Sivasspor

Foundation and early years (1932–1967)

The club's roots trace back to 14 May 1932, when it was originally established as Sivas Gençlik in Sivas. Wearing red and white kits, the team competed at the amateur level for several decades. By the mid-1960s, the city sought representation in the newly forming professional leagues of Turkey. To meet the requirements for professional status, Sivas Gençlik merged with two other local clubs, Yolspor and Kızılırmak. The merger was officially formalized on 9 May 1967, establishing Sivasspor as a professional entity. The club was admitted to the TFF Second League (now TFF 1. Lig) for the 1967–68 season.

The 1967 Kayseri Stadium disaster

Sivasspor's debut professional season was marred by the Kayseri Atatürk Stadium disaster, one of the worst sporting tragedies in Turkish history. On 17 September 1967, during a match against neighboring rivals Kayserispor (then known as Kayseri Erciyesspor) at the Kayseri Atatürk Stadium, tensions between supporters escalated into violence and a subsequent stampede. The disaster resulted in 43 deaths and over 300 injuries, with the majority of casualties being Sivasspor fans. Following the tragedy, the Turkish Football Federation suspended both teams and mandated that they be placed in separate groups of the league to prevent further violence, a separation that lasted until the 1990–91 season.

Rise to the Süper Lig and title challenges (2005–2010)

After decades in the lower divisions, Sivasspor achieved promotion to the Süper Lig for the first time in 2005 after winning the Second League title. Under the management of Bülent Uygun, the club enjoyed a "golden era" between 2007 and 2009. In the 2007–08 season, they finished fourth, earning equal points with the second and third-placed teams but missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification due to goal difference.

The following season, 2008–09, Sivasspor mounted a serious title challenge, leading the league for much of the campaign. They ultimately finished as runners-up, second only to Beşiktaş, which qualified them for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in club history.

European campaigns and first major trophy (2020–Present)

Sivasspor remained a competitive force in the top flight, consistently qualifying for European competitions. In the 2020–21 season, they competed in the GSs of the UEFA Europa League.

The club achieved its most significant success to date on 26 May 2022, winning the 2021–22 Turkish Cup. In the final played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Sivasspor defeated their historical rivals Kayserispor 3–2 after extra time. Goals from Aaron Appindangoyé, Max Gradel, and Moussa Konaté secured the club's first-ever major trophy. This victory qualified them for the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they reached the R16 in the 2022–23 season.

In the 2023–24 season, the team finished 7th in the Süper Lig under the returning manager Bülent Uygun. In the 2024–25 season, Sivasspor was relegated to the TFF 1. Lig after finishing 17th in the Süper Lig, ending an eight-year stint in the top flight. The campaign was marked by significant managerial instability and financial difficulties, including a three-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA in February 2025 due to unpaid debts.

The team began the season under returning manager Bülent Uygun, who was dismissed on 14 December 2024 following a string of poor results. He was replaced by Ömer Erdoğan, but his tenure lasted only until 5 March 2025, with the club winning just one of his nine league matches in charge. Former long-serving coach Rıza Çalımbay returned for a third spell to attempt a late rescue but was unable to reverse the team's fortunes. Relegation was effectively confirmed following a 1–0 away loss to Samsunspor on 18 May 2025, leaving the club unable to bridge the gap to safety with two matches remaining. Sivasspor concluded the season with 35 points from 36 matches, recording 9 wins, 8 draws, and 19 losses.