Trabzonspor facts for kids
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Full name | Trabzonspor Kulübü | |||
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Nickname(s) | Karadeniz Fırtınası (Black Sea Storm) | |||
Short name | TS | |||
Founded | 2 August 1967 | |||
Ground | Papara Park | |||
Capacity | 40,980 | |||
President | Ertuğrul Doğan | |||
Head coach | Fatih Tekke | |||
League | Süper Lig | |||
2024–25 | Süper Lig, 7th of 19 | |||
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Trabzonspor Kulübü is a professional sports club from Trabzon, a city in northeastern Turkey. It was started in 1967 when several local clubs joined together. Trabzonspor is one of the most famous football clubs in Turkish history.
The men’s football team has won seven Süper Lig championships. This made Trabzonspor the first club outside of Istanbul to win the top league title in Turkey. Besides football, Trabzonspor also has a women’s football team, a men’s basketball team, and other sports. This shows it is a club for many different sports.
Trabzonspor became very successful in the 1970s and 1980s. They won six league titles between the 1975–76 and 1983–84 seasons. This time was known as their "golden era." Trabzonspor became a symbol of pride for its region. It was the only club to challenge the big teams from Istanbul, like Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. During this period, they also won nine Turkish Cups. They even won three league titles in a row from 1978–79 to 1980–81.
After their sixth league title in 1983–84, Trabzonspor did not win a championship for 38 years. They came close many times and rebuilt their team. This long wait ended happily in the 2021–22 season. Trabzonspor won their seventh league title with a strong team and under coach Abdullah Avcı. This win led to huge celebrations in the city. It showed again that the club is one of Turkey’s most successful and respected teams.
The club’s colors are claret (a dark red) and sky blue. These colors are seen in their famous striped shirts. They represent the identity and culture of the Trabzon region. Trabzonspor has played its home games at the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex since the 2016–17 season. This is a modern stadium that replaced their old home, the Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium.
Contents
- Club History: How Trabzonspor Started and Grew
- Early Football in Trabzon (1923–1962)
- The Big Merger: Trabzonspor is Born (1962–1973)
- Climbing to the Top (1967–1973)
- The Golden Era: Winning Championships (1973–1984)
- Changes and New Goals (1984–1995)
- Close Calls and Sad Moments (1995–96 Season)
- Challenges and Comeback (2000s)
- New Challenges and Financial Changes (2010s)
- The Long-Awaited Championship (2020s)
- Club Colors and Emblem
- Club Rivalries
- Home Stadium
- Club Achievements
- Players
- Affiliated Clubs and Teams
- Club Officials
- Coaches Who Won Trophies
- Club Presidents
- See also
Club History: How Trabzonspor Started and Grew
Early Football in Trabzon (1923–1962)
In the early days, there were four main football clubs in Trabzon. These were İdmanocağı, İdmangücü, Necmiati, and Trabzon Lisesi. They all played against each other in the local Trabzon Amateur Regional League. From 1923, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü had a strong rivalry. It was as big as the one between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray.
This rivalry became very intense from 1930 onwards. İdmanocağı won five titles in a row from 1929 to 1933. Then, İdmangücü beat that record by winning seven titles in a row from 1934 to 1940. Later, Trabzon Lisesi dominated for six years. More clubs were also started in Trabzon during this time.
The rivalry between Trabzon İdmanocağı and İdmangücü divided the city. One side supported the red and yellows (İdmanocağı). The other supported the green and whites (İdmangücü). This split made fans and players unhappy. Some of Trabzon's best players even moved to Ankara and Istanbul to play football.
The Big Merger: Trabzonspor is Born (1962–1973)
In 1962, the president of the Turkish Football Federation asked cities to combine their football clubs. The goal was to create one strong team to play in the top league. But because of the rivalry between İdmanocağı and İdmangücü, Trabzon could not agree to merge. City and club officials tried to reach an agreement, but it didn't happen.
Instead, only İdmanocağı, Martıspor, and Yıldızspor merged on June 21, 1966. They wore yellow and red uniforms and played in the Second Division. They finished eighth in their first season. A month later, İdmangücü, Karadenizgücü, Martıspor, and Yolspor merged to form Trabzonspor. Their colors were red and white.
İdmanocağı did not like this new Trabzonspor and took legal action. The head of Physical Education, Ulvi Yenal, then said that neither İdmanocağı nor İdmangücü would be allowed into the Second Division. This shocked both clubs. They realized that Trabzon would not have a professional team unless they joined forces. Finally, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü agreed to merge. They joined with Karadenizgücü and Martıspor to become Trabzonspor on August 2, 1967.
Choosing the club colors was another challenge. After many meetings, they decided against using the old yellow-red and green-white colors together. The Federation’s General Manager, Ulvi Yenal, suggested a compromise. He asked each club to pick a color different from their own. İdmanocağı chose "dark claret," and İdmangücü chose "light blue." So, the founding members agreed on Claret and Blue as the official club colors.
Climbing to the Top (1967–1973)
This time is known as the years Trabzonspor played in the Turkish Second Football League. In 1967, Trabzonspor was officially formed and started playing in the Second League. In their first year, 1967-68, they finished 6th out of 20 teams.
In the next two years, Trabzonspor finished 4th. In the 1970–71 season, they finished 8th. In the 1971–72 season, Trabzonspor almost got promoted to the Turkish First Football League. They missed it by just two points.
A year later, the same thing happened. Trabzonspor had the same points as the leader, Kayserispor, but finished second because of goal difference. They still did not get promoted.
But in the 1973–74 season, Trabzonspor finally won their group. They finished six points ahead of Sakaryaspor. Even though they lost the championship match against the other group winner, they earned promotion to the Turkish First Football League.
During these years, players like Necmi Perekli, Şenol Güneş, and Cemil Usta started playing for the team. These players would later become part of the championship-winning squad. Necmi Perekli even became the league’s top scorer twice while playing for Trabzonspor.
The Golden Era: Winning Championships (1973–1984)
Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı became the manager in 1973. He used to play for İdmanocağı, one of the clubs that formed Trabzonspor. This period began after Trabzonspor was promoted to the Turkish First Football League in 1974. In their first season, 1974–75, Trabzonspor finished 9th. They also reached the Turkish Cup final but lost.
The 1975–76 season was historic. Trabzonspor won the Turkish First Football League championship for the first time. They took the lead after beating Fenerbahçe 1–0 in Trabzon. They kept their lead until the end of the season. Under Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı, the team won the championship with 43 points, three points ahead of Fenerbahçe.
From their first championship in 1975–76 until 1983–84, Trabzonspor won six league titles. They almost won more, missing the championship by one or two points in a few seasons. They secured their sixth league title in 1983–84, finishing five points ahead of Fenerbahçe.
In the 1976–77 season, Necmi Perekli became the first Trabzonspor player to be the league’s top scorer with 18 goals. During this time, Trabzonspor’s goalkeeper Şenol Güneş set an amazing record. He did not let in a goal for 1,110 minutes between September 1978 and February 1979. This made him the longest unbeaten goalkeeper in Turkey and 15th longest in world football history.
Trabzonspor also played in European football during this period. They famously beat English champions Liverpool 1–0 in the first game of their match in the 1976–77 European Cup. However, they were knocked out after losing the second game 3–0.
In this golden era, Trabzonspor also won 3 Turkish Cups, 6 Presidential Cups, 3 Prime Minister's Cups, and the Cyprus Peace Cup.
Changes and New Goals (1984–1995)
From 1984 to the 1994–95 season, Trabzonspor finished between third and seventh place. The team went through changes, bringing in new players. In the 1992–93 season, under coach Georges Leekens, the team had a tough time. They went six weeks without a win.
However, players like Ünal Karaman and Tolunay Kafkas joined the team. They became important players. Trabzonspor finished second in the league in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons. They were back in the championship race. During this time, Trabzonspor won the Turkish Cup in 1992 and 1995. They also won the Presidential Cup in 1995 and the Prime Minister’s Cup in 1985 and 1994.
Close Calls and Sad Moments (1995–96 Season)
After the 1993–94 season, Trabzonspor hired its former captain Şenol Güneş as head coach. Players like Hami Mandıralı, the club’s all-time top scorer, and Ogün Temizkanoğlu were joined by new talents like Shota Arveladze. Shota scored many goals in his first year.
Trabzonspor lost the championship to Beşiktaş in the 1994–95 season. But they won both the Turkish Cup and the Presidential Cup. In the 1995–96 season, Shota became the league’s top scorer. Yet, Trabzonspor missed the championship again. On May 5, 1996, at Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium, Trabzonspor lost 2-1 to Fenerbahçe. This loss is a very sad memory for Trabzonspor fans. After the match, a fan in Görele was so upset that he took his own life. He left a note saying he wanted to be buried in a Trabzonspor flag.
Even though they didn't win the league, Trabzonspor won the Prime Minister's Cup that season. The sadness from missing the championship carried into the next season. After an away match, some fans died in a car accident. At their funeral, players faced anger from fans.
By the early 2000s, the team changed a lot. Important players left, and expensive new players were signed. However, many of these new players did not play well for Trabzonspor.
Challenges and Comeback (2000s)
The early 2000s were a tough time for Trabzonspor. In the 2001–02 season, the team finished 14th. This was their worst season ever. They also let in the most goals and lost the most games in their history.
After this, the president decided to rebuild the team. Samet Aybaba was appointed as head coach. They brought in foreign players like Ibrahim Yattara, who stayed with the club the longest, and Michael Petković. They also developed local talents like Gökdeniz Karadeniz and Fatih Tekke. This new team helped Trabzonspor win the Turkish Cup in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons. They also competed for the championship in the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons, finishing second behind Fenerbahçe both times.
In 2004, after a loss to Fenerbahçe, Trabzonspor fans accused the referee of making unfair decisions. They believed these decisions cost the team the championship. About 40,000 fans protested in Trabzon. The referee later retired.
In 2008, Sadri Şener became president. Many players were replaced, and Ersun Yanal became head coach. With 25 new players, Trabzonspor competed for the championship until the final weeks of the 2008–09 season, finishing third.
New Challenges and Financial Changes (2010s)
Trabzonspor hired Hugo Broos as head coach, but he was replaced by Şenol Güneş after poor results. Under Güneş, the team played well. In the 2009–10 season, Trabzonspor won both the Turkish Super Cup and the Turkish Cup. They were leading the league at the halfway point of the 2010–11 season. However, they finished second to Fenerbahçe on goal difference.
After a match-fixing case involving Fenerbahçe in 2011, Trabzonspor asked to be awarded the championship trophy. UEFA banned Fenerbahçe from European competitions for two years. Trabzonspor took the issue to sports courts. While this was happening, Trabzonspor lost several key players. They finished third in the 2011–12 season.
In the 2012–13 season, Şenol Güneş resigned, and Tolunay Kafkas took over. The team finished ninth in the league. However, they reached the Turkish Cup final, which allowed them to play in the UEFA Europa League.
For the 2013–14 season, Trabzonspor signed players like Florent Malouda and José Bosingwa. They qualified for the UEFA Europa League group stage and finished as undefeated group leaders. But they were knocked out by Juventus. Trabzonspor finished fourth in the league, qualifying for the Europa League again.
Before the 2014–15 season, Vahid Halilhodžić became head coach, and many new players joined. But poor results led to Halilhodžić being replaced by Ersun Yanal. Trabzonspor played better under Yanal, reaching the Europa League Round of 32. They finished fifth in the league.
In the 2015–16 season, Shota Arveladze was coach but resigned. The team faced money problems, and some foreign players left. Trabzonspor finished 12th in the league. They also had their worst league defeat, losing 7–0 to Antalyaspor.
For the 2016–17 season, Ersun Yanal returned as coach. The club started rebuilding for its 50th anniversary. They released many players and signed cheaper ones due to UEFA rules. After a tough first half, they improved a lot in the second half. They moved to their new stadium, Şenol Güneş Stadium, and climbed to fifth place. Trabzonspor played their first official match at Şenol Güneş Stadium on January 29, 2017, winning 4–0.
In the 2018–19 season, Ahmet Ağaoğlu became president. The club worked to manage its debts. Ünal Karaman, a club legend, became head coach. Despite injuries and a transfer ban, the team finished fourth. However, a disagreement between Karaman and Ağaoğlu led to Karaman’s resignation. His assistant, Hüseyin Çimşir, took over.
The Long-Awaited Championship (2020s)
In the 2019–20 season, Trabzonspor became a strong candidate for the championship. They were leading the league when the season paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, UEFA banned Trabzonspor from European competitions for breaking financial rules. After the pandemic break, the team's performance dropped. On July 19, 2020, they missed their best chance at the championship in 36 years. İstanbul Başakşehir won the title. Coach Hüseyin Çimşir was dismissed, and Eddie Newton became the new head coach. Despite missing the league title, Trabzonspor won the Turkish Cup, their 9th Turkish Cup victory.
Trabzonspor started the 2020–21 season with Eddie Newton. But after 8 weeks, Newton was replaced by Abdullah Avcı. Under Avcı, Trabzonspor climbed from the relegation zone to 4th place. The Turkish Super Cup, delayed from the previous season, was played on January 27, 2021. Trabzonspor beat İstanbul Başakşehir to win the trophy for the 9th time.
In the league that season, Trabzonspor had 19 wins, 14 draws, and 7 losses, finishing 4th. This earned them a spot in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Trabzonspor had a great start to the 2021–22 Süper Lig season. On April 30, 2022, Trabzonspor won the 2021–22 Süper Lig title. This was their first league championship in 38 years! Their last win was in the 1983–84 season. This historic victory ended a long wait for their passionate fans. Trabzonspor secured the title after a 2–2 draw with Antalyaspor at their home stadium, Şenol Güneş Sports Complex. This result gave them an unbeatable lead with three games left.
Under coach Abdullah Avcı, Trabzonspor played consistently well all season. Their balanced team and smart tactics were key to their success. Players like Anastasios Bakasetas and Anthony Nwakaeme had amazing performances.
The championship win led to huge celebrations in Trabzon and among fans worldwide. People filled the streets, waving the club’s maroon-and-blue colors and singing victory songs. This title showed how important Trabzonspor is as one of Turkey’s most historic and successful football clubs.
This was Trabzonspor’s seventh Süper Lig championship. It was also their first since the modern Turkish league format began. It was a big moment in Turkish football history. It broke the long dominance of Istanbul-based clubs like Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray, who had won every league title since 1984.
Club Colors and Emblem
The old clubs in Trabzon, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü, had red-yellow and green-white colors. When Trabzonspor was formed, they wanted new colors that would represent Trabzon and the Black Sea region. Many ideas were discussed, but no decision was made easily.
During these talks, the president of the Turkish Football Federation, Orhan Şeref Apak, helped out. At a meeting, he asked each club representative to choose one color. The İdmanocağı group suggested "dark claret," and the İdmangücü group suggested "light blue." In the end, the founding members of Trabzonspor agreed on Claret and Blue (called “Bordo-Mavi” in Turkish) as the club’s official colors. The letters “T” and “S” in the club emblem also stand for Trabzonspor.
Some people say that Trabzonspor’s claret and blue colors were chosen because the English club Aston Villa sent them a set of kits after the club was formed in 1967.
Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
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1980–1981 | Admiral | — |
1985–1989 | Adidas | Grundig |
1989–1991 | Türkbank | |
1991–1993 | — | |
1993–1994 | Show TV | |
1994–1995 | Anadolu Sigorta | |
1995–1998 | Vestel | |
1998–1999 | Puma | |
1999–2002 | — | |
2002–2003 | Kappa | |
2003–2004 | Fly Air | |
2004–2005 | Avea | |
2005–2006 | TS Club | |
2006–2008 | Puma | |
2008–2009 | Nike | |
2009–2014 | Türk Telekom | |
2014–2016 | — | |
2016–2017 | QNB | |
2017–2018 | QNB Finansbank | |
2018–2019 | Macron | |
2019–2023 | Vestel | |
2023–2024 | Joma | |
2024– | Papara |
Club Rivalries
Trabzonspor has strong rivalries with Istanbul’s "Big Three" clubs: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. The rivalry with Fenerbahçe is the most intense.
Rivalry with Fenerbahçe
The rivalry with Fenerbahçe started in the 1974 Turkish Cup. It became much stronger in the 1995–96 season. Trabzonspor lost a key home game late in the season, which meant Fenerbahçe won the league title instead. This is still a painful memory for Trabzonspor fans. Tensions grew even more in the 2010–11 season. Both clubs fought hard for the league title. Fenerbahçe won, but later faced match-fixing allegations. Fenerbahçe was banned from European competitions, and Trabzonspor got to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. These big games and off-field issues make it one of the most heated rivalries in Turkish football.
Rivalry with Galatasaray
The rivalry with Galatasaray began in Trabzonspor’s first season in the top league, 1974–75. Their games are always competitive. Trabzonspor represents the Anatolian region, while Galatasaray represents Istanbul. Matches between them are always exciting.
Rivalry with Beşiktaş
Trabzonspor’s rivalry with Beşiktaş also started in the 1970s. While not as fiery as the Fenerbahçe rivalry, games against Beşiktaş are always tough. Both teams want to win top honors in Turkish football.
Overall, Trabzonspor has rivalries with all three Istanbul giants. But the one with Fenerbahçe is the most dramatic and impactful.
Rivalry with Samsunspor
The Samsunspor–Trabzonspor rivalry is important in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It's strong because the cities are close and share cultural ties. Both teams play for regional pride. Even though Trabzonspor has won more national titles, games against Samsunspor are always exciting. They show the strong football traditions of the Black Sea region.
Home Stadium
Since December 2016, Trabzonspor has played its home games at the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex. This is a very modern stadium in Trabzon. It can hold 40,980 fans and has excellent facilities. The stadium is named after Şenol Güneş, a legendary player and manager for Trabzonspor. It marks a new chapter for the club.
The stadium has advanced technology and hosts important national and international football matches. It is a symbol of Trabzonspor’s growth and goals. It is also a center for sports and culture in the city. There are plans to connect the stadium to Trabzon’s city center with a new tram, making it easier for fans to visit.
Before moving to the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex, Trabzonspor played at the Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium. This stadium could hold 24,169 people. It was built in 1951 and was Trabzonspor’s home until January 2017. Over the years, it was updated several times.
Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium is very special in Trabzonspor’s history. It hosted many memorable games during the club’s golden era. It also hosted big events like the 1st Black Sea Games and the 2011 European Youth Olympic Games. Even though it is closed now, it remains an important symbol of Trabzonspor’s beginnings and legacy.
Club Achievements
- Süper Lig
- Champions (7): 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2021–22
- Runners-up (9): 1977–78, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2019–20
- 1.Lig
- Champions (1): 1973–74
- Runners-up (2): 1971–72, 1972–73
- Turkish Cup
- Winners (9): 1976–77, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2019–20
- Runners-up (8): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1996–97, 2012–13, 2023–24, 2024–25
- Turkish Super Cup
- Winners (10): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1995, 2010, 2020, 2022
- Runners-up: 1981, 1984, 1992
- Prime Minister's Cup
- Winners (5): 1976, 1978, 1985, 1994, 1996
Players
Current Squad
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Affiliated Clubs and Teams
Trabzonspor U21 Team
The Trabzonspor U21 team is where young players develop their skills. They play in Turkey’s U21 league. Many famous players came from this team, like Hami Mandıralı, who played the most games for Trabzonspor (558 matches). Also, Gökdeniz Karadeniz, who played for the national team 50 times, and Fatih Tekke, who was the top scorer in the 2004–05 Süper Lig with 31 goals.
Trabzonspor Women's Football Team
Trabzonspor Women is the club’s women’s football team. It was started in 2007. They play in the Turkish Women's Football Super League. They won the league title in the 2008–09 season, which was a great success.
1461 Trabzon Club
1461 Trabzon was founded in 2008. It acts as a development team for Trabzonspor. Young players get to play in first-team games there. Trabzonspor has the first chance to buy these players and can also loan them out to get more experience.
Club Officials
Board Members
Coaching Staff
Coaches Who Won Trophies
Here are some of the notable coaches who have led Trabzonspor to win major trophies:
Name | Period | Trophies |
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1973–1978 | Süper Lig (2), Turkish Cup (2), Super Cup (2) |
1979–1980 | Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (1) | |
1981–1984 | Süper Lig (1), Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1) | |
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1978–1979 | Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (1) |
1980–1981 | Süper Lig (1) | |
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1991–1992 | Turkish Cup (1) |
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1993–1997 | Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1) |
2009–2013 | Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1) | |
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2002–2003 | Turkish Cup (1) |
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2004 | Turkish Cup (1) |
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2020 | Turkish Cup (1) |
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2020–2023 | Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (2) |
Club Presidents
Here is a list of the presidents who have led Trabzonspor throughout its history:
See also
In Spanish: Trabzonspor para niños