Turkey will play their first match of the new year with a home friendly against Korea Republic on 9 February 2011 in Trabzon. / Turkish football news

The match whose kick-off time will be specified later, will take place at Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium.

This friendly will be the 7th meeting between the two sides in their history. In the past four friendlies and two competitive matches, Turkey recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat out of their six past outings against their Asian rivals. One of the most memorable moments of the past meetings, were from  the 2002 FIFA World Cup where the two sides made exceptional gestures of fair play. Turkey Head Coach Guus Hiddink was then in charge of the Korean team.

Turkey last faced Korea Republic in June 2004 when they played two friendly matches. Turkey had won the first game 1-0 before losing the second 2-1.

Ranked 39th in the FIFA standings, Korea Republic advanced into the Round of 16 at last summer’s 2010 FIFA World Cup, then were eliminated from the competition after a 2-1 defeat by Uruguay.