Göztepe S.K.
 | ||||
| Full name | Göztepe Spor Kulübü | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Göz Göz | |||
| Founded | 14 June 1925 (as Göztepe Gençlik Kulübü) | |||
| Ground | Gürsel Aksel Stadium[1] | |||
| Capacity | 19,713[1] | |||
| Owner | Sport Republic[2] | |||
| Chairman | Rasmus Ankersen[1] | |||
| Manager | Stanimir Stoilov | |||
| League | Süper Lig | |||
| 2023–24 | TFF First League, 2nd of 18 (promoted) | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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Göztepe Spor Kulübü Göztepe, officially known as Göztepe Spor Kulübü, is one of the most traditional football clubs in Turkey. The club was founded on June 14, 1925 in Izmir and grew into a major force in Turkish football over the following decades. In its early years, Göztepe played in Izmir's regional leagues before emerging at the national level in the 1950s.
The 1960s and 1970s are considered the golden era of Göztepe. During this time, the club was regularly represented in the highest Turkish league, the Süper Lig, and established itself as one of the strongest teams in the country. The international success was particularly notable in the 1968/69 season, when Göztepe became the first Turkish club to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Göztepe plays its home games at the modern Gürsel Aksel Stadium, which opened in January 2020 and can accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators. The stadium is named after Gürsel Aksel, a legendary player of the club.
In the “all-time table” of Turkish football teams, Göztepe occupies 13th place.
History
[edit]The club was founded at a time when football was becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, especially in large cities such as Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara. Izmir was a cultural and economic center at this time, and sport played an increasingly important role in urban life.
The founding of Göztepe was initiated by a group of football-loving young men from the Göztepe district of Izmir of the same name. This group, who knew each other well in the neighborhood, wanted to set up a club that would organize the neighborhood's youth and promote sporting activities. The name “Göztepe” was chosen based on the district, which lies on the shores of the Aegean Sea and is known for its lively community.
From the very beginning, the founders of Göztepe placed great value on community and cohesion within the club. Göztepe was designed not just as a football club, but as a social center for the district. The association should strengthen the cohesion and identity of the people in Göztepe and offer them a common platform for sporting and cultural activities.
Over the years, Göztepe developed into one of the most famous and successful football clubs in Türkiye. However, the founding idea of promoting community and sport always remained a central part of the club's philosophy. These values have helped Göztepe continue to play an important role in the lives of its supporters and in the history of Turkish football, even after almost a century.
Göztepe as a sports club
[edit]Göztepe is active not only in football but also in several other sports. In addition to a successful handball department that plays in the Turkish Superliga, the club is also involved in basketball, volleyball and sailing. In addition, Göztepe has established an e-sports department in recent years and is represented in sports such as swimming and water polo. This versatility shows that Göztepe has developed into an important multi-sport club that plays an important role in Izmir and Turkey.
Rivalries
[edit]The rivalry between Göztepe Izmir and other sports clubs, especially with Karşıyaka SK, is one of the most intense and oldest in Turkish football. This rivalry is not only of a sporting nature, but also has deep-rooted social and cultural backgrounds. The derby between Göztepe and Karşıyaka, also known as the "Izmir derby", is followed with great passion by the fans of both sides and attracts great attention every time.
The games between these two teams are often characterized by an intense atmosphere, both on the field and in the stands. This rivalry goes beyond football and also reflects the social and economic competition between the two districts. For the fans, the derby means much more than just a game; it is an expression of local identity and pride. In the 1980/81 season, both clubs set the world record for attendance at a second division game on May 18, 1981 with over 80,000 spectators.
In addition to Karşıyaka, Göztepe also has smaller rivalries with other clubs from the region and the Süper Lig, including Altay SK, another major club from Izmir. Even though the rivalry with Altay is not as intense as that with Karşıyaka, there is still a long history of competition between these two clubs.
Takeover by the investment company “Sport Republic”
[edit]In August 2022, Göztepe Izmir experienced a significant change in its ownership structure when the club was acquired by British investment firm Sport Republic. Sport Republic is an investment company specializing in sports and technology, led by business partners Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft. The acquisition of Göztepe marked the company's entry into the Turkish football market and reflected its ambitions to build a global network of football clubs.
The takeover by Sport Republic is seen as part of a strategy to further develop the club sportingly and economically. As the owner of Southampton FC in the English Premier League, Sport Republic already had experience of managing a football club at a high level. The plans for Göztepe are expected to include investments in the team, infrastructure and youth development in order to establish the club sustainably at the top of Turkish football.
For Göztepe fans, the takeover by Sport Republic brought mixed emotions. On the one hand, there is hope that the club will become more successful in the long term thanks to the new investments and international know-how. On the other hand, there were also concerns about how foreign leadership could affect the club's identity and traditions.
Overall, the takeover by Sport Republic is viewed as a new chapter in the history of Göztepe Izmir, which has the potential to take the club to a new level, both at the national and international level.
Gürsel Aksel Stadium
[edit]The Gürsel Aksel Stadium is the home stadium of the Turkish football club Göztepe Izmir and a modern landmark of the city. It opened in January 2020 and can accommodate around 20,000 spectators. The stadium is named after Gürsel Aksel, a club legend and one of the most important players in the history of Göztepe.
The construction of the stadium was an important step for the club, which had previously had to make do without its own, modern stadium for years. With its modern architecture and advanced infrastructure, the Gürsel Aksel Stadium meets the requirements of a contemporary football stadium and represents a significant improvement in playing and spectator conditions. In addition to football matches, the stadium is also suitable for other events and plays a central role in the social and cultural life of Izmir. For Göztepe and its fans, the Gürsel Aksel Stadium symbolizes a new phase in the club's history and underlines the club's claim to permanently establish itself at the top of Turkish football.
Football Fans
[edit]Göztepe Izmir fans are known for their exceptional passion and loyalty. In the 2023/24 season, the club finished fifth in the highest attendance table in both the Süper Lig and the TFF 1. Lig, the second highest Turkish league, with an impressive average attendance of 16,649. This ranking highlights the immense support Göztepe receives from its supporters and highlights the important role fans play for the club.
Göztepe fans in a sold-out stadium
A special dimension of Göztepe fan culture is the close friendship with Sakaryaspor, a club from the city of Sakarya. This fan friendship, which has developed over the years, is based on mutual respect and a shared passion for football. The relationship between the two fan groups is reflected in mutual support and joint activities, which reflects the positive and solidarity side of Turkish football.
There are several influential fan groups within the Göztepe fan scene. The most famous is “Yalı,” known for her vocal support and creative choreographies. This group has a huge influence on the atmosphere at Gürsel Aksel Stadium, providing an impressive visual and audio experience at every game.
Another important fan group is “GözGözAvrupa”, which is characterized by its dedicated support and focus on the club's international presence. This group organizes numerous activities and events in Europe to promote Göztepe's presence at the European level and to represent the club in the international football community. Together, these fan groups contribute significantly to the unique atmosphere that characterizes Göztepe's home games. The mix of passionate support, creative actions and a strong community makes Göztepe fans an integral part of the club and sets it apart from many other Turkish football clubs.
Current squad of the 2024/25 football team
[edit]Last update: 03. August 2024[3]
| Nr. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Birth | In the club since | Contract until | Club before |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkepper | |||||||
| 1 | GK |  Turkey
|
Arda Özçimen | 08. Jan. 2002 | 2018 | 2026 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| 17 | GK | Turkey
|
Ekrem Kilicarslan | 22. Aug.1997 | 2024 | 2025+1 | A. Keciörengücü Turkey
|
| 27 | GK | Turkey
|
Yigit Yildiz | 20. Apr. 2004 | 2024 | 2026 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| Defens | |||||||
| 4 | CB | Turkey
|
Taha Altikardes | 22. Aug. 2003 | 2023 | 2026 | Trabzonspor Turkey
|
| 5 | CB |  Brazil
|
Heliton Jorge Tito dos Santos | 13. Nov. 1991 | 2024 | 2025 | CSKA 1948  Bulgaria
|
| 12 | LB | Turkey
|
İsmail Köybaşı | 10. Jul. 1989 | 2022 | 2025 | Trabzonspor Turkey
|
| 19 | RB | Turkey
|
Ugur Kaan Yildiz | 06. Aug. 2002 | 2022 | 2025 | Fenerbahce Turkey
|
| 20 | LB |  Tanzania
|
Novatus Miroshi | 02. Sep. 2002 | 2024 | 2028 | SV Zulte Waregem  Belgium
|
| 22 | CB | Turkey
|
Koray Günter | 16. Aug. 1994 | 2024 | 2025 | Hellas Verona  Italia
|
| 24 | CB |  Denmark
|
Lasse Nielsen | 08. Jan. 1988 | 2023 | 2025 | Malmö FF  Sweden
|
| 30 | RB | Turkey
|
Nazim Sangaré | 30. May 1994 | 2024 | 2025+1 | Fatih Karagümrük Turkey
|
| 40 | CB | Turkey
|
Ege Yildirim | 18. Apr. 2007 | 2023 | 2026 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| 66 | LB | Brazil
|
Djalma Silva | 19. Sep. 1994 | 2024 | 2025+1 | AEL Limassol  Cyprus
|
| 77 | RB | Turkey
|
Ogün Bayrak | 10. Oct. 1998 | 2023 | 2025 | Ankara Keciörengücü Turkey
|
| Midfield | |||||||
| - | MF | Turkey
|
Tugbey Akgün | 09. Apr. 2003 | 2022 | 2026 | Bursaspor Turkey
|
| 7 | MF |  Japan
|
Kuryu Matsuki | 30. Mar. 2003 | 2024 | 2025 | Southampton  England
|
| 8 | MF | Turkey
|
Amed Ildiz | 28. Nov. 1996 | 2023 | 2025 | Alanyaspor Turkey
|
| 10 | MF | Turkey |
Yalçın Kayan | 30. Jan. 1999 | 2018 | 2025 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| 14 | OMF | Sweden
|
Ramon Pascal Lundqvist | 10. May 1997 | 2024 | 2026 | Sarpsborg 08 FF Denmark
|
| 16 | DMF |  Nigeria
|
Anthony Dennis | 21. Jun. 2004 | 2023 | 2027 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| 18 | MF | Turkey |
İzzet Furkan Malak | 14. Jan. 2005 | 2022 | 2027 | Göztepe Youth Turkey
|
| 21 | DMF | Turkey
|
Dogan Erdogan | 22. Aug. 1996 | 2024 | 2025 | Fortuna Sittard  Netherlands
|
| 43 | OMF |  Slovenia
|
David Tijanic | 16. Jul. 1997 | 2021 | 2026 | Rakow  Poland
|
| 94 | DMF |  Central Africa  France
|
Isaac Solet | 16. Jun. 2001 | 2024 | 2025 | Slawia Sofia Bulgaria
|
| Striker | |||||||
| 9 | FW | Turkey
|
Kubilay Kanatsizkus | 28. Mar. 1997 | 2023 | 2025 | Caykur Rizespor Turkey
|
| 79 | FW | Brazil |
Romulo Jose Cardoso da Cruz | 08. Feb. 2002 | 2024 | 2025 | Athletico PR Brazil
|
Current transfers of the football team for the 2024/25 season
[edit]Last Update: 03. August 2024[3]
| Player Signings | Player departures |
Summer 2024
Loan:
|
Summer 2024
Loan end:
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Club details Archived 29 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine tff.org. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Soccer – Southampton owner Sport Republic acquire controlling stake in Turkish club Goztepe". Reuters. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Sporcularımız" (in Turkish). Göztepe Spor Kulübü. Retrieved 29 October 2022.