Antalyaspor

Foundation

Following the establishment of a national football league in Turkey and the growing public interest in the sport, local leagues were abolished and national leagues began to take shape. With the directive issued by the Turkish Football Federation in 1965 for each province to have a team, various local football clubs across Turkey merged to represent their respective cities in national competitions. This momentum also reached Antalya, prompting the Regional Advisory Board of the Antalya Regional Directorate of Physical Education to take action. On 5 June 1966, the directors of the clubs Yenikapı Suspor, İlk Işık, and Ferrokromspor convened with the intention of establishing Antalyaspor. These clubs dissolved their legal entities and declared their participation in the foundation of Antalyaspor. Shortly after, a board of directors was formed by founding members as outlined in Article 2 of the statute published in the local newspaper İleri Gazetesi. Antalyaspor was officially registered and recognized by the authorities on 2 July 1966.

1966–1989: Early Years and Rise to Top Flight

Antalyaspor entered professional football in the 1966–67 season, joining the Red Group of the Turkish Second Division (2. Lig). Between 1966 and 1970, the club played 134 matches, recording 53 wins, 45 draws, and 46 losses, with a win rate of 39.55% and an overall success rate of 56.71%. The club played its first professional match on 11 November 1966 against Edirnespor,…

Antalyaspor has seen a diverse mix of coaches over the decades, with Turkish managers dominating its history. The club's early years were marked by short-term appointments, but figures like Yılmaz Gökdel and Metin Türel brought more consistency. Foreign influence has occasionally shaped the team, with coaches like Valeriu Neagu, Jozef Jarabinský, and Rüdiger Abramczik leaving notable marks. In recent years, high-profile names such as Leonardo and Alex de Souza have added international flair. The club's most stable period came under Mehmet Özdilek, while modern icons like Nuri Şahin and Emre Belözoğlu symbolize a shift toward younger, domestic leadership.

Since its establishment, Antalyaspor has been led by a wide range of chairmen, primarily local figures from Antalya's political and business circles. The club's early leadership featured short and often undocumented terms, while later years brought more structured presidencies. Longest-serving names include Atilla Konuk and Hasan Subaşı, who oversaw key developments in the club's growth. More recently, figures like Ali Şafak Öztürk and Aziz Çetin have played prominent roles in modernizing the organization. On 18 July 2025, Rıza Perçin was unanimously elected as the new president of Antalyaspor during the club's General Assembly. His executive board was officially approved by the council and he formally assumed office.

1. Lig (second tier) Champions: 1981–82, 1985–86 Play-off winners: 2014–15 Runners-up: 2005–06, 2007–08 Turkish Cup Runners-up: 1999–2000, 2020–21 Turkish Super Cup Runners-up: 2021