of the Year. Reflecting on his injury, he said: "Let's hope all my troubles are behind me now. I had quite a big piece of bone taken off my hip and grafted into the wrist and although I can't move it at all everything is going well. The doctors tell me the bone will quickly grow back on my hip again and I should be as good as new in two to three weeks’ time.”
Ahead of the 2003–04 season, Izzet said he could not wait for the new season, while also recovering from his injuries. Izzet continued to remain in the first team, playing in the midfield position. However, in mid–October, he suffered an injury that saw him out for one match. But Izzet made his return from injury, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 loss against Grimsby Town on 18 October 2003. However, his return was short–lived when he suffered an injury and was out for one match. But on 22 November 2003, Izzet returned from injury, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute, in a 4–0 loss against Rushden & Diamonds. On 31 January 2004, he scored an equalising goal in the 89th minute to earn Colchester United a point, in a 1–1 draw against Tranmere Rovers. Izzet scored on 17 February 2004 and 21 February 2004 against Southend United and Grimsby Town respectively. Following the match, he said his aim is to help the club aim for a place in the Second Division promotion play-off. A month later, on 20 March 2004, Izzet scored an equalising goal, in an eventual 2–1 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion. On 21 April 2004, he signed a two–year contract extension with Colchester United. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Izzet went on to make fifty–six appearances and scoring three goals in all competitions.
However, at the start of the 2004–05 season, Izzet suffered a stomach muscle problem and ankle injury that saw him out for months. By October, he made a recovery from his injuries and fully fit to make a first team return. On 16 October 2004, Izzet made his return from injury, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Blackpool. Following his return from his injuries, he said his determination to score more goals for Colchester United. However, Izzet missed most of the 2004–05 season owing to an ankle injury that required surgery. By April, he made his return to training and was working towards his recovery. Izzet made his return from his injury, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute, on the last game of the season against Torquay United and helped the club win 2–1. At the end of the 2004–05 season, he made four appearances in all competitions.
Izzet recovered for the 2005–06 season and regained his first team place, playing in the midfield position. On 9 October 2005, he set up a winning goal for Greg Halford, who scored twice, in a 2–1 win against Blackpool. By December, Izzet's form soon dipped and was dropped to the substitute bench. Despite this, he remained a key member of the team that challenged for promotion that season. However, Izzet suffered ankle injury in February that saw him out for a month. On 3 March 2006, he signed a contract extension with Colchester United. On 4 March 2006, Izzet made his return from injury, starting the match, in a 3–0 loss against Southend United. However, his return was short–lived when he received a straight red card in the 87th minute, in a 1–0 loss against Oldham Athletic on 11 March 2006 and served a one match suspension. By April, Izzet suffered ankle injury that saw him out for a month. On the last game of the season against Yeovil Town, he came on as a 76th-minute substitute and played the remainder of the match, in a 0–0 draw, a result that saw the club promoted to the Championship. At the end of the 2005–06 season, Izzet made forty–one appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Izzet believed that Colchester United have two “seret weapons” to compete in the Championship and is looking to play more in the first team. Since the start of the 2006–07 season, he continued to regain his first team place, playing in the midfield position alongside Kevin Watson. Izzet also began to suffer from goal drought that saw him score goals for the club. He then scored his first Championship goal, in a 1–1 draw against Birmingham City on 3 February 2007. This was his first goal in over three years. Since the start of the 2006–07 season, Izzet played in every league matches for Colchester United until he missed one match, due to him picking up five yellow cards this season. After serving a one match suspension, Izzet returned to the starting line–up, in a 0–0 draw against Burnley on 24 February 2007. Following his return, he helped the club achieved a 10th-place finish in the league, defying the odds and a club record best ever league finish. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Izzet made forty–seven appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2007–08 season, Izzet revealed that he had talks with Colchester United over a new contract. At the start of the 2007–08 season, Izzet continued to be in the first team regular, playing in the midfield position. His performance against Preston North End on 29 August 2007 resulted in him being named Coca-Cola Championship's Team of the Week, alongside Wayne Brown. However, during a match against Blackpool, on 22 September 2007, he suffered a knock and was substituted at half–time. But Izzet quickly recovered and scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–2 win against Queens Park Rangers on 3 October 2007. Since the start of the 2007–08 season, he was featured in every league matches until missing one match, due to picking up his fifth booking of the season. After serving a one match suspension, Izzet returned to the starting line–up, in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City on 15 December 2007. However, in the club's second meeting against Queens Park Rangers on 22 December 2007, Izzet suffered a finger injury and was substituted in the 36th minute, as Colchester United loss 2–1. After being out for two matches, he returned to the first team, coming on as a second–half substitute, in a 2–1 win against Charlton Athletic on 1 January 2008. After a lengthy negotiations, Izzet signed a contract extension with the club on 28 January 2008. At that time, he was Colchester United's second longest serving player behind Karl Duguid. However, Izzet was unable to help the club avoid relegation to League One, as they finished 24th place in the league. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make forty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.