Altay Spor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club based in the city of ðzmir.
Formed in 1914, Altay are nicknamed Büyük Altay (Great Altay). The club colors are black and white, and they play their home matches at the Alsancak Mustafa Denizli Stadium.
Domestically, the club has finished third place for the Süper Lig three times and won the Turkish Cup twice. They hold the record for most ðzmir Football League titles with 14. They are the most successful ðzmir-based club with 16 championships in various competitions.
Collecting 24 points in the first half of the 1969âÂÂ70 season in undefeated 15 games with 9 wins and 6 draws, Altay SK is one of three non-champion clubs that topped the first half of 1. Lig table, along with Kocaelispor in 1992âÂÂ93, and Sivasspor in 2007âÂÂ08, 2008âÂÂ09 and 2019âÂÂ20.
Altay was founded in 1914 in ðzmir as ðstiklal. The initial aim of the club was to encourage and unite Turkish youth through sporting activities, because in the 1910s early 20s, Greeks and their teams (Panionios and Apollon Smyrnis) dominated football activities in ðzmir. Under Ottoman rule, Turkish footballers were unable to compete. Altay was supported by many prominent Turkish politicians of the era. Former Turkish President Celal Bayar worked very hard in founding the club and gave his full support.
Altay has an important place in Turkey's football history. The club had a key role in uniting the Turkish community during the Turkish War of Independence. Many players and supporters of Altay SK lost their lives in the Turkish War of Independence. After the Surname Law was adopted, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave General Fahreddin Pasha the surname of "Altay". Altay plays in the ðzmir Alsancak Stadium first built in 1929 and was rebuilt in 2021.
<small><sup>1</sup>Altay won the championship as "ÃÂçok" (Three arrows), an alliance between Altay, Altñnordu, and Bucaspor.</small>
<sup>1</sup> UEFA edition.
<sup>2</sup> non-UEFA edition.
<sup>1</sup> The tournament was founded in 1961âÂÂ62, but was only taken over by UEFA in 1995.
UEFA Ranking history:
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