Women's football in Turkey

Women's football in Turkey is the women's branch of football in Turkey and is governed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).[1]

History

The beginning of the women's football in Turkey goes back to 1971 when Haluk Hekimoğlu formed a women's team called Istanbul Kız Futbol Takımı (Istanbul Girls' Football Team) with 13 young women on his own personal efforts. This team pioneered the foundation of the country's first women's football club Dostluk Spor, which was established on April 19, 1973 at Moda neighborhood of Kadıköy district in Istanbul. Due to lack of opponent women's football teams, Dostluk Spor played in the beginning against men's youth or veteran teams. Dostluk Spor's success led soon to the establishment of other women's football teams Derya Spor, Atılım Spor in İstanbul, Filizspor in İzmir and Nazende Spor in Ankara. Foundation of women's teams in Kocaeli and Samsun followed later.[2]

With the establishment of Dinarsu Women's Football Team in 1982, women's football in Turkey rose to higher levels. Finally in 1993, the Turkish Women's Football League was officially established when 16 teams convened to compete each other.[2]

Ten years later, there were ten teams only active and the Women's League was dissolved. According to Adnan Ersan, deputy secretary general of the Turkish Football Federation, the league based on a wrong system. The clubs paid barely attention to the provision of experience and training for young players. They did not look ahead for the future, and deployed players older than twenty years of age. Moreover, the national team played no matches from Mai 2000 on. A great many of factors, which sent women's football in Turkey into offside.[3]

In 2006, the Turkish Women's League was re-established with seven teams, and the Turkish women participated again at international competitions. In the meantime, the government supported the development. The Turkish Ministry of National Education coined a concept in coopeartion with the Football Federation that envisaged the establishment of girls' football teams in primary and secondary schools. The women's football in Turkey revived, however the national team was composed of young players of amateur-level experience only. National teams of girls' U-17 and U-15 were established in order to feed the women's national team. Young women's footballers in Germany with Turkish-background were seen as a fill-in to strengthen the national team qualitatively, and were called up.[3]

Development of women's football in Turkey
Season No. of clubs No. of players
2005-06
7
130
2006-07
15
316
2007-08
39
591
2008-09
51
798
2009-10
54
1,080
2010-11
72
1,500

The number of women's clubs was seven with 130 licensed footballers in the 2005-06 season. As of the 2010-11 season, there were 72 clubs with 1,500 players.[4]

Competitions

As of the 2013-14 season, following competition categories exist for the women's football:[1]

Women's First League

Marmara Üniversitesi Spor vs Konak Belediyespor at the 2013–14 Turkish Women's First League

The Women's First League (Turkish: Kadınlar 1. Ligi) is the top national competition for women's football in Turkey. The league was established in 1993 starting with the 1993-94 season. The 2000-01 season was apparently the first official competition. Three consecutive seasons between 2003 and 2005 were not played. The number of clubs competing in the First League varied from season to season, and dropped from ten in the 2012-13 season to eight in the 2013-14 season.[5] The last standing clubs are relegated to the lower Second League.[6]

Following teams competed in the 2014-15 season:

The teams, which once played in the First League are:

  1. Antalyaspor
  2. Antalya Yenikapıspor
  3. Beden Eğitimispor
  4. Bucaspor
  5. Bursa Sağlıkgücü Gençlikspor
  6. Çamlıcaspor
  7. Dostlukspor
  8. Elitspor
  9. Fomget Gençlik Spor
  10. Gazi Üniversitesispor
  11. Gölcükspor
  12. Hatay Dumlupınarspor
  13. İzmit Çenesuyu Plajyoluspor
  14. İzmit Belediyespor
  15. Kartalspor
  16. Lüleburgaz 39 Spor
  17. Malatya Gençlikspor
  18. Maltepe Yalıspor
  19. Marmara Üniversitesi Spor
  20. Mersin Camspor
  21. Mersin Gençlerbirliği
  22. Mersingücü Cengiz Topelspor
  23. Sakarya Yenikent Güneşspor
  24. Soyaspor Gençlik
  25. Trabzonspor
  26. Zeytinburnuspor
Champions

League champion team represents Turkey at the UEFA Women's Champions League.[6]

Season Club City No. of clubs
1993-94 Dinarsuspor Istanbul 20
1994-95 Dinarsuspor Istanbul 20
1995-96 Dinarsuspor Istanbul 28
1996-97 Dinarsuspor Istanbul 19
1997-98 Zara Ekinlispor Istanbul 19
1998-99 Zara Ekinlispor Istanbul 14
1999-00 Delta Mobilyaspor Istanbul 11
2000-01 Kuzeyspor Istanbul 12
2001-02 Samsungücü Samsun
2002-03 Gazi Üniversitesispor Ankara 10
2003-04 no league played
2004-05 no league played
2005-06 no league played
2006-07 Gazi Üniversitesispor Ankara 15
2007-08 Gazi Üniversitesispor Ankara 15
2008-09 Trabzonspor[7] Trabzon 10
2009-10 Gazi Üniversitesispor Ankara 10
2010-11 Ataşehir Belediyespor[8]Istanbul 12
2011-12 Ataşehir Belediyespor[9]Istanbul 12
2012-13 Konak Belediyespor[10]Izmir 10
2013-14 Konak Belediyespor[11] Izmir 8
2014-15 Konak Belediyespor Izmir 10

Women's Second League

The Women's Second League (Turkish: Kadınlar 2. Ligi) is the regional organization for all the clubs, which do not take part in the Women's First League. At the end of each league season, last placed teams of the First League are relegated to the Second League. The top standing teams of the Second League are promoted to the First League. Since there exist no lower level league than the Second League, no relegation takes place from this league.[6]

In the 2013-14 season, a total of 69 teams compete in eight divisions as following:[5]

Division 1
  1. Atlantikspor, Ankara
  2. Çamlıcaspor, Istanbul
  3. Eskişehirspor, Eskişehir
  4. Fatih Vatanspor, Istanbul
  5. Kastamonuspor, Kastamonu
  6. Merkezefendispor, Istanbul
  7. Ovacıkspor, Karabük
  8. Zonguldak Gençlik Merkezispor, Zonguldak
Division 2
  1. 1207 Antalyaspor, Antalya
  2. Fomgetspor, Ankara
  3. Güneşsspor, Kayseri
  4. Konya İdmanyurduspor, Konya
  5. Mersin Davultepespor, Mersin
  6. Mersin Gençlerbirliği, Mersin
  7. Tece Belediyespor, Mersin
  8. Yıldırım Beyazıt Şafakspor, Kayseri
Division 3
  1. Amasya Eğitimspor, Amasya
  2. Belediye, Rize
  3. Erbaa Gençlikspor, Tokat
  4. Geçit Belediyespor, Erzincan
  5. Gülizar Hasan Yılmaz Lisesispor, Samsun
  6. İlkadım Belediyespor, Samsun
  7. Kavak Meydanspor, Trabzon
  8. Soyaspor Gençlik, Ordu
  9. Toki İlköğretim Okuluspor, Tokat
Division 4
  1. 7 Eylül Gençlikspor, Aydın
  2. Beden Eğitimispor, Izmir
  3. Denizli Hanbatspor, Denizli
  4. Elitspor, Izmir
  5. Gemlik Zeytinspor, Bursa
  6. Kızılcaköyspor, Aydın
  7. Küplüpınar Yeşildağspor, Bursa
  8. Nazilli Belediyespor, Aydın
  9. Vatan Halkoyunları Spor, Bursa
Division 5
  1. Adana Akdeniz Demirspor, Adana
  2. Adanagücü, Adana
  3. Gaziantep Karatşspor, Gaziantep
  4. Hatay Dumlupınarspor, Hatay
  5. Hatay Sümerspor, Hatay
  6. Kayseri Gençler Birliği, Kayseri
  7. Mersin Camspor, Mersin
  8. Tarsus Gençlerbirliğispor, Mersin
  9. Yahya Mazlum Halk Eğitimspor, Osmaniye
Division 6
  1. Akdeniz Nurçelikspor, Istanbul
  2. Bakırköy Zaraspor, Istanbul
  3. CFS Bağcılarspor, Istanbul
  4. Karşıyaka Kolejispor, Kocaeli
  5. Kireçburnu, Istanbul
  6. Sakaryaspor, Sakarya
  7. Yalova Gençlikspor, Yalova
  8. Yenidünyaspor, Istanbul
Division 7
  1. Bayazıtspor, Ağrı
  2. Belediye Vanspor, Van
  3. Erzurum Albayraklarspor, Erzurum
  4. Hakkarigücüspor, Hakkari
  5. Muş Kartalspor, Muş
  6. Muş Yağmurspor
  7. Nusaybinspor, Mardin
  8. Siirt Hasbeyspor, Siirt
  9. Taşlıçay Kamuspor, Ağrı
Division 8
  1. Diyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Diyarbakır
  2. Elazığ Bordo Atletikspor, Elazığ
  3. Elazığ Hedefspor, Elazığ
  4. Gaziantepspor, Gaziantep
  5. Gaziantep Fıstıkspor, Gaziantep
  6. Kızıltepespor, Mardin
  7. Malatyaspor, Malatya
  8. Maraşgücüspor, Maraş
  9. Şanlıurfa Gençlikspor, Şanlıurfa

Girls' U-17 Turkey Championship

For the girls of age group 15-16, the Girls' U-17 Turkey Championship (Turkish: Genç Kızlar Şampiyonası) is being held. It is an important organization in respect of the development of women's football in Turkey.[6]

The first leg of the 2008-09 Women's U17 Turkey Championship (Turkish: Genç Kızlar Türkiye Şampiyonası) was held between July 9–12, 2009 with the participation of 36 clubs in six groups across Turkey each having six teams. The top first teams of the six groups were entitled to play the finals.[12] The finals were held between July 23–25, 2009 in Bartın. Mevlana Lisesi from Ümraniye, Istanbul became champion of the 2008-09 season defeating Izmir Konak Belediyespor by 1-0 in the final match.[13]

Girls' U-15 Turkey Championship

The Girls' U-15 Turkey Championship (Turkish: Yıldız Kızlar Şampiyonası) is organized for the girls' teams in the age category 13-14.[6]

It was held in the 2008-09 season between July 18–20, 2009 with the participation of six teams in two groups. The leaders of the two groups, Kocaeli Gölcükspor and Bursa Sağlıkgücüspor, played the finals in Düzce. Gölcükspor became champion by winning 3-0.[14]

Turkey vs Iran at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore

National teams

Women's football in Turkey is represented in international competitions by:[1]

A 2013-FIFA report stated that Turkey makes serious efforts to develop a strong women's national team at senior level by using foreign resources. Turkish-descent female players from diverse nations, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and the USA, are called up to international events.[15] The idea behind is the hope that the experience of these players will help improve the standards, and give the youngsters at home a boost.[16]

UEFA Women's Champions League

By virtue of winning 2008-09 Turkey National Women's First League, Trabzonspor played in August 2009 in the Group D for qualification to the 2009–10 UEFA Women's Champions League. This was the first time ever a Turkish women's football team participated in the play-offs for the UEFA league established in the 2001-2002 season.[17] The team won its first match against ŽNK Krka from Slovenia by 2-0, however lost the following plays to Torres Calcio Femminile of Italy by 0-9 and to Slovan Duslo Šaľa from Slovakia by 1-2. Trabzonspor women's team failed so to participate in the 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League.[18]

In the following years, Gazi Üniversitesispor in 2010–11, Ataşehir Belediyespor, twice in 2011–12 and 2012–13, and Konak Belediyespor, also twice in 2013–14 and 2014–15, played in the UEFA Women's Champions League. In the 2013–14 season, Konak Belediyespor became the first ever Turkish women's team to play in the league's Round of 16 knockout phase.

Year Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Round
2009–10 Trabzonspor 3 1 0 2 3 11 -8 Qualifying
2010–11 Gazi Üniversitesispor 3 0 1 2 3 22 -19 Qualifying
2011–12 Ataşehir Belediyespor 3 0 1 2 3 9 -6 Qualifying
2012–13 Ataşehir Belediyespor 3 1 0 2 5 10 -5 Qualifying
2013–14 Konak Belediyespor 7 5 0 2 7 8 -1 Round of 16
2014–15 Konak Belediyespor 3 2 0 1 13 5 +8 Qualifying
2015–16 Konak Belediyespor

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Bayan futbolu geliştirme" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Durkal, Koray (2012-03-08). "Türkiye'nin ilk kadın futbol takımı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Türkei will sich im Frauenfußball etablieren" (in German). Women Soccer. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  4. ↑ "Bayan Futbol" (in Turkish). Konak Belediyesi. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "1. Lig Fikstür Puan Cetveli 2013-14" (in Turkish). Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Kadın Futbolu" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  7. ↑ Schöggl, Hans (2009-07-16). "Turkey - List of Women Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  8. ↑ "Ataşehir'in Sultanları Şampiyon" (in Turkish). atasehir.bel.tr. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "ATAŞEHİR wins title" (in Turkish). karaman.ca. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "Konak champion" (in Turkish). trtspor.com.tr. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Konak Belediyespor Bayan Futbol Takımı Namağlup Şampiyon". Milliyet (in Turkish). 2014-05-10. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  12. ↑ "Genç Bayanlar (U17) Türkiye Şampiyonası Programı ve Statüsü" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  13. ↑ "U17 Genç Bayanlar Türkiye Şampiyonu İstanbul Mevlana Lisesi oldu" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  14. ↑ "Yıldız Bayanlar (U15) Türkiye Şampiyonu Gölcükspor oldu" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  15. ↑ "A Bayan Milli Takımı'nın Avusturya maçı aday kadrosu açıklandı". Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  16. ↑ "Turkey takes a global view for future growth". FIFA Football Decelopment - Women's Football. 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  17. ↑ "Trabzonspor, Slovenya'ya Gitti" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  18. ↑ "Trabzonspor 1-2 FK Slovan Duslo Sala" (in Turkish). TFF. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
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