Trabzonspor

Trabzonspor is a sports club founded on 2 August 1967 through the merger of Trabzon’s former amateur clubs: İdmanocağı, İdmangücü, Karadenizgücü, and Martıspor. This merger was driven by the belief that amateur football in the city needed to be elevated to a professional level. Trabzonspor, with its maroon and blue colors, quickly established itself as a major force in Turkish football. After winning the Turkish Second League in the 1973–74 season and earning promotion to the First League, the club became the first team from Anatolia to win the league championship in the 1975–76 season.

Predecessors and Development

During the Ottoman period, Trabzon was one of the key port cities of the Black Sea and a hub for diverse cultural innovations. Football became widespread in Trabzon from the 1920s onward, generating intense local interest through rivalries between clubs such as İdmanocağı and İdmangücü. In the 1950s, the passion for football among locals intensified further, leading to a significant increase in the number of clubs competing in the regional league. İdmanocağı’s victory in the Turkish Amateur Championship drew attention to Trabzon’s football potential.

In the mid-1960s, the Turkish Football Federation’s decision to establish professional leagues influenced Trabzon and created a need for the unification of amateur clubs. Although competition between İdmanocağı and İdmangücü complicated the merger process, Trabzonspor was officially founded in 1967, allowing the city to enter the professional football league system.

Presidents

The presidents who have served Trabzonspor have played pivotal roles in the club’s development:

• Ali Osman Ulusoy (1967–1968, 1969–1970): As the first president, he laid the foundational structure of the club and made significant contributions.
• Mehmet Rıfat Dedeoğlu (1968–1969, 1970–1971): One of the founding presidents, he brought his experience from İdmanocağı to the new club.
• Bekir Suat Oyman (1971–1973): A figure from public administration, he led Trabzonspor during its earliest professional steps.
• Ahmet Salih Erdem (1973–1975): Played a key role in the club’s promotion to the First League.
• Mustafa Şamil Ekinci (1975–1980): Oversaw the rise of the “Black Sea Storm,” during which the team won the league title four times.
• Ahmet Celal Ataman (1980–1981): During his brief presidency, Trabzonspor won the league championship.
• Mustafa Günaydın (1981–1982): Successfully managed the club and led it in competition for top positions in the league.
• Mehmet Ali Yılmaz (1982–1988, 1989–1992, 1996–2000): Led the club through a long tenure marked by major national and international successes.
• Mazhar Afacan (1988–1989): A prominent figure in Trabzon’s business community, he held a key position in the club’s traditional management structure.
• Sadri Şener (1992–1995, 2008–2013): During his presidency, the club made several important transfers and achieved notable success.
• Faruk Nafız Özak (1995–1996): A former footballer himself, Özak drove innovative initiatives in the club’s sporting affairs.
• Özkan Sümer (2000–2003): Having served in multiple roles including technical director and president, he emphasized the importance of youth development.
• Atay Aktuğ (2003–2005): Signed key projects aimed at strengthening the club’s financial structure.
• Nuri Albayrak (2005–2008): Under his leadership, the club focused on young talent and increased investments in its youth academy.
• İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu (2013–2015): Oversaw reforms in the technical and management staff during his term.
• Muharrem Usta (2015–2018): Leveraged his experience in the healthcare sector to improve the club’s organizational structure.
• Ahmet Ali Ağaoğlu (2018–2023): Led the club through a period of major financial and structural transformation.
• Ertuğrul Doğan (2023–): The current president, actively pursuing projects to develop the club further.

Achievements

Trabzonspor has secured a prominent place in Turkish football history and has won numerous trophies:

• Süper Lig Titles: 7 times (1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2021–22)
• Turkish Cup: 9 times (1976–77, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2009–10, 2019–20)
• Presidential Cup: 7 times
• Prime Minister’s Cup: 5 times
• TFF Super Cup: 3 times

These achievements have established Trabzonspor as a respected club both nationally and internationally. The club has also gained recognition on the European stage through victories against major teams such as Liverpool, Aston Villa, Inter, Barcelona, and Olympique Lyon.

Top Scorers

Footballers who have become top scorers in Trabzonspor’s history hold a special place:

• Necmi Perekli: First top scorer with 18 goals in the 1976–77 season.
• Şota Arveladze: Second top scorer with 25 goals in the 1995–96 season.
• Fatih Tekke: Third top scorer with 31 goals in the 2004–05 season.
• Burak Yılmaz: Scored 33 goals in the 2011–12 season, becoming the player with the most goals in a single season.
• Alexander Sorloth: Most recent top scorer with 24 goals in the 2019–20 season.

The all-time top scorer in the club’s history is Hami Mandıralı, with a total of 273 goals.

Stadium

Trabzonspor plays its matches at Papara Park, a modern facility with a capacity of 40,980 spectators. Its contemporary design has made it a landmark venue. The new stadium provides a modern environment for matches and offers fans a comfortable and immersive matchday experience.

Facilities

Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Facilities

The Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Facilities, located in the Üniversite neighborhood of Ortahisar district in Trabzon, is a complex owned by Trabzonspor for sporting and administrative purposes. Construction began in 1983 and was completed in 1985, covering an area of 100,400 square meters. The complex includes training pitches, administrative offices, and social areas designed for players. The training pitches are built to professional match standards, the administrative buildings are configured for club management, and green spaces have been incorporated for recreational use.

Kadir Özcan Youth Development Center

The Trabzonspor Kadir Özcan Youth Development Center, located in the Hızırbey neighborhood of Ortahisar district, is a sports complex dedicated to the club’s use. It provides high-level training facilities for players and serves as a critical center for developing young talent. The facility hosts matches and training sessions for the Women’s Football Team and plays a vital role in nurturing the club’s future stars.

Özkan Sümer Football Academy

The Özkan Sümer Football Academy facilities, located in the Akyazı Neighborhood of the Ortahisar district, serve as a center for player development at Trabzonspor. The complex includes dormitories, a fitness center, a dining hall, administrative offices, classrooms, football pitches, a basketball court, a tennis court, and social areas. Designed to meet the training and living needs of athletes, the academy is equipped with modern sports infrastructure and is actively used in the training programs of young players.

Ziya Bey Social Facilities

The Ziya Bey Social Facilities, situated in the Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, are social infrastructure owned and utilized by Trabzonspor. Located in one of the city’s central and most prominent areas, the facility provides an ideal venue for social events and organized activities. The Ziya Bey Social Facilities contribute to Trabzon’s social life and host a variety of events that support the club’s social initiatives.

Mustafa Şamil Ekinci Museum

The Mustafa Şamil Ekinci Museum is a museum documenting Trabzon’s football history. Opened in 1996, it displays the league championship trophies, Presidential and Turkish Cup titles, and European awards won by Trabzonspor. The museum’s collection also includes stories from the club’s history and various cultural artifacts.

Trabzonspor stands out as a sports club deeply connected to Trabzon’s cultural structure and identity. The region’s Black Sea-specific folklore, cultural symbols, and lifestyle are integral to the club’s institutional identity. Trabzonspor supports local elements such as the kemençe, tulum, horon, and kolbastı, contributing to the national representation of regional culture.

The sense of belonging forged between Trabzonspor’s sporting achievements and its fan base has fully integrated the club into the city’s identity. Trabzonspor continues to blend cultural elements with sporting activities, transmitting them across generations.