Hasan Şaş
He scored 3 goals in 6 matches at the 2002 World Cup, including the opener against Brazil, to secure Turkey's first podium finish in 48 years.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Turkish footballer and coach·Birthday: August 1·Generation X
Biography
Hasan Şaş struck the ball past Marcos in the 45+2nd minute of the 2002 World Cup semi-final. That goal against Brazil leveled the match and forced a Turkish consolation in a 1-0 third-place playoff victory over South Korea. Şaş played every minute of Turkey's campaign, operating as a left winger with a mandate to cut inside onto his stronger right foot. He provided the assist for İlhan Mansız's golden goal against Senegal in the quarter-final. Domestically, he won five Süper Lig titles with Galatasaray between 1999 and 2006, contributing 33 goals in 234 appearances. His partnership with Hakan Şükür and Ümit Davala formed the core of the national team's attack that reached Euro 2008 semi-finals. A chronic knee injury forced his retirement in 2009 at age 33. Şaş's direct running and precise finishing from wide areas exemplified the tactical shift towards inverted wingers in the early 2000s. His performance in 2002 permanently altered the global perception of Turkish football, proving its capacity for technical excellence on the highest stage.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Hasan was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hasan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Hasan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the FIFA 2002 World Cup All-Star Team as one of seven midfielders selected.
- Won the 2000 UEFA Cup with Galatasaray, appearing as a substitute in the final against Arsenal.
- Scored the winning goal in the 2005 Turkish Cup Final for Galatasaray against Fenerbahçe.
Did You Know?
Şaş began his professional career at Ankaragücü, where he played as a forward before being converted to a winger.
He is known for his collection of over 300 pairs of designer sunglasses.
After retirement, he became a licensed football agent and represents several Turkish youth internationals.
“In 2002, we didn't hope to make history. We decided to make it.”
