Once giants of Turkish soccer, a rising variety of golf equipment are plunging from the glitz of the Süper Lig into the shadows of beginner leagues – victims of spiraling money owed, FIFA sanctions, and boardroom mismanagement.
In a footballing nation that when boasted UEFA contenders, right now’s headlines are as a substitute dominated by former titans like Altay, Yeni Malatyaspor, and Giresunspor, crashing by way of the divisions like dominoes – some vanishing totally.
Ankaragücü: The newest to fall twice
Ankaragücü, who ended the 2023–24 Süper Lig marketing campaign only one level in need of survival, didn’t regular their ship within the 1. Lig.
Despite a valiant end-of-season rally with three straight wins, they bowed out once more – victims of inferior aim distinction.
The double drop displays a rising pattern: golf equipment sliding down the ladder with alarming velocity.
Yeni Malatyaspor: From Europe to all-time low
Not way back, Yeni Malatyaspor proudly flew the Turkish flag in European competitors.
But following the 2023 earthquakes and deepening monetary wounds, the membership withdrew midseason and by no means recovered.
A roster full of untested youth, level deductions from FIFA over unpaid money owed, and a league-worst -21 factors despatched them spiraling to the underside of the 1. Lig.
Altay: 111 years, 3 drops in 4 seasons
Founded in 1914, İzmir’s Altay is steeped in historical past – however that legacy supplied no immunity.
Relegated from the Süper Lig in 2022, they tumbled once more final 12 months and now face life within the 3. Lig after ending seventeenth within the 2. Lig Beyaz Grup.
Six factors had been docked by FIFA, and the Turkish FA lopped off one other three attributable to licensing failures.
Giresunspor: From Süper Lig to simply 1 level
Once battling giants in Turkey’s high flight, Giresunspor has change into a cautionary story.
After waving goodbye to the Süper Lig in 2023, the membership misplaced its senior gamers, could not register new signings attributable to a switch ban, and ended the 2024 season within the 2. Lig Kırmızı Grup with a solitary level – after 9 had been deducted for money owed and licensing points.
Adanaspor: From earthquake exemption to relegation
Adanaspor, given non permanent shelter from relegation because of the 2023 earthquake’s devastation, lastly ran out of street.
Losing 9 of their closing 10 matches, the membership completed with 30 factors and dropped into the two. Lig – its first time within the division in 17 years. The membership’s 2016-17 Süper Lig look now appears like a distant reminiscence.
From Süper Lig Spotlight to Amateur Obscurity
Denizlispor, a daily title in Turkish top-flight soccer, joined the ranks of the fallen.
Finishing fifteenth within the 3. Lig 4. Grup, the membership will now play within the Bölgesel Amatör Lig (BAL). Akhisarspor, as soon as a Turkish Cup and Super Cup winner, additionally withdrew from their league this season attributable to unpaid money owed.
Karabük’s fall is probably probably the most tragic.
After ending final within the Süper Lig in 2018, Kardemir Karabükspor quickly disintegrated. By 2022, they withdrew from even the beginner leagues, their doorways shuttered.
Other Süper Lig alumni – Gaziantepspor, Mersin İY, Orduspor, and Kayseri Erciyesspor – additionally vanished into the lower-tier ether, unable to reverse their downward spirals.
Road to redemption: Bursaspor and Eskişehirspor rise once more
There is hope.
Bursaspor, topped Süper Lig champions in 2010, accomplished a 3. Lig turnaround in 2025, returning to the two. Lig after a one-season hiatus. The Green Crocodiles goal to rejoin the elite – however know the street stays lengthy.
Eskişehirspor, who dropped out of the skilled system in 2023, topped their group within the BAL with 67 factors and secured promotion to the three. Lig.
Kocaelispor: From the brink to the large time
Perhaps the largest feel-good story comes from Kocaelispor.
On the breaking point in 2015, they had been rescued by native authorities and climbed again, one league at a time.
After years of grit and grassroots assist, the membership topped the 1. Lig this season and can return to the Süper Lig in 2025 – their first top-tier look in 16 years.
Source: www.dailysabah.com