Jessica Lynne O'Rourke Çarmıklı (née O'Rourke; born 3 January 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and a defender. She is currently player-manager for the Istanbul-based club Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Women's Football Super League.[1] Born in the United States, she is a member of the Turkey women's national team.
![]() Jessica O'Rourke (2016–17 season) | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Jessica Lynne O'Rourke Çarmıklı | ||
Birth name | Jessica Lynne O'Rourke | ||
Date of birth | (1986-01-03) 3 January 1986 (age 36) | ||
Place of birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder, defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Fenerbahçe | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2004 | Medford Strikers Scream | ||
2000–2003 | Cherokee High School Lady Chiefs | ||
2001–2004 | New Jersey State ODP Team | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004–2007 | NC State Wolfpack | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2005 | Carolina Dynamo | 5 | (1) |
2007 | New Jersey Wildcats | 7 | (2) |
2008 | F.C. Indiana | 12 | (3) |
2009 | Chicago Red Stars | 0 | (0) |
2009 | Buffalo Flash | 16 | (3) |
2009 | Sporting de Huelva | 16 | (0) |
2010 | Zvezda 2005 Perm | 18 | (1) |
2016–2017 | Beşiktaş | 19 | (2) |
2019–2021 | Beşiktaș | 16 | (2) |
2022– | Fenerbahçe | 17 | (2) |
National team‡ | |||
2020 | Turkey | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 October 2020 |
O'Rourke was raised in Marlton, New Jersey.[2]
Jessica started her professional career in 2008 with the only professional team in the US at that time, the F.C. Indiana Lionesses. She played a significant role as a defensive midfielder for F.C. Indiana as they won USL W-League Central Conference in 2008; advancing to the Championship Finals where she tallied the only goal for the Lionesses in the 47'.[3]
On January 16, 2009, she was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) with the 2nd pick of the 9th Round (58th overall).[4]
In 2009, she competed in the United Soccer Leagues' W-League as team Vice Captain for the Buffalo Flash; then played in the Spanish Superliga Femenina with the Club Cajasol Sporting de Huelva.
For the 2010/2011 season, she joined the club Zvezda-2005 in the Russian Women's Football Championship league and the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In November 2016, Jessica signed with the Istanbul-based club Beşiktaş to play in the Turkish Women's First Football League.[5] After an 18-month absence for maternity, she returned with Beşiktaş J.K. and took part in the first appearance of the club in the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League - Group 9 matches; scoring her first goal in Champions League play against Alashkert in the 87th minute.[6]
On September 3, 2021, Fenerbahçe announced technical staff and Jessica Çarmıklı announced as manager.[7]
By September 2020, O'Rourke Çarmıklı was called up to the Turkey women's national football team to play at the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying Group A matches.[8] She wore the Turkish national jersey for the first time as she was naturalized through her marriage to a Turkish person. She played at the away match against Kosovo in Antalya on 23 October 2020.[9][10]
Club | Season | League | Continental | National | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Beşiktaş | 2016–17 | First League | 19 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 19 | 2 |
2019–20 | First League | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 2 | |
2020–21 | First League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
Fenerbahçe | 2021–22 | Super League | 17 | 2 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
Total | 17 | 2 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
O'Rourke has resided in Turkey since 2010 and has settled in Istanbul.[11] She is married to Turkish businessman Oğuzhan Çarmıklı. They have two children.[12][13]
Fenerbahçe S.K. (women's football) – current squad | |
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