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Instantly recognizable on the field by his shining,
bald skull, Turkish winger Hasan Sas has turned a lot
of heads at this year's World Cup.
Famous for his scurrying, charging runs down the left
wing, Sas is a workmanlike player who has a knack for
beating defenders with well-timed, diagonal runs and
scoring game-breaking goals.
He acts as a perfect companion to Hakan Sükür by being
able to drop back in the middle of the field and act
as a provider and distribute the ball. In a sign of
just how versatile he really is, Sas has even managed
to outscore Sükür at the World Cup, netting two goals
for his country.
His impressive form at this year's tournament has
not gone unnoticed, as Italian giants Juventus lead
the queue of top European clubs beating down the door
of Turkish team Galatasaray in order to sign the winger
for the upcoming season.
Born August 1, 1976, Sas began his soccer career with
Ankaragücü in 1995 and immediately lit up the Turkish
league with his goal-scoring prowess. After three seasons
there, Istanbul giants Galatasaray - impressed with
his goal-poaching record - signed him to a contract.
On April 22, 1998 he earned his first cap for the
Turkish national team against Russia, and has been an
automatic selection ever since.
Sas played an integral role in helping Galatasaray
win the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup final over Arsenal. Galatasaray's
victory was a historic achievement, as they became the
first Turkish club to win a major European club competition.
He received his first taste of Champions League soccer
the following season, scoring goals against Spain's
Real Madrid and Italy's AC Milan. Both Milan and French
club Nantes inquired about procuring his services, but
a transfer deal never came to fruition.
Having scored against Brazil in Turkey's opening game
of the tournament, Sas will be looking to punish the
Brazilians once again on Wednesday and lift his country
to an upset victory.
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