Unexpected turn: Former Germany star Mesut Özil enters politics after retirement
Former Germany international and club football star Mesut Özil has made a dramatic career shift following his retirement from football. According to The Sun, the German-born player of Turkish descent has decided to enter politics in his ancestral homeland.
Özil has joined the Central Decision and Executive Board of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) after being appointed during the party’s congress in Ankara. He is one of 39 new members added to this key decision-making body.
The event also marked the ninth re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the leader of the party.
Özil has long been known for his close ties with Erdoğan. The former footballer even invited the Turkish president to be the best man at his wedding in 2019. His relationship with Erdoğan first made headlines in 2018 when a photo of them together sparked outrage in Germany, ultimately contributing to Özil’s controversial exit from the national team.
Born in Gelsenkirchen to a family of Turkish immigrants, Özil was a key figure in Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad.
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
