Mesut Ozil, former football star, joins Turkish politics with Erdogan’s party. Follow Ozil’s journey from World Cup win to political involvement.
Former Arsenal and Real Madrid footballer Mesut Ozil has entered politics, joining Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP). The retired German midfielder, aged 36, was appointed to the party’s Central Decision and Management Board during a recent congress.
Ozil, who is of Turkish descent, faced criticism during his football career due to his relationship with Mr. Erdogan. In 2018, he retired from the German national team after a photograph of him meeting the Turkish president in London sparked controversy.
Reinhard Grindel, then head of Germany’s soccer federation, accused Ozil of allowing himself to be “exploited” by Mr. Erdogan for political purposes. Some German politicians questioned Ozil’s loyalty to Germany, suggesting he should be removed from the national squad before the 2018 World Cup.
Following his retirement from international football, Ozil addressed the criticism, suggesting his critics were being racist and stating that the picture with Mr. Erdogan had no political intentions, but was about respecting the highest office of his family’s country.
Ozil’s connection with President Erdogan extends to his personal life. Mr. Erdogan attended Ozil’s wedding to Amine Gulse in Istanbul in the summer following his retirement from the German national team.
Mr. Erdogan has been a dominant figure in Turkish politics for over two decades, serving as prime minister from 2003 and president from 2014. Critics accuse him of turning Turkey into an autocracy and eroding people’s rights, particularly after the introduction of a new system in 2018 that consolidated power in the president’s hands.
Ozil’s football career saw him win the World Cup with Germany in 2014. He left Arsenal for Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2021 and later moved to Istanbul Basaksehir in 2022, where he retired a year later.
A History of Sportspeople Turning to Politics
Ozil is not the only sportsperson to transition into politics. George Weah, a former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, and AC Milan striker, became the president of Liberia in 2018. Weah was Liberia’s first democratically-elected leader since 1944, running on a platform to combat corruption and create jobs. He lost his re-election bid to Joseph Boakai.
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, gained initial recognition as a cricketer in the 1970s, captaining Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992. He has faced recent legal challenges.
Vitali Klitschko, a multiple world heavyweight boxing champion, was elected as the mayor of Kyiv in 2014 and has remained in the position during the country’s defense against Russian aggression.
Manny Pacquiao, a boxing legend from the Philippines, retired from the sport in 2021 to focus on his presidential campaign but was unsuccessful, losing the 2022 race to Bongbong Marcos.
Romario, a prolific goalscorer for Brazil, has been a member of the country’s Senate since 2015, after a lengthy playing career that included winning the 1994 World Cup.
Sources: https://news.sky.com/story/mesut-ozil-former-arsenal-and-real-madrid-midfielder-enters-turkish-politics-13316157
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-24/former-real-madrid-star-ozil-joins-erdogan-s-political-ranks
https://www.givemesport.com/mesut-ozil-completely-different-life-football-new-job-arsenal-real-madrid/