Samsunspor is a football club based in Samsun, founded in 1965 through the merger of several local teams. The club has a strong following in Turkey’s Black Sea region and is regarded as one of the most important provincial teams outside Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Samsunspor has spent many years in the Süper Lig, developing a reputation as a competitive side and a source of talented players, but has also experienced periods in the lower divisions.
The club plays its home matches at Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium, which opened in 2017 with a capacity of about 33,000. It replaced the old 19 Mayıs Stadium located in the city center, which had been the team’s ground for decades. The modern stadium, situated in Tekkeköy district, has become a focal point for the club’s ambitions to return to consistent top-flight football.
Samsun, the city the club represents, lies on the Black Sea coast and is a major regional hub. It holds historical significance as the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk began the Turkish War of Independence in 1919. Samsunspor is deeply tied to the city’s identity, and its fans are known for their strong loyalty. The club also carries the memory of the 1989 team bus accident, in which several players and staff members lost their lives, a tragedy that remains a defining part of its history.
