Australian Clubs Early in his career, Özbey was recognised for his contributions as a
striker with
Blacktown City Demons during which he was chosen as the
NSW Premier League "Player of the Year" in 2006 and won the competition's top goal scorer award (Andreas Golden Boot Award) back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. The successful period in 2006 led to his recruitment on loan by
A-League side
Sydney FC for their 2005–06 season finals campaign. Özbey's first appearance for Sydney came on 12 February 2006, as a substitute in the first leg of the semi-final against
Adelaide United at
Hindmarsh Stadium. Although Özbey was given a few minutes of game time during the final minutes of the first leg of the semi-final against Adelaide, he remained an unused substitute for the rest of Sydney FC's campaign in which Sydney became eventual champions with their 1–0 victory over the
Central Coast Mariners. Özbey's stint at Sydney FC lead to his signing by former mentor
Nick Theodorakopoulos who had just taken over charge at A-League side
Newcastle Jets for the 2006–07 season. Özbey's time at Newcastle didn't last long after Theodorakopoulos was sacked early on in the season. Following his attempt at an A-League career, Özbey returned to the NSW Premier League in 2008 with the Marconi Stallions. After a disappointing year with the Stallions, he signed with
Sydney Olympic FC for the 2008 season. Özbey had previously played at Sydney Olympic FC during his youth career. In July 2009, he had trials in Turkey and was signed soon after by
Bursa Nilüferspor and participated in the
TFF Third League (TFF 3. Lig). Following the completion of the TFF 3. Lig 2009 season in which Bursa Nilüfer S.A.Ş. finished fourth and missed the opportunity to participate in the TFF 3. Lig Promotion Group, Özbey returned to Australia to again team up with
Aytek Genç and many of his old comrades from the successful 2006 and 2007 Blacktown City Demons teams to play for
Blacktown City FC in the NSW Premier League 2010 season. The 2010 NSW Premier League season proved to be fruitful for Özbey at Blacktown as he won a league record, third Golden Boot award with 22 goals from 19 matches bringing his total goals scored wearing the Blacktown guernsey to 76 from 75 matches. Furthermore, Özbey was voted the 2010 NSW Premier League Player of the Year.
East Bengal Following the completion of the 2010 NSW Premier League Finals Series, Özbey joined Indian club,
East Bengal FC who will be competing in the
All India Football Federation (AIFF)
I-League as well as the
AFC Cup to which
East Bengal FC qualified after defeating arch rivals
Mohun Bagan AC 1–0 in the 2010 AIFF
Federation Cup (India). On 26 April in the
2011 AFC Cup at
Barabati Stadium in
Cuttack, he gave his side lead by finding the net the 20th minute, and then scored the all-important equaliser in the 93rd minute against
South China AA to manage a 3–3 draw. He also scored against Prayag United in East Bengal's 2–1 win, which secured a runner-up finish in the I-League.
Mohun Bagan Tolgay Ozbey switched to cross-city rivals
Mohun Bagan for the 2012–13 season signing a 2-year deal worth Rs 3.3 crore. The transition was not smooth as the two clubs and the player involved themselves in reciprocal verbal attacks. Early in the season, he picked up an injury in the
Federation Cup (India) and was out of action for a few months. He played a big part in Mohun Bagan's survival after being docked off all their points in the I-League. He appeared in 17 I-League matches for the club and scored 10 goals. He scored his first I-League goal for Mohun Bagan against Prayag United on 27 January 2013. He was a frequent scorer in the later half of the season as he scored braces against
Sporting Clube de Goa and
Pailan Arrows. He also scored goals against
United Sikkim,
Shillong Lajong,
Air India (football club),
Mumbai FC,
ONGC FC. Tolgay scored his first derby goal for Mohun Bagan in the last match of the season. The Australian striker had a good run down the right side of the East Bengal defense, before taking a powerful left-footed shot in the last minute of the match in Mohun Bagan's 2–3 loss in the
Calcutta Premier Division decider. However, following some problems with the Mohun Bagan officials, he opted to leave the club.
Mohammedan Sporting Ozbey signed for newly promoted
Mohammedan on a one-year deal for
2013–14 I-League season, hence joining the elusive list of players who have played for all three Kolkata giants. He started the season in style, scoring a goal in the
Durand Cup final on 19 September 2013.
Dempo On 12 January 2014, Özbey signed for Goan giant Dempo SC in a one-year deal. He immediately responded to this new signing and scored four (4) goals against the defending champions
Churchill Brothers S.C. On 30 May he signed an extension with the club.
Return to Australia Mid-way through the
2015 National Premier Leagues NSW season, Ozbey returned to
Sydney Olympic, and debuted against
Manly United. Whilst injury would go on to hamper the rest of his season, Ozbey returned for Olympic in their
2015 FFA Cup campaign against
Gungahlin United and
Hume City. In November 2015, it was announced that Ozbey had joined
Rockdale City Suns for the
2016 National Premier Leagues NSW season. ==Personal life==