Jem Karacan

Personal information
Full name	Jem Paul Karacan[1]
Date of birth	21 February 1989 (1989-02-21) (age 20)
Place of birth	Catford, London, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Reading
Number	20
Youth career
1996–2003	Wimbledon
2003–2007	Reading
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–	Reading	30	(1)
2007–2008	→ Bournemouth (loan)	13	(1)
2008	→ Millwall (loan)	7	(0)
National team‡
2006	Turkey U17	5	(0)
2006	Turkey U18	6	(2)
2006–2008	Turkey U19	10	(0)
2008–	Turkey U21	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:09, 23 December 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2009

Jem Paul Karacan (Turkish pronunciation: [dʒɛm ˈkærədʒæn] English pronunciation: /dʒɛm ˈkærəkæn/), born 21 February 1989 in Catford, South East London, England) is an English-born Turkish professional football midfielder, currently playing for Reading.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Reading F.C. 3 International career 4 Statistics 4.1 Club 5 Personal life 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Early life

Karacan was born in the London Borough of Lewisham to a Turkish father and an English mother. Between the ages of seven and fourteen he played for the now defunct Wimbledon and left after they relocated to Milton Keynes. He had been offered a four-year contract at the club his father supported, Galatasaray, but refused citing language difficulties, "I couldn't go out there at only 14, not speaking the language and so on."^[2] Karacan joined Reading's Youth Academy instead, having been spotted playing against the Royals while on trial at Manchester United.

[edit] Reading F.C.

On 6 July 2007, he signed a two-year professional contract with Reading,^[3] and made his debut against Luton Town on the 26th of August in the League Cup, getting on the scoresheet.

Karacan joined Bournemouth on loan, initially for one month, on 18 October 2007.^[4] Karacan was put into the starting XI for Bournemouth on 20 October away to Millwall, where he made his league debut in Bournemouth's 2-1 defeat.^[5] His loan was subsequently extended to 6 January 2008.^[6] Karacan signed a further loan deal in the 2007–08 season on 20 March 2008, this time to Football League One side Millwall, which was originally due to run until 19 April 2008,^[7] but was extended to the end of the 2007–08 season.^[8]

Season 08/09 He scored against Aston Villa in a pre season match before the 2008-09 season. He scored his first goal for Reading in a Carling Cup win over Luton Town on 26 August 2008.^[9] Towards the end of 2008, he began to start a few matches after impressing in the reserves and following injuries to James Harper and Marek Matejovsky. He signed a new 2 and half year contract in October 2008. He scored his first professional league goal in Reading's 2-2 draw with Blackpool FC on 13 April 2009.^[10]

[edit] International career

Karacan has captained Turkey at youth level. He is eligible with them through his father. He is also eligible for England. He made his debut for the Turkey U21s as a substitute in a 2-1 away defeat to Armenia.

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Club

Club Performance

England	Season	League		FA Cup		Carling Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Reading	2009-10	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
	2008-09	15	1	1	0	1	1	0	0	17	2
	Club Total	27	1	1	0	1	1	0	0	29	2
Millwall (loan)	2007-08	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	Club Total	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Bournemouth (loan)	2007-08	13	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	16	2
	Club Total	13	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	16	2
CAREER TOTAL		47	2	4	1	1	1	0	0	52	4
Correct as of 24 October 2009[11]

[edit] Personal life

Karacan studied at Colfe's School of Lee Green, until year 6, before spending his senior years at the Riverston School of Eltham London, which is renowned for its sporting facilities. He left at the end of Year 11.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jem Karacan profile at readingfc.co.uk
• Jem Karacan career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at the Turkish Football Federation's Official Site

v • d • e Reading F.C. – current squad 1 Federici · 3 Armstrong · 4 Cissé · 5 Mills · 6 Gunnarsson · 7 Tabb · 8 Matějovský · 9 Long · 10 Hunt · 11 McAnuff · 14 Kébé · 16 Ingimarsson · 17 Henry · 18 Church · 19 Robson-Kanu · 20 Karacan · 21 Hamer · 22 Kelly · 23 Rasiak · 24 Bertrand · 25 Sigurðsson · 26 Pearce · 27 Davies · 32 Vasilev · 34 Howard · 35 Cummings · 48 O'Dea · Manager: Vacant

Persondata
NAME	Karacan, Jem Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Karacan, Jem
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH	21 February 1989
PLACE OF BIRTH	London, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH