Mehmet Ekici
A technically gifted midfielder whose career journeyed from German academies to the fierce spotlight of Istanbul's biggest football clubs.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Turkish footballer·Birthday: March 25·Millennials
Biography
Mehmet Ekici completed a high-profile transfer to Trabzonspor in 2010, returning to his Turkish roots after developing in Germany. Born in Munich to Turkish parents, he emerged from Bayern Munich's youth system as a playmaker with precise passing and sharp vision. Seeking regular first-team football, he moved to Werder Bremen, where he became a Bundesliga regular and demonstrated set-piece expertise. His composure on the ball made him a fan favorite in the Turkish Süper Lig. He later joined Fenerbahçe. Ekici's career navigated between German and Turkish football cultures while he maintained a creative identity in midfield.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mehmet was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mehmet Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mehmet's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
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
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich as a youth player in 2010.
- Scored 14 goals and provided numerous assists across four seasons as a key creative force for Werder Bremen.
- Earned 12 caps for the Turkish national team, making his debut in 2010.
Did You Know?
He represented Germany at various youth levels before switching his international allegiance to Turkey.
Ekici's father, Ercüment, was also a professional footballer who played in Turkey.
He scored his first Bundesliga goal for 1. FC Nürnberg, a club he played for on loan from Bayern.
“My heart is Turkish, but my football education is completely German.”
