Altay S.K.

Altay Spor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club based in the city of İzmir.

Formed in 1914, Altay are nicknamed Büyük Altay (Great Altay). The club colors are black and white, and they play their home matches at the Alsancak Mustafa Denizli Stadium.

Domestically, the club has finished third place for the Süper Lig three times and won the Turkish Cup twice. They hold the record for most İzmir Football League titles with 14. They are the most successful İzmir-based club with 16 championships in various competitions.

Collecting 24 points in the first half of the 1969–70 season in undefeated 15 games with 9 wins and 6 draws, Altay SK is one of three non-champion clubs that topped the first half of 1. Lig table, along with Kocaelispor in 1992–93, and Sivasspor in 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2019–20.

History

Altay was founded in 1914 in İzmir as İstiklal. The initial aim of the club was to encourage and unite Turkish youth through sporting activities, because in the 1910s early 20s, Greeks and their teams (Panionios and Apollon Smyrnis) dominated football activities in İzmir. Under Ottoman rule, Turkish footballers were unable to compete. Altay was supported by many prominent Turkish politicians of the era. Former Turkish President Celal Bayar worked very hard in founding the club and gave his full support.[citation needed]

Altay has an important place in Turkey's football history. The club had a key role in uniting the Turkish community during the Turkish War of Independence.[citation needed] Many players and supporters of Altay SK lost their lives in the Turkish War of Independence.[citation needed] After the Surname Law was adopted, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave General Fahreddin Pasha the surname of "Altay". Altay plays in the İzmir Alsancak Stadium first built in 1929 and was rebuilt in 2021.

Honours

National Championships

• Süper Lig Third place (3): 1956–57, 1969–70, 1976–77
• Turkish Football Championship Runners-up (2): 1934, 1951
• TFF First League Winners (1): 2001–02 Runners-up (2): 1983–84, 1990–91
• Turkish Football Federation Cup Winners (1): 2006–07 Runners-up (1): 1963–64

National Cups

• Turkish Cup Winners (2): 1966–67, 1979–80 Runners-up (5): 1963–64, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1978–79, 1985–86
• Super Cup Runners-up (2): 1967, 1980
• Prime Minister's Cup Runners-up (3): 1972, 1979, 1986
• Organ Doğan Cup Runners-up (18): 1936, 1937, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1961, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1984, 2004, 2005, 2021
• Ayçilek Doğan Cup Runners-up (2): 1973, 1978
• Tore Doğan Cup Runners-up (1): 1976
• Aydin Doğan Cup Runners-up (3): 1963, 1964, 1986

Regional competitions

• İzmir Professional League Winners (2): 1956–57, 1957–58
• İzmir Football League Winners (14) (record): 1923–24, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1936–37, 1940–41, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58

1Altay won the championship as "Üçok" (Three arrows), an alliance between Altay, Altınordu, and Bucaspor.

League participations

• Super League: 1958–83, 1984–90, 1991–2000, 2002–03, 2021–2022
• TFF First League: 1983–84, 1990–91, 2000–02, 2003–11, 2018–21, 2022–2024
• TFF Second League: 2011–15, 2017–18, 2024–25
• TFF Third League: 2015–17, 2025–

European record

As of 25 July 1998

1 UEFA edition.

2 non-UEFA edition.

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:

UEFA Cup:

UEFA Intertoto Cup:

1 The tournament was founded in 1961–62, but was only taken over by UEFA in 1995.

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup:

Balkans Cup:

UEFA Ranking history:

As of 1982

Players

Current squad

As of 11 February 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. 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.

See also

• List of Turkish sports clubs by foundation dates
• Altay–Göztepe derby
• Altay S.K. (women's football)

Sources

• (in Turkish)

External links

• on TFF.org