As is the case during every World Cup over the past two decades, the chances are you will have heard the name ‘Hakan Sukur’ uttered more than once in recent weeks.
The former Turkey international remains the scorer of the quickest ever goal in World Cup history, having netted after just 10.8 seconds against South Korea in the third-place play-off back in 2002. Then on the books of Serie A side Parma heading into the tournament, he could have actually joined Liverpool just a few months beforehand.
Sukur started the 2001/02 season at Inter Milan, but found himself behind Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Mohamed Kallon, Alvaro Recoba, Adriano and Nicola Ventola in the pecking order. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t add to his 34 appearances, from which he scored six goals, from the 2000/01 season at the San Siro as a result and his agent was working overtime to earn him a move.
