 | ||||
| Full name | Kasımpaşa Sportif FaaliyetlerA.Ş. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Apaçiler (Apaches) | |||
| Founded | 15 January 1921; 104 years ago (1921-01-15) asKasımpaşa Gençlik Kulübü[1] | |||
| Ground | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 14,234 | |||
| Owner | Turgay Ciner | |||
| President | Mehmet Fatih Saraç | |||
| Head coach | Shota Arveladze | |||
| League | Süper Lig | |||
| 2024–25 | Süper Lig, 10th of 19 | |||
| Website | kasimpasa.com.tr | |||
 Current season | ||||
Kasımpaşa Spor Kulübü. (Turkish pronunciation:[ˈkasɯmpaʃa], commercially registered asKasımpaşa Sportif Faaliyetler A.Ş. and commonly referred to simply asKasımpaşa, is a Turkish professional football club based in theBeyoğlu district ofIstanbul,Turkey. Founded in 1921, the club has a long-standing presence in Turkish football and has competed in various divisions of the national league system, spending much of its modern history in theSüper Lig, the highest tier of Turkish football.
Kasımpaşa play their home matches at theRecep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, located in the Kasımpaşa neighbourhood of Beyoğlu. The stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 14,000 spectators, is named after the current President of Turkey,Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was born and raised in the area and played for the club at youth level.
As of the2023–24 Süper Lig season, Kasımpaşa is one of eight clubs from Istanbul competing in the Turkish top flight, alongsideFenerbahçe,Galatasaray,Beşiktaş,Fatih Karagümrük S.K.,Pendikspor,İstanbulspor andİstanbul Başakşehir. Known for its competitive performances despite a comparatively modest budget, the club has gained a reputation for developing and showcasing talented domestic and international players, many of whom have gone on to feature for larger clubs in Turkey and abroad.
In November 2021, Kasımpaşa officially marked its centenary with a series of events and commemorations celebrating its 100 years of existence, paying tribute to its historical roots, local community ties, and enduring presence in Turkish football culture.
Kasımpaşa was founded in 1921 asKasımpaşa Gençlik Kulübü after the merger ofAltıntuğ andKasımpaşa Terbiye-i Bedeniye Kulübü the club’s first competitive matches came in the 1923–24 season. They competed in theİstanbul First League in 1939–45 and 1946–59,[2] then joined the nationalTürkiye Ligi in 1959 and stayed five seasons, recording a best finish of 5th in 1961–62.[3]
After decades outside the top flight, Kasımpaşa earned successive promotions from theTFF 3. Lig to theSüper Lig across 2004–05 to 2006–07.[4][5][6] Promotion was clinched on 30 May 2007 by defeatingAltay on penalties (4–3) after a draw in the play-off final. The club were relegated after the2007–08 season,[7] but returned on 17 May 2009 by beatingKarşıyaka 2–1 (a.e.t.) in Ankara to win the First League play-off final.
In the2009–10 campaign Kasımpaşa finished 11th and recorded notable results: a 3–1 away league win atFenerbahçe, a 3–1 away win atBeşiktaş in theTurkish Cup group phase, and a 3–1 home win overTrabzonspor.[8]
Kasımpaşa were relegated from theSüper Lig at the end of the2010–11 season under coachYılmaz Vural.[9] On 12 October 2011, businessmanTurgay Ciner’s group acquired a controlling stake in the club, marking a new ownership period focused on squad rebuilding and facilities investment.[10][11] The club won promotion immediately in2011–12 through the play-offs: a 2–0 away and 4–0 home semi-final overKonyaspor preceded a 3–2 victory againstAdanaspor in the Istanbul final on 27 May 2012.[12][13][14]
Back in the top flight, Kasımpaşa posted consecutive 6th-place finishes in2012–13 and2013–14, narrowly missing European qualification.[15][16] The squad was strengthened with high-profile arrivals, notably Sweden captainAndreas Isaksson (fromPSV) in 2012,[17]Ryan Babel in 2013,[18] and later Egypt internationalTrézéguet, who was eventually sold toAston Villa in 2019.[19] The club began2018–19 at the top end of the table on the back of a prolific first half byMbaye Diagne (20 league goals by January); Diagne then transferred toGalatasaray for a reported €10 million — a club-record fee received — and Kasımpaşa slipped to 14th by season’s end.[20][21]
In2021–22 the team mounted a dramatic mid-season recovery, rising from the relegation places to finish 11th; on-loan forwardUmut Bozok won the league golden boot with 20 goals.[22][23] They finished 10th in2022–23 despite multiple coaching changes,[24] and climbed to 5th in2023–24 — equalling the best league placing in club history in the modern era.[25]
Alongside transfer-market recruitment, Kasımpaşa’s academy has supplied the first team and the market; recent graduates include left-backEren Elmalı (sold toTrabzonspor in 2022) and teenage defenderYasin Özcan.[26][27] The club plays at theRecep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium in Kasımpaşa, with an all-seater capacity of 14,234 following renovations, as listed by the Turkish Football Federation.[28]
The club had cycled rapidly through coaches during the 2024–25 season: they parted company withSami Uğurlu on 7 November 2024,[29] appointedHakan Keleş on 14 November 2024, then ended his spell on 28 January 2025,[30] before hiringBurak Yılmaz on 30 January 2025;[31] Yılmaz announced his departure in late June 2025.[32] The churn fit a longer pattern: under Ciner Group ownership (since 2011) Kasımpaşa went through 23 head-coach changes in 13 years, according to Turkish press tallies.[33]
In June 2025 Kasımpaşa re-appointed former coachShota Arveladze to lead the senior team.[34]
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Located in theKasımpaşa neighbourhood ofIstanbul, the ground was rebuilt in 2004–05 and opened in 2005 on the site of a local athletics venue; later works in 2010 removed the running track and completed the bowl with new stands.[35][36] It is also referred to asKasımpaşa Stadium and is the home ground of Kasımpaşa; the all-seated capacity is listed by theTurkish Football Federation as 13,797.[37] The stadium is named afterRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, a native of Kasımpaşa and former amateur footballer, who grew up in the district.[38][39][40]
Kasımpaşa’s training base and social facilities are located inKemerburgaz. Branded as theTurgay Ciner Sports Facilities, the complex houses training pitches, medical and recovery areas, and club operations; the club lists the site as its primary practice hub.[41] The Ciner Group also lists the Kemerburgaz address among Kasımpaşa’s facilities, together with the stadium site in Kasımpaşa.[42]
Kasımpaşa’s traditional colours are navy blue and white.[43] First-choice kits are typically dark blue with white trim, while alternative strips often introduce light blue tones; the club’s official materials and matchwear use this palette consistently.[44]
The current crest is a circular badge bearing the inscription “Kasımpaşa Spor Kulübü” and the founding year 1921 around a central device that features a white crescent-and-star on red and a stylised anchor motif; the design appears in the club’s navy/white colours across official channels and team apparel.[45][46]
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Lotto | Turkcell |
| 2010–11 | Lescon | Kasımpaşa 90. Yıl |
| 2011–12 | Kasımpaşa 91. Yıl | |
| 2012–13 | Lotto | UCZ |
| 2013–14 | adidas | |
| 2014–15 | – | |
| 2015–16 | Nike | |
| 2016–17 | Halley | |
| 2017–18 | Ciner | |
| 2018–19 | ||
| 2019–20 | ||
| 2020–21 | ||
| 2021–22 | Puma | |
| 2022–23 | ||
| 2023–24 | ||
| 2024– | adidas |
Kasımpaşa’s support is strongly neighbourhood-based: home followings are drawn primarily from the Kasımpaşa quarter ofBeyoğlu and nearby Golden Horn districts, with a compact all-seater home ground that amplifies noise on matchdays.[47][48] In recent top-flight seasons, the club has recorded mid-thousands average gates atRecep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, consistent with the venue’s 13,797 all-seated capacity listed by theTurkish Football Federation.[49]
The club and its fans are commonly referred to as“Paşa”, reflecting the district identity and the navy-blue/white colours worn in the stands.[50] The fanbase gained wider visibility in the 2000s and 2010s as the stadium—named for Kasımpaşa-born presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan—became a recurring reference point in coverage of football and politics in Istanbul.[51][52]
Ticketing for home sections is operated through the nationalPassolig system, with season-ticket (kombine) sales and match-day information handled by the club’s ticketing channels.[53][54]
As a centrally located İstanbul club, Kasımpaşa’s league fixtures against the city’s heavyweights —Beşiktaş,Galatasaray andFenerbahçe — are treated in the Turkish press asİstanbul derbileri (Istanbul derbies).[55] Kasımpaşa also contest periodic city derbies withİstanbul Başakşehir andFatih Karagümrük.
The latter rivalry dates back to the clubs’ early years; because the grounds are a short trip apart and both teams are neighbourhood sides, these meetings have traditionally drawn strong local interest and some of the highest gates for either club. Matches between the two are commonly known as theHaliç Derby (seeFatih Karagümrük–Kasımpaşa derby).[56][57][58]
| Season | League table | Turkish Cup | Top scorer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Player | Goals | ||
| 2006–07 | 1. Lig | 5th↑ | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 53 | 41 | +12 | 52 | R2 | Erhan Küçük | 17 |
| 2007–08 | Süper Lig | 18th↓ | 34 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 56 | −30 | 29 | R2 | Jonathan Téhoué | 6 |
| 2008–09 | 1. Lig | 4th↑ | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 27 | +18 | 55 | R1 | Erhan Küçük | 14 |
| 2009–10 | Süper Lig | 11th | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 53 | −3 | 41 | PO | André Moritz | 9 |
| 2010–11 | 18th↓ | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 31 | 71 | −40 | 23 | QF | Ersen Martin | 8 | |
| 2011–12 | 1. Lig | 4th↑ | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 59 | R4 | Nikolai Dimitrov | 14 |
| 2012–13 | Süper Lig | 6th | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 50 | R5 | Kalu Uche | 19 |
| 2013–14 | 6th | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 51 | R2 | Ezequiel Scarione | 16 | |
| 2014–15 | 13th | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 56 | 73 | −17 | 37 | R3 | 13 | ||
| 2015–16 | 7th | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 50 | R3 | Eren Derdiyok | 13 | |
| 2016–17 | 10th | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 49 | −3 | 43 | SF | Adem Büyük | 9 | |
| 2017–18 | 8th | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 57 | 58 | −1 | 46 | R5 | Trézéguet | 13 | |
| 2018–19 | 14th | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 53 | 62 | −9 | 39 | QF | Mbaye Diagne | 20 | |
| 2019–20 | 10th | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 53 | 58 | −5 | 43 | L16 | Fodé Koita | 12 | |
| 2020–21 | 14th | 40 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 46 | L16 | Isaac Kiese Thelin | 9 | |
| 2021–22 | 11th | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 67 | 57 | +10 | 53 | L16 | Umut Bozok | 20 | |
| 2022–23 | 10th | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 61 | −16 | 43 | R5 | Mamadou Fall | 8 | |
| 2023–24 | 5th | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 56 | R5 | Nuno da Costa | 14 | |
| 2024–25 | 10th | 36 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 62 | 63 | −1 | 47 | GS | 13 | ||
| 2025–26 | TBD | ||||||||||||
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Owner |  Turgay Ciner |
| Chairman | Mehmet Fatih Saraç |
| Vice President | Hasan Hilmi Öksüz |
Source:[60]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Shota Arveladze |
| Assistant coach |  Michael Lindeman |
| Coach | Özgür Özçal |
| Performance coach |  Juan Torrijo |
| Eren Kırıcı | |
| Sefa Baş | |
| Goalkeeper coach | İbrahim Yılmaz |
| Erol Ayçiçek | |
| Performance analyst | Furkan Berk Yüksel |
| Arda Yılmaz Erdem | |
| Club doctor | Cem Ergenç |
Source:[61]
|
|
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| c. 1990s | Erdoğan Aslan |
| 1999–2004 | Halil Bakırcı |
| 2004–2012 | Hasan Hilmi Öksüz |
| 2012–2015 | Zafer Yıldırım |
| 2015–2022 | Turgay Ciner |
| 2022– | Mehmet Fatih Saraç |
Note: Reliable records for the club’s early years are scarce; the list begins with the earliest verifiable presidencies.
Kasımpaşa S.K. is operated byKasımpaşa Sportif Faaliyetler A.Ş. (a Turkish joint-stock company,Anonim Şirket), as listed by the Turkish Football Federation.[62]
Control of the club has been held by businessmanTurgay Ciner and theCiner Group since October 2011, when a majority stake was acquired.[63][64] Ciner Group lists Kasımpaşa among its sports properties and provides the club’s facilities and contact information within the group portfolio.[65]
The club president (board chair) isMehmet Fatih Saraç; appointments to the board are made under the articles of Kasımpaşa Sportif Faaliyetler A.Ş., and are published by the club.[66]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
