Antalyaspor

History

Foundation

Following the establishment of a national football league in Turkey and the growing public interest in the sport, local leagues were abolished and national leagues began to take shape. With the directive issued by the Turkish Football Federation in 1965 for each province to have a team, various local football clubs across Turkey merged to represent their respective cities in national competitions.

This momentum also reached Antalya, prompting the Regional Advisory Board of the Antalya Regional Directorate of Physical Education to take action. On 5 June 1966, the directors of the clubs Yenikapı Suspor, İlk Işık, and Ferrokromspor convened with the intention of establishing Antalyaspor. These clubs dissolved their legal entities and declared their participation in the foundation of Antalyaspor.

Shortly after, a board of directors was formed by founding members as outlined in Article 2 of the statute published in the local newspaper İleri Gazetesi. Antalyaspor was officially registered and recognized by the authorities on 2 July 1966.

1966–1989: Early Years and Rise to Top Flight

Antalyaspor entered professional football in the 1966–67 season, joining the Red Group of the Turkish Second Division (2. Lig). Between 1966 and 1970, the club played 134 matches, recording 53 wins, 45 draws, and 46 losses, with a win rate of 39.55% and an overall success rate of 56.71%. The club played its first professional match on 11 November 1966 against Edirnespor, which ended 1–1. Yalçın Demir scored the club's first-ever goal in professional football. After a mid-table start, Antalyaspor gradually improved its standings, finishing 11th, 4th, 5th, and 6th across the four seasons. The team reached the 2nd stage of the Turkish Cup during the 1968–69 campaign.

Throughout the 1970s, Antalyaspor mostly remained a mid-table team, struggling to establish consistent form. From the 1970–71 to 1979–80 seasons, they played 302 matches with 104 wins, 95 draws, and 103 losses achieving a win rate of 34.43% and an overall success rate of 50.15%. The club's best league finishes were two 3rd-place standings in the 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons. In the Turkish Cup, Antalyaspor reached the fourth round (4. Kademe) twice during this decade.

The 1980s marked a turning point. Antalyaspor competed in the Second Division for most of the decade, but their performances improved significantly compared to previous years. Between 1980 and 1990, they played 332 matches, winning 139, drawing 75, and losing 118 — with a 41.86% win rate and a 53.15% success rate. In the 1981–82 season, Antalyaspor won the Second Division Group B, securing promotion to the First Division for the first time in club history. The decisive match against Karşıyaka, held on 10 April 1982 at İzmir Atatürk Stadium, ended 0–0, sealing promotion. Their debut in the top flight came in the 1982–83 season, where they drew their first match against Fenerbahçe. However, after only one season, the club was relegated. Antalyaspor spent most of the late ’80s vying for promotion again. The club finished 2nd in 1986–87, securing a return to the First Division. In the following seasons, they finished 3rd and 4th, remaining competitive and close to promotion. In the Turkish Cup, the club made it as far as the 5th round in 1983 and 1986.

1990–2009: From Instability to European Breakthrough

The 1990s were a decade of fluctuation for Antalyaspor, bouncing between the First and Second Divisions. They played ten seasons across both tiers six in the top flight, four in the lower and reached their first European competitions and Turkish Cup final. After a rough start in the early ’90s, the club finished second in the 1991–92 Second Division and missed promotion narrowly. A brief stint in the Third Division followed, where promotion was secured in 1994 after winning playoff matches against Denizlispor and İstanbulspor.

Antalyaspor's return to the First Division brought its best league finishes at the time. The club placed 5th in both 1994–95 and 1996–97, earning qualification to the UEFA Intertoto Cup marking their European debut. During this period, they consistently remained mid-table but competitive, including wins over major Turkish sides. Off the pitch, the football branch was transferred to Antalyaspor A.Ş. in 1998, restructuring club operations. The decade ended on a high: a Turkish Cup final appearance in 2000, which they lost to Galatasaray, and qualification for the UEFA Cup — their first ever entry into Europe's main competition.

Antalyaspor opened the 2000s with their first-ever UEFA Cup appearance, eliminating Kapaz before being knocked out by Werder Bremen. Domestically, the club struggled with consistency and was relegated from the Süper Lig in 2001. The following years in the lower divisions were marked by instability, including frequent coaching changes and mid-table finishes. A notable low came in 2004 when they ended the season 13th in the Second Division. However, by 2005–06, Antalyaspor secured promotion after finishing second and returned to the Süper Lig.

The club was again relegated in 2006–07 after a poor season, but bounced back immediately by finishing second in the 2007–08 First League, earning another promotion. They also reached the Turkish Cup quarterfinals. Under coach Mehmet Özdilek, Antalyaspor saw improved stability. In 2008–09, they finished 12th in the Süper Lig and reached the cup quarterfinals. The 2009–10 season was one of their strongest performances to date, finishing 9th with a +11 goal difference and reaching the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup, where they lost to Trabzonspor.

2010–2024: Return to the Top, Star Signings, and Cup Runs

Antalyaspor's modern era began with turbulent Süper Lig performances and a brief relegation in 2014. They returned to the top flight after winning the 2014–15 promotion playoffs, defeating Adana Demirspor and Samsunspor. Momentum built with the 2015 signing of global star Samuel Eto’o, who scored 20 goals and guided the club to a 9th-place finish. A record-breaking 7–0 win over Trabzonspor highlighted the season. Under Rıza Çalımbay, the 2016–17 campaign became their most successful of the decade, finishing 5th, with Eto’o netting 18 goals.

In the 2020–21 season, which featured 21 teams, the red-and-white team appointed Ersun Yanal as head coach midway through the season and finished 16th in the league. Their greatest achievement that season was reaching the final of the Turkish Cup for the second time in the club's history. However, they were defeated 2–0 by Beşiktaş in the final. On 5 January 2022 Antalyaspor also qualified for the 2021 Turkish Super Cup against Beşiktaş, which was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The match ended 1–1 after regular and extra time, but Antalyaspor lost 4–2 on penalties, failing to secure their first-ever Super Cup title.

On 5 October 2021, Nuri Şahin Appointed as player-coach at age 33, Şahin hung up his boots two weeks later to focus solely on management. He junked the counter-attacking setup, switching to a possession-heavy 4–1-4–1/4–3–3 that builds short from the back and presses high once the ball is lost. The change transformed results: between February and May 2022 Antalyaspor strung together a club-record 16-match unbeaten run (10 wins, 6 draws), including a 2–2 away draw with eventual champions Trabzonspor and a run-extending win over Konyaspor that drew national headlines. Şahin's side finished the 2021–22 season 7th with 59 points—both all-time highs for the club and reached the Turkish Cup quarter-finals, falling to Trabzonspor. Key contributors were US striker Haji Wright (14 league goals), deep-lying playmaker Fernando Lucas Martins, and breakout winger Doğukan Sinik, all thriving in Şahin's front-foot system. Momentum stalled the following season amid injuries and a thin squad, yet the team still collected 41 points before Şahin left in December 2023 to join Borussia Dortmund's staff; he became their head coach the following June. The following seasons brought more stability. Antalyaspor finished 13th in 2022–23 and 10th in 2023–24 under new manager Sergen Yalçın, again reaching the last 16 of the Turkish Cup in both years. As of 2024, the team continues aiming for consistent top-half finishes in the Süper Lig.

Supporters

Antalyaspor's core fan base is led by 07 Gençlik (“07 Youth”), an officially registered supporters’ association founded in 1981 and often cited as the first legally recognised fan group in Turkish football. On match-days the group occupy the Kuzey Kale Arkası (North Stand) of Antalya Stadium, where they organise large tifos, drum-led chants and pre-kick-off pyrotechnic displays.

Average home crowds have grown steadily since the new ground opened in 2015; Antalyaspor drew ≈11,100 per game in the 2023–24 Süper Lig season, ranking mid-table in national attendance charts. The club has made accessibility a priority, working with 07 Gençlik to install wheelchair platforms and improved access routes in the North Stand.

Rivalries

Main article: List of association football rivalries

Antalyaspor's principal derby is with fellow Antalya-province club Alanyaspor. The matchup is branded the Akdeniz Derbisi (“Mediterranean Derby”) in Turkish media and is listed by the Turkish Football Federation among the country's provincial rivalries.

The rivalry intensified after Alanyaspor won promotion to the Süper Lig via the 2016 play-off final, giving Antalya Province two top-flight sides for the first time. Since Alanyaspor's 2014 ascent to the professional leagues, the clubs have met 28 times in all competitions: Antalyaspor lead with 12 wins, Alanyaspor have 9, and 7 matches were drawn (goal tally 34-34). The first top-tier derby was played on 20 August 2016 at Antalya Stadium and ended 2–1 to Antalyaspor; the largest margin so far is Antalyaspor's 3–0 home victory on 27 November 2021. The rivals have also clashed twice in the Turkish Cup semi-finals. Alanyaspor progressed in the 2020 tie, while the 2021 edition was hyped nationally as a “Mediterranean derby” semi after both clubs upset Istanbul giants en route.

Derby fixtures routinely sell out Antalya Stadium and Alanya Oba Stadium, with Antalyaspor's 07 Gençlik occupying the North Stand in Antalya and Alanyaspor's Şehri Alanya group leading the south-coast club's support. Both ultras are known for choreographed tifos and reciprocal banner exchanges, but large-scale violence is rare; provincial police deploy extra units mainly for traffic management.

Colors and Crest

Colors

The meaning of the club's colors is explained in the Antalyaspor Club Statute as follows: "The white color represents cleanliness and sincerity. Together with red, it embodies our national colors. It also signifies the love among the people of Antalya. One of the founding teams of Antalyaspor, İlk Işıkspor, was composed of executives from upper-income levels. The İlk Işıkspor group, which also held significant influence in Antalyaspor's management, insisted on using green and red colors before the meeting to determine the club's colors.

The club's first president, Atilla Konuk, was in favor of red and white colors. Atilla Konuk preferred red and white because they were also the colors of the Turkey national team and believed these colors would create sympathy for the team during away matches, as they matched the colors of the military. However, he needed to find a way to convince the board of directors of his idea.

Konuk noticed that red and white were the most commonly used colors among sports clubs in Antalya at the time. During the meeting, President Konuk argued that instead of adopting the colors of İlk Işıkspor, which appealed to a wealthy elite, the club should choose colors representing all of Antalya. He demonstrated that most clubs in Antalya used red and white, proposing these as the team's colors. The board of directors supported this proposal, and Antalyaspor's colors were officially decided as red and white.

Crest

The club's emblem consists of a red frame and lines on a white circular background. The letter A in the emblem represents the word "Antalya", while the letter S stands for "sport". In the center of the letters A and S is a red-lined depiction of the Yivli Minaret, one of the city's symbols. The three white bands on the Yivli Minaret represent the three teams—İlk Işıkspor, Ferrokromspor, and Yenikapı Suspor—that formed Antalyaspor. Below the Yivli Minaret illustration is the year 1966, which marks the establishment of Antalyaspor.

The creator of Antalyaspor's emblem is also its first president, Atilla Konuk, who decided the club's colors. During the management board discussions about the emblem, suggestions included featuring symbolic structures of the city like Aspendos or Hadrian’s Gate. President Atilla Konuk intervened, stating that the emblem should include a structure left by the Turks, not from Ancient Greece.

The first idea that came to mind was the Yivli Minaret, a Seljuk-era structure located in the center of Antalya. Atilla Konuk’s design for an emblem featuring the Yivli Minaret in the center was accepted by the board of directors. Although the emblem has undergone several design changes over the years, its essential elements have remained the same.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Stadium

Antalyaspor's first permanent home was Antalya Atatürk Stadium, a 12,453-seat ground completed in 1965. After decades of service and one major refurbishment in 2007 the venue was condemned for safety reasons in 2010 and demolished six years later. During the 2009–10 campaign the club staged Süper Lig fixtures at the nearby Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu (capacity 7,400) while searching for a longer-term solution. The stop-gap choice proved unpopular with supporters, so from 2012 until mid-2015 Antalyaspor instead shared the Akdeniz University Stadium (7,083 seats) on the city's main campus.

Ground was broken in 2013 for a purpose-built, all-seater arena on 100. Yıl Boulevard. Officially opened in September 2015, the Antalya Stadium marketed since 2023 as Corendon Airlines Park holds 32,537 spectators and meets UEFA Category 4 specifications. Its 12,000 m2 rooftop solar array generates roughly 7.2 MWh per day, making the venue energy-self-sufficient and one of the most sustainable stadiums in Turkey. Locals commonly call the ground “100. Yıl”(“Centenary”) after the boulevard that borders its southern stand.

Honours

• 1. Lig (second tier)
  • Champions: 1981–82, 1985–86
  • Play-off winners: 2014–15
  • Runners-up: 2005–06, 2007–08
• Turkish Cup
  • Runners-up: 1999–2000, 2020–21
• Turkish Super Cup
  • Runners-up: 2021

Statistics

Main article: List of Antalyaspor seasons

Results of League and Cup Competitions by Season

League participations

• Süper Lig: 1982–85, 1986–87, 1994–02, 2006–07, 2008–14, 2015–
• 1. Lig: 1966–82, 1985–86, 1987–94, 2002–06, 2007–08, 2014–15

Antalyaspor in Europe

Main article: Turkish football clubs in European competitions

After losing 5–3 in extra time to Galatasaray in the 1999–2000 Turkish Cup Final, and with Galatasaray qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Antalyaspor were granted entry to the 2000–01 UEFA Cup qualifying round.

They defeated Azerbaijani side Kepez to reach the First Round, where they were drawn against German club Werder Bremen. Antalyaspor won the first leg 2–0 at home, but were eliminated after a 6–0 defeat in the second leg in Germany.

Summary

UEFA competition results

UEFA Ranking history

Players

Current squad

U19 eligibility U19 eligibility

Other players under contract

Out on loan

Non-playing staff

Administrative Staff

Source:

Coaching staff

Source:

Coaching history

Main article: , List of Antalyaspor managers

Antalyaspor has seen a diverse mix of coaches over the decades, with Turkish managers dominating its history. The club's early years were marked by short-term appointments, but figures like Yılmaz Gökdel and Metin Türel brought more consistency. Foreign influence has occasionally shaped the team, with coaches like Valeriu Neagu, Jozef Jarabinský, and Rüdiger Abramczik leaving notable marks. In recent years, high-profile names such as Leonardo and Alex de Souza have added international flair. The club's most stable period came under Mehmet Özdilek, while modern icons like Nuri Şahin and Emre Belözoğlu symbolize a shift toward younger, domestic leadership.

President history

Since its establishment, Antalyaspor has been led by a wide range of chairmen, primarily local figures from Antalya's political and business circles. The club's early leadership featured short and often undocumented terms, while later years brought more structured presidencies. Longest-serving names include Atilla Konuk and Hasan Subaşı, who oversaw key developments in the club's growth. More recently, figures like Ali Şafak Öztürk and Aziz Çetin have played prominent roles in modernizing the organization. On 18 July 2025, Rıza Perçin was unanimously elected as the new president of Antalyaspor during the club's General Assembly. His executive board was officially approved by the council and he formally assumed office.

Other sports

Swimming

Antalyaspor run one of Turkey's largest age-group swimming programmes, training more than 200 athletes at the Muratpaşa Süleyman Erol Pool. The club's most-decorated swimmer is Sevim Eylül Süpürgeci, bronze-medallist in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay at the 2022 FINA World Junior Open-Water Championships in Lima. Another prospect, Emir Batur Albayrak (b. 2007), broke seven national age-group records at the 2023 Turkish long-course finals and was selected for the TYF national development squad.

Water polo

Antalyaspor established a men's water-polo section in 2010. Guided by veteran centre-back Turgut Kabaca, the team won the Turkish 3rd League (2011) and 2nd League (2012) titles in consecutive seasons, earning promotion to the top flight.

Handball

The club's women's handball branch competes under the name Konyaaltı BSK in the Turkish Women's Handball Super League. In May 2023 they defeated CB Atlético Guardés 50–43 on aggregate to win the EHF European Cup, becoming the first Turkish side—men or women—to lift a European handball trophy.

Basketball

Antalyaspor ran a men's basketball team that competed in the Turkish Basketball First League from 2017 until 2021, recording a best finish of 5th place in the 201–18 campaign before financial issues forced a withdrawal to the third tier. These departments operate under the club's multi-sport charter and share training facilities at Akdeniz University's indoor complex and the city-owned Süleyman Erol Aquatics Centre.

References

References

1. (2003). "Türkiye Futbol Tarihi 1904–2003". Turkish Football Federation.
2. (6 June 1966). "Üç kulüp birleşiyor: Antalyaspor doğuyor". İleri Gazetesi.
3. "Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı Kulüp Tescil Listesi (1966)". Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports.
4. "2. Lig 1966-67 – Kırmızı Grup". Turkish Football Federation.
5. "Turkish Cup 1968-69". RSSSF.
6. (13 September 1982). "Antalyaspor 1–1 Fenerbahçe". Cumhuriyet.
7. "Antalyaspor 2014–15 season statistics". Nokta Medya.
8. "Antalyaspor 7–0 Trabzonspor match report". Digiturk.
9. (5 June 2017). "Antalyaspor's Record Year". BeIN Sports.
10. (18 May 2021). "Beşiktaş beat Antalyaspor 2-0 to lift Ziraat Turkish Cup".
11. (5 January 2022). "Beşiktaş edge Antalyaspor on penalties to win 2021 Turkish Super Cup". Daily Sabah.
12. (29 December 2023). "Confirmed: Şahin and Bender join Dortmund coaching staff". Bulinews.
13. "Hakkımızda". 07 Gençlik Official Site.
14. "Sezonun son maçında Kuzey Kale arkasında buluşalım".
15. "Süper Lig 2023/24 – Attendance". worldfootball.net.
16. (18 April 2024). "Taraftara otopark müjdesi". Lider Gazete.
17. "Süper Lig'de Akdeniz derbisi! Alanyaspor ile Antalyaspor".
18. "Multigroup Alanyaspor, Süper Lig'de".
19. "Alanyaspor vs Antalyaspor – Head-to-Head Stats".
20. "Antalyaspor 3–0 Alanyaspor (27 Nov 2021)".
21. (11 February 2021). "Mediterranean derby awaits Antalya, Alanya in Turkish Cup semis". Daily Sabah.
22. "Match-day security plan announced for Mediterranean derby". TFF.
23. "Our Emblem". Antalyaspor.
24. "Kurumsal Kimlik".
25. (26 July 2013). "The Birth of Antalyaspor's Red and White Colors".
26. Bert Kassies. "UEFA Team Ranking 2001". Xs4all.nl.
27. Bert Kassies. "UEFA Team Ranking 2002". Xs4all.nl.
28. Bert Kassies. "UEFA Team Ranking 2003". Xs4all.nl.
29. Bert Kassies. "UEFA Team Ranking 2004". Xs4all.nl.
30. Bert Kassies. "UEFA Team Ranking 2005". Xs4all.nl.
31. "Antalyaspor A.Ş. Yönetim Kurulu".
32. "Teknik Kadro".
33. "Antalyaspor Başkanlarımız".
34. "Antalyaspor'umuzda Rıza Perçin Başkanlığa Seçildi".
35. (23 August 2022). "Sevim Eylül Süpürgeci Dünya Üçüncüsü".
36. (14 March 2023). "Rekortmenler Unutulmadı". Ayyıldız Gazetesi.
37. "Antalyaspor Sutopu Takımı Şampiyon". Habereksper.com.
38. (15 May 2023). "Antalya write history for Türkiye with EHF European Cup Women win". IHF.
39. "Konyaaltı Belediyesi Spor Kulübü". THF Türkiye Hentbol Federasyonu.
40. "Antalyaspor season history". Eurobasket.