Pehlivan began his career 1998 with Breitensee/Wat 16 (WS Ottakring) and signed in 2000 a loan deal with
First Vienna FC. Than after two years turned back for a short stint and moved now on loan to
SK Rapid Wien after two seasons with good performance for Rapid sold the club him. His good performance brought him the call to the first team in January 2009 from
SK Rapid Wien and made his debut on 22 February 2009 against
Red Bull Salzburg, on 14 March 2009 scored his first goal against
Kapfenberger SV. He moved to
Turkish Süper Lig side
Gaziantepspor on 27 May 2011, signing a five-year contract. At the end of the season, he signed a three-year contract with another
Süper Lig side
Bursaspor on 21 June 2013. On 22 August 2015, Pehlivan signed for
FC Red Bull Salzburg on a one-year deal. ==International career==