Ersen Martin dead at 44: Former striker passes away two years after being left ‘fighting for life’ as Turkey pay tribute

FORMER Turkish international Ersen Martin has tragically passed away at the age of 44.

The ex-striker, who came through at Nuremberg before he went on to play for Besiktas and Trabzonspor, retired from football in 2013.

He hung up his boots with three caps for his country - which came between 2004 and 2006.

He is understood to have suffered a ruptured aorta in 2022 which saw him hospitalised.

Now, after receiving lengthy treatment, he has sadly died.

His ex-club Trabzonspor paid tribute to their former player, saying: "We have learned with deep sadness the news that our former football player Ersen Martin has passed away.

"May God have mercy on Ersen Martin who lost his life; We offer our condolences to his family, loved ones and community."

And Besiktas said: "We have learned with deep sadness that our former football player Ersen Martin has passed away.

"May God have mercy on Ersen Martin, we offer our condolences to his family, relatives and the Turkish sports community."

Reports from Turkey claim he was intubated in hospital on March 10, before he passed away in the facility.

Fanatik claimed the huge costs at the Istanbul Siyami Ersek Heart Hospital led to Martin's family reaching out for financial support prior to his death.

Last year, an anonymous friend said: "We support as much as we can, but only up to a certain point... We expect at least his former clubs to lend a helping hand."

Martin also had a friendship with Galatasaray's current head coach Okan Buruk.

The pair had chatted and spent time together at games following Martin's aortic rupture in 2022.

And Galatasaray paid tribute to the player following his death, despite him never having played for the club.

They wrote: "We have learned with deep sadness the news of the death of former national football player Ersen Martin.

"May God have mercy on Ersen Martin, and we offer our condolences to his grieving family, loved ones and the Turkish football community."

Turkey's Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askin Bak, was another to leave a kind message.

He said: "I learned with great sadness the death of Ersen Martin, the popular name of our country's football and who also played for our national team."

Martin finished his club career having played for 13 clubs, scoring 101 goals and providing 28 assists in 375 games.