Samsunspor Football Club

Samsunspor is a sports club that has developed its institutional identity within the long-standing football culture of the city of Samsun and competes in professional leagues.

Football in the city traces its roots to 1909, when various clubs established in different periods gradually merged, culminating in the club’s current structure following professionalization in 1965. Throughout its historical development, the club has achieved varying results in local, national and international competitions. In the modern era, structural elements such as infrastructure, mission and vision have been clearly defined, solidifying the club’s institutional framework.

Samsunspor logo (Samsunspor)

Pre-Founding Period and Early Football Initiatives

Football Activities Between 1909 and 1924

Football activities in Samsun began with the establishment of Tenvir-i Efkâr Gençler Kulübü in 1909. Founded through the initiative of the Samsun Port president, the club ceased operations with the outbreak of the Balkan Wars. In 1912, a team composed of students from Darü'l Muallim and Sultani schools operated without formal club status but did not endure. In 1919, Samsun İdman Yurdu was founded as the city’s second football club, adopting yellow and red colors. In 1921, Alyıldız İdman Ocağı was established, adopting yellow and navy colors, and was visited by Mustafa Kemal the same year.

During this period, Zaferi Millî İdman Derneği was also founded, becoming the city’s third active club. With the establishment of Bafra Kızılırmak and Çarşamba Yeşilırmak clubs, regular matches began to be held in the city.

Structural Mergers and Development Between 1924 and 1965

Club Mergers and the Emergence of the Name Samsunspor

In 1926, Zaferi Millî İdman Derneği changed its name to Türkocağı Spor Şubesi. In 1927, Türkocağı Spor Şubesi merged with Alyıldız İdman Ocağı to form Samsunspor Kulübü. The club operated in black and white colors, was closed during the 1929-30 season, and transferred all players and management to Halkspor, but reopened shortly afterward.

In 1932, the name Samsunspor was officially registered, and a regional organization was formed alongside other clubs in Samsun. In 1937, Samsunspor merged with Demirspor. The club resumed operations in 1950 with Osman Gündüz as president. During this period, wrestling was added to the club’s areas of activity.

Professionalization in 1965

The Formation of Professional Samsunspor

In 1965, amateur clubs in Samsun — 19 Mayıs, Fener Gençlik, Akınspor, Samsun Galatasaray Gençlik, and other local teams — merged to form professional Samsunspor. The club adopted red and white colors and entered the Turkish Second Football League. The official founding date is recognized as June 30, 1965, the date of its professionalization application, which was approved on July 19, 1965.

First Professional Match

Samsunspor vs Yeşildirek (September 5, 1965)

The club’s first professional match was played on September 5, 1965, against Yeşildirek at Samsun Şehir Stadyumu. Refereed by Nadir Irmak, Samsunspor won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Nihat Serçeme in the 42nd minute. This goal is recorded as the club’s first in professional leagues.

Detailed accounts of this match are provided by Baki Sarısakal. According to his report, Samsunspor fielded the following lineup:

Zülküf, Hakkı, Aydın, Gürsel, Mustafa, Celal (Captain), Nihat, Nazım, Ali, Temel, Muhlis.

The victory was achieved through Nihat’s determined performance until his injury and the team’s collective understanding of play.

Performance and Rise Between 1965 and 1980

Initial Seasons and Promotions

In its first professional season, Samsunspor finished fifth in the White Group. In the 1966-67 season, it placed second in the league and reached the semifinals of the Turkish Cup. In the 1967-68 season, under manager Kamuran Soykıray, the club led the White Group and won its first championship in the Second League.

First Black Sea Team in the First League

In the 1969-70 season, Samsunspor became the first Black Sea team to compete in the First Football League. The club finished sixth that season and remained in the top division for five years before being relegated to the Second League in the 1974-75 season.

Continuous Rise and Cups

In the 1975-76 season, the club won the championship again and returned to the First Football League. That same year, it won the Ministry of Youth and Sports Cup.

In the early 1980s, under manager Fevzi Zemzem, Tanju Çolak was transferred to the club. Çolak finished second in the goalscoring chart with 16 goals, but the team was again relegated to the Second League. In the 1984-85 season, Samsunspor won the championship once more and returned to the First League.

The Period 1985–1990: Golden Years and Turning Point

Successes of the Golden Era

In the 1985-86 season, Tanju Çolak became top scorer with 33 goals, and the team finished third in the league. The following season, Çolak again won the top scorer title and the team maintained third place. In the 1987-88 season, the club participated for the first time in its history in the Balkans Cup. It finished second in its group after matches against Iraklis and Sliven.

The January 20, 1989 Accident

At the end of this period, the club suffered a severe loss due to a traffic accident on January 20, 1989. Although the team could not play its second-half matches, the Turkish Football Federation allowed it to remain in the league. Following this incident, the club entered a deep period of decline.

Stability and European Matches Between 1990 and 2006

In the 1992-93 season, Samsunspor won the championship and was promoted to the First League, where it maintained stable presence for the next thirteen seasons. In the 1993-94 season, the team reached the semifinals of the Turkish Cup and won the Balkans Cup.

In 1997 and 1998, the club participated in UEFA Intertoto Cup matches against teams from Denmark, Lithuania, Iceland and Germany. It reached the semifinals in 1998 but was eliminated by Werder Bremen. The match against Werder Bremen in 1998 was the club’s final appearance in European competitions.

In the 1999-00 season, Serkan Aykut won the top scorer title with 30 goals.

In the 2005-06 season, Samsunspor finished 17th in the Süper Lig and was relegated.

Post-2006 Period and Modern Era

League Campaigns

Between the 2006-07 and 2010-11 seasons, Samsunspor competed in the First League. In the 2010-11 season, it finished second and earned promotion to the Süper Lig. At the end of the 2011-12 season, it was relegated back to the First League. In the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, the club participated in promotion playoffs but failed to reach the Süper Lig.

According to information provided by Samsun Etkinlik, the club was relegated to the Second League in the 2018-19 season and achieved a 12-match winning streak in the 2019-20 season.

In the Trendyol Süper Lig 2025-2026 season, Samsunspor stands in fourth place with 24 points. In the Conference League, it leads the group with 10 points.

Samsunspor former logos (Samsunspor)

Mission and Vision

The Club’s Mission

The mission of Samsunspor is defined as developing “intelligent, agile and ethical” athletes in accordance with contemporary demands and establishing itself as an exemplary global club.

The Club’s Vision

Under its vision, the club aims to contribute to Turkish sports, achieve success on national and international stages, emphasize the unifying power of sport, and elevate its economic performance to the highest level through all its components.

Facilities

Samsun 19 May Stadium

The Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium, serving as the club’s main stadium, is the primary venue where the club plays its matches.

Nuri Asan Facilities

The Nuri Asan Facilities are a key center used by the club for training and preparation.

Mustafa Kemal Erkanat Facilities

The Mustafa Kemal Erkanat Facilities are another infrastructure component designed to meet the needs of the club in the modern era. These facilities include training pitches and club administrative units.