Sivasspor

Football club infobox
clubname = Sivasspor


fullname = Sivasspor
nickname = Yiğidolar ("Yigidos")
founded = 1967
ground = 4 Eylül Sivas, Turkey
capacity = 17,500cite web | url=http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=438&kulupID=74 |title=SİVAS 4 EYLÜL | accessdate=2008-07-09 | work=Turkish Football Federation ]
chairman = flagicon|Turkey Mecnun Odyakmaz
manager = flagicon|Turkey Bülent Uygun
league = Turkcell Super League
season = 2007-08
position = Turkcell Super League, 4th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_whitestripes|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FF0000|socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey. They play in the Turkcell Süper Lig.

History

Sivasspor were originally formed on May 14, 1932 in Sivas as "Sivas Gençlik". They sported "Kirmiz-Beyaz" (Red-White) shirts and "Beyaz" (White) shorts. They played many matches on the amateur level in their early years before they were allowed to play professionally. By the mid-1960's, "Sivas Gençlik" merged with "Yolspor" and "Kizilirmak". They had hoped that this merger would help their push to join the professional leagues, the league closed their doors to Sivasspor once more.cite web | url=http://www.sivasspor.org.tr/index.php?mod=uc-yildizin-oykusu |title=Üç Yıldızın Öyküsü | accessdate=2008-07-05 | work=Sivasspor.org.tr ]

There were several boycotts until July 1, 1967, when Sivasspor were allowed to play professional football in Turkey. Sivasspor started out in the Second League, White Group.cite web |url=http://www.turkish-soccer.com |title=Turkish-Soccer.com |work=Erdinç Sivritepe |accessdate=2008-07-05 ] Due to there being many new clubs, the Turkish Football Federation decided to create a third league. They were permitted into the Second League along with Afyonspor, Balıkesirspor, Giresunspor, Kastamonuspor, Malatyaspor, Orduspor, Uşakspor, and Taksim GK. During their first professional season, Sivasspor finished 16th in their group, a mere 4 points from relegation. They also finished in the bottom half of the table the following season.cite web | url=http://www.sivasspor.org.tr/index.php?mod=dunden-bugune |title=Dünden Bugüne | accessdate=2008-07-04 | work=Sivasspor.org.tr ]

Sivasspor would remain in the lower leagues until winning the Second League in 2005, gaining automatic promotion. The club finished 8th in their first season in the Turkcell Super League. Werner Lorant lead the team to key victories over clubs like Beşiktaş J.K. and Gençlerbirliği. At the end of their first season in the top flight, they finished with a record of ten wins, thirteen draws, and eleven losses, totaling out to 44 points. The club's most successful season to date was the 2007-08 season, where they place 4th in the Turkcell Super League and booked a place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They came in 4th on average goals after having the same points as the 2nd and 3rd. Until the 33rd week, they were able to lift the Championship by own means but lost with a crucial 3:5 score to later champion Galatasaray.

Crest

Sivasspor's design for their crest came along in July 1965 when "Yolspor", "Kizilirmak", and "Sivas Gençlik" came together. The mayor of Sivas Ahmet Durakoglu suggested that they use "Kirmizi-Beyaz" (Red-White) and three stars to represent the three clubs.

2008-2009 Season

A thrilling start to the new Turkcell Super League, according to 27/09/08 saw Sivasspor drop only four points in the last five matches, which places Sivasspor top of the league. This includes a magnificent match against Fenerbahce on 26/09/08, in which Sivasspor won 2-1. First half Fenerbahce was leading with Selcuk Sahin's goal in the second half Murat Sozgelmez and Sezer Badur managed the finishing score to be 2-1.

UEFA Intertoto Cup

Sivasspor recently qualified for the third round of UEFA Intertoto Cup. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/intertotocup/news/kind=1/newsid=732074.html uefa.com - UEFA Intertoto Cup - News & Features - News Specific ] ] They defeated Montenegran side FK Grbalj 3-2 on aggregate.

European Record

*Intertoto 2. Round FK Grbalj-Sivasspor 2-2 (Mehmet Yıldız 14",39")
*Intertoto 2. Round Sivasspor-FK Grbalj 1-0 (Diallo 83")

Current squad

"As of July 15, 2008." [cite web | url=http://www.sivasspor.org.tr/index.php?mod=futbolcular |title=Sivasspor Futbolcular | accessdate=2008-07-04 | work=Sivasspor.org.tr ]

"For recent transfers, see List of Turkish football transfers 2008-09."

Youth teams

Sivasspor have several youth teams. Included are the PAF (18-20), Süper Genç (16-18), B Genç (14-16), Yildiz (12-14), Minik (10-12), and Mini Minik (8-10) teams.

Current coaching staff

Honours

*TFF First League:Winners (1): 2005

Footnotes

External links

*tr icon [http://www.sivasspor.org.tr Sivasspor's official web site]