Çaykur Rizespor

Young people from Rize., still recovering from the scars of World War I, established the first sports club in Rize, Rize İdman Yurdu, on the first anniversary of the city’s liberation from Russian occupation. The club’s foundation was significantly influenced by Suphi Bey, who was stationed in Rize at the time, and İsmail Kentay, a high-ranking security officer who later served as the Deputy Director of Ankara Police. Other notable founders included Kalamozlu Ali Bey, Ali Kemal Kavrakoğlu, Memiş Kanburoğlu, Hamdi Tuzcuoğlu, Sadettin Türüt, Sabri Kolçak, Acente İbrahim, and Lazoğlu Ahmet Bey. Through their efforts, a clubhouse consisting of two rooms was set up next to the then Rize Municipality building.

Rize İdman Yurdu was initially active in sports such as football and gymnastics. Additionally, a music branch was established, forming the core of the Rize City Band. The musical instruments for the band were generously donated by Süleyman Sudi Sofuoğlu (Kartal), a Member of Parliament for Lazistan.^[3]

Şark İdman Ocağı began its activities on June 25, 1923, in a building known as Barış Oteli. The founding council of the club included Ali Kemal Kavrakoğlu, Rıfkı Tuzcuoğlu, İshak Turnaoğlu, Hamdullah Şadoğlu, Hasan Biber, Riyazi Diren, and Kamil Karadeniz.

The statement, “The presence of two rival clubs in the city, despite the conservative mindset of that time, consistently attracted an ever-growing audience,” beautifully encapsulates the spirit of Rizespor 80 years ago, expressed in the unadulterated language of that era.

The matches frequently played between the two clubs were reminiscent of a hidden local derby in history. On 7 November 1923, an unforgettable match took place, where Şark İdman Ocağı secured a 1–0 victory. The referee for the match was Captain İsmet Bey, an officer of the 7th Regiment, who was stationed in Rize at the time.

In the early days of football in Rize, Şark İdman Ocağı and Rize İdman Yurdu played a significant role in shaping the sport’s rivalry within the region. It is evident that these two teams frequently challenged each other in competitive matches. Beyond local competition, the teams also organized trips to Trabzon and Samsun.

Additionally, apart from football, great emphasis was placed on gymnastics, with Suphi Bey being a notable figure who dedicated significant effort to this direction. Şark İdman Ocağı continued its sporting activities for about two years, while Rize İdman Yurdu underwent various stages of development and later became the foundation for Rize Fener Gençlik Kulübü.

The club, named Rizespor, was founded in Rize on 19 May 1953, the 34th anniversary of the Turkish War of Independence. It was established with the aim of “enhancing the physical and cultural abilities of youth and contributing to their development through education in this field.” The founding members were Yakup Temizel (a draper), Atıf Taviloğlu (a draper), Bilsel (a draper), Yaşar Tümbekçioğlu (a tax officer), and Muharrem Kürkçü (a draper). The club’s colors were chosen as “Yellow”, representing the oranges and lemons that were abundant in Rize at the time, and “Green”, symbolizing tea, which remains the emblem of Rize to this day. Yaşar Dömekçioğlu, one of the founding members, was selected as the first president.

From 1953 to 1968, during its 15-year amateur period, many local footballers wore the club’s jersey, including Ahmet Durmuş, Ali Durmuş (Milli Ali), Kenan Tiryaki, Mustafa Erol, İrfan Akaslan, Mahmut Salih Yavuz, Salih Kazancı, Ahmet Kemal Yavuz, Hamil Kazancı, Mustafa Veziroğlu, Yılmaz Özkan, Yılmaz Balta, Ahmet Fenci, Akif Fenci, Oktay Arayıcı, Abdullah Kıtır, Mustafa Kazdal, Abdullah Şeker, and Ömer Çakır.

In 1968, with changes to the club’s charter, Rizespor transitioned to professionalism through the merger of Rize Güneşspor, Rizegücü, and Fener Youth Sports Club, under the new colors of Blue-Green. They began their journey in the TFF 2. Lig, after narrowly missing promotion to the TFF 3. Lig following a controversial 3–0 forfeit defeat to Sivasspor. Additionally, 2 points were deducted, and instead of Rizespor, Tarsus İdman Yurdu was promoted to the TFF 2. Lig.

This 3–0 forfeit marked a significant moment in Turkish football history as the first penalty of its kind applied to Rizespor. After a brief period, they fell back to Amateur Leagues but returned to the TFF 2. Lig in the 1978–1979 season as champions, earning the right to play in the TFF 1. Lig for the first time.^[4]

On 9 February 1991, during an extraordinary general assembly, the club merged with Çaykur, the largest public organization in the Black Sea Region, and continued its activities in professional leagues under the name “Çaykur Rizespor Club.”

The club was relegated from the 2001–02 season, finishing in 16th place. However, it was promoted back to the Süper Lig after just one year. The club remained in the 2003–04 season without relegation until the 2007–08 season, when it was relegated, finishing in 17th place. In the following season, it competed in the TFF 1. Lig.

From 2008 to 2013, the team competed in the TFF 1. Lig, finishing the 2012–13 season in 2nd place and earning promotion back to the Süper Lig after a five-year absence. They competed in the 2016–17 season but were relegated to the TFF 1. Lig, finishing in 16th place. In the 2017–18 season, the club became champions and was promoted again to the 2018–19 season.

In February 2015, the club announced plans to engage in 20 additional sports disciplines, including basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, mountaineering, rafting, swimming, gymnastics, athletics, judo, boxing, wrestling, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, cycling, and women’s football.^[5]

In the 2020–21 season, under the management of Stjepan Tomas, Çaykur Rizespor parted ways with Tomas after 19 weeks.^[6] He was replaced by Marius Şumudică, who mutually terminated his contract after three draws and four losses.^[7] Bülent Uygun then took over. The team finished the league in 13th place with 12 wins, 12 draws, and 16 losses, accumulating 48 points. In the 2020–21 Turkish Cup, they were eliminated in the round of 16 after a 1–0 loss to Beşiktaş.^[8]

The 2021–22 season ended with the club finishing 17th and being relegated to the TFF 1. Lig. During the 2022–23 season, they finished 2nd and were promoted back to the Süper Lig after one year.

On 13 June 2023, After Bülent Korkmaz's contract with Çaykur Rizespor came to an end, the club decided to appoint İlhan Palut as their new coach.^[9][10] In his first season in charge, Palut led Rizespor to a 9th-place finish in the Süper Lig, with the team securing 14 wins, 8 draws, and 16 losses over 38 matches, finishing with 50 points and a goal difference of -10.

Çaykur Rizespor-Trabzonspor rivalry is also known as the Black Sea derby.^[11] They are considered rivals due to their geographical proximity and their shared history of competing against each other in local and regional tournaments.

The club hosts their home games at Rize City Stadium since 2009–10 season.^[12] The opening game of the stadium was held on 12 August 2009, when Çaykur Rizespor hosted Fenerbahçe for an exhibition game.^[12]

• TFF First League
  • Winners (3): 1978–79, 1984–85, 2017–18
  • Play-Off Champion (1): 1999–2000
  • Runners-up (3): 2002–03, 2012–13, 2022–23
• TFF Second League
  • Winners (1): 1993–94
  • Runners-up (1): 1973–74
• Turkish Cup
  • Semi-finals (3): 2002–03, 2007–08, 2015–16
  • Quarter-finals (2): 1986–87, 2003–04

• Süper Lig

1979–81, 1985–89, 2000–02, 2003–08, 2013–17, 2018–22, 2023–

• TFF First League

1974–79, 1981–85, 1989–93, 1994–00, 2002–03, 2008–13, 2017–18, 2022–23

• TFF Second League

1968–74, 1993–94

As of 11 February 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   TUR Tarık Çetin (3rd captain) 2 DF   UZB Husniddin Aliqulov 3 DF   TUR Samet Akaydin 4 DF   HUN Attila Mocsi 5 DF   DEN Casper Højer (captain) 6 MF   GRE Giannis Papanikolaou 7 MF   TUR Abdülkadir Ömür (on loan from Hull City) 8 MF   BIH Dal Varešanović 9 FW   GAM Ali Sowe (on loan from Rostov) 10 FW   NGA Ibrahim Olawoyin 15 FW   CZE Václav Jurečka 17 FW   TUR Emrecan Bulut 18 MF   BIH Muhamed Buljubašić

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW   ALG Rachid Ghezzal 20 MF   TUR Berkay Özcan (on loan from İstanbul Başakşehir) 27 DF   TUR Eray Korkmaz 28 FW   NGA Babajide David 30 GK   CRO Ivo Grbić (on loan from Sheffield United) 35 GK   TUR Efe Doğan 37 DF   TUR Muhammet Taha Şahin 45 DF   TUR Ayberk Karapo (on loan from Manisa) 54 MF   TUR Mithat Pala (vice-captain) 77 FW   KOS Altin Zeqiri 95 DF   TUR Habil Özbakır 97 FW   TUR Doğanay Avcı

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK   TUR Zafer Görgen (to Bandırmaspor until 30 June 2025) — GK   TUR Canberk Yurdakul (to Esenler Erokspor until 30 June 2025) — DF   TUR Seyfettin Anıl Yaşar (to Esenler Erokspor until 30 June 2025) — DF   TUR Mustafa Şengül (to Erbaaspor until 30 June 2025) — DF   TUR Aziz Aksoy (to Fethiyespor until 30 June 2025) — DF   TUR Hüseyincan Kırıkcı (to Artvin Hopaspor until 30 June 2025) — MF   TUR Efe Geçim (to Bornova 1877 SK until 30 June 2025) — MF   TUR Ozan İsmail Koç (to Erbaaspor until 30 June 2025)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF   TUR Eren Emre Aydın (to 1461 Trabzon FK until 30 June 2025) — MF   TUR Emirhan Yılmaz (to Düzcespor until 30 June 2025) — MF   FIN Janne-Pekka Laine (to Esenler Erokspor until 30 June 2025) — FW   SEN Mame Mor Faye (to Esenler Erokspor until 30 June 2025) — FW   TUR Güvenç Usta (to Balıkesirspor until 30 June 2025) — FW   TUR Efe Tecimer (to Artvin Hopaspor until 30 June 2025) — FW   TUR Benhur Keser (to Esenler Erokspor until 30 June 2025) — FW   TUR Remzi Kolcuoğlu (to Çayelispor until 30 June 2025)

Position	Name
Chairman	İbrahim Turgut
Vice Chairman	Adnan Er
Deputy Chairman	Ali Haydar Er
Treasurer	Ahmet Dokumacı
Member	Fatih Bakoğlu
Member	Yusuf Ziya Alim
Member	Serkan Karavin
Member	Devrim Orkun Kalkavan
Press Spokesperson	Hasan Yavuz Bakır
Stadium Manager	Ahmet Yılmaz Zehiroğlu

Source: ^[14]

Position	Name
Technical Director	İlhan Palut
Assistant Coach	Osman Demir
Assistant Coach	Erkan Akkoç
Match Analyst	Erdi Tokul
Match Analyst	Kerim Atakan Kart
Goalkeeper Coach	Bekir Arpacı
Asst. GK Coach	Hakan Türüt
Performance Coach	Çağatay Turan
Performance Coach	Birtan Güner
Translator	Rıdvan Erdem
Translator	Berkant Yıldır
Doctor	Muhammet Hakan Ayaz
Nutritionist	Mahmut Uğur Çilkız
Physiotherapist	Burak İzler
Physiotherapist	Muhammet Barış Sütçü
Physiotherapist	Fatih Demirci
Sports Masseur	Murat Aydın
Sports Masseur	Hasan Yıldız
Sports Masseur	Kazım Emre Çağan
Equipment Manager	Engin Yazıcı
Equipment Manager	Sertan Tavukçu
Equipment Manager	Rıdvan Çelik

Source: ^[15]

As of 4 November 2021^[16]

Tenure	Name
1968–1973	Bahattin Coşkun
1973–1975	Reşat Uçak
1975–1978	Mustafa Rakıcıoğlu
1978	Köksal Mataracı
1978–1980	Nuri Akbulut
1980–1981	Paşa Ali Alaman
1981	Nuri Akbulut
1981–1983	Ali Rıza Feyiz
1984	Hasan Yardımcı
1985	Fehmi Ekşi
1986	Servet Takış
1987–1988	Mehmet Yılmaz
1988–1989	Şadan Tuzcu
1989	Şeref Keçeli
1989–1990	Ahmet Akyıldız
1990	Muharrem Kürkçü
1990	Hamit Oral
1990–1991	Hasan Basri Çillioğlu
1991–1992	Nejat Ural
1992	Süreyya Turgut
1992–1995	Tuncer Ergüven
1995	Ruşen Kukul
1995	Tuncer Ergüven
1995–1996	İsmail Topçu
1996	Ali Baba Çillioğlu
1996	Cemal Aydoğdu
1996–1997	Mehmet Cengiz
1997–1998	Mehmet Aslankaya
1998–2002	Mehmet Cengiz
2002–2007	Ekrem Cengiz
2007–2009	Abdülkadir Çakır
2009–2010	Halim Mete
2010–2017	Metin Kalkavan
2017–2018	Hasan Kemal Yardımcı
2018–2021	Hasan Kartal
2021–2022	Tahir Kıran
2022–	İbrahim Turgut

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Çaykur Rizespor.

• Official website
• Rizespor on TFF.org
• Rizespor