Meryem Küçükbirinci
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 March 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Tonya, Trabzon Province, Turkey | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hakkari | ||
| Number | 61 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Trabzon | 49 | (3) |
| 2024– | Hakkari | 23 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | Turkey | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 October 2025 | |||
Meryem Küçükbirinci (born 3 March 2004) is a Turkish women's football midfielder who plays in the Super League for Hakkari, and Turkey national team.
Personal life and early years
Meryem Küçükbirinci was born on 3 March 2004 into a family with nine children that lives on animal husbandry, and was raised at the high-altitude Kadıralak Plateau in Tonya district of Trabzon Province, northern Turkey.[1][2]
The little girl, as the middle sister of her eight siblings, had the responsibility to chase sheep and cows with the first light of the morning and to feed animals with her father. She spent time in nature. She felt the excitement when she picked up a football ball for the first time. By struggling for a brave life, she developed her passion for football, which started playing with her brothers in the meadow next to her house in the village. In addition to her family's financial difficulties, she also struggled with the traditional views of the society and went to play matches on the field with her friends every weekend. This perseverance and determination led her to shine in local tournaments and advance to the final matches. As the club Vakfıkebir, she was a member of, did not have a women's side, she played with boys in the academy team.[2]
Club career
Küçükbirinci obtained her license from her local club Trabzon on 12 April 2019. She started her club football career at the same club in the 2021–22 Super League season, and played three years .[1]
In the beginning of the 2024–25 Super League season, she transferred to Hakkari.[1]
International career
Küçükbirinci was called up to the Turkey national team for the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League B Group 2 maches, and joined the preparation camp. However, she was removed from the national team squad due to a meniscus tear on her left leg occurred during a 2024–25 Super League season match of her team Hakkari in early February 2025.[3]
After her recovery, she rejoined the national tean and debuted in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation match against Kosovo on 28 October 2025.[4]
Career statistics
- As of match played 28 October 2025.[1]
| Club | Season | League | Continental | National | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Trabzon | 2021–22 | Super League | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 9 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Super League | 13 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 13 | 3 | |
| 2023–24 | Super League | 27 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 27 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 49 | 3 | ||
| Hakkari | 2024–25 | Super League | 19 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 19 | 1 |
| 2025–24 | Super League | 4 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 23 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| Grand total | 72 | 4 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 73 | 4 | ||
References
- ^ a b c d "Meryem Küçükbirinci" (in Turkish). Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Köyden Milli Takıma: Meryem Küçükbirinci'nin İlham Veren Hikâyesi". Kesin Haber (in Turkish). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Meryem Küçükbirinci, Kadın A Millî Takım Kadrosundan Çıkarıldı" (in Turkish). Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "Kadın A Millî Takımımız Kosova'yı 3-0 Mağlup Etti" (in Turkish). Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.