Bursaspor Kulübü Derneği (Turkish pronunciation:[buɾsaspoɾkulybydæɾneji]), commonly known as Bursaspor, is a Turkish sports club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, the club colours are green and white, with home kits usually featuring both colours in a striped pattern.
The club was founded on 1 June 1963 after Acar İdman Yurdu, Akınspor, İstiklal, Pınarspor and Çelikspor were merged to form a single club; Bursaspor. Green and white were chosen as the club colours, and the club entered the 2. Lig in 1963–64.[2] Their first match took place on 21 September 1963 against İzmir Demirspor in İzmir.[8] Bursaspor were promoted to the Süper Lig after winning the 1966–67 2. Lig. They won 19 of their 30 matches, finishing with 45 points, eight ahead of second placed Samsunspor.[6] They were relegated to the 2. Lig in 1985–86 and were relegated again in 1986–87 season, but their relegations were revoked due to winning the Turkish Cup in 1986 and a Turkish Council of State verdict in 1987.[citation needed] Their most recent relegation came in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Süper Lig after winning the First League on 16 May 2006. Bursaspor won their first major cup in 1971, beating Fenerbahçe 1–0 after extra time in the now-defunct Prime Minister's Cup. Because Fenerbahçe had won the league and cup in 1973–74, Bursaspor, as 1974 Turkish Cup runners up, were given a place in the 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup. Bursaspor reached the quarter-finals, beating Finn Harps and Dundee United, before falling to eventual champions Dynamo Kyiv. The club's first Turkish Cup win came in 1986 when they defeated Altay 2–0 in the finals.[6] The club therefore qualified for the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, losing to eventual champions Ajax in the first round.[7]
The league title
Bursaspor began the 2009–10 season successfully and by the midpoint of the season, in December 2009, the club were sitting in the top spot of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season saw a 1–0 home victory against Istanbul giantsGalatasaray, and also a 2–3 win away at Beşiktaş. In late 2009, Bursaspor manager Sağlam was linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim's resignation, but Sağlam refused to comment on the speculations, with Guus Hiddink eventually taking up the position ahead of him.
The latter part of the season saw a 6–0 win over mid–table İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor, the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2–3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. Bursaspor again reached the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup and again they lost on aggregate to Fenerbahçe, this time crashing out 4–3 due to an injury time winner from Fener. In April 2010, Bursaspor were sitting on top of the table after being in the top three for the previous few months. With eight games left to play, Bursaspor were five points clear at the top. However, five weeks before the end of the season, Bursaspor fell to second place, but they managed to maintain pressure on leaders Fenerbahçe, who had overtaken them. Going into the final matchday of the season, Bursaspor were just one point behind and needed their championship rivals to draw or lose, which eventually happened, as Fenerbahçe were held to a 1–1 home draw by Trabzonspor. Meanwhile, Bursaspor defeated Beşiktaş 2–1, which meant they would be crowned champions, winning the league by a single point. This made them only the second club in Turkish top tier history outside the "Istanbul Big Three" to win the Süper Lig, the other being Trabzonspor (İstanbul Başakşehir later joined them as the third team outside of the traditional "Big Three" to win the Turkish top tier). Before winning their first title in 2009–10, Bursaspor had never finished inside the top three. The club won its first and only league title to date in Ertuğrul Sağlam's first full season as manager. Pablo Batalla and Ozan İpek were the club's joint top scorers with eight goals each.[9]
Subsequent years, financial trouble and relegations
After several successful seasons including qualifying for the UEFA Europa League on several occasions, the late 2010s saw Bursaspor struggle financially, as they faced a heavy amount of debt.[13] Bursaspor were relegated to the TFF First League in 2019, on the final day of the 2018–2019 season.[14] After three seasons in the First League, they were relegated to the TFF Second League in the 2021–22 season.[15] Their inability to pay their debt saw them incur a ban on signing new players.[16] On April 7, 2024, the club had been mathematically relegated to TFF Third League for their first time in their history, after their defeat by 1461 Trabzon FK with 1–2 at home.
Colours and badge
Bursaspor's club badge includes the club name, foundation year, and the crescent moon and star from the Turkish flag. As a tribute to the club's origins, the badge also includes five stars, each a different colour – black, red, yellow, green, and navy blue. This represents the colours used by the clubs that made up Bursaspor; Acar İdman Yurdu–black, Akınspor–red, İstiklal–yellow, Pınarspor–green, Çelikspor–navy blue. Bursaspor's kit: Green shirts with white trim, green shorts, green socks. Away: Green and white hooped shirts, white shorts, green and white hooped socks. Alternate: Amber shirts with black trim, claret shorts, amber socks.
Bursaspor plays its home matches at Centennial Atatürk Stadium. Built in 2015, the stadium currently seats 43,361 spectators. The field measures 68 by 105 meters, and is covered with natural grass.[17] Between 1979 and 2015, the club played at the Bursa Atatürk Stadium.
Supporters
Fans
The club's main fan base is known as Teksas (Texas) and Legend Teksas.
Special relationship with Ankaragücü
In the early 1990s Bursaspor's ultra group Teksas had a leader called Abdulkerim Bayraktar. He went to study in Ankara, and whilst in the city he started attending Ankaragücü games and started building ties between the two clubs. In 1993 however, his life was cut short during his military service when he was killed by terrorists. This tragic event bought Bursaspor and Ankaragücü even closer together. During the first game after his death, Bursaspor organised a tribute to him, and the events which happened next cemented the brotherhood between these two teams. A large group of Ankaragücü supporters made their way onto the pitch and unveiled a large banner reading 'Our brother Abdul will never die, he lives on in our hearts'. The two supporter groups united and hundreds of Ankaragücü ultras attended his funeral. From that day on, Bursaspor supporters would chant Ankaragücü's name in the 6th minute of every home game, 06 being significant due to 06 being Ankara's city code. Ankaragücü supporters in return chant Bursaspor's name during the 16th minute, 16 being Bursa's city code. When the two sides play, the supporters sit together; it is one of the rare occasions in which ultras from opposing teams watch a game together in a mixed environment. They bring BursAnkara scarfs (a merger of the two cities' names) to the games and create an atmosphere full of mutual respect.[18]
1 Karlsruhe progressed to the Semi-finals after winning a penalty shoot-out 6–5. 2 Chikhura progressed to the third qualifying round after winning a penalty shoot-out 4–1.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Bursaspor was also the first club outside Istanbul to win the Süper Lig in 26 years as Trabzonspor's last league title came in 1984.Şampiyon Bursaspor!Archived 18 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine(in Turkish)
