Trabzonspor

Trabzonspor

Full name	Trabzonspor Kulübü
Nickname(s)	Karadeniz Fırtınası (Black Sea Storm)
Short name	TS
Founded	2 August 1967 (1967-08-02)
Ground	Papara Park
Capacity	40,782
President	Ertuğrul Doğan
Head coach	Şenol Güneş
League	Süper Lig
2023–24	Süper Lig, 3rd of 20
Website	trabzonspor.org.tr
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Trabzonspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional sports club located in the city of Trabzon, located in northeastern Turkey. Established in 1967 through the merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor is one of the most prominent football clubs in Turkish history. The men’s football team has won seven Süper Lig championships, making Trabzonspor the first non-Istanbul-based club to achieve this feat in the Turkish league system. In addition to their football achievements, Trabzonspor also operates a women’s football team, a men’s basketball team, and several other sports branches, reinforcing its status as a multi-sport club.

Trabzonspor rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, dominating Turkish football with six league titles between the 1975–76 and 1983–84 seasons. This golden era marked the club as a powerhouse, with Trabzonspor becoming a symbol of regional pride and the only club to challenge the dominance of Istanbul-based teams, such as Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. During this period, they also won nine Turkish Cups, including a streak of three consecutive league titles in 1978–79, 1979–80, and 1980–81.

After their sixth league title in 1983–84, Trabzonspor endured a 38-year championship drought, marked by near-misses and structural rebuilding. This drought ended triumphantly in the 2021–22 season, as Trabzonspor clinched their seventh league title, led by a strong squad and under the management of Abdullah Avcı. The victory sparked massive celebrations across the city and reaffirmed the club’s status as one of Turkey’s most decorated and respected teams.

The club’s colors are claret and sky blue, reflected in their iconic striped shirts, symbolizing the identity and culture of the Trabzon region. Trabzonspor has played its home matches at the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex since the 2016–17 season, a state-of-the-art stadium that replaced the historic Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium.

Trabzonspor’s influence extends beyond football, with the club recognized for its passionate fan base and significant contributions to Turkish football and sports. Its matches often symbolize the cultural identity of the Black Sea region, making it more than just a football club—a cultural icon.

History

Main article: History of Trabzonspor

Early Years and Local Rivalries (1923–1962)

There were four clubs in Trabzon in Early years : İdmanocağı (1921), İdmangücü (1913), Necmiati (1923) and Trabzon Lisesi. All four clubs competed against each other in the Trabzon Amateur Regional League. in 1923, two of the clubs, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü, held a fierce rivalry that was equal to the Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray rivalry.

The rivalry reached its peak from 1930 on. İdmanocağı won five titles in a row from 1929 to 1933, with İdmangücü besting the record with seven titles in a row from 1934 to 1940. The league was dominated by Lise for six years, before İdmangücü took back the title in 1947–48. More clubs were being founded in Trabzon at the time, including Doğan Gençlik, Akçaabat Sebatspor, Sürmene Gençlik, Zafer Gençlik, Yolspor, and Yalıspor.

The rivalry between Trabzon İdmanocağı and İdmangücü split Trabzon into two, with one side taking the red and yellows (İdmanocağı), and the other taking the green and whites (İdmangücü). The split frustrated the fans as well as the players, which led to some of Trabzon's biggest talents moving to Ankara and Istanbul to play football. These included Hasan Polat and Ali Polat (Gençlerbirliği), Selim Satıroğlu and Ahmet Karlıklı (Galatasaray), Zekeriya Bali (Fenerbahçe), and Nazmi Bilge (Beşiktaş).

The Merger and the Birth of Trabzonspor (1962–1973)

At the start of the 1962–63 season, then president of the Turkish Football Federation, Orhan Şeref Apak, asked cities to combine their football clubs into one representative team, and have them compete in the Milli Lig (Süper Lig). However, due to the rivalry between İdmanocağı and İdmangücü, the city of Trabzon weren't able to merge. City and club officials would meet every morning and night to iron out an agreement, but it never materialized.

Instead, only İdmanocağı, Martıspor, and Yıldızspor merged on 21 June 1966. They began wearing yellow and red kits and competed in the 1.Lig (Second Division). They finished eighth place in their first season, as well as runners-up for the Başbakanlık Kupası. A month later, İdmangücü, Karadenizgücü, Martıspor, and Yolspor merged to form Trabzonspor. Their club colours were red and white.

İdmanocağı opposed the merger and took up a lawsuit against the newly founded Trabzonspor. Ulvi Yenal, head of Physical Education, decided to step in and announce that neither İdmanocağı nor İdmangücü would be accepted into the 1.Lig. This sent a shockwave thru both clubs. Until these two clubs decided to unify into one club, the city of Trabzon would not have a professional representative. In the end, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü decided to merge, along with Karadenizgücü and Martıspor, to become Trabzonspor on 2 August 1967.

Everything was set up, but the club still ran into another roadblock: club colours. The club came to the decision after five meetings with fans and club officials. At first, it was suggested the club should wear the predecessor colours together (yellow-red and green-white), but it was deemed not suitable. It was then suggested that a poll be held, but that was also quickly cast aside. The fans and club officials began to lose patience until Turkish Football Federation General Manager Ulvi Yenal came up with a compromise. He suggested that both clubs, İdmanocağı and İdmangücü, should choose a colour opposite of their own club colours. It was then both clubs came up with maroon and blue.

Founding Years and the Journey to the Top (1967–1973)

This period is remembered as the years Trabzonspor played in the Turkish Second Football League. In 1967, the Trabzonspor was established under the roof of Trabzonspor and started competing in the Second League White Group during the 1967-68 football season. Trabzonspor completed its first year in professional leagues in 6th place among 20 teams in this league, following Boluspor.

In the following two years, Trabzonspor finished 4th in the league. In the 1970–71 season, Trabzonspor finished 8th. During the 1971–72 football season, Trabzonspor competed in the Red Group but missed promotion to the Turkish First Football League (currently called the Süper Lig) by two points. A year later, Trabzonspor experienced the same fate; despite having the same points as the leader (Kayserispor), it finished second due to goal difference and failed to achieve promotion to the Turkish First Football League. In the 1973–74 season, Trabzonspor won the Red Group by finishing six points ahead of its closest rival, Sakaryaspor. Although Trabzonspor lost the championship match against the winner of the other group (Zonguldakspor) in a penalty shootout, it finally earned promotion to the Turkish First Football League. During these years, players like Necmi Perekli, Şenol Güneş, and Cemil Usta, who would later become part of the championship-winning team, started to feature in the squad. Perekli became the league’s top scorer twice while playing for Trabzonspor.

1973–1984: The Golden Era of Championships

Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı took over as manager in 1973. Özyazıcı played for İdmanocağı, the precursor club to Trabzonspor. This period covers Trabzonspor’s phase after being promoted to the Turkish First Football League. Trabzonspor was promoted to the Turkish First Football League in 1974. Its first season in this league was the 1974–75 season, during which Trabzonspor finished 9th with 30 points. In addition, during the same year, Trabzonspor reached the final of the Turkish Cup but failed to win the trophy after defeating Beşiktaş 1–0 at home and losing 2–0 in Istanbul.

The 1975–76 football season was the first time Trabzonspor won the Turkish First Football League championship. During this season, Trabzonspor climbed to the top of the league after defeating Fenerbahçe 1–0 in Trabzon and maintained its lead until the end of the season. Under the leadership of Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı, the team secured the championship with 43 points, three points ahead of Fenerbahçe.

From its first championship in the 1975–76 season until the 1983–84 season, Trabzonspor won six league titles. In this period, Trabzonspor missed out on the championship in the 1977–78 and 1981–82 seasons by one point and the 1982–83 season by two points. Trabzonspor secured its sixth league title in the 1983–84 season, finishing five points ahead of Fenerbahçe.

During the 1976–77 season, Necmi Perekli became the first player from Trabzonspor to become the league’s top scorer, scoring 18 goals. During this era, Trabzonspor’s goalkeeper Şenol Güneş achieved an extraordinary feat by not conceding a goal for 1,110 minutes between 17 September 1978 and 18 February 1979. This record made him the longest unbeaten goalkeeper in Turkey’s leagues and the 15th longest in world football history.

During this period, Trabzonspor also made their mark in European football. The club famously defeated the then-English champions Liverpool 1–0 in the first leg of their second-round match-up in the 1976–77 European Cup, although they were eliminated after losing the second leg 3–0.

Additionally, during this period, Trabzonspor won 3 Turkish Cups, 6 Presidential Cups, 3 Prime Minister's Cups, and the Cyprus Peace Cup. Two of these championships came under the management of Özkan Sümer, while the other four were achieved under Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı. Özyazıcı currently serves as Trabzonspor’s Football Advisor, while Sümer served as Trabzonspor’s president for a time but resigned in protest after an incident in a match against Fenerbahçe.

1984–1996: Transition and Renewed Ambitions

From 1984 to the 1994–95 season, Trabzonspor finished seasons in rankings ranging from third to seventh place. Undergoing a new squad restructuring, Trabzonspor, during the tenure of head coach Georges Leekens in the 1992–93 season, fell 10 points behind the leader in the first ten weeks of the season. The team went six weeks without a win, experiencing one of the worst periods in its history.

However, players like Ünal Karaman (who later became captain of the national team) and Tolunay Kafkas were brought into the squad during this time. They became key players in Trabzonspor’s starting lineup as the team finished second in the league during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons and re-entered the championship race. During this period, Trabzonspor’s most notable achievements were the Turkish Cup titles won in 1992 and 1995, the Presidential Cup in 1995, and the Prime Minister’s Cup victories in 1985 and 1994.

1995–96 Season: Triumphs, Tragedies, and Missed Glory

With the end of the 1993–94 season, Trabzonspor appointed its former captain Şenol Güneş, who had been managing İstanbulspor, as the head coach. Alongside Hami Mandıralı, who is Trabzonspor’s all-time top scorer with 218 goals, and Ogün Temizkanoğlu, players like Shota Arveladze and Archil Arveladze were added to the squad. Shota made a significant impact by scoring numerous goals in his first year.

Trabzonspor lost the championship to Beşiktaş in the 1994–95 season but managed to win both the Turkish Cup and the Presidential Cup. In the 1995–96 season, where Shota became the league’s top scorer, Trabzonspor missed the championship once again. On 5 May 1996, in a match held at Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium, Trabzonspor took a 1–0 lead but lost 2-1 to Fenerbahçe after goals from Oğuz Çetin in the 55th minute and Aykut Kocaman in the 82nd minute. This loss is considered a significant trauma in Trabzonspor’s history. Following the match, a fan in Görele, Giresun, deeply saddened by the loss, committed suicide, leaving a note that read: “Wrap me in a Trabzonspor flag when I am buried. No one is responsible for my death. If I were to be reborn, I would want to be born as a Trabzonspor fan again.

Despite failing to win the championship, Trabzonspor managed to secure the Prime Minister's Cup at the end of the season. However, the effects of the missed championship lingered into the next season. After an away match against Kocaelispor, fans were involved in a fatal car accident on their way back. At the funeral of the victims, players faced significant backlash, and captain Ogün Temizkanoğlu was attacked by fans.

By the early 2000s, the team underwent significant changes. Players like Abdullah Ercan, Ogün Temizkanoğlu, and Tolunay Kafkas were let go, and expensive signings like Rune Lange were made. However, players such as Rune Lange, Kevin David Campbell, and Jean-Jacques Missé-Missé failed to deliver successful performances for Trabzonspor. In some cases, such as with Rune Lange, disputes arose, leading to cases being taken to FIFA.

2000s: Struggles, Restructuring, and Revival

The early 2000s were one of the most unsuccessful periods in Trabzonspor’s history. In the 2001–02 season, the team finished 14th in the league, marking the worst season in its history. Additionally, this season went down in history as the one where Trabzonspor conceded the most goals and suffered the most defeats.

Following this season, the then-president Özkan Sümer decided to restructure the team by appointing Samet Aybaba as the head coach. This restructuring included bringing in foreign players such as Ibrahim Yattara, who became the club’s top assist provider and the foreign player with the longest tenure, and Michael Petković, as well as homegrown talents like Gökdeniz Karadeniz and Fatih Tekke. This foundation led Trabzonspor to win the Turkish Cup in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons and contend for the championship in the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons, finishing second behind Fenerbahçe in both seasons.

After Trabzonspor lost a match to Fenerbahçe in Istanbul in 2004, Trabzonspor fans accused referee Cem Papila of making incorrect decisions that cost the team the championship. Fans organized a protest in Trabzon attended by 40,000 people, calling for the resignation of the Federation and the Central Referee Board. Following the backlash, Cem Papila announced his retirement from refereeing.

Under the presidency of Nuri Albayrak, Trabzonspor sought success by signing high-profile foreign players like Marcelinho and Kiki Musampa. However, these players struggled to adapt to the team.

In 2008, Sadri Şener was elected as president. Following this, a large part of the squad was replaced, with Ersun Yanal being appointed as head coach and 25 new players being transferred. With these transfers, Trabzonspor competed for the championship until the final weeks of the 2008–09 season, ultimately finishing third.

2010s: Challenges, Rebuilding, and Financial Restructuring

The Trabzonspor management appointed Hugo Broos as head coach for the following season, but his contract was terminated after poor results. Şenol Güneş was then hired as his replacement. With Güneş at the helm, the team achieved positive results. In the 2009–10 season, Trabzonspor won both the Turkish Super Cup and the Turkish Cup. Trabzonspor finished the first half of the 2010–11 season as league leaders. However, despite finishing the season with 82 points, Trabzonspor lost the title to Fenerbahçe on goal difference. That season, following the match-fixing case involving Fenerbahçe on 3 July 2011, Trabzonspor requested that the championship trophy be awarded to them. During the same period, UEFA banned Fenerbahçe from European competitions for two years. Trabzonspor decided to take the matter to CAS and FIFA. While this process was ongoing, Trabzonspor lost several key players and entered the 2011–12 season with a significantly different squad, finishing in third place.

In the 2012–13 season, Sadri Şener was succeeded by İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu as club president. After losing 3–1 to Elazığspor in the 19th week of the season, Şenol Güneş, who had been managing the team since 2009, resigned, and Tolunay Kafkas was appointed as interim head coach until the end of the season. The team performed poorly compared to the previous season, finishing ninth in the league, but qualified for the UEFA Europa League by reaching the Turkish Cup final, where they lost 1–0 to Fenerbahçe.

In the 2013–14 season, Trabzonspor signed players such as Florent Malouda and José Bosingwa and appointed Mustafa Reşit Akçay as head coach. Despite struggling in the league, Trabzonspor successfully qualified for the UEFA Europa League group stage by defeating Derry City, Dinamo Minsk, and Kukesi in the qualifying rounds. In the group stage, they were drawn with Lazio, Apollon Limassol, and Legia Warsaw, finishing as undefeated group leaders with 14 points. However, they were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Juventus, losing both legs 2–0. After Akçay resigned in the 20th week of the league, Hami Mandıralı was appointed as head coach. Trabzonspor finished fourth, qualifying for the Europa League once again.

Before the 2014–15 season, Vahid Halilhodžić was appointed as head coach, and the squad underwent significant changes, with nearly 20 new signings, including Óscar Cardozo, Mehmet Ekici, Kévin Constant, Waris, and Yatabare. However, poor results led to Halilhodžić’s dismissal after the 10th week, and Ersun Yanal returned for a second stint. Under Yanal’s management, Trabzonspor performed better, advancing to the Europa League Round of 32 by finishing second in a group that included Metalist Kharkiv, Lokeren, and Legia Warsaw. They were eliminated by Napoli, losing 4–0 at home and 1–0 in the return leg. Trabzonspor finished the league in fifth place, and Yanal departed at the end of the season.

Before the 2015–16 season, Shota Arveladze was appointed head coach but resigned after an 11th-week loss to İstanbul Başakşehir. On 6 December 2015, Muharrem Usta was elected president. The team was temporarily managed by Sadi Tekelioğlu until the mid-season break, after which Hami Mandıralı returned as head coach. During this period, Trabzonspor faced financial difficulties and disputes over player payments, leading to some foreign players leaving before the season ended. The team finished the league with 12 wins, 4 draws, and 18 losses, totaling 40 points and finishing in 12th place. They suffered their worst defeat in league history, losing 7–0 to Antalyaspor in the 33rd week. Hami Mandıralı resigned after the match.

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Ersun Yanal returned for his third stint as head coach. Under the leadership of president Muharrem Usta, Trabzonspor initiated a restructuring process ahead of the club’s 50th anniversary. Many players were released, and due to financial restrictions imposed by UEFA, the club focused on signing low-cost players. After a disappointing first half of the season, finishing 13th with 18 points, Trabzonspor strengthened their squad during the mid-season break. Moving to their new stadium, Şenol Güneş Stadium, the team improved significantly, climbing to fifth place. Trabzonspor played their first official match at Şenol Güneş Stadium on 29 January 2017, defeating Gaziantepspor 4–0, with Fabian Castillo scoring the first goal in the new stadium’s history. Trabzonspor suffered their first defeat at the new stadium on 8 April 2017, losing 4–3 to Beşiktaş.

In the 2018–19 season, Ahmet Ağaoğlu was elected as president, highlighting the club’s financial difficulties. Under Ağaoğlu’s leadership, the club restructured its debts, and Ünal Karaman, a club legend from the 1990s, was appointed head coach. Despite injuries to key players and a transfer ban during the mid-season window, the team finished fourth, five points behind champions Galatasaray. However, a crisis between Karaman and Ağaoğlu at the end of 2019 led to Karaman’s resignation, and assistant coach Hüseyin Çimşir, who had previously won the league with Bursaspor as a player, was appointed as head coach.

2020s: Resurgence and the Long-Awaited Championship

In the 2019–20 season, thanks to debt restructuring and appropriate transfers, the team became one of the strongest candidates for the championship from the beginning of the season. It experienced its brightest period in the last 10 years, entering the break due to the COVID-19 pandemic as league leaders with 8 weeks remaining. However, just before the season resumed, Trabzonspor was banned from European competitions by UEFA for violating financial fair play regulations. Following the pandemic break, the team experienced a performance drop and on 19 July 2020, missed out on what was its closest shot at the championship in 36 years. At the end of the season, İstanbul Başakşehir claimed the title. After the loss of the championship, head coach Hüseyin Çimşir was dismissed, and his assistant, Eddie Newton, was appointed as the new head coach. That season, despite narrowly missing the Süper Lig title, Trabzonspor defeated Alanyaspor in the Turkish Cup final, securing the trophy for the first time in 10 years, marking their 9th Turkish Cup victory.

Trabzonspor continued with Eddie Newton for the 2020–21 season. However, after failing to deliver the expected performance in the first 8 weeks, Newton was dismissed, and the club signed Abdullah Avcı as head coach. Under Eddie Newton’s management, the team had dropped to the relegation zone, but with Abdullah Avcı’s arrival, Trabzonspor climbed to 4th place and finished the season in that position. Additionally, the Turkish Super Cup, which had been postponed the previous season due to the pandemic, was played on 27 January 2021, and Trabzonspor defeated İstanbul Başakşehir to claim the trophy for the 9th time in their history.

In the 40 matches played in the league that season, Trabzonspor recorded 19 wins, 14 draws, and 7 losses, amassing 71 points to finish 4th. This result earned them a place in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League starting from the third qualifying round. However, in the 2020–21 Turkish Cup, Trabzonspor was eliminated in the 5th round by Adana Demirspor, losing 4–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in regular and extra time.

Trabzonspor made a strong start to the 2021–22 Süper Lig season. On 30 April 2022, Trabzonspor clinched the 2021–22 Süper Lig title, marking their first league championship in 38 years. The club’s previous league triumph was in the 1983–84 season, and this historic victory ended nearly four decades of longing for their passionate fanbase. Trabzonspor secured the title after a 2–2 draw with Antalyaspor at their home ground, Şenol Güneş Sports Complex. The result ensured an unassailable lead at the top of the table with three matches remaining in the season.

Under the management of Abdullah Avcı, Trabzonspor demonstrated consistent performances throughout the season, maintaining a dominant position in the league standings. Their balanced squad and tactical discipline were instrumental in their success, with standout performances from key players such as Anastasios Bakasetas and Anthony Nwakaeme.

The championship victory was met with widespread celebrations across Trabzon and among the club’s global supporters. Fans filled the streets of Trabzon, waving the club’s maroon-and-blue colors and chanting songs of triumph. The joyous occasion underscored the significance of the title, which reaffirmed Trabzonspor’s status as one of Turkey’s most historic and successful football clubs.

This title was Trabzonspor’s seventh Süper Lig championship and their first since the introduction of the modern Turkish league format. It also marked a significant moment in Turkish football history, breaking the Istanbul-based dominance of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray, which had collectively won every league title since 1984.

Crest and colours

In the long-standing rivalry between İdmanocağı and İdmangücü in Trabzon, the dominant colors were Red-Yellow and Green-White, respectively. It was decided that Trabzonspor’s colors should be different from these and should symbolize Trabzon and the Black Sea region. Various options were considered, including holding a competition to decide the colors, but this idea was later abandoned. Lengthy discussions were held day and night, but no conclusion was reached in the first four meetings. By the fifth meeting, tensions were high, and fans had run out of patience.

During these discussions, the then-president of the Turkish Football Federation, Orhan Şeref Apak, attempted to mediate. At a meeting in the office of the Federation’s General Manager, Ulvi Yenal, representatives from both clubs engaged in intense debates about selecting colors that were distinct from those of the rival clubs. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Yenal demanded that each club representative choose one color. As a result, the İdmanocağı group proposed “dark claret,” while the İdmangücü group suggested “light blue.” Ultimately, the founding members of Trabzonspor agreed on the colors Claret and Blue (“Bordo-Mavi”), which became the club’s official colors. The letters “T” and “S” in the club emblem also reflect the identity of Trabzonspor.

Although a number of theories have been put forward as to why the club colours of Trabzonspor are claret and blue, it has been claimed that they were adopted after the club were sent a set of kits by the English club Aston Villa after their formation in 1967.

Rivalries

Main articles: Fenerbahçe–Trabzonspor rivalry, Galatasaray–Trabzonspor rivalry, and Beşiktaş–Trabzonspor rivalry

Trabzonspor’s rivalries with Istanbul’s “big three”—Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş—are deeply rooted in Turkish football history, but their rivalry with Fenerbahçe stands out as the most intense.

The rivalry with Fenerbahçe began in the 1974 Turkish Cup, but it escalated during the 1995–96 season when Trabzonspor lost a critical home match late in the season, surrendering the league title to Fenerbahçe. This moment remains a painful memory for Trabzonspor fans. Tensions reached a boiling point again in the 2010–11 season when the two clubs competed fiercely for the league title. While Fenerbahçe secured the championship, 2011 Turkish football match-fixing allegations led to Fenerbahçe’s European ban, allowing Trabzonspor to make their first UEFA Champions League appearance. The rivalry is fueled by these high-stakes battles, off-field controversies, and the passionate fan bases of both teams, making it one of the most heated in Turkish football.

The rivalry with Galatasaray began in Trabzonspor’s inaugural top-flight season in 1974–75. Over the years, this rivalry has been defined by competitive matches and the contrasting identities of the clubs, with Trabzonspor representing the Anatolian heartland against Galatasaray’s Istanbul dominance. While the intensity doesn’t match that of Fenerbahçe, matches between these two teams remain highly anticipated.

Trabzonspor’s rivalry with Beşiktaş also dates back to the 1970s, with their first league meeting in 1974. While not as fiery as the Fenerbahçe rivalry, the competition with Beşiktaş is characterized by hard-fought matches and the shared ambition to challenge for top honors in Turkish football.

Although Trabzonspor shares rivalries with all three Istanbul giants, the conflict with Fenerbahçe is unparalleled in its history, drama, and impact, solidifying it as the club’s most significant rivalry.

Stadium

Main articles: Şenol Güneş Sports Complex and Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium

Trabzonspor's stadium is named after former goalkeeper and manager Şenol Güneş.

Since December 2016, Trabzonspor has played its home matches at the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art stadium located in Trabzon. The stadium has a capacity of 40,782, offering modern facilities that meet international standards. Named after Şenol Güneş, a legendary figure in Trabzonspor’s history as both a goalkeeper and manager, the complex represents a new era for the club.

The stadium is equipped with advanced technology, including interactive media systems installed in the press areas, and regularly hosts important national and international football matches. It also serves as a symbol of Trabzonspor’s growth and ambition, as well as a hub for the city’s sports and cultural activities. Plans are underway to connect the stadium to Trabzon’s city center through a new tram project, improving accessibility for fans and visitors.

Prior to moving to the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex, Trabzonspor played its home matches at the Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium, which had a capacity of 24,169. Built in 1951, the stadium served as Trabzonspor’s home ground until January 2017. Over its long history, the venue underwent several renovations to expand its capacity and modernize its facilities, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.

Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium holds a special place in Trabzonspor’s history, having hosted countless memorable matches during the club’s golden era. It was also the site of key events like the 1st Black Sea Games and the 2011 European Youth Olympic Games, as well as matches in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Despite its closure, the stadium remains an iconic symbol of Trabzonspor’s roots and legacy.

Honours

Main article: List of Trabzonspor records and statistics

As of 23 May 2024:

• 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
• Turkish Cup
  • Winners (9): 1976–77, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2019–20
  • Runners-up (7): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1996–97, 2012–13, 2023–24
• 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
  • Runners-up (6): 1975, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998
• Cyprus Peace Cup
  • Winners (1): 1975
• Uhrencup
  • Winners (1): 2005

Statistics

Results of League and Cup Competitions by Season

Season	League	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	Turkish Cup
1974–75	Süper Lig	9th	30	9	12	9	19	17	30	Finalist
1975–76	Süper Lig	1st	30	17	9	4	36	14	43	Finalist
1976–77	Süper Lig	1st	30	18	7	5	41	12	43	Winner
1977–78	Süper Lig	2nd	30	18	5	7	42	16	41	Winner
1978–79	Süper Lig	1st	30	13	16	1	34	7	42	6th Round
1979–80	Süper Lig	1st	30	12	15	3	25	11	39	Quarterfinal
1980–81	Süper Lig	1st	30	16	7	7	41	21	39	5th Round
1981–82	Süper Lig	2nd	32	14	15	3	26	11	43	Quarterfinal
1982–83	Süper Lig	2nd	34	17	13	4	40	19	47	Semifinal
1983–84	Süper Lig	1st	34	18	14	2	43	14	50	Winner
1984–85	Süper Lig	3rd	34	14	14	6	38	26	42	Finalist
1985–86	Süper Lig	7th	36	12	13	11	37	27	37	6th Round
1986–87	Süper Lig	4th	36	18	13	5	49	21	49	Quarterfinal
1987–88	Süper Lig	6th	38	16	9	13	57	51	57	4th Round
1988–89	Süper Lig	5th	36	19	7	10	59	38	64	4th Round
1989–90	Süper Lig	3rd	34	20	8	6	58	28	68	Finalist
1990–91	Süper Lig	3rd	30	14	9	7	55	37	51	Semifinal
1991–92	Süper Lig	4th	30	16	7	7	56	31	55	Winner
1992–93	Süper Lig	3rd	30	17	9	4	57	27	60	Semifinal
1993–94	Süper Lig	3rd	30	17	8	5	67	28	59	Semifinal
1994–95	Süper Lig	2nd	34	23	7	4	80	28	76	Winner
1995–96	Süper Lig	2nd	34	26	4	4	79	24	82	Quarterfinal
1996–97	Süper Lig	4th	34	22	6	6	73	33	72	Finalist
1997–98	Süper Lig	3rd	34	19	9	6	68	42	66	Semifinal
1998–99	Süper Lig	4th	34	17	7	10	48	37	58	6th Round
1999–00	Süper Lig	6th	34	15	8	11	47	41	53	Quarterfinal
2000–01	Süper Lig	5th	34	17	7	10	69	52	58	Quarterfinal
2001–02	Süper Lig	14th	34	11	7	16	49	60	40	Quarterfinal
2002–03	Süper Lig	7th	34	13	12	9	44	33	51	Winner
2003–04	Süper Lig	2nd	34	22	6	6	60	38	72	Winner
2004–05	Süper Lig	2nd	34	24	5	5	73	29	77	Semifinal
2005–06	Süper Lig	4th	34	15	7	12	51	42	52	Group Stage
2006–07	Süper Lig	4th	34	15	7	12	54	44	52	Semifinal
2007–08	Süper Lig	6th	34	14	7	13	44	39	49	Group Stage
2008–09	Süper Lig	3rd	34	19	8	7	54	34	65	Group Stage
2009–10	Süper Lig	5th	34	16	9	9	53	32	57	Winner
2010–11	Süper Lig	2nd	34	25	7	2	69	23	82	Group Stage
2011–12	Süper Lig	3rd	34	15	11	8	60	39	56	4th Round
2012–13	Süper Lig	9th	34	13	7	14	39	40	46	Finalist
2013–14	Süper Lig	4th	34	14	11	9	53	41	53	4th Round
2014–15	Süper Lig	5th	34	15	12	7	58	48	57	Round of 16
2015–16	Süper Lig	12th	34	12	4	18	40	59	40	Round of 16
2016–17	Süper Lig	6th	34	14	9	11	39	34	51	Group Stage
2017–18	Süper Lig	5th	34	15	10	9	63	51	55	Round of 16
2018–19	Süper Lig	4th	34	18	9	7	64	46	63	Quarterfinal
2019–20	Süper Lig	2nd	34	18	11	5	76	42	65	Winner
2020–21	Süper Lig	4th	40	19	14	7	50	37	71	5th Round
2021–22	Süper Lig	1st	38	23	12	3	69	36	81	Semifinal
2022–23	Süper Lig	6th	36	17	6	13	64	54	57	Quarterfinal
2023–24	Süper Lig	3rd	38	21	4	13	69	50	67	Finalist

European competitions record

Main article: Trabzonspor in European football

Trabzonspor first competed in Europe in the 1976–77 season, and reached the group stages of the Champions League in the 2011–12 season.

As of 18 August 2024

Rank	Country	Team	Points
143		Linfield	8.500
144		KÍ Klaksvík	8.500
145		Trabzonspor	8.500
146		Apollon	8.500
147		Cercle Brugge	8.480

See also: UEFA coefficient

Players

Current squad

As of 31 August 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	TUR	Uğurcan Çakır (captain)
3	DF	CRO	Borna Barišić
4	DF	TUR	Hüseyin Türkmen
5	MF	ENG	John Lundstram
6	MF	FRA	Batista Mendy
7	MF	BIH	Edin Višća
8	MF	MKD	Enis Bardhi
9	FW	NGA	Anthony Nwakaeme
10	MF	AUT	Muhammed Cham
11	MF	TUR	Ozan Tufan
15	DF	MNE	Stefan Savić
17	FW	COD	Simon Banza (on loan from Braga)
18	DF	TUR	Eren Elmalı
19	FW	TUR	Umut Bozok
20	DF	TUR	Serkan Asan

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
23	MF	TUR	Umut Güneş
24	DF	SUR	Stefano Denswil
25	GK	TUR	Onuralp Çevikkan
29	DF	TUR	Serdar Saatçı
35	MF	TUR	Okay Yokuşlu
44	DF	UKR	Arseniy Batahov
54	GK	TUR	Muhammet Taha Tepe
61	FW	TUR	Cihan Çanak
70	FW	ROU	Denis Drăguș
77	DF	TUR	Arif Boşluk
79	DF	POR	Pedro Malheiro
84	DF	TUR	Ali Şahin Yılmaz
90	FW	TUR	Poyraz Efe Yıldırım
94	FW	TUR	Enis Destan

Other players under contract

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	TUR	Rayyan Baniya (at Palermo until 30 June 2025)
—	MF	TUR	Süleyman Cebeci (at Karaman until 30 June 2025)
—	MF	TUR	Göktan Gürpüz (at Fatih Karagümrük until 30 June 2025)
—	MF	TUR	Kerem Şen (at İstanbulspor until 30 June 2025)

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	TUR	Veysel Sönmezsoy (at Sebat Gençlikspor until 30 June 2025)
—	MF	CRO	Tonio Teklić (at Erzurumspor until 30 June 2025)
—	FW	TUR	Zekeriya Bulut (at Sebat Gençlikspor until 30 June 2025)
—	FW	EGY	Trézéguet (at Al-Rayyan until 30 June 2025)

Affiliated clubs

Trabzonspor U21

Main article: Trabzonspor U21

Fatih Tekke, a former youth academy star and one-time Gol Kralı (top scorer)

Trabzonspor U21 is a youth team of Trabzonspor. The club competes in the U21 league, alongside other U21 clubs around Turkey. Notable former players include Hami Mandıralı (highest capped Trabzonspor player (558 times)), Gökdeniz Karadeniz (most caps for the Turkish national team by a Trabzonspor player (50)), Fatih Tekke (2004–05 Süper Lig top scorer (31 goals)).

Trabzonspor Women

Main article: Trabzonspor (women's football)

Trabzonspor Kulübü Kadın Futbol Takımı are a Turkish women's association football club affiliated with Trabzonspor. The club was founded in 2007 and they are title holders of 2008–09 season of Turkish Women's Football Super League.

1461 Trabzon

Main article: 1461 Trabzon

1461 Trabzon was founded as Trabzon Karadenizspor in 2008 as a feederclub in which Trabzonspor holds first buying option on players as well as being able to loan out youngsters to gain first-team experience.

Club officials

Board members

Position	Name
President	Ertuğrul Doğan
Vice President	Zeyyat Kafkas
Vice President	Serkan Kılıç
Vice President	Nevzat Kaya
Vice President	Taner Fikret Saral
Vice President	Kemal Ertürk
General Secretary	Sami Karaman
General Accountant	Derviş Köz
Vice President	Ali Haydar Gedikli
Vice President	Murat İskender
Vice President	Birhan Emre Yazıcı
Vice President	İbrahim Şahinkaya
Facilities Officer	Coşkun Öztürk
PR Officer	Gözde Atasoy
Amateur Officer	Semih Hekimoğlu
AAdmin Officer	Hüseyin Ekşi
U19 Officer	Ali Beyazlı
TS Club Officer	Fatih Solak
TS Promotion Officer	İmdat Yılmaz
Business Development	Serkan Neşat Soylu
Business Development	Rıfat Çebi
Business Development	Mustafa Cem Aşık

Source:

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head Coach	Şenol Güneş
Team Manager	Emrah Tok
Assistant Coach	Hüseyin Çimşir
Assistant Coach	Şeref Çiçek
Goalkeeper Coach	Atilla Küçüktaka
Performance Coach	Gökhan Kandemir
Goalkeeper Coach	Candeniz Velioğlu
Analyst	Mesut Kabahasanoglu
Assistant Admin	Ercan Ildiz
Doctor	Ufuk Değirmenci
Doctor	Metin Kara
Physiotherapist	Mustafa Bozkurt
Physiotherapist	Dursun Işık
Physiotherapist	Oğuzhan Kolot
Physiotherapist	Mevlüt Arslan
Dietitian	Çağatay Kaşıkcı
Masseur	Okan Erdem
Masseur	Yener Usta
Masseur	Murat Karayavuzoğlu
Translator	Yunus Emre İshak
Equip Manager	Hayati Erol
Equip Manager	Cihan Birinci
Equip Manager	Mustafa Küçük
Equip Manager	Yener Sadıklar
Equip Manager	Muharrem Çolak

Source:

Coaches

Main article: List of managers of Trabzonspor

Notable coaches

Trabzonspor coaches to have won major honours. Table correct as of 29 December 2024

Name	Period	Trophies
Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı	1973–1978	Süper Lig (2), Turkish Cup (2), Super Cup (2)
Özkan Sümer	1978–1979	Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (1)
Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı	1979–1980	Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (1)
Özkan Sümer	1980–1981	Süper Lig (1)
Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı	1981–1984	Süper Lig (1), Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1)
Urbain Braems	1991–1992	Turkish Cup (1)
Şenol Güneş	1993–1997	Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1)
Samet Aybaba	2002–2003	Turkish Cup (1)
Ziya Doğan	2004	Turkish Cup (1)
Şenol Güneş	2009–2013	Turkish Cup (1), Super Cup (1)
Eddie Newton	2020	Turkish Cup (1)
Abdullah Avcı	2020–2023	Süper Lig (1), Super Cup (2)

Presidents

Main article: List of presidents of Trabzonspor

No.	President	Trabzonspor
1	Ali Osman Ulusoy	1967–1968
2	Rıfat Dedeoğlu	1968–1969
3	Ali Osman Ulusoy	1969–1970
4	Rıfat Dedeoğlu	1970–1971
5	Suat Oyman	1971–1972
6	Salih Erdem	1972–1975
7	Şamil Ekinci	1975–1980
8	Celal Ataman	1980–1981
9	Mustafa Günaydın	1981–1982
10	Mehmet Ali Yılmaz	1982–1988
11	Mazhar Afacan	1988–1989
12	Mehmet Ali Yılmaz	1989–1992
13	Sadri Şener	1992–1994
14	Faruk Özak	1994–1997
15	Mehmet Ali Yılmaz	1997–2000
16	Özkan Sümer	2000–2003
17	Atay Aktuğ	2003–2006
18	Nuri Albayrak	2006–2008
19	Sadri Şener	2008–2013
20	İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu	2013–2015
21	Muharrem Usta	2015–2018
22	Ahmet Ağaoğlu	2018–2023
23	Ertuğrul Doğan	2023–

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
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

Notes

• TB ^ For information about amateur leagues in Turkey, see this.
• Lig ^ Before 2001, the top-flight was known as the 1.Lig. After 2001 the 1.Lig became the second division, and the 2.Lig became the third division.

External links

• Official website
• Trabzonspor on TFF.org
• Squad, results and fixtures at UEFA