Azar Karadas (born 9 August 1981) is a Norwegian footballer playing for Kasımpaşa SK in the Turkcell Super League^[1].

Although he can also play as a central defender, Karadas is renowned primarily as a centre forward.

[edit] Football career

Karadas was born in Nordfjordeid and is of Turkish origin, his surname means "black stone" in Turkish.^[4] He started his career in the small club Eid IL. His first major club was SK Brann. On 13 March 2002 Karadas signed for Rosenborg BK in a shock^{[neutrality disputed]} transfer. A former favourite at Brann, Karadas received death threats after moving to the bitter rivals.^{[citation needed]}

At Rosenborg, Karadas' performances soon earned him a call-up to the Norwegian under-21s, and it was not long before foreign eyes began to be trained on the teenager. He further enhanced his reputation by scoring two goals against the mighty Inter Milan in a UEFA Champions League 2002-03 game, a 2-2 home draw. Karadas was linked with many of Europe's major clubs, including Roda JC, Liverpool FC and Udinese Calcio, however Sport Lisboa e Benfica manager Giovanni Trapattoni convinced the talented youngster to join his team, starting in 2004-05.

After one season at Benfica, where he scored four goals (including a brace at S.C. Beira-Mar in a 3-2 success) and helped the team to win the national championship after 11 years, Karadas was loaned to FA Premier League club Portsmouth F.C. for the 2005-06 season.^[5] His spectacular volley which helped then-relegation-threatened Portsmouth earn a crucial 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers F.C. in 2006,^[6] helped make him known in England.

A 16 June Norwegian press release reported that Benfica and Brann had agreed on a Karadas transfer back to Bergen. The deal was speculated to be worth GBP£695,000 (€102,000), where Karadas was to give up £435,000 worth of bonuses Benfica owed him. Only his personal contract was an issue, as the player refused to give up a £350,000 compensation which Benfica had to pay him whenever Karadas was sold from the Lisbon club. Benfica believed that by selling Karadas to a bigger international club, they could receive a better transfer fee, and therefore his compensation would cost the club less than a Brann transfer would.

Despite being declared unwanted in Lisbon, Karadas returned to Benfica after his transfer to Brann fell through. His agent worked to find a new club for his cousin and on 16 August 2006, the news broke out that Karadas was in negotiations with German side 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which had been relegated to the second division after 2005-06. The clubs finally agreed with a one-year loan deal.

Karadas made his debut in German football (and its second level) on 27 August 2006 in a 2-0 home league victory over SC Paderborn 07. He started the match, but was substituted in the 61st minute. On 9 September, Karadas scored his first goal for Kaiserslautern in its 2-0 away victory over amateur side 1. FC Gera 03 in the first round of the German Cup. His first league goal came on 29 September 2006, in Kaiserslautern's 1-1 draw at SpVgg Unterhaching. Until winter break, he made ten league appearances for the club, but did not score any further goals and was also sent off with two yellow cards in derby at 1. FC Köln, which ended in a 2-2 draw, on the final day before winter break. He finished with 11 games and one goal, as Kaiserslautern ended in sixth place.

On 24 August 2007, Karadas signed a contract with Brann, for a second spell with the club.^[7] In his comeback to Brann stadium, in a match against Sandefjord B.K. on 2 September, he was greeted as a hero and a banner stating "Vi hatet deg så mye, fordi vi elsker deg så høyt!" (We hated you so much, because we love you so much!).^[8] The same season Brann won the Norwegian Premier League.^[9] On 1 September 2009, Karadas signed 3 years contract Turkish Super league's new club Kasımpaşa SK^[10].

[edit] Honours

• Norwegian Premier League: 2002, 2003 and 2007
• Norwegian Cup: 2003

• Portuguese League: 2004-05

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stats at Fussballdaten (German)

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