Yiğit İsmail Gökoğlan is a Turkish professional football player who currently plays as a winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Balıkesirspor.
Background
Gökoğlan was born in Konak, İzmir. His parents divorced at an early age and he lived with his father, seeing his mother on weekends. However, once his father decided to move to Turgutlu, a large town in Manisa Province, Gökoğlan was left at to live at the training facilities as a 14-year-old.
Career
Gökoğlan is also a youth international, having been capped at U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels for Turkey. Originally a forward, Gökoğlan switched to the winger position after moving to Manisaspor. In 1999, Gökoğlan joined local club Aliağa.
At the time, his school and the club"s training grounds were near his home, allowing easy access to both.
Manisaspor
Levent Eriş, along with his assistant Hakan Şapçı, discovered Gökoğlan at a youth league match. They signed him to a youth contract with Manisaspor in 2006.
As a 16-year-old, Gökoğlan would train with the senior squad, while still competing in the youth leagues. In total, he made 44 appearances in the A2 league, scoring four goals.
At the start of the 2007-2008 season, Yilmaz Vural took over as manager.
Gökoğlan was loaned out to TFF Third League outfit Altınordu during the winter break. He was unable to settle in at first, but began to feel better once the club started winning matches. At the end of the season, Altınordu missed out on direct promotion because of the goal difference rule.
Gökoğlan made 14 appearances, scoring one goal.
Galatasaray
After months of speculation on his future, on 12 January 2012 it was announced that Yiğit joined Galatasaray on a 4 and a half year deal for a fee of €2.5 million. Gökoğlan was first called up to national duty in 2008, after a third round matchup against Aydınspor.
He competed in six friendlies, before playing all three matches during 2008 Union of European Football Associations European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification. Turkey finished third and did not progress.
Gökoğlan was then called up to the U-20s, playing two friendlies against Finland.
He has also been capped at U-21 level, playing in the Akdeniz Cup and 2011 Union of European Football Associations European Under-21 Football Championship qualification. Galatasaray
Süper Lig (1): 2011-2012
Süper Kupa (1): 2012.