Tuncay Şanlı (January 16, 1982, Sakarya) is a Turkish footballer who plays for Middlesbrough in the Barclays Premiership since joining from Fenerbahçe on 22 June 2007.

Tuncay is a versatile Turkish player. He has played in the positions of left winger, right winger and striker for Fenerbahce and Turkish national team. Before playing for Fenerbahçe SK, he was playing in the second division for Sakaryaspor. There, Tuncay was playing as a right winger/forward. After his transfer to Fenerbahçe, he began playing first as a striker and then as a left winger. He is known for is energy, flair and dribbling skills. He is arguably the most popular player for Fenerbahçe fans in the squad of (2006-2007), and is nicknamed as “Cesur Yurek” (Brave Heart) and “Fenerbahçe’nin Yuregi” (The Heart of Fenerbahçe.)

He is currently the all-time top scorer for Fenerbahce in European cups with 12 goals.

He was cited as an upcoming football star by Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger after the France-Turkey Confederations Cup match in 2003.[citation needed] In the same tournament, he won the Silver Ball and the Silver Shoe awards for being selected as the second best player of the tournament and being the second top-scorer respectively, with 3 goals and 1 assist.

In 2004, Şanlı became the first Turkish player ever to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League, scoring all of the three goals in Fenerbahçe’s 3-0 victory over the English Premier League side Manchester United.

Tuncay’s latest hat trick came for the Turkey national football team in a World Cup Qualifying play-off match against Switzerland, but a 4-4 result allowed the Swiss to advance on the away goal rule.

As of June 2007, Tuncay has been linked to a possible move to Middlesbrough F.C., after discussions with Middlesbrough officials. On June 13, 2007, Middlesbrough confirmed they had agreed personal terms with the player and the move was now subject to a medical. Tuncay arrived in Middlesbrough on June 18, 2007 to complete his medical. On June 22, 2007, Tuncay passed his medical and completed a free transfer to Middlesbrough, subject to a work permit application.