ALTINORDU FK HISTORY
Altınordu Sports Club was founded on December 26, 1923, in Izmir.
ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD
Altınordu Sports Club was founded on December 26, 1923, in Izmir. The red color symbolizes the blood of the anonymous heroes and martyrs of the War of Independence, while the navy blue color represents strength and durability, derived from steel. The founders of the club are Süleyman Ferit Bey (Eczacıbaşı), Ahmet Şerafettin Bey, Kemal Kamil Bey (Aktaş), Edip Berkant Bey, Eczacı Sermet Bey, Numanzade Ali Rıza Bey, Muallim Mehmet Rıza Bey, Doctor Hacı Hasanzade Ethem Bey, Katip Selami Bey, Surgeon Necipzade Ali Bey, and Eczacı Rıza Bey. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, sports activities that were halted due to the War of Independence were revived, and Altınay in Eşrefpaşa and Sakarya clubs on Mısırlı Avenue (current Hatay Avenue) were added alongside Karşıyaka (1912) and Altay (1914). However, no sports club could be established in the Basmane-Tilkilik-Namazgâh neighborhoods where the oldest families of Izmir resided. Mustafa (Balöz), Hüseyin (Yurdakul), and Mehmet Hancıoğlu’s (Hoca Mehmet) efforts and the idea of establishing a sports club in this area through Doctor Hacı Hasanzade Ethem Bey, who was a resident of the neighborhood, were shared with the other elders of the neighborhood gathered at Ragıp Pasha Kıraathane. Everyone agreed on the idea, and the matter was also explained to Süleyman Ferit Bey. Süleyman Ferit Bey was familiar with the neighborhoods of Tilkilik-Hatuniye-Namazgah and İkiçeşmelik. He knew the prominent residents of these neighborhoods well and was aware that there were people among them with whom he had formed a bond of solidarity during the National Liberation War years. He immediately explained to his friends that this work should be done and then provided a copy of the society's regulations from the Vilayet Mektubi Kalemi to start their work.
CHOOSING THE NAME "ALTINORDU"
The most important step was choosing the name for the club... Important discussions about the name were held almost every day. The enemy had been defeated, the homeland had been saved, and our heroic army had achieved a great victory. A name that would be suitable for this magnificent picture was being sought. The names Zafer (Victory), Hilal (Crescent), and Kurtuluş (Liberation) were considered. Different names were proposed in each meeting. Among these, the names Göktürk and Sakatürk started to gain prominence. Muallim Mehmet Rıza Bey, who was present at the meeting, insisted on the name Göktürk. Süleyman Ferit Bey (Eczacıbaşı), who was chairing the meeting, proposed the idea of using the name "Altınordu," which was another great Turkish Empire, without any objections. This proposal was unanimously accepted, and the club's name was officially established as Altınordu. Süleyman Ferit Bey became both the namesake and the founding president of Altınordu.
ALTINORDU IN ISTANBUL
After the founding management was formed, it was discovered that there was another club with the same name in Istanbul. The situation was referred to Deputy Governor Murat Bey, and it was determined that it would not be an obstacle. Consequently, the club's name was formalized, and Altınordu Sports Club was officially established on December 26, 1923. Altınordu played its first official match in history against Altay. Shortly after the club was established, Altınordu won this match, organized under the name Şifa Eczanesi Cup, with a score of 2-1.
THE BEGINNING OF FOOTBALL EXCITEMENT
Altınordu, which became the champion of the Izmir League six times, started competing in the Milli Lig when it was organized in 1959. Altınordu couldn't achieve the desired success in the first two seasons and avoided relegation through the play-off matches. In the 1961-1962 season, the club finished 8th in the league, achieving a good ranking. However, Altınordu couldn't avoid relegation in the 1964-1965 season. However, they managed to return to the Milli Lig the following year. Altınordu's adventure in the 1st Lig ended in the 1969-70 season. After being relegated to the 2nd Lig that season, Altınordu managed to return to the 1st Lig in just one year. Meanwhile, Altınordu made a name for itself in basketball with its achievements at the national level. They became the first champions of the Men's Basketball 1st League in the 1966-67 season. Altınordu competed uninterrupted in the 2nd Lig for 13 seasons but finished 3rd from the bottom in Group B of the 2nd Lig in the 1991-1992 season, relegating to the 3rd Lig. In the 1995-1996 season, they finished last in Group 7 of the 3rd Lig, relegating to the Amateur League. Altınordu fought for the championship in the Amateur League for 6 years but broke the spell in the 2002-2003 season, saying "hello" to the 3rd Lig after years. In the play-off series held in Trabzon in 2007-2008, Altınordu eliminated Bingöl Belediyespor and Keçiörengücü and secured a place in the 2nd Lig. However, the club couldn't find the desired stability and got relegated to the 3rd Lig again in the 2008-2009 season. In the 2010-2011 season, they finished 5th in their group, qualifying for the play-offs. In the play-off matches, they defeated Afyonkarahisarspor in the semifinals and Darıca Gençlerbirliği in the final, returning to the TFF 2nd Lig
TRANSITION TO A CORPORATION
Immediately after the team's relegation, a general assembly meeting was held in July, and a decision was made for the club to transition into a corporation. Seyit Mehmet Özkan, a well-known figure in Izmir football, and Altınordu started positive discussions in early July, which lasted for about a month, resulting in the establishment of Altınordu Football Investments Joint Stock Company.
On August 8, 2012, the Turkish Football Federation approved the decision to change Altınordu Sports Club's name to Altınordu Football Investments Joint Stock Company. Seyit Mehmet Özkan became the president of Altınordu A.S., and Hüseyin Eroğlu became the team's first head coach. Altınordu achieved significant success in its first season in the 3rd Lig and secured the championship two weeks before the end of the season. Altınordu also won the championship in the 2013-2014 season, securing promotion to the Spor Toto 1st League.
During their time in the TFF 1st League, Altınordu consistently maintained their Play-Off contention in three seasons. They finished 7th with 53 points and a triple tiebreaker in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, but missed the Play-Offs by just one point in the 2018-2019 season. The 2019-2020 season was played under the threat of the pandemic, which affected the whole world. Altınordu finished the league in 14th place with 37 points.
In the 2020-2021 season, Altınordu finished the regular season in 6th place with 60 points, qualifying for the TFF 1st League Play-Offs for the first time in their history. In the Play-Off stage, they defeated Samsunspor 1-0 in the first match and drew 2-2 in the second match, advancing to the final. In the final match played in Istanbul, they lost 1-0 to Altay, finishing the Play-Off stage in 2nd place.
SEASONS AND LEAGUES
Süper Lig: 1959-1965, 1966-1970
1. Lig: 1965-1966, 1970-1978, 1979-1992, 2014-2022
2. Lig: 1978-1979, 1992-1996, 2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2023-2024, 2024-2025
3. Lig: 2003-2008, 2009-2011, 2012-2013
Amateur League: 1925-1959, 1996-2003
Altınordu Sports Club was founded on December 26, 1923, in Izmir. The red color symbolizes the blood of the anonymous heroes and martyrs of the War of Independence, while the navy blue color represents strength and durability, derived from steel. The founders of the club are Süleyman Ferit Bey (Eczacıbaşı), Ahmet Şerafettin Bey, Kemal Kamil Bey (Aktaş), Edip Berkant Bey, Eczacı Sermet Bey, Numanzade Ali Rıza Bey, Muallim Mehmet Rıza Bey, Doctor Hacı Hasanzade Ethem Bey, Katip Selami Bey, Surgeon Necipzade Ali Bey, and Eczacı Rıza Bey. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, sports activities that were halted due to the War of Independence were revived, and Altınay in Eşrefpaşa and Sakarya clubs on Mısırlı Avenue (current Hatay Avenue) were added alongside Karşıyaka (1912) and Altay (1914). However, no sports club could be established in the Basmane-Tilkilik-Namazgâh neighborhoods where the oldest families of Izmir resided. Mustafa (Balöz), Hüseyin (Yurdakul), and Mehmet Hancıoğlu’s (Hoca Mehmet) efforts and the idea of establishing a sports club in this area through Doctor Hacı Hasanzade Ethem Bey, who was a resident of the neighborhood, were shared with the other elders of the neighborhood gathered at Ragıp Pasha Kıraathane. Everyone agreed on the idea, and the matter was also explained to Süleyman Ferit Bey. Süleyman Ferit Bey was familiar with the neighborhoods of Tilkilik-Hatuniye-Namazgah and İkiçeşmelik. He knew the prominent residents of these neighborhoods well and was aware that there were people among them with whom he had formed a bond of solidarity during the National Liberation War years. He immediately explained to his friends that this work should be done and then provided a copy of the society's regulations from the Vilayet Mektubi Kalemi to start their work.
CHOOSING THE NAME "ALTINORDU"
The most important step was choosing the name for the club... Important discussions about the name were held almost every day. The enemy had been defeated, the homeland had been saved, and our heroic army had achieved a great victory. A name that would be suitable for this magnificent picture was being sought. The names Zafer (Victory), Hilal (Crescent), and Kurtuluş (Liberation) were considered. Different names were proposed in each meeting. Among these, the names Göktürk and Sakatürk started to gain prominence. Muallim Mehmet Rıza Bey, who was present at the meeting, insisted on the name Göktürk. Süleyman Ferit Bey (Eczacıbaşı), who was chairing the meeting, proposed the idea of using the name "Altınordu," which was another great Turkish Empire, without any objections. This proposal was unanimously accepted, and the club's name was officially established as Altınordu. Süleyman Ferit Bey became both the namesake and the founding president of Altınordu.
ALTINORDU IN ISTANBUL
After the founding management was formed, it was discovered that there was another club with the same name in Istanbul. The situation was referred to Deputy Governor Murat Bey, and it was determined that it would not be an obstacle. Consequently, the club's name was formalized, and Altınordu Sports Club was officially established on December 26, 1923. Altınordu played its first official match in history against Altay. Shortly after the club was established, Altınordu won this match, organized under the name Şifa Eczanesi Cup, with a score of 2-1.
THE BEGINNING OF FOOTBALL EXCITEMENT
Altınordu, which became the champion of the Izmir League six times, started competing in the Milli Lig when it was organized in 1959. Altınordu couldn't achieve the desired success in the first two seasons and avoided relegation through the play-off matches. In the 1961-1962 season, the club finished 8th in the league, achieving a good ranking. However, Altınordu couldn't avoid relegation in the 1964-1965 season. However, they managed to return to the Milli Lig the following year. Altınordu's adventure in the 1st Lig ended in the 1969-70 season. After being relegated to the 2nd Lig that season, Altınordu managed to return to the 1st Lig in just one year. Meanwhile, Altınordu made a name for itself in basketball with its achievements at the national level. They became the first champions of the Men's Basketball 1st League in the 1966-67 season. Altınordu competed uninterrupted in the 2nd Lig for 13 seasons but finished 3rd from the bottom in Group B of the 2nd Lig in the 1991-1992 season, relegating to the 3rd Lig. In the 1995-1996 season, they finished last in Group 7 of the 3rd Lig, relegating to the Amateur League. Altınordu fought for the championship in the Amateur League for 6 years but broke the spell in the 2002-2003 season, saying "hello" to the 3rd Lig after years. In the play-off series held in Trabzon in 2007-2008, Altınordu eliminated Bingöl Belediyespor and Keçiörengücü and secured a place in the 2nd Lig. However, the club couldn't find the desired stability and got relegated to the 3rd Lig again in the 2008-2009 season. In the 2010-2011 season, they finished 5th in their group, qualifying for the play-offs. In the play-off matches, they defeated Afyonkarahisarspor in the semifinals and Darıca Gençlerbirliği in the final, returning to the TFF 2nd Lig
TRANSITION TO A CORPORATION
Immediately after the team's relegation, a general assembly meeting was held in July, and a decision was made for the club to transition into a corporation. Seyit Mehmet Özkan, a well-known figure in Izmir football, and Altınordu started positive discussions in early July, which lasted for about a month, resulting in the establishment of Altınordu Football Investments Joint Stock Company.
On August 8, 2012, the Turkish Football Federation approved the decision to change Altınordu Sports Club's name to Altınordu Football Investments Joint Stock Company. Seyit Mehmet Özkan became the president of Altınordu A.S., and Hüseyin Eroğlu became the team's first head coach. Altınordu achieved significant success in its first season in the 3rd Lig and secured the championship two weeks before the end of the season. Altınordu also won the championship in the 2013-2014 season, securing promotion to the Spor Toto 1st League.
During their time in the TFF 1st League, Altınordu consistently maintained their Play-Off contention in three seasons. They finished 7th with 53 points and a triple tiebreaker in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, but missed the Play-Offs by just one point in the 2018-2019 season. The 2019-2020 season was played under the threat of the pandemic, which affected the whole world. Altınordu finished the league in 14th place with 37 points.
In the 2020-2021 season, Altınordu finished the regular season in 6th place with 60 points, qualifying for the TFF 1st League Play-Offs for the first time in their history. In the Play-Off stage, they defeated Samsunspor 1-0 in the first match and drew 2-2 in the second match, advancing to the final. In the final match played in Istanbul, they lost 1-0 to Altay, finishing the Play-Off stage in 2nd place.
SEASONS AND LEAGUES
Süper Lig: 1959-1965, 1966-1970
1. Lig: 1965-1966, 1970-1978, 1979-1992, 2014-2022
2. Lig: 1978-1979, 1992-1996, 2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2023-2024, 2024-2025
3. Lig: 2003-2008, 2009-2011, 2012-2013
Amateur League: 1925-1959, 1996-2003