Adanaspor
Adanaspor is a professional football club based in Adana, currently performing at the TFF First League. The club is founded in 1954 by the middle-class merchants and artisans in response to the alienation within city's then most popular club, Adana Demirspor, who were supported by workers, financed by landowners and governed by TCDD staff. Having played their first game in 1956 and became internationally known as Adana derby, both clubs compete for the citywide support and domination since then. Adanaspor jersey colors, orange-white, symbolizes orange and cotton, the main harvests and believed by the club fans to be the true representation of the city. Adanaspor shares the 5 Ocak Stadı as homeground with their archrival since foundation.
Adanaspor were one of the most successful clubs of Turkish Football League in 1970s and early 1980s. Toros Kaplanları were the Runners-up at the 1980-81 season, having participated at the top division for total of 22 years. The club also competed at the UEFA Cup for three years.
History
A club under the name of Adanaspor was first founded in 1932 and competed in the Adana Amateur League. Orhan Kemal pen named internationally known novelist Mehmet Raşit Öğütçü was one of the first players of this club.Current Adanaspor were founded on January 23, 1954 by Mehmet Şanlıtürk, Mustafa Bekbaş, Erol Erk, Ali Gedikbaş and Dr. Muzaffer Eraslan. The clubs' original colours were yellow and navy. They competed in the amateur league until 1966. Adanaspor merged with Akinspor and Torosspor in order to become a fully professional club. They were admitted into the 2. Lig in their first season as a professional club. After the merge, they changed their colours to orange and white.
The club competed in the 2. Lig until they earned promotion to the 1. Lig at the conclusion of the 1970–71 season. They won their first cup, the Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı Kupası in 1973. Adanaspor defeated İzmir Denizgücü 2–0 in the final, with Behçet Arkun and Orhan Yalçınkaya scoring the goals. They spent thirteen straight years in the 1. Lig, from 1971–84, competing in the UEFA Cup three times and the Balkans Cup once.
Adanaspor finished fourth at the end of 1975–76 season, their highest finish in the top-flight at the time. They went on to best their record, finishing second in 1980–81. They were relegated for the first time in 1984, but earned promotion back in 1988 after winning the 2. Lig. However, due to financial troubles, the club could not keep up their level of performance and were relegated back to the 2. Lig at the end of the 1990–91 season.
The club spent the next several years bouncing back and forth between leagues. The club spiraled out of control in the mid-2000s, declaring bankruptcy in 2005. They were relegated three times in a row, ending up in the 3. Lig in 2006. However, they earned double promotion in 2006–07 and 2007–08. They had been competing in the 1. Lig until 2016, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Süper Lig at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Adanaspor finished 6th 1st League in 2011–12 season and qualified to Promotion Play-offs. They defeated Çaykur Rizespor with a 4–1 aggregate but were beaten by Kasımpaşa a 3–2 score after extra time and missed return to top level. Finally Adanaspor guaranteed to return Süper Lig after defeating Gaziantep BB as 3–2 at away match coming from 0–2 deficit on 24 April 2016.
Stadium and Facilities
Adanaspor play their home matches at Adana 5 Ocak Stadı, a multi-purpose stadium they share with Adana Demirspor. The stadium opened in 1973 and has a capacity of 16,095 seats, all-seated. The field measures 68 by 105 meters and is covered with grass. The stadium also has floodlights.Professional football team training ground is the Osman Yereşen Facility in the Belediye Evleri mahalle of the Çukurova district. The facility has two pitch and a residence building. The other facility, Çatalan Tesisleri, 25 km north of the city, in the Karaisalı district used mostly as a camping ground. Youth teams office are located at the 5 Ocak Stadium.
Squad
Current squad
Out on loan
League participations
- Adana League: 12 years/ 1954–66
- Turkish Football League: 55 years/ 1966-
- * Süper Lig: 22 years/ 1971–84, 1988–91, 1998–01, 2002–04, 2016–2017
- * 1. Lig: 29 years/ 1966–71, 1984–88, 1991–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2008–16, 2017-
- * 2. Lig: 2 years/ 2005–06, 2007–08,
- * 3. Lig: 1 year/ 2006–07
Honours
- Süper Lig
- *Runners-up : 1980–81
- *Third Place : 1975–76
- 1. Lig
- *Winners :1970–71, 1987–88, 2015–16
- 2. Lig
- *Runners-up : 2007–08
- 3. Lig
- *Winners : 2006–07
European Participations
Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
1976–77 | 1R | Salzburg | 2–0 | 0–5 | 2–5 |
1978–79 | 1R | Budapest Honvéd | 2–2 | 0–6 | 2–8 |
1981–82 | 1R | Inter Milan | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–7 |
Supporters and rivalries
Adanaspor are traditionally supported by the merchants and artisans of the city. Until the change in the club management in early 2000s, Adanaspor had a loyal fan base and had spectator average of 10000 to 15000 at every game. Since the club converted into a one-owner private company, although they continued to be supported at a good season, level of loyalty diminished sharply. During the seasons in which Adanaspor had poor results, average number of spectators fell down to 1500, way below the averages of the years from 1970 to 2000.Adanaspor's main supporters group is Turbeyler. Their permanent location at the 5 Ocak Stadium is the GKA which they call it the 'Arjantin Köşe'. Before 2000s at the derby matches, the West and the large East stand were shared equally by Adana Demir and Adanaspor fans, Adana Demir fans settle at the north seats of these Stands and Adanaspor fans settle at the south section. Since 2000s, the entire West and East Stands were open only to the fans of the official host of the derby match. When Adana Demirspor is hosting, Adanaspor fans are only allowed to the 1600-seat South Stand and when Adanaspor is hosting, Adana Demirspor fans are only allowed to the 1600-seat North Stand.
Adanaspor are not known to have any political tendencies, however they were once owned by communications industry mogul Cem Uzan, who had links to the nationalist Youth Party.