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Göztepe
Full name Göztepe Spor Kulübü
Nickname(s) Göz Göz
Founded 14 June 1925; 100 years ago (1925-06-14) (as Göztepe Gençlik Kulübü)
Ground Gürsel Aksel Stadium
Ground Capacity 19,713
Owner Sport Republic
Chairman Rasmus Ankersen
Manager Stanimir Stoilov
League TFF First League
2021–22 Süper Lig, 19th of 20 (relegated)
Third colours

Göztepe Spor Kulübü, often called Göztepe, is a Turkish sports club. It is based in the Göztepe and Güzelyalı areas of İzmir. The club is famous for its football team.

Besides football, Göztepe also has teams in many other sports. These include fencing, triathlon, handball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, archery, billiards, sailing, swimming, and windsurfing.

Göztepe achieved great success in Turkey. They became Turkish champions in 1950. In 1969, Göztepe made history. They were the first Turkish football team to reach a semi-final in a major European competition.

Göztepe is known as a true neighborhood club. They have one of the most dedicated fan bases in Turkey. Even when the club faced tough times between 2002 and 2008, their games in lower leagues attracted huge crowds. These crowds were often larger than those at games in Turkey's top league, the Süper Lig.

In the overall ranking of Turkish football teams, Göztepe holds 13th place.

Club History

The Göztepe club was started in 1925. It was formed by people who left another club called Altay. Göztepe's team colors are red and yellow.

In 1937, Göztepe joined with two other clubs, İzmirspor and Egespor. They changed their name to Doğanspor. However, some İzmirspor fans did not like this merger. So, they started a new club called Ateşspor in 1938. In 1939, Doğanspor changed its name back to Göztepe. Ateşspor also changed its name to İzmirspor that same year.

The club's biggest football success was winning the Turkish Football Championship in 1950. They won the final group in their home city, İzmir. This made them the first and only football club from İzmir to become Turkish football champions. Göztepe also finished second in the championship in 1942.

Göztepe had a very successful time between 1963 and 1971. This was when coach Adnan Süvari led the team. Their starting lineup from that period is still remembered today. It included players like Ali Artuner, Mehmet Işıkal, Hüseyin Yazıcı, Mehmet Aydın, Nevzat Güzelırmak, Ertan Öznur, Fevzi Zemzem, Gürsel Aksel, and Halil Kiraz.

Tough Times and Comeback

After the 2002–03 season, Göztepe faced big money problems. They were not allowed to sign new players because of their debts. This caused the team to drop down four leagues in just five seasons. On April 21, 2007, they lost their last home game and were moved down to the Turkish Regional Amateur League.

On August 20, 2007, the club was sold to a business group from Istanbul. The new owner, İmam Altınbaş, promised to bring Göztepe back to the Süper Lig. At first, fans were unsure about the new owners. In June 2014, Altınbaş Holdings sold the club to Mehmet Sepil.

Göztepe played in the Turkish Regional Amateur League for the 2007–08 season. They were knocked out after a penalty shootout. However, on June 18, 2008, another club merged with Göztepe. This allowed Göztepe to take their place in the TFF Third League.

The team quickly started to climb back up the leagues. They won the TFF Third League in 2009. Then, they won the TFF Second League in 2011 and again in 2015. On June 4, 2017, Göztepe returned to the Süper Lig for the first time since the 2002–03 season.

On August 19, 2022, Göztepe made history again. They became the first Turkish football club to be mostly owned by foreign investors. A sports investment company from London, Sport Republic, bought 70% of the club.

Club Rivalries

Göztepe's biggest rivals are another club from İzmir, Karşıyaka. Their games are known as some of the most intense derbies in the world.

On May 16, 1981, when the two teams played for the TFF First League title, 80,000 people came to watch. This huge crowd set a world record for a second-division football game. It is even recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Göztepe also has rivalries with other large clubs in İzmir. These include Altay, Altınordu, İzmirspor, and Bucaspor.

Home Stadium

Göztepe2
Göztepe fans at Atatürk Stadium in the 2010–11 season.

From October 1, 2016, Göztepe shared a stadium with Altınordu F.K.. They used the Bornova Stadium while their new stadium was being built.

On January 26, 2020, Göztepe played their first game in their very own Gürsel Aksel Stadium. They played against Beşiktaş. Göztepe still uses this stadium as their home ground today.

Stadium History

# Stadium Years Capacity
1 Alsancak Stadium 1925–2011 15,358
2 İzmir Atatürk Stadium 2011–2016 51,337
3 Doğanlar Stadium 2016–2020 12,500
4 Gürsel Aksel Stadium 2020– 19,713

Club Honours

Göztepe has won many titles throughout its history:

League Titles

  • Turkish Football Championship
    • Champions: 1950
    • Runners-up: 1942
  • TFF First League
    • Winners: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1998–99, 2000–01
    • Runners-up: 1989–90, 1990–91, 2023–24
  • TFF Second League
    • Winners: 2010–11, 2014–15
    • Runners-up: 2013–14
  • TFF Third League
    • Winners: 2008–09

Cup Titles

  • Turkish Cup
    • Winners: 1968–69, 1969–70
    • Runners-up: 1966–67
  • Turkish Super Cup
    • Winners: 1970
    • Runners-up: 1969
  • Prime Minister's Cup
    • Runners-up: 1950

European Competitions

Other Achievements

  • Turkish Federation Cup
    • Winners: 1962–63
  • İzmir Football League
    • Winners (5): 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1949–50, 1952–53

Team Statistics

Leagues Played In

Göztepe has played in various leagues over the years:

  • Süper Lig: 1959–77, 1978–80, 1981–82, 1999–2000, 2001–03, 2017–2022, 2024-
  • TFF First League: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2011–13, 2015–2017, 2022–2024
  • TFF Second League: 2004–05, 2009–11, 2013–15
  • TFF Third League: 2005–07, 2008–09
  • Amateur Level: 2007–08

European Competition Summary

Göztepe has played in several European tournaments:

Competition Games Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 10 4 1 5 14 10 +4
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 20 6 1 13 22 39 −17
Balkans Cup 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2
Non-UEFA Total 24 8 2 14 28 43 –15
Overall Total 34 12 3 19 42 53 –11

Key European Achievements

Season Achievement Notes
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
1968–69 Semi-finalist Lost to Hungary Újpest FC
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1969–70 Quarter-finalist Lost to Italy Roma
Balkans Cup
1972 Group Stage Eliminated in Group B

Current Team Squad

Last updated: July 15, 2025

No. Position Player
4 Turkey DF Taha Altıkardeş
5 Brazil DF Héliton
6 Brazil MF Rhaldney
8 Turkey MF Ahmed Ildiz
11 Brazil FW Juan (on loan from Southampton)
12 Turkey MF İsmail Köybaşı (captain)
16 Nigeria MF Anthony Dennis
19 Brazil FW Emersonn
20 Tanzania MF Novatus Miroshi
23 Turkey DF Furkan Bayır
26 Cameroon DF Malcom Bokele
27 Turkey DF Emin Enes Araz
43 Slovenia MF David Tijanić
No. Position Player
45 Turkey DF Ege Yıldırım
77 Turkey DF Ogün Bayrak
79 Brazil FW Rômulo
97 Poland GK Mateusz Lis
Turkey GK Ekrem Kılıçarslan
Brazil DF Allan Godói
Turkey MF Arda Okan Kurtulan
Turkey DF Uğur Kaan Yıldız
Turkey DF Erkam Kömür
Brazil FW Janderson
Turkey MF Furkan Malak
Jordan FW Ibrahim Sabra

Players on Loan

No. Position Player
Turkey GK Arda Özçimen (at Bandırmaspor until June 30, 2026)
No. Position Player

Club Staff

Board Members

President Rasmus Ankersen
Board Member Henrik Kraft
Board Member Mehmet Sepil
Board Member Enes Memiş

Source:

Technical Staff

Sporting Director Ivan Mance
Manager Stanimir Stoilov
Assistant Manager Sadik Ahmet Balci
First-Team Coach Tsanko Tsvetanov
First-Team Coach Yoncho Arsov
Goalkeeping Coach Süha Özen
Athletic Coach Dr. Gökhan Kandemir
Match Analyst Ivan Radoslavov
Chief Scout Deyan Georgiev

Source:

Manager History

President History

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Göztepe Spor Kulübü para niños

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