The İzmir Football League (Turkish: İzmir Futbol Ligi) was founded as a regional football league for İzmir based clubs in 1924. In the period from 1924 to 1935, the winners of the İzmir League qualified for the former Turkish Football Championship. In 1937 the first national league in Turkish football was introduced. The top two placed teams of the İzmir League qualified for the National Division, which took place after the conclusion of the regional leagues each season. The name of the league was changed later and became İzmir Professional Football League in the 1955–56 season, when professional football was introduced.
| Founded | 1924 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1959 |
| Country | Turkey |
| Number of teams | various |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | İzmir Football Cup İzmir Shield |
| Last champions | Karşıyaka (3rd title) (1958–59) |
| Most championships | Altay (14 titles) |
The league continued to be played after 1959, though it was no longer a first level competition since the professional nationwide league was introduced in 1959. Altay are the most successful club in league history, having won a record 14 championship titles.
Participated teams
editThe following teams participated in the league regularly for at least a few years:
- Altay
- Karşıyaka
- Altınordu
- İzmirspor (founded by Sakarya and Altın Ay)
- Göztepe
- İzmir Demirspor
- Kayagücü
- Menemen İdman Ocağı (later to become Menemenspor)
- Bayraklı
- Egespor (formerly Şarkspor)
- Bucaspor
- Bornova
- Yün Pamuk Mensucat
- Kültürspor
- Ülküspor
- Üçokspor (temporary merger between Altay, Altınordu, and Bucaspor)
- Doğanspor (temporary merger between Göztepe, İzmirspor, and Egespor)
Champions
edit| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1923–24 | Altay |
| 1924–25 | Altay |
| 1925–26 | Karşıyaka |
| 1926–27 | Altınordu |
| 1927–28 | Altay |
| 1928–29 | Altay |
| 1929–30 | Sakarya |
| 1930–31 | Altay |
| 1931–32 | Altınordu |
| 1932–33 | İzmirspor |
| 1933–34 | Altay |
| 1934–35 | Altınordu |
| 1935–36 | Altınordu |
| 1936–37 | Altay |
| 1937–38 | Üçok1 |
| 1938–39 | Doğanspor2 |
| 1939–40 | Altınordu |
| 1940–41 | Altay |
| 1941–42 | Göztepe |
| 1942–43 | Göztepe |
| 1943–44 | Göztepe |
| 1944–45 | Altınordu |
| 1945–46 | Altay |
| 1946–47 | Kayagücü |
| 1947–48 | Altay |
| 1948–49 | İzmirspor |
| 1949–50 | Göztepe |
| 1950–51 | Altay |
| 1951–52 | Karşıyaka |
| 1952–53 | Göztepe |
| 1953–54 | Altay |
| 1954–55 | İzmirspor |
| 1955–56 | İzmirspor |
| 1956–57 | Altay |
| 1957–58 | Altay |
| 1958–59 | Karşıyaka |
Source: [1]
1 Alliance between Altay, Altınordu, and Yüce.
2 Alliance between Göztepe, İzmirspor, and Egespor.
Performance by club
edit| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Altay | 14 |
| Altınordu | 6 |
| Göztepe | 5 |
| İzmirspor1 | 5 |
| Karşıyaka | 3 |
| Doğanspor | 1 |
| Kayagücü | 1 |
| Üçok | 1 |
- 1 Includes Sakarya
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Turkey – List of İzmir League Champions". RSSSF. RSSSF. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
Sources
- Yüce, Mehmet (2015). İdmancı Ruhlar – Futbol Tarihimizin Klasik Devreleri: 1923–1952. Türkiye Futbol Tarihi (in Turkish). Vol. 2. Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları. ISBN 9789750516955.
- Arıpınar, Erdoğan; et al. (June 1992). Türk Futbol Tarihi 1904–1991 (in Turkish). Vol. 1. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yayınları. pp. 71–75.