Background and career
Mehmet Topal (born 3 March 1986) is a Turkish professional football manager and former player. A defensive midfielder, he was nicknamed Örümcek (Turkish: Spider) for his ability to use his long legs to win loose balls and intercept passes.
Topal began his senior career at Dardanelspor and went on to play for Galatasaray, Valencia, Fenerbahçe, İstanbul Başakşehir, and Beşiktaş, winning seven major trophies in Turkey. He represented the Turkey national team from 2008 to 2018, making over 80 appearances and being selected for two European Championships.
As a manager, Topal made his debut with a six-month spell at Romanian club Petrolul Ploiești in 2024. He later returned to the club for the final stages of the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, helping the team avoid relegation.
