Adanaspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club based in Adana; currently, they play in the TFF First League.
The club was founded in 1954 by middle-class merchants and artisans in response to their perceived alienation within the city's then most popular club, Adana Demirspor, who were supported by workers, financed by landowners, and governed by TCDD staff. The two clubs first played against each other in 1956, with the match becoming known as the Adana derby. Both clubs have fiercely competed for citywide support and domination since then, and each club's fans believe their club to be the true representation of the city of Adana. In addition, Adanaspor's home ground, Adana Stadium, is shared with their archrivals, which intesifies their matches even further.[3] Adanaspor's jersey colors, orange and white, symbolize oranges and cotton, the main harvests of the city.[4]
Adanaspor were one of the most successful clubs of the Turkish Football League in 1970s and early 1980s. Toros Kaplanları (Taurus Tigers) were the Runners-up for the 1980-81 season, having participated at the top division for a total of 22 years. The club also competed in the UEFA Cup for three years.[5]
History
Club entrance
A club under the name of Adanaspor was first founded in 1932; it competed in the Adana Amateur League. Orhan Kemal (the pen name of internationally known novelist Mehmet Raşit Öğütçü) played for this iteration of the club.[6]
Club badge 1954–67
However, the club that would become Adanaspor was founded on January 23, 1954 by Mehmet Şanlıtürk, Mustafa Bekbaş, Erol Erk, Ali Gedikbaş and Dr. Muzaffer Eraslan. The club's original colours were yellow and navy, and it competed in the amateur league until 1966, when Adanaspor merged with Akinspor and Torosspor in order to become a fully professional club. The "new" club was admitted into the 2. Lig (the Second Division of Turkish football) in its first season as a professional club. After the merge, the club colours were changed to orange and white.[5]
Adanaspor competed in the 2. Lig until they earned promotion to the 1. Lig (Süper Lig) at the conclusion of the 1970–71 season [tr]. They spent thirteen straight years in the 1. Lig, from 1971–84, competing in the UEFA Cup three times, and the Balkans Cup once.[5] Adanaspor won its first cup, the Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı Kupası [tr], in 1973. They defeated İzmir Denizgücü SK [tr] 2–0 in the final, with Behçet Arkun and Orhan Yalçınkaya scoring the goals.
At the end of the 1975–76 season [tr], Adanaspor finished fourth,[7] their highest finish in the top-flight at the time. Not long after, they went on to better their record, finishing second in 1980–81 [tr]. Despite the apparent success and upward progression, Adanaspor's fortunes took a turn for the worse, and they were relegated for the first time in 1984. They earned promotion in 1988 after winning the 2. Lig, but 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.[5]
The club spent the next several years bouncing back and forth between leagues, then spiraled out of control in the mid-2000s, culminating in a declaration of bankruptcy in 2005. During this period, Adanaspor were relegated three times in a row, ending up in the 3. Lig (Fourth Division) in 2006.
However, after hitting "rock bottom," their fortunes changed. Adanaspor earned double promotions in 2006–07 and 2007–08, and became regulars in the 1. Lig (Second Division) for the next decade, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Süper Lig at the end of the 2009–10 season.[5] In 2011–12, they were again provided a chance to return to the top level of Turkish football, after qualifying to the Promotion Play-offs with a 6th place finish. They defeated Çaykur Rizespor 4–1 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinal, but lost 3-2 to Kasımpaşa after extra time in the Play-off Final. Finally, on 24 April 2016, after 12 years in the lower leagues, Adanaspor guaranteed their place in the Süper Lig for the 2016-17 season after coming back from 0–2 deficit to defeat Gaziantep BB 3–2 away from home. Unfortunately, after one season in the Süper Lig, they were immediately relegated back to the First League, where they have competed since.
Stadium and the facilities
Adanaspor fan section
Adanaspor play their home matches at the Adana Stadium in Sarıçam district since February 2021. South side of the stadium are designated for Adanaspor fans and are painted to orange and white. The stadium has a seating capacity of 33,543 and it is shared with Adana Demirspor. The club played their home games at the 5 Ocak Stadium from 1954 to 2021.
Professional football team training ground is the Çatalan Tesisleri, 25 km north of the city, in the Karaisalı district. The facility has 4 football fields, swimming pool, fitness center and staff-player residences. The main facility for the youth teams is the Osman Yereşen Facility in the Çukurova district. The facility has two pitch and a residence building. Some age groups of the youth team train at the Gündüz Tekin Onay training facility, which is also in Çukurova district.[8]
Supporters and rivalries
Adanaspor products sold before a match
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 10,000 to 15,000 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 1,500, 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 (South Stands) which they call it the 'Arjantin Köşe' (en:Argentine Corner). 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.[4] 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 1,600-seat South Stand and when Adanaspor is hosting, Adana Demirspor fans are only allowed to the 1,600-seat North Stand.
37°01′57″N35°15′45″E / 37.03250°N 35.26250°E / 37.03250; 35.26250
^At the time of their win, the 2. Lig was the Second Division in the Turkish football league system. However, after the 1. Lig became the Süper Lig in 2001, the 2. Lig became the 1. Lig and a newly created 2. Lig was put into place. The old 2. Lig became the 3. Lig.
