Nurcan Çelik

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Nurcan Çelik (born 1 January 1980 in Artvin, Turkey) is a Turkish former football goalkeeper who last played for Kireçburnu Spor in the Turkish Women's First Football League. She represented Turkey at the under-19 level and later earned six caps for the senior national team between 1999 and 2008.

Çelik started her career in Bursaspor’s youth system (1995–1997) and went on to play for several Turkish clubs, including Gemlik Zeytinspor, Zeytinburnuspor, Maltepe Yalıspor, and Dostluk Spor. She had a brief spell with VfL Wolfsburg in Germany in 2003–04 and also played in Northern Cyprus for Akdeniz Spor Birliği. In 2010 she founded İstanbul Nurçelik Spor, which later merged with Akdeniz Spor Birliği to form Akdeniz Nurçelik Spor, where she served as president.

After retiring from playing, Çelik became the manager of Galatasaray’s newly reestablished women’s team, serving as coach and technical director in the 2021–22 season. Her contract with Galatasaray ended in August 2022.

Çelik has overcome significant personal challenges, including the loss of family members and battles with thyroid and breast cancer. She has been a driving force in Turkish women’s football, founding clubs to promote the sport and, briefly, attempting to bring Northern Cyprus players to Turkey.