Former top scorer and Golden Boot awardee Tanju Çolak to run for AKP in Urla Municipality

İZMİR – Anadolu Agency

Former Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe player, Tanju Çolak finished as top scorer a total of seven times, capping his career with the European Golden Boot in 1988. Hürriyet photo

Tanju Çolak is a household name in Turkish footballing history, finishing as top scorer a total of seven times, capping his career with the European Golden Boot in 1988. Nicknamed “the King,” Çolak remains largely peerless; the only one who managed to challenge his mantle of greatness – while only earning three top scorer awards – was arguably Hakan Şükür. 
 
But now the shoe is on the other foot, as this time it is Çolak who is following in Şükür’s footsteps by unexpectedly wading into politics from the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
 
Çolak announced today that he will run for the local elections in Urla, a typical Aegean town located in İzmir province. 
 
“I have always wanted to serve my citizens. I think I have served Turkish football well enough. My goal is to serve Urla in the best way possible,” Çolak said, adding that his dream was to become one day mayor of his hometown of Samsun, on the shores of the Black Sea.
 
Çolak said that his decision to run in Urla – a community where he is not known to have many ties – emerged at the insistence of local AKP official Tarkan Bakırlı. “I spoke with my wife, my daughter and the elders in my family before taking my decision. I have prepared my application. I’m confident that I can give the best service possible to Urla,” he said. 
 
The current Urla mayor, Selçuk Karaosmanoğlu, is from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) ranks. 
 
The AKP is bidding that Çolak’s popularity will help it win a municipality along the Aegean coast, a CHP stronghold.
 
For his part, Şükür is currently a national deputy and participates in several projects of the government.