“Orkun’s rise carries the mark of Olaitan’s influence”
Cem Kerpiççiler offered a detailed analysis of Beşiktaş’s recent resurgence, underlining that the team’s çıkış is not just about individual brilliance but a carefully constructed collective structure. Speaking on A Spor, he highlighted how multiple names have simultaneously hit top form and how this synchronicity has pushed Beşiktaş to the front of the title race.
According to Kerpiççiler, one of the central figures in this transformation is head coach Sergen Yalçın. He described Yalçın as “a very intelligent football mind,” stressing that the coach’s tactical reading of games and his courage in trusting new transfers have been decisive. In his view, the fact that almost every transfer made has “worked out almost one-to-one” is not a coincidence but the result of a well‑thought‑out plan and accurate squad building.
Kerpiççiler drew attention to how these signings have not only filled gaps in the squad but also allowed key players to step forward. Beşiktaş, which had previously struggled with consistency and identity on the pitch, now presents a compact, aggressive and modern football image. The harmony between the new arrivals and the existing core has created an environment where several players can shine at the same time instead of relying on a single star.
One of the names that embodies this new identity is Oh Hyeon-gyu. Kerpiççiler described him as a quintessential “working-class centre-forward,” a striker who never stops running and presses relentlessly. He highlighted how Oh does not limit himself to the penalty area but constantly drops deep, supports the defence, and contributes to the team’s defensive organisation. This work rate, he argued, is crucial for maintaining compactness and for launching quick counterattacks.
In Kerpiççiler’s opinion, Oh Hyeon-gyu’s performance is set to climb even higher when El Bilal Touré is fully integrated into the squad. He suggested that the arrival of Touré could increase internal competition and open new tactical possibilities in the attacking line. Whether they are used together or as alternatives, the presence of another powerful, mobile forward is expected to push Oh to raise his game “one more level.”
Turning to the flanks and the defensive line, Kerpiççiler underlined the importance of Murillo. Regularly operating at right-back, Murillo offers stability and continuity with his “take, give, move” style of play. His ability to support attacks and then quickly retreat to his position inside the box adds balance on the right side. This, in turn, allows the team to keep a high line and sustain pressure without losing defensive solidity.
The real game-changer in midfield, however, is Olaitan. Kerpiççiler emphasised that the Nigerian midfielder has “already caused a stir” with his dynamism in the centre of the pitch. His energy, runs without the ball, and constant movement between the lines have reshaped Beşiktaş’s attacking patterns. Olaitan’s presence forces opponents to react, opening pockets of space for his teammates to exploit.
This is where Orkun Kökçü enters the picture. With 6 goals and 5 assists in 9 matches, Orkun has turned into one of the most decisive players in the league. Kerpiççiler was clear: he believes that Olaitan has a direct signature on Orkun’s impressive numbers. By dragging markers away, occupying central defenders and defensive midfielders, and constantly changing positions, Olaitan “created the space” that Orkun needs to move into dangerous zones.
Kerpiççiler pointed out that Orkun’s ability to drift closer to the box – to the so‑called “danger area” – is a result of this collective movement. With Olaitan and the forwards absorbing pressure, Orkun can arrive late in the penalty area, receive the ball facing goal, and either finish himself or play the final pass. This synergy has turned him into a complete attacking midfielder who both scores and creates.
Another player Kerpiççiler praised was Agbadou. He called the defender “a tremendous player” and singled out his role in shortening the team’s length on the pitch. By courageously stepping out from the defensive line into midfield, Agbadou compresses the distance between lines, making it harder for opponents to find space. Kerpiççiler noted that there are moments when you can see Agbadou chasing players even beyond the halfway line, which shows both his athleticism and his confidence.
This aggressive positioning of the centre-backs allows Beşiktaş to press higher and recover the ball closer to the opponent’s goal. Kerpiççiler argued that such bravery from the defenders is one of the hidden pillars of the team’s success: when the back line moves up, the midfield can push further forward, and players like Orkun and Olaitan find themselves constantly in and around the opponent’s box.
Behind all these dynamics, Kerpiççiler also highlighted the contribution of assistant coach Murat Kaytaz. In his words, Kaytaz is “a valuable football man” whose work is felt in the details. While Sergen Yalçın gets the spotlight, the assistant’s role in daily training, tactical preparation, and player development has been crucial to turning ideas on the tactics board into consistent performances on the pitch.
One of the areas where this coaching staff’s work is most visible is set pieces. Kerpiççiler stated that Beşiktaş has “very good routines on dead balls” and that the team spends considerable time perfecting them. He especially underlined the variety of deliveries: sometimes Orkun takes responsibility, at other times it is Cerny who steps up. This diversity makes it difficult for opponents to predict what will happen and how to defend.
The careful planning of set plays has already translated into goals and dangerous situations. Runs from deep, decoy movements, and well‑rehearsed blocking patterns create shooting lanes for players arriving from behind. In modern football, where many matches are decided by one goal, such attention to detail can be the difference between winning and dropping points, and Beşiktaş is clearly capitalising on this.
Kerpiççiler also noted that the recent performances have not gone unnoticed abroad. The growing interest in Beşiktaş’s star players in their home countries is a natural consequence of their form. Strong displays at club level often reopen doors to national team call‑ups and increase their profiles on the international stage, which in turn enhances the overall prestige of the club.
El Bilal Touré’s situation is a good example of this. Even before fully settling into the team, he has been working intensely to reach optimal physical condition. Kerpiççiler mentioned that Touré is undergoing “hard shifts” in training, aiming to adapt quickly to the tempo and intensity demanded by Sergen Yalçın. Once he reaches that level, his power, speed, and finishing ability are expected to give Beşiktaş a new dimension in the final third.
From a broader perspective, the interplay between Orkun and Olaitan stands out as a case study in modern midfield construction. Orkun is most effective when he can face the goal, operate between lines and arrive late into the box. Olaitan’s ceaseless running and vertical threats destabilise defensive structures, forcing opponents to choose between tracking his runs or blocking Orkun’s passing lanes. Whichever they choose, one of them usually finds space.
This relationship also reveals how Beşiktaş has shifted from static positional attacks to more fluid, dynamic patterns. Instead of fixed zones, players rotate: Olaitan sometimes drifts wide, Orkun drops deeper to initiate play, and the full-backs overlap into vacated channels. These rotations confuse marking schemes and open windows of opportunity that the team is increasingly adept at exploiting.
Defensively, the high engagement of players like Oh Hyeon-gyu and the bold stepping out of Agbadou and his partner means Beşiktaş can defend from the front. When the first line of pressure is synchronised with the midfield, opponents are frequently forced into long balls or rushed decisions. This leads to more recoveries in advanced areas and keeps the team constantly in attacking posture.
Psychologically, Kerpiççiler suggested, this run of form has rebuilt the self-belief within the squad. When new signings perform immediately, when set‑piece routines bring goals, and when tactical plans translate into victories, players start trusting the process. That trust is visible in the courage to play out from the back, to press high even in tough away games, and to commit numbers forward when chasing a goal.
The emerging leadership roles within the group are another factor. While Orkun attracts attention through statistics, his influence goes beyond goals and assists: he is becoming a reference point in the dressing room and on the pitch, demanding the ball in difficult moments and setting the tone with his intensity. Olaitan, with his tireless work ethic, offers an example of sacrifice that others can follow.
Looking ahead, the challenge for Beşiktaş will be to maintain this balance over a long season. Kerpiççiler implicitly warned that success based on intense pressing and high-tempo play requires careful rotation and physical management. Here, the depth provided by players like Touré, Murillo, and others newly integrated into the squad will be vital to avoid burnout and injuries.
Still, the foundation appears solid: an intelligent head coach in Sergen Yalçın, a sharp and influential assistant in Murat Kaytaz, a group of signings that have almost all “hit” in the way the club hoped, and a growing core built around the complementary talents of Orkun, Olaitan, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Agbadou, and their teammates. In this picture, Orkun’s spectacular rise is not an isolated miracle but the visible outcome of a well‑constructed football ecosystem in which Olaitan’s influence is written across every attacking move.