Turkey: 25-year-old player dies

Turkish football is in mourning. Tolga Kalender, a defender for Bandırmaspor, died on Wednesday at the age of 25. The club announced the sad news with the consent of his family, without disclosing the exact circumstances of his death.

A death shrouded in mystery

The causes of Tolga Kalender’s death remain unknown for now. According to several Turkish media outlets, the player had reportedly been hospitalized for an unspecified period after facing sudden health problems.

Some reports also mention complications linked to a surgical procedure, but these details have not been officially confirmed by the club or the family. Kalender had not played since February 1 for Bandırmaspor. In particular, he had been sidelined for more than six months because of an eye injury.

A career cut short abruptly

Born on August 17, 2001, in Mersin, Tolga Kalender came through the Kuvayi Milliyespor academy before continuing his development in the youth systems of Tuzlaspor and Başakşehir. After spending several months without a club, he signed his first professional contract with Adana Demirspor in January 2021. He was then loaned to Bayrampaşaspor and Diyarbekirspor to gain more playing time.

It was during the 2024–2025 season that he truly made his mark at the highest level of Turkish football. The defender played 25 Süper Lig matches, scoring one goal and providing one assist. His career has tragically come to an end at just 25 years of age.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

Bandirmaspor