Career
Galatasaray
He formerly played for Hertha Berlin II and Manisaspor before moving to Galatasaray in September 2007. As part of the transfer deal Galatasaray exchanged Ferhat Öztorun and loaned Aydın Yılmaz, and Anıl Karaer. = 2010-2011 season He was criticised for the last minute error he made in the 2010-2011 Union of European Football Associations Europa League play-off match against Football Club Karpaty Lviv in August 2010 where Galatasaray was eliminated.
= 2011-2012 season 2011-2012 Süper Lig was a year of recovery for Galatasaray.
With a new board led by newly elected president Unal Aysal, the club assigned Fatih Terim as the manager. Hakan Balta improved his performance under Terim"s management and alongside his new team members.
In a derby against arch-rivals Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray were trailing 2–1 when Balta scored the equiliser with a left foot volley inside the area. The result helped maintain Galatasaray"s position at the top of the league along.
= 2012-2013 season He scored his first 2012-2013 Süper Lig goal of the new season on 19 October 2012, in a match against Gençlerbirliği when they were trailing 3–2 to make the final score 3–3 draw right before the final whistle.
Having made his debut for the national side in the 1–1 friendly draw with Azerbaijan in April 2006, Hakan"s services were not required again until a crucial point in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. He was called up to the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovia. He played the full 90 minutes of both victories, which secured Fatih Terim"s side their place at Austria and Switzerland.
He was a constant starter in all games during Turkey"s run in Euro 2008.
Turkey reached the semi-final stage with a streak of last-gasp wins. He scored Turkey"s consolation goal against Germany in a 3–1 defeat in Union of European Football Associations Euro 2012 qualifying match.