Former Besiktas and Turkey goalkeeper has tested positive for coronavirus, his wife has confirmed. Getty Images
Former Besiktas and Turkey goalkeeper has tested positive for coronavirus, his wife has confirmed. Getty Images
Former Besiktas and Turkey goalkeeper has tested positive for coronavirus, his wife has confirmed. Getty Images
Former Besiktas and Turkey goalkeeper has tested positive for coronavirus, his wife has confirmed. Getty Images

Turkey World Cup hero Rustu Recber hospitalised with coronavirus, wife confirms


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Former Turkey and Barcelona goalkeeper Rustu Recber is in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, his wife said.

Recber was part of the Turkey team that finished third at the 2002 World Cup, the country's best finish at the global finals.

"Rustu is in hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis," Isil Recber said on Instagram late Saturday.

"We are in a state of shock after the symptoms developed rapidly while everything was normal. These are critical times and it's very difficult."

She added that she, as well as their son and daughter, had tested negative for the virus.

Recber's ponytail and anti-reflection make-up made him standout every bit as much as his heroics between the posts for his country.

The goalkeeper, now 46, enjoyed a brief spell at Barcelona in 2003 after starring in the World Cup a year earlier when Turkey beat co-hosts South Korea 3-2 in the third-place play-off.

He also played for Istanbul giants Fenerbahce and Besiktas before retiring in 2012 having played more than 550 games for clubs and country.

Last week, Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim said he also tested positive for the virus.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent earlier this month after saying he was not comfortable playing matches during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Super Lig was eventually suspended on March 19.

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

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