Konyaspor Kulübü (Turkish pronunciation:[konjaspoɾkulyby], Konya Sports Club), commonly referred to asKonyaspor, is a Turkish professional football club based inKonya, one of the largest cities incentral Anatolia. Due to sponsorship agreements, the club is also officially known asTÜMOSAN Konyaspor. The team currently competes in theSüper Lig, the highest level of Turkish football.
Konyaspor was originally founded in 1922, but the modern form of the club was re-established in 1981 through a merger with Konya Gençlerbirliği, adopting green and white as the official colors. These colors symbolize the club’s identity and are inspired by the natural and cultural heritage of the region.[3]
Since 2014, the club has played its home matches at theKonya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium, a modern, multi-purpose venue with a capacity of over 42,000 spectators. The stadium has become known for its passionate fan atmosphere and was also used as a host venue forTurkish national team matches.
Konyaspor is known for its strong support in the region and has steadily grown into one of the more established clubs inTurkish football. In recent years, the club has gained attention for its disciplined structure, consistent performances in domestic competitions, and participation inEuropean tournaments such as theUEFA Europa League.
Konyaspor were founded on 22 June 1922 asKonya Gençlerbirliği. The club recognizes this date as its official founding after a 2016 board decision confirming the historical records.[4][5] As champions of the regional Konya Football League,Konya Gençlerbirliği represented the city at the 1924Turkish Football Championship, the first nationwide competition inTurkish football, defeatingTrabzon İdman Ocağı 3–0 in the first round before losing 2–1 toAnadolu Turan San’atkârangücü in the quarter-finals.[6]
During the reorganization of Turkish league football in the 1960s, Konya’s leading amateur and semi-professional sides were consolidated under one professional team. In 1965 the club began competing under the nameKonyaspor in theSecond League, adopting black and white as its colours.[7]
A further restructuring took place in 1981 when Konyaspor merged with crosstown rivalsKonya İdmanyurdu. The club kept the Konyaspor name and changed its colours to green and white, reflecting İdmanyurdu’s traditional palette.[8] Konyaspor won theSecond League in 1987–88 and were promoted to the top division for the first time in their history.[9]
Konyaspor lasted five seasons in thefirst league. They played 160 official matches, ending up with 47 wins, 33 draws, and 80 losses. During the 1988–89 season Konyaspor made it to the semi-finals of theTurkish Cup, losing to eventual championsBeşiktaş. In the1992–93 season, the club were relegated back to thesecond league.
After spending 10 seasons in thesecond league, Konyaspor returned toSüper Lig as the title holders of the2002–03 First League with 68 points. During the 2003–04 season Konyaspor made it to the quarter-finals of theTurkish Cup, but then lost to eventual championsTrabzonspor 2–1 during extra time. In 2004–05 Konyaspor advanced to the quarter-finals beatingBeşiktaş 3–1, but then lost toDenizlispor 5–4 on penalty shoot-outs.
In2008–09 despite the 3–0 home win againstAnkaraspor, Konyaspor couldn't avoid relegation as they remained 16th in the table with 38 points which meant their relegation from theSüper Lig. Konyaspor were in theSüper Lig since 2003. However, Konyaspor completed theTFF First League 6th and secured a position in thePromotion Play-offs in 2010. Konyaspor then won the Promotion Play-offs and made an immediate return to theSüper Lig after 1 year. They finished the Play-offs 1st with 7 points beatingAdanaspor 3–1 in the first game,Karşıyaka 1–0 in the second and drawing withAltay 2–2 in the final match. But Konyaspor relegated again in the2010–11 season.
On 16 June 2017,Aykut Kocaman left Konyaspor to becomeFenerbahçe head coach; he was replaced byMustafa Reşit Akçay.[17] In 2017–18, Konyaspor opened the season by beatingBeşiktaş 2–1 to win theTurkish Super Cup—the first Super Cup in club history.[18][19] The league campaign ended 15th (36 pts).[20] In 2018–19,Aykut Kocaman returned and the team finished 8th. In September 2019, the club signed a name-sponsorship deal with İttifak Holding (3+2 years).[21] In 2019–20, Konyaspor avoided relegation, closing 13th in the pandemic season.
In February 2021,İlhan Palut was appointed followingİsmail Kartal’s departure and led Konyaspor to 11th place in 2020–21.[22] In 2021–22, Palut’s side finished 3rd with 68 points, the second-best league finish in club history, earning a berth in theUEFA Europa Conference League.[23] On 11 January 2022, Konyaspor defenderAhmet Yılmaz Çalık died in a traffic accident nearAnkara. Çalık, who had joined the club in 2020, had become a regular starter and a respected figure in the dressing room. In tribute, Konyaspor retired his number 6 shirt, and severalSüper Lig clubs and theTurkish Football Federation expressed condolences.[24][25] In the same season, Konyaspor ultimately placed third in the final2021–22 Süper Lig table matching the club’s second-best league finish and qualified forEuropean competition the following season.[26] In July 2022, Konyaspor returned toEurope and defeatedBATE Borisov 5–0 on aggregate in theConference League second qualifying round (3–0 away, 2–0 home) before exiting toFC Vaduz in the third qualifying round (1–1 away, 2–4 home).[27][28][29][30]
In January 2023, the club parted company with Palut while sitting seventh;Aleksandar Stanojević was appointed the next day and the league campaign ended 8th (51 pts).[31][32] In November 2023,Hakan Keleş succeeded Stanojević,[33] and in January 2024 the job passed toFahrudin Omerović.[34] In April 2024, former club captainAli Çamdalı was named head coach and, in June, signed a 1+1 contract.[35] Konyaspor finished the2023–24 Süper Lig 16th with 41 points; on the final day they lost 3–1 to Galatasaray, a result that confirmed the title for the Istanbul side.[36][37] On 1 November 2024, Konyaspor appointedRecep Uçar as head coach on a deal running through 2025–26.[38][39] In the2024–25 Süper Lig season, Konyaspor finished 11th, collecting 46 points from 36 matches with a record of 13 wins, 7 draws, and 16 losses. The mid-table finish marked an improvement on the previous campaign’s 16th place (41 points) and provided a more stable platform heading into 2025–26.
TheKonya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium (often styled Konya Büyükşehir Stadyumu, known for sponsorship at times as Torku Arena/Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadyumu) is an all-seater, multi-purpose venue inSelçuklu,Konya. Construction began in 2012 and the ground opened in 2014, replacing the oldKonya Atatürk Stadium as Konyaspor’s home.[40][41] The venue has an official capacity of about 41,600, a 105 × 68 m natural-grass pitch and a full roof cover.[42]
Since 2014, the stadium has hosted both Konyaspor fixtures and selected matches of theTurkey national team. On 6 September 2015, Turkey defeated theNetherlands 3–0 here inUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, a match that drew a record attendance of 41,007 at the venue.[43][44] The complex includes concourse retail and hospitality areas and is connected to wider municipal transport infrastructure serving the Selçuklu district.[45]
TheKonya Atatürk Stadium served as Konyaspor’s primary home ground from the early 1950s until 2014. Built in 1950 (with use reported from 1952), it was a multi-purpose arena with a running track and a 105 × 68 m grass pitch. After seating changes in the 2000s, capacity was a little above 22,000.[46][47]
After 2014, the old ground continued to stage occasional lower-league matches before demolition works began in 2018.[48] The site has since been redeveloped as the Konya Millet Bahçesi (Nation’s Garden), a municipal park project delivered by theKonya Metropolitan Municipality.[49]
Konyaspor’s official club colors are green and white, adopted in 1981 following the club’s merger withKonya İdmanyurdu. Prior to the merger, the club played in black and white from 1965 (when it was restructured as Konyaspor after the fusion of various local teams includingKonya Gençlerbirliği,Meramspor andÇimentospor). The switch to green and white was made to reflect İdmanyurdu’s identity and to represent Konya’s agricultural and spiritual heritage.[50][51]
The current club crest features adouble-headed eagle (iki başlı kartal), a historicSeljuk Empire symbol, referencingKonya’s role as the capital of theSeljuks in the 12th–13th centuries. The emblem is presented in green and white, encircled by the club name (Konyaspor) and foundation year (1922). The use of the double-headed eagle reflects strength, vision in two directions, and a proud connection to Konya’sAnatolian heritage.[52]
In various kits throughout history, green-and-white vertical stripes have been the primary motif, though alternate kits have included black, grey, and occasionally turquoise or gold accents. The double-headed eagle remains central to the club’s branding, fan identity, and official merchandise.
Konyaspor’s fanbase is widely known, both inKonya and acrossTurkey. The club’s primary fan club isNalçacılar, established in the mid-1990s and named after the Nalçacı district ofKonya. The group is recognized for its choreographed displays (tifos), large banners, and organized chants during home and away games.[53]
Home matches at theKonya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium often see coordinated color shows and large-scale card choreographies. The supporters are known for their “12. Adam” (12th Man) slogan, symbolizing their impact on the team’s performance. During critical matches, particularly against the “big three” (Beşiktaş,Fenerbahçe,Galatasaray), Konyaspor fans have gained attention for their volume and dedication.
The fan culture extends beyond Konya; there are official supporters’ associations in cities such asAnkara,Istanbul, and various parts ofEurope, reflecting the widespread Konya diaspora.[54] Konyaspor fans are also known for their respectful atmosphere during national team matches played in Konya, earning praise from both Turkish and international media duringUEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers for their organized and passionate support.[55]
Konyaspor’s main historical rivalry was withKonya İdmanyurdu, their cross-town opponents until the clubs merged in 1981. The fixture, known locally as theKonya derby, was one of the city’s most passionate matchups through the 1960s and 1970s. The rivalry formally ended after the merger, which saw Konyaspor adopt İdmanyurdu’s green and white colors while keeping the Konyaspor name.[56] In the modern Süper Lig era, Konyaspor’s most prominent rivalry is withKayserispor, largely due to geographical proximity, regional pride inCentral Anatolia, and a series of tense matches, including high-stakes fixtures in relegation and European qualification battles. Although not officially a “derby” in classical terms, the match is often referred to as the“Anatolian Derby” in Turkish media.[57]
After placing third in the Süper Lig in2021–22 underİlhan Palut, Konyaspor qualified for the2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. In the second qualifying round, they eliminatedBATE Borisov with a 5–0 aggregate victory (3–0 away, 2–0 home).[62][63] In the third qualifying round, however, they were eliminated byFC Vaduz with a 5–3 aggregate loss (1–1 away, 2–4 home).[64]
As of 2025, Konyaspor have played 16 official UEFA matches, recording 3 wins, 5 draws, and 8 losses, with 14 goals scored and 23 conceded across both the Europa League and Conference League campaigns.
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.
As of 2025,Ömer Ali Şahiner holds Konyaspor’s club record for appearances (298, 2012–2021), whileZafer Biryol is the all-time top scorer (46 goals, 2003–2005). Among foreign players,Riad Bajić leads with 33 goals across 119 matches (2015–2020).[76][77] Additional verification: Player tenures and match breakdowns can be cross-checked againstTFF registration/contract logs and career statistics (e.g.,Nejc Skubic andSokol Cikalleshi).[78][79]
In 2014–2017, under head coachAykut Kocaman, Konyaspor recorded one of the club’s most successful periods: in 2015–16 the team finished third in the Süper Lig with 66 points, earning qualification for theUEFA Europa League, and on 31 May 2017 won theTurkish Cup after a 0–0 final againstİstanbul Başakşehir decided 4–1 on penalties.[84][85][86] On 6 August 2017, underMustafa Reşit Akçay, Konyaspor won the Turkish Super Cup by defeating Beşiktaş 2–1, the club’s first Super Cup triumph.[87][88] In 2021–22, underİlhan Palut, the team again finished third with 68 points, qualifying for theUEFA Europa Conference League.[89] Since 1 November 2024, Konyaspor have been managed byRecep Uçar, appointed on a deal running through 2025–26; his previous roles include spells at Ümraniyespor and Kayserispor.[90][91]