Mansiz vows to justify price tag

Kobe captures Turkish soccer star Ilhan

KOBE (Kyodo) Vissel Kobe has signed Turkey World Cup striker Ilhan Mansiz from Turkish club Besiktas, officials of the J. League first division club said Monday.

The 28-year-old, who helped Turkey reach the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, has signed a two-year contract and will be officially unveiled at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. He will be the first Turkish player to play in the J. League.

The Japan Times: Feb. 10, 2004

Japan got a taste of things to come Tuesday when Turkish World Cup superstar Ilhan Mansiz arrived in Tokyo.

The 28-year-old striker, who is to sign a two-year contract with J.League first division club Vissel Kobe, was introduced to reporters at a Tokyo hotel.

More than 200 media members were in attendance, including 19 television crews and representatives of several fashion magazines.

Ilhan, who became almost as famous as England's David Beckham in Japan during the 2002 World Cup, had to field questions about his hair, his clothes and Beckham as well as about his job: scoring goals.

``Thank you for coming. I am very happy to be here in Japan after my World Cup experience,'' he said, in English. ``My aim is to help Vissel Kobe with my experience, and I believe we will be very successful.''

Ilhan will be the centerpiece of the new-look Vissel Kobe, which fought a seasonlong battle last year to avoid relegation.

Although no official figures have been announced, the Kobe club is believed to be paying Ilhan's Turkish club, Besiktas, a transfer free of 450million yen. The player will earn around 220 million yen per season, plus a share of image rights.

Ilhan surprised many by appearing with short hair, and was dressed in a white suit with bright yellow shirt.

``I know that most fans remember me for my long hair, but I like this style,'' he said.

``I want to have a bright future in Japan, so this is why I chose this suit.''

Ilhan will wear No. 32 with Vissel, a number he remembers with affection.

``When I earned my first wage from playing football, 32 was the number of my apartment,'' he said.

As for Japanese soccer, he said he knew all about Nakata and Shinji Ono from playing in Europe, but he had never heard of his new teammate, Kazuyoshi Miura, the first superstar of the J.League in 1993 and still scoring goals at 36.

Ilhan played in all seven games at the World Cup as Turkey finished third.

He went on as a substitute in six of them, scoring the golden goal to eliminate Senegal in the quarterfinals, and played the full 90 minutes only once, when he scored twice as Turkey beat South Korea 3-2 in the playoff for third place.

With three goals in the tournament, he was Turkey's leading scorer, and now has six in 19 appearances since making his national team debut in 2001 against Moldova.

When asked if he would like to become more popular in Japan than Real Madrid and England star Beckham, Ilhan, replied: ``I am not trying to win over Beckham's fans.

``I know he is very popular here. He is a great player and I respect him, but I have my owns fans, too.''

By JEREMY WALKER, Asahi Shimbun News Service

Asahi Shimbun Feb. 11, 2004

Turkey striker Ilhan Mansiz vowed to justify his record price tag when he was formally unveiled by Japanese club Vissel Kobe.

The 28-year-old, who scored the golden goal that took Turkey into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, has signed a two-year deal with Kobe for a J-League record $4.5 million transfer fee.

"My job here is to score goals for the team and to bring the club success," said Ilhan, who will earn $2 million a year following his move from Turkish club Besiktas.

"I hope I can bring excitement to the Kobe supporters at the same time."

Ilhan already has a huge fan base in Japan and during the 2002 World Cup; he attracted almost as much attention from Japanese fans as England captain David Beckham.

However, shorn of his samurai-style ponytail, Ilhan almost went unnoticed by about 100 fans that turned up to greet him in Tokyo .

The acquisition of Ilhan is a massive coup for big-spending Kobe , who was given a much-needed injection of funds after being taken over by Crimson Group, who operates "Rakuten Ichiba," Japan 's biggest Internet shopping mall.

Kobe is banking on Ilhan to boost attendances at the club, which has never finished higher than 10th over the two-stage first division season since joining the J-League in 1997.

Vissel averages crowds of around 10,000 but club officials are hoping Ilhan's arrival will double those figures.

Ilhan will return home to his home in Germany to organize his work permit before joining his new Kobe teammate's midway through their Feb. 12-21 pre-season training camp.

Turkish Daily News: Feb. 13, 2004

J.League division one strugglers Vissel Kobe pulled off a major coup Monday by securing the services of Turkish World Cup star Ilhan Mansiz.

Kobe reportedly made a formal approach to the Istanbul outfit Besiktas on Jan. 28 over the transfer of the national team striker, whose contract with the Turkish Superleague leaders expires at the end of the current European season. It is understood that Kobe officials have since flown to Istanbul and agreed upon the terms of the transfer with their counterparts.

The 28-year-old striker could be unveiled as a Kobe player before the start of the J.League season in March 13, pending his international clearance and medical.

Ilhan has a huge female following in Japan thanks to his good looks and exploits during the 2002 World Cup held in Japan and South Korea , during which Turkey finished in third place.

Perennial strugglers Kobe were faced with bankruptcy until Crimson Group, a capital fund owned by the president of Japan 's largest Internet shopping mall "Rakuten," took over late last year. Veteran former Japanese international star Kazu Miura also plays for the team.

Mainichi Shimbun , Japan , Feb. 2, 2004