Football became popular in Turkey at the turn of the century and is still the most popular sport in the country today. Football in Turkey can be viewed as a microcosm of Turkish society, with the game's evolution closely linked to the country's economic and political history. Football's relationship with politics began during the Ottoman Empire, grew during the Republic's establishment, and continues today; despite Turkey's turbulent history, this relationship has never weakened. Football and politics are intertwined in their functional characteristics.
Political support is critical for football clubs, especially when it comes to resolving economic bottlenecks and tax issues. On the other hand, politicians have placed a high value on the public's interest in football in order to gain votes. Although Turkish football as we know it originated in Izmir, it quickly spread throughout Turkey thanks to the leadership of Istanbul clubs. Approximately 90% of football fans in Turkey support Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, or Fenerbahçe (the Big Three); the fan distribution of these teams is unprecedented globally.
The transformation of world football since the 1990s has had a significant impact on Turkish football, particularly on managerial processes and media and fan perceptions. As a result, the topic of football in Turkey is becoming increasingly divisive. As the industrialisation of football has progressed, fans have been transformed into consumers, and clubs into businesses. Despite the huge popularity of Turkish football, targeted success has never been achieved due to managerial issues.
Following the match-fixing scandal on 3 July 2011, football (particularly fan culture) took a significant hit. The scandal heightened tensions while also strengthening ties between football and politics. The goal of this chapter, which is divided into three subchapters, is to evaluate Turkish football from various perspectives.
The first subchapter will examine Turkish football from a sociopolitical standpoint, shedding light on the game's historical development. The second subchapter will examine the current management structure, while the final subchapter will assess the commercial potential and structure of the football industry as a business field.
Update 2022:
Trabzonspor won the 2021-22 Turkish Süper Lig title on Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Antalyaspor, ending a 38-year drought for a city associated with football.
It was the Black Sea Storm's first championship since 1984, though the club came close in six previous seasons: 1994–95, 1995–96, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2010–11, and 2019–20.
Tens of thousands of fans flocked to the city's Atatürk Square and a public garden established in Trabzonspor's former home ground Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium, which was demolished in 2019.
Andreas Cornelius scored early in the third minute, and the first half ended 1-0 at Trabzon's Medical Park Stadium.
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