Dulwich Hamlet boss Rose picks Charlton Athletic new boy Erhun Oztumer as best player he has worked with
Ask Gavin Rose to name the best player he has worked with and the answer is instant – Erhun Oztumer.
The Dulwich Hamlet manager recently marked 10 years in charge of the South London club.
And Oztumer is back in the area – signing a deal with Charlton last week after the EFL granted him a free transfer from administration-hit Bolton.
The playmaker was dubbed the Turkish Messi by Hamlet fans and a goal-laden spell saw him bag 60 goals in 96 matches before joining League One Peterborough in 2014.
Rose said: “Erhun is the best I’ve worked with. There are a few others who have been unplayable at times, but he was able to package that with consistent performances – not just potential.
“He would do it week in and week out to effect the team.
“We’ve had some other really talented boys who have not been able to pull performances together at that level. Erhun did. It’s one thing having talent and another to go out to produce it.”
Oztumer spent eight year with the Addicks before being released. A spell followed in Turkish football before he opted for Dulwich, who were an Isthmian League Division One South outfit at the time.
“I remember him being slightly disillusioned with the game,” said Rose. “He made a bold move – he gave up his professional status to come down and play with us at Dulwich, we were at a very low level at that time.
“But he had a belief in myself and Junior [Kadi] that we could help him and he could help us.
“He deserves credit. A lot look at the level first and think ‘I can’t play at that level’. I always say to lads that you can try and go as high as you can – but you don’t always give yourself a chance to grow. That’s what I think Erhun did.
“He came later after pre-season, so the budget had gone. There wasn’t really any money at all – even in his second year. I couldn’t offer him anything significant – in comparison to his ability.
“He never made it about money. He used to work really hard off the pitch – look after himself as a pro – and was always ready to listen.
“A lot of the people who said [he was too small] will pretend they didn’t say it now. There were people saying it at our place but it was so clear he was good enough. We can be a little fickle in this country about size and power. The first thing is ability on the ball – he can do things that many can’t. He has probably had to prove that for longer than others had to.”
