Umut Bulut (, born 15 March 1983) is a Turkish former professional footballer. Between 2007 and 2018, he made 39 appearances and scored ten goals for the Turkey national team. On 24th June 2024, Umut Bulut ended his football career at the age of 41.
Club career Trabzonspor Due to prolific goalscorer Fatih Tekke leaving the club, and the club having difficulties with results, Trabzonspor signed Bulut for €1.8 million on a four-year contract. He was given the number 10 jersey which was previously worn by Hami Mandıralı. His first match was on 5 August 2006 against Kayserispor. The following week he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Manisaspor. Overall, Bulut scored 88 goals in 197 official games for Trabzonspor, winning the 2010 Turkish Super Cup as well as the 2009–10 Turkish Cup, scoring in the final against rivals Fenerbahçe during a 3–1 win.
Toulouse On 28 June 2011, Bulut signed with French club Toulouse for €4.8 million. He made his Ligue 1 debut against Ajaccio on 6 August 2011. One week later, he scored his first goal for the club against Dijon, before getting a second goal for Toulouse against Nancy in a 1–0 win. In the seventeenth week of the season, Bulut scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Evian. The only other two goals he scored for the club were both against Lyon, including one from an outstanding long range shot.
Galatasaray
On 26 June 2012, Bulut joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season. He scored two goals on his debut for the club against their rivals Fenerbahçe during the 2012 Turkish Super Cup. Galatasaray won the game 3–2, with Bulut being named Man of the Match.
On 20 August 2012, Bulut made his first appearance in the 2012–13 Süper Lig season against Kasımpaşa as he was included in the starting eleven, and he scored a brace for Galatasaray as the game finished 2–1. Bulut got the equaliser in the following match against Beşiktaş as the game finished 3–3. On 2 September 2012, he again scored the opening goal of the match, in Galatasaray's 3–2 win against Bursaspor, the one thousandth league win in the club's history. Bulut's next goal came on 15 September 2012, scoring in the 90th minute as Galatasary won 4–0 against Antalyaspor. His five league goals in the first four weeks of the season surpassed the record set by Saša Ilić. On 19 October, Bulut scored an crucial goal for Galatasaray against Gençlerbirliği, helping his side come from 1–3 down to tie the game 3–3. After disappointing performances in both the Süper Lig and Champions League during the month of October, Bulut returned with another excellent match as he scored the opener against Kayserispor in a 3–0 win. The following week he scored his tenth goal of the season, again getting the opener in a 3–1 victory against İstanbul B.B. after converting from teammate Burak Yılmaz's assist.
Following his successful loan spell, Galatasaray officially signed Bulut from Toulouse on a three-and-a-half year deal for €2.7 million.
Kayserispor On 25 August 2016, Bulut joined Kayserispor on a two-year contract. Galatasaray covered €600,000 of his €1.5 million salary.
Yeni Malatyaspor On 19 December 2019, Bulut joined Yeni Malatyaspor, signing a one-and-a-half year contract.
Eyüpspor On June 18, 2021, Bulut signed a one-and-a-half year contract with Eyüpspor.
Sarıyer On 14 August 2023, Bulut joined Turkish Third Division side Sarıyer.
International career Bulut made his international debut in Turkey's draw against Brazil on 5 June 2007. He scored his first two international goals on 2 June 2012, in a 3–1 friendly victory against Portugal. Bulut then scored a hat-trick against Andorra in Turkey's 5–0 World Cup qualifier win on 6 September 2013.
Personal life On 14 March 2016, it was revealed that Umut Bulut's father Kemal had been killed in a terrorist attack in Ankara during the previous day, shortly after he had watched Galatasaray's match against Gençlerbirliği.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupSuper cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPetrol Ofisi1999–2000Turkish Second League20———202000–0126500——265Total28500——285Ankaragücü2001–02Süper Lig1000——102003–04221120——24112004–0534920——3692005–06331633——3619Total903673——9739İnegölspor (loan)2002–03Turkish Second League30600——306Trabzonspor2006–07Süper Lig311584—3142202007–08331443—3240192008–09331440——37142009–10311197—2042182010–11331343—103816Total161672917—9319987Toulouse2011–12Ligue 13151000—325Galatasaray (loan)2012–13Süper Lig271200121013815Galatasaray2013–1427510110834692014–15331151005043122015–162741031080467Total114322553231417343Kayserispor2016–17Süper Lig31462——3762017–18321421——34152018–1928220——3022019–2011300——113Total10223103——11226Yeni Malatyaspor2019–20Süper Lig17320——1932020–2131232——344Total48552——537Eyüpspor2021–22TFF First League371400——37142022–2319021——211Total561421——5815Sarıyer2023–24TFF Second League291200——2912Career total689205793132407811245
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsTurkey2007102008002009002010102011702012113201396201451201540201810Total3910
Scores and results table list Turkey's goal tally first.
+ List of international goals scored by Umut Bulut No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 2 June 2012 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal 1–0 3–1 Friendly 2. 2–1 3. 11 September 2012 Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey 2–0 3–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification 4. 14 August 2013 Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey 2–0 2–2 Friendly 5. 6 September 2013 Kadir Has Stadium, Kayseri, Turkey 1–0 5–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification 6. 2–0 7. 4–0 8. 11 October 2013 A Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 1–0 2–0 9. 19 November 2013 Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium, Mersin, Turkey 1–0 2–1 Friendly 10. 10 October 2014 Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
Honours Trabzonspor Turkish Cup: 2009–10 Turkish Super Cup: 2010
Galatasaray Süper Lig: 2012–13, 2014–15 Turkish Cup: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 Turkish Super Cup: 2012, 2013, 2015
References
External links