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Demirel was born in Fatih, İstanbul.[1] He joined Kartalspor as an 18-year old in 1999 and became the starting goalkeeper the following year.[1] Demirel played in 51 matches over the next two seasons, earning a transfer to Fenerbahçe at the start of the 2002 season.[1][4]

Originally backing up Rüştü Reçber and Recep Biler, Demirel made his debut for the club on 26 April 2003.[5] After Reçber's transfer to Barcelona, Demirel competed in 19 league matches, splitting time with Biler (who played in 14 matches). He also featured in three Turkish Cup matches and won the 2003-4 Süper Lig title with Fenerbahçe.[1][6] The following season, Demirel won another Süper Lig title, but was relegated to the bench after Rüştü Reçber returned to the club at the start of the season.[6] Demirel was the starting goalkeeper at the start of the 2005–06 season, but was benched halfway through the season. At the start of the 2006–07, Demirel was the first choice keeper, but was supplanted by Reçber for a second time. After Reçber suffered an injury, Serdar Kulbilge took over as starting goalkeeper in favor of Demirel for the rest of the season.[7] Demirel played in 25 league matches the following season, with Kulbilge playing the rest.[1][7] Demirel was the starting goalkeeper for the Fenerbahçe squad that progressed past the group stages of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League. In the Round of 16 tie with Sevilla, Demirel made several mistakes, costing two goals. However, he went on to save three penalties in the penalty shootout, helping the club progress to the quarter-finals, the first time in club history.[8][9] Fenerbahçe went on to face Chelsea, losing 2–3 on aggregate. Following Kulbilge's transfer to Kocaelispor, Demirel took over as starting goalkeeper.[1] Demirel signed a four-year contract extension at the end of the 2008–09 season.[1]

Demirel was called up to the Turkey U-20 squad in 2001, being capped four times. He was capped by the Turkey national under-21 football team 21 times between 2001 and 2003, and earned his first call up to the Turkey national football team in 2004.[1] He made his debut for the national team on 28 April 2004 in a friendly against Belgium. Demirel came on as a substitute in the second half.[10] Demirel was the starting goalkeeper for the Turkey national football team at the UEFA Euro 2008 championships, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in team history. Demirel started all three group stages matches, but was suspended for two matches after receiving a red card against the Czech Republic for viciously pushing Jan Koller to the ground after Jan for unknown reasons ran and shouted at him.[11]