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İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.
Turkish professional football club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü (Turkish pronunciation: [isˈtanbuɫ baˈʃakʃehiɾ ˈfutboɫ kulyˈby]), commonly referred to as Başakşehir or, due to sponsorship reasons, Rams Başakşehir, is a professional football club based in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul, Turkey. Known for its vibrant orange and navy colors, the club was established in 1990 and competes in the top tier of Turkish football, the Süper Lig.
The team plays its home matches at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium, which has been their base since 2014. As one club of six Istanbul-based clubs in the Süper Lig this season, Başakşehir has carved out its identity as a competitive force domestically and on the European stage. The club achieved its first league championship in the 2019–20 season, marking a milestone in its relatively young history.
Başakşehir continues to participate in various domestic and international tournaments, including the Turkish Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, showcasing its ambition to become a consistent contender in Turkish and European football.
Başakşehir is considered to be linked politically to Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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History
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1990–2014: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor
The roots of the club lie in the multi-sport organisation İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor (İstanbul BBSK), created in 1990 under mayor Nurettin Sözen when the municipality brought together the amateur sides of İETT, İtfaiyespor and İSKİ under one umbrella. [1] The football team initially competed in the lower national divisions in the early 1990s and worked its way up the league ladder.
İstanbul BBSK earned promotion to the top flight for the first time at the end of the 2006–07 season, finishing in the automatic promotion places of Lig A (then the second tier).[2] In their debut Süper Lig campaign they finished 12th in 2007–08, consolidating their status.[3] Two seasons later the team recorded a 6th-place finish in 2009–10, the best league placing of the İstanbul BBSK era.[4] In 2010–11, under head coach Abdullah Avcı, İstanbul BB matched their strongest league form and also reached the Turkish Cup final for the first time; they were beaten by Beşiktaş on penalties after a 2–2 draw (a.e.t.) at Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri.[5][6]
Relegation followed in 2012–13 after finishing 16th, sending the club back to the second tier.[7][8] They made an immediate return as champions of the second tier in 2013–14, securing promotion back to the Süper Lig.[9]
2014–present: İstanbul Başakşehir (rebranded)
On 4 June 2014, the professional football branch was spun off from the municipality structure and reconstituted as a joint-stock company under the name İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü, with Göksel Gümüşdağ appointed chairman.[10] In its debut Süper Lig season as Başakşehir, the team finished 4th, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. In the 2015–16 season qualifiers, the team was eliminated by AZ Alkmaar but secured another 4th-place league finish. During the 2016–17 season, Başakşehir defeated Rijeka in the qualifiers but was eliminated by Shakhtar Donetsk before reaching the group stage.
In just their third season after rebranding, Başakşehir finished as runners-up in the 2016–17 Süper Lig. In the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League qualifiers, they defeated Club Brugge but were knocked out by Sevilla in the play-off round. They subsequently participated in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage, finishing 3rd in Group C. Domestically, Başakşehir finished the 2017–18 season in 3rd place. In the following season, Başakşehir was eliminated by Burnley in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifiers but secured a 2nd-place finish in the 2018–19 Süper Lig.
Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Başakşehir adopted the slogan “New Vision, Same Goal.” Although they were eliminated by Olympiacos in the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League play-off, they topped Group J in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, competing against Roma, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Wolfsberger AC. They advanced to the Round of 32, defeating Sporting CP but were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Copenhagen.
On 19 July 2020, Başakşehir clinched their first Süper Lig title, sealing the championship with a 1–0 home win over Kayserispor on the penultimate matchday at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium. Coached by Okan Buruk, and led by figures such as Mahmut Tekdemir, Edin Višća, Demba Ba and Enzo Crivelli, Başakşehir became only the sixth club to win the competition and the fourth from Istanbul to lift the trophy, following Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. The title also marked the first championship by a club outside the “Big Four” since Bursaspor in 2009–10 and secured a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers for the following season.[11][12][13][14]
As champions they qualified directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage the following season.[15] In the 2020–21 group stage, Başakşehir were drawn in Group H with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and RB Leipzig, and finished fourth.[16] The high point was a 2–1 home win over Manchester United in Istanbul. [17] Their final match in Paris was abandoned after an incident involving the fourth official and resumed the next day with a new crew; Paris Saint-Germain won 5–1.[18][19]
In 2020–21, Başakşehir struggled domestically after the title year and finished 12th in the league; manager Okan Buruk departed on 29 January 2021 and Aykut Kocaman was appointed on 1 February. [20][21][22] In 2021–22, Emre Belözoğlu took charge in October and lifted the side to 4th place with 65 points and a European berth. [23][24] In 2022–23, Başakşehir topped UEFA Europa Conference League Group A ahead of Fiorentina and Hearts and reached the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Gent (1–1 away, 1–4 home); they finished 5th in the league.[25][26][27]
On 18 February 2024, it was reported that City Football Group, the ownership group behind Manchester City, reached a partnership agreement with the club in order to improve their football strategy, recruitment, scouting and coaching methodology. This development marked a significant milestone for the club, aligning it with one of the most successful football group structures in the world. The deal is expected to enhance Başakşehir’s international presence and bolster its financial and operational capabilities.[28][29]
After finishing the 2023–24 season in 4th place with 61 points, Başakşehir qualified for Europe.[30][31] In 2024–25 they finished 5th in the Süper Lig on 54 points under head coach Çağdaş Atan.[32] Atan then signed a new two-year deal with the club on 29 May 2025. [33]
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Crest and Colors
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İstanbul Başakşehir’s crest prominently features a stylized shield containing a bold “B” at the center, signifying both “Başakşehir” and the club’s modern identity. The background showcases a pattern of stars representing ambition, vision, and the pursuit of excellence, while the year “2014” inscribed on the crest marks the club’s re-establishment and transformation from a municipal team into a professionally managed entity.[34]
The club’s official colors—orange and navy blue—were deliberately chosen to break from traditional color schemes associated with Istanbul’s other major clubs. Orange, a vibrant and energetic tone, symbolizes dynamism, youth, and innovation, while navy blue conveys professionalism, strength, and strategic discipline.[35]
The crest was designed to emphasize the club’s breakaway identity from its roots as İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor and signal its arrival as an ambitious contender in Turkish football. It reflects the club’s urban-modernist ethos, representing the Başakşehir district a growing suburban area of Istanbul known for rapid development, modern infrastructure, and a younger demographic.[36]
In addition to its visual identity, Başakşehir maintains strong branding consistency across its marketing, kit designs, and digital presence. Their kits are often designed with minimalist aesthetics emphasizing clean lines and bold contrasts—to reflect a sleek and progressive image, in line with their status as one of the most modern and corporate-driven football clubs in the Süper Lig.[37]
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
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Stadium
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Before the club was renamed İstanbul Başakşehir, they played most of their home matches at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the largest stadium in Turkey with a capacity of over 75,000. It was primarily chosen due to its availability and proximity, although its vast size often resulted in low attendances and a limited matchday atmosphere for a relatively smaller club like İstanbul BB.[38]
To establish a more permanent and identity-driven home, construction of a new stadium began in the Başakşehir district. The Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium officially opened on 26 July 2014, and the club began hosting home matches there starting from the 2014–15 Süper Lig season.[39]
Named after the iconic Turkish coach Fatih Terim, the stadium seats 17,800 spectators and features modern football infrastructure, including VIP suites, press areas, player facilities, and hospitality lounges. Located near major highways and accessible by Istanbul’s expanding metro system, it has quickly become a fan-centric venue.[40] Since opening, the stadium has not only served as İstanbul Başakşehir’s home ground but has also hosted Turkey national youth team matches and various UEFA competition fixtures, thanks to its UEFA Category 4 certification and modern design.[41]
Attendances
In the UEFA Champions League group stage, Başakşehir’s home match against Paris Saint-Germain on 28 October 2020 at the Fatih Terim Stadium was played before an official attendance of 350.[42] On 4 November 2020, Başakşehir defeated Manchester United 2–1 in Istanbul, again with an official attendance of 350.[43]
Earlier, in the 2017–18 Champions League third qualifying round (second leg), Başakşehir hosted Club Brugge on 2 August 2017 at the Fatih Terim Stadium before 9,168 spectators.[44]
Season-by-season Süper Lig home averages at the Fatih Terim Stadium have remained modest. Recent aggregates on TFF list: 2,476 (2024–25), 2,598 (2023–24), 2,584 (2022–23); 2020–21 recorded 0 due to restrictions on spectators.
The lowest recorded home attendance in the available database for a Süper Lig match at the Fatih Terim Stadium is 672 (vs Kasımpaşa, 11 December 2021).[45]
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Club identity and supporters
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Başakşehir are linked closely to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[46][47][48] Originally founded in the 1990s as İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor by the Istanbul municipality during Erdoğan’s tenure as mayor, the club was rebranded in 2014 as İstanbul Başakşehir FK. The rebranding coincided with the rise of the Başakşehir district, a newly developed area aligned with Erdoğan’s vision for a conservative, pious urban middle class.[46][48] The club’s former president, Göksel Gümüşdağ, is both a member of the AKP and related to Erdoğan by marriage.[46][47][49] Erdoğan personally opened Başakşehir’s new stadium in 2014, where he played in a ceremonial match and had the number 12 retired in his honour. The club has received sponsorship from companies closely linked to the government, such as Medipol, whose founder Fahrettin Koca later served as health minister in Erdoğan’s cabinet.[46]
These connections have led critics to label Başakşehir as a “regime club” or “FC Erdoğan”.[46][50] The club’s rapid rise in Turkish football has been widely perceived as politically driven, supported by state-linked resources and favourable media coverage.[46] This has drawn a sharp contrast with traditional Istanbul clubs like Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahçe, which have larger, historic, and often more oppositional fanbases.[46][47] For some observers, Başakşehir symbolises the AKP’s broader strategy of reshaping Turkish cultural institutions, using football as a platform to promote its political and social ideals.[46]
The supporter group of İstanbul Başakşehir is 1453 Başakşehir.[46] 1453 Başakşehir have been categorised as heavily nationalist and pro-Erdoğan. 1453 Başakşehir made the headlines for the first time with a giant "Commander-in-Chief Erdoğan" banner they opened during a Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge.[48] The previous supporter group, Boz Baykuşlar, which existed before the club’s restructuring, has voluntarily chosen not to be present in the stands of İstanbul Başakşehir anymore.
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Honours
Domestic
League
Cup
Past seasons
Results of League and Cup Competitions by Season
League affiliation
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European record
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Başakşehir made their European debut in the 2015–16 Europa League and were eliminated in the third qualifying round by AZ Alkmaar (0–2 away, 1–2 home; 1–4 agg.).[51][52]
In 2016–17 they beat HNK Rijeka on away goals (0–0 home, 2–2 away) before losing the play-off to Shakhtar Donetsk (1–2 home, 0–2 away; 1–4 agg.).[53][54][55][56]
In 2017–18 they overcame Club Brugge in the third qualifying round (3–3 away, 2–0 home; 5–3 agg.) but lost the play-off to Sevilla (1–2 home, 2–2 away; 3–4 agg.), dropping into the Europa League where they finished third in Group C.[57][58][59]
In 2018–19 they went out in the third qualifying round to Burnley after extra time (0–0 home, 0–1 a.e.t. away).[60]
The club enjoyed its best European run in 2019–20: they won Group J ahead of Roma and Mönchengladbach (notable away win 2–1 in Germany), beat Sporting CP in the round of 32 (1–3 away, 4–1 a.e.t. home; 5–4 agg.), and were then eliminated by Copenhagen in the round of 16 (1–0 home, 0–3 away; 1–3 agg.). [61][62][63][64]
As Turkish champions they entered the 2020–21 Champions League group stage (Group H with Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Manchester United) and finished fourth; the highlight was a 2–1 home win over Manchester United. [65]
In 2022–23 they advanced through qualifying (vs. Maccabi Netanya, Breiðablik and Antwerp), topped Group A ahead of Fiorentina and Hearts, and went out to Gent in the round of 16 (1–1 away, 1–4 home; 2–5 agg.). [66][67]
In 2024–25 they cleared qualifying (vs. La Fiorita 10–1 agg., Iberia 1999 3–0 agg., St Patrick’s Athletic 2–0 agg.) and finished 26th in the new league-phase format; results included a 1–2 home loss to Rapid Wien, 5–1 defeat at Celje, a 2–2 draw with Copenhagen, a 1–1 draw with Petrocub, a 3–1 home win over Heidenheim and a 1–1 draw away to Cercle Brugge.[68][69][70]
The 2025–26 campaign opened with a second qualifying round tie against Cherno More; Başakşehir won the first leg 1–0 before the return in Istanbul on 31 July 2025.[71][72]
Competitive record
- Accurate as of 21 August 2025
Source: UEFA.com
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal Difference.
Results
UEFA Ranking history
- As of 8 November 2024[73]
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Players
Current squad
- As of 13 August 2025[83]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Non-playing staff
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Administrative Staff
Source: [84]
Technical Staff
Source: [85]
Medical and Support Staff
Source: [86]
Managers
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Since turning professional in 1994 the club has had numerous head coaches. The longest-serving is Abdullah Avcı, who managed the team in two spells (2006–2011 and 2014–2019) and departed in May 2019 after a combined tenure of roughly ten and a half years.[87][88] Avcı was succeeded by Okan Buruk in June 2019; in his first season the club won its maiden Süper Lig title (2019–20).[89][90] Aykut Kocaman took charge in February 2021 and left by mutual consent in October 2021.[91][92] Former captain Emre Belözoğlu was appointed on 4 October 2021 and remained in post until September 2023.[93][94] Çağdaş Atan was unveiled on 11 September 2023 on a 2+1-year deal, and in May 2025 the club announced a further two-year extension.[95][96][97]
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Presidents
In the İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor era (1990–2014), the presidency was often held by the serving metropolitan mayor, with early office-holders including Nurettin Sözen, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ali Müfit Gürtuna; later chairs included Nuri Albayrak, Osman Aşkın Bak and Göksel Gümüşdağ, followed by Çağatay Kalkancı (2011–2014). Gümüşdağ’s first spell as club chair ended in July 2011 when he became a vice-president of the Turkish Football Federation; an extraordinary general assembly then elected Çağatay Kalkancı as president of İstanbul BB.[98][99] In 2014 the football branch was separated from the municipal multi-sport club and re-founded as İstanbul Başakşehir; Göksel Gümüşdağ became the founding chair and has served since 2014.[100][101]
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Player records
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Başakşehir’s all-time appearance record belongs to Mahmut Tekdemir with 500 competitive matches; he is followed by long-serving winger Edin Višća (398) and goalkeeper Volkan Babacan (270), while foreign stalwarts Alexandru Epureanu (262) and Júnior Caiçara (200) also surpassed the 200-appearance mark.[102] On the scoring side, the club’s all-time top scorer is Edin Višća with 109 competitive goals, ahead of Krzysztof Piątek (48), Doka Madureira (45), Mehmet Batdal (39), Danijel Aleksić (37), Deniz Türüç (29), Emmanuel Adebayor (28), İbrahim Akın (27), Samuel Holmén (27) and Demba Ba (26). The club’s first goal in UEFA competition was scored by Doka Madureira against AZ Alkmaar on 6 August 2015 at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium.[103]
Most appearances
Competitive, professional matches only. Up to date as of May 5th 2025
Top goalscorers
Competitive, professional matches only. Up to date as of May 5th 2025
Club records
- Biggest win: İstanbul Başakşehir 7–0 Turgutluspor (2020–21)
- Biggest defeat: İstanbul Başakşehir 0–7 Galatasaray (2022–23)
References
External links
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