# Veli Kavlak

Veli Kavlak (born 3 November 1988) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Rapid Wien and Turkish club Beşiktaş. He made 31 appearances for the Austria at international level scoring one goal.

## International career

On 15 August 2012 he scored against his parents' home country Turkey playing for Austria in the 3rd minute. Austria went on to win that game 2–0.

## Style of play

Kavlak is a defensive box-to-box midfielder. At club level, he is deployed in the holding role and is key in midfield with his tireless running and endless stamina. He is also a hardworking leader and although not being known for unsportsmanlike acts, he is known to be a hatchet man in midfield. Kavlak is often accompanied by another more offensive central midfielder such as Manuel Fernandes and Oğuzhan Özyakup. At international level, however, he has most prominently featured in a more advanced position in front of a holding midfielder.

## Personal life

Veli Kavlak was born to Turkish parents. He also holds Turkish citizenship. He speaks Turkish fluently.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Rapid Wien | 2004–05 | Austrian Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Rapid Wien | 2005–06 | Austrian Bundesliga | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Rapid Wien | 2006–07 | Austrian Bundesliga | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 3 |
| Rapid Wien | 2007–08 | Austrian Bundesliga | 27 | 2 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 31 | 3 |
| Rapid Wien | 2008–09 | Austrian Bundesliga | 29 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 5 |
| Rapid Wien | 2009–10 | Austrian Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Rapid Wien | 2010–11 | Austrian Bundesliga | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| Rapid Wien | Total | Total | 146 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 181 | 16 |
| Beşiktaş | 2011–12 | Super Lig | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| Beşiktaş | 2012–13 | Super Lig | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Beşiktaş | 2013–14 | Super Lig | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| Beşiktaş | 2014–15 | Super Lig | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| Beşiktaş | 2015–16 | Super Lig | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Beşiktaş | 2016–17 | Super Lig | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Beşiktaş | 2017–18 | Super Lig | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Beşiktaş | Total | Total | 115 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 152 | 7 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 261 | 19 | 27 | 3 | 45 | 1 | 333 | 23 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Austria | 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| Austria | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| Austria | 2009 | 3 | 0 |
| Austria | 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| Austria | 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| Austria | 2012 | 7 | 1 |
| Austria | 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| Austria | 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 31 | 1 |
    Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kavlak goal.
List of international goals scored by Veli Kavlak :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 15 August 2012 | Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria | Turkey | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |

## Honours

Rapid Wien
* Austrian Bundesliga: 2004–05, 2007–08
Beşiktaş
* Süper Lig: 2015–16, 2016–17