Antalyaspor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 07/2015

Full name
Antalyaspor Kulübü

Nicknames
Akrepler (Scorpions)

Founded
2 July 1966

Ground
Akdeniz University Stadium, Antalya 
and New Antalya Stadium (future)

Capacity
7,083 and 41,703

President
Gültekin Gencer

Manager
Yusuf Şimşek

League
Süper Lig

2014-15
TFF First League, 4th (Promoted)

Antalyaspor is a Turkish professional football club located in the city of Antalya. 

The club colours are red and white and they play their home matches at Akdeniz University Stadium.

Domestically, the club has won the 2.Lig twice, in 1982 and 1986. 

They also finished as runners-up for the Türkiye Kupası in 2000.

HISTORY

Antalyaspor were established in 1966 after three local teams united to establish a club for the coastal city of Antalya. 

These teams were Yenikapı SuSpor, İlk Işıkspor and Ferrokromspor. 

The club competed in the lower divisions of the Turkish football league system before earning promotion to the Süper Lig in 1982. 

Their first stint of top-flight football lasted two years, as they were relegated back to the 2.Lig at the end of the 1984-85 season. 

They were promoted the next season, but were relegated just as fast. 

They competed in the 2.Lig until the end of the 1993-94 season, when they beat Istanbulspor 3:2 after extra time in the final of the promotion playoffs.

Their longest stint of top-flight football lasted until 2002. 

In that time span, the club competed continentally in the Intertoto Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once.

They reached the finals of the Turkish Cup in 2000, but lost 5:3 after extra time to Galatasaray.

Antalyaspor competed in the UEFA Cup the following season, defeating Werder Bremen 2:0 after home, before losing 6:0 in the second leg.

The club was relegated at the end of the 2001-02 season, finishing one point below the relegation zone.

The club earned promotion back to the Süper Lig after placing second in the 2005-06 1.Lig. 

On 3 December 2006, Pavol Straka scored the clubs 500th goal in top-flight football.

The following year they were relegated back to the 1.Lig, but earned promotion again the next season. 

They finished ninth at the end of the 2009-10 season.

The club emblem includes capital letters A and S which stand for Antalya and Spor (sport in Turkish) respectively. 

In the middle of these letters, there is the figure of Yivli Minare which is one of the several symbols of the city of Antalya. 

Three rectangular shapes on the Yivli Minare means the unite of three teams of Antalya.

STADIUM

Antalyaspor play their home matches at Akdeniz University Stadium. 

The stadium seats ~7,083 spectators.

RELATIONSHIP WIT KOCAELISPOR AFTER THE KOCAELI EARTHQUAKE

Antalyaspor have close relations with Kocaelispor. 

This goes back to the 1999 İzmit earthquake, which had a devastating effect on the city of İzmit. 

Turkish cities unaffected by the earthquake gave refuge to those left homeless. 

Among the refugees, who fled the region to seek refuge in Antalya were Kocaelispor ultras, who go by the name, 'Hodrimeydan'.

The league carried on despite the chaos caused by the earthquake. 

Kocaelispor soon had an away game against Denizlispor to which two coach loads of Antalyaspor supporters traveled too in support of the people of İzmit, who were going through tough times. 

Inspired by this show of support, Kocaelispor supporters travelled to Antalyaspor's cup final game against Galatasaray S.K. in Diyarbakır. 

The two teams supporters continued to make similar gestures to each other, and a strong bond was built between 'Hodrimeydan' and the Antalyaspor ultragroup 'Gençlik 07'. 

The supporters have a great relationship today and sit in mixed stands when the two clubs play each other.

Players