Whatever anybody says, the most important thing in life is to be happy.

I have hired a bodyguard, on the recommendation of my friends and the government. It's outrageous, having to live like this.

I identify with my culture, but I am happy to be living on a tolerant, intellectual island where I can deal with Dostoyevsky and Sartre, both great influences for me.

My childhood proved to me that there could be no enjoyment of football without community. But it becomes difficult when this community is having problems with its identity. That's when we experience all possible forms of nationalist exaggeration.

Life can't be all that bad,' i'd think from time to time. 'Whatever happens, i can always take a long walk along the Bosphorus.

Enjoyment of football is part of the social context, and I have lost my faith in this social context.

Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.