Eyüpspor

Eyüpspor Kulübü, commonly known as Eyüpspor, is a Turkish professional football club based in the Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul. Founded in 1919, the club has deep roots in the city's Golden Horn (Haliç) area and currently competes in the Süper Lig, the top tier of Turkish football. Their traditional colors are purple and yellow, and they have a passionate local following that gives them the feel of a true neighborhood club.

The team's home ground has historically been the Eyüp Stadium, but after earning promotion to the Süper Lig, they have played at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium and later at Pendik Stadium while a new or redeveloped venue in Eyüpsultan is being pursued to meet modern standards. Eyüpspor's rise through the divisions has been remarkable: they won the TFF First League in 2023–24 to secure their first-ever Süper Lig appearance, adding to previous titles in the TFF Second League (2020–21) and two TFF Third League championships (1986–87, 2014–15).

The club's recent success has been guided by chairman Murat Özkaya and, after promotion under former Turkey international Arda Turan, the coaching reins were later taken over by Selçuk Şahin, another ex-national player. However, the club has faced turmoil off the pitch: Özkaya, who is also a Galatasaray congress member, was arrested in connection with match-fixing allegations tied to the 2025 Turkish football betting scandal. Since then, ownership has passed to Turkey's Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Despite these challenges, Eyüpspor remains a competitive side with a strong identity, and their local derbies, particularly the "Haliç Derby" against Kasımpaşa S.K., add extra spice to their fixtures. [edit]

Eyüpspor was originally established as Eyüp İdman Yurdu in 1919, making it one of the oldest football clubs in Istanbul. The club spent most of its early decades in the lower tiers of Turkish football, with occasional appearances in the second division. The first major silverware came in 1986–87 when they won the TFF Third League, but the club soon slipped back into obscurity.

A second Third League title arrived in 2014–15, followed by a Second League championship in 2020–21. The turning point came under manager Arda Turan, who led the team to the TFF First League title in 2023–24, securing a historic first-ever promotion to the Süper Lig. The club's rapid ascent has been accompanied by significant investment in the squad, with record transfer fees paid during the 2026–27 season.

Off the pitch, the club has faced serious administrative turbulence. Chairman Murat Özkaya was arrested in connection with the 2025 Turkish football betting scandal, and ownership subsequently transferred to the state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Despite these challenges, Eyüpspor has continued to compete in the top flight, and the club's social media presence has grown substantially, with over 14,000 Facebook likes and active accounts on X and Instagram. [edit]