Türkiyemspor Berlin
Encyclopedia
Türkiyemspor Berlin is German association football club
from Berlin
. The club began in 1978 as a loose association of young footballers playing recreationally as Kreuzberg Gençler Birliği (Kreuzberg Youth Union), named after the Berlin district of Kreuzberg
. The club was formally registered as BFC İzmirspor in 1983 and was named for the city of İzmir
, Turkey
where many of the club members had roots.
In its first season of play in 1983–84 in the C-class amateur league the team captured the division title and they continued to enjoy other successes that would lead to their promotion to fourth division play in the Landesliga Berlin in 1986, followed immediately by a climb into the third division Amateur Oberliga Berlin the next season. Small businesses within the Turkish immigrant community in Berlin have played an important role in supporting the club throughout its history and in 1987 the team changed its name, becoming Türkiyemspor Berlin in order to broaden its appeal.
The club would field competitive sides in the third division (known variously as the Amateur Oberliga Berlin, the Amateur Oberliga Nordost-Mitte, and Regionalliga Nordost through this period) from the late 80s and on into the mid-90s. They also captured three consecutive Paul Rusch Cups (today's Berlin Cup) from 1989 to 1991 while making cup final appearances in 1988, 1993, and 1995. Those wins put them into DFB-Pokal
competition: they were put out in the first round in each of their first two appearances and advanced only as far as the second round in the 1991–92 tournament.
The club suffered a devastating blow in the 1990–91 season when they missed an opportunity for promotion to the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
when they were sanctioned for the use of an ineligible player. The club was leading its division in a close race with Tennis Borussia Berlin
when an arbitrator ruled that the transfer to Türkiyemspor of player Piotr Podkowik was illegal under league rules. Prior to this the BFV (Berliner Fußball-Verband or Berlin Football Federation) had approved the use of the player by the club. The president of the federation apologized, indicating that the league had made a mistake and that the club was blameless. By the time the unexpected decision had come down, Podkowik had already appeared in seven matches with the team and they were ordered to replay three of these games. The division title came down to the final game of the season against TeBe with Türkiyemspor needing only a draw to advance: instead they went down to a stinging 0–5 defeat and so failed to advance. Since then the team has seen a dramatic decline in the number of spectators attending their matches.
By the mid-90s the team found itself overmatched and slipped to fourth tier play in the Amateur Oberliga Nordost-Nord after a last place finish in 1995. Türkiyemspor fell to the Verbandsliga Berlin (V) in 1998 and spent two seasons there before returning to the Oberliga Nordost-Nord (IV) on the strength of a division championship in 2000. They continue to compete at this level, earning uneven results at or just below the mid-table. They finished NOFV-Oberliga Nord
as 3rd in 2007–08 season and became one of the North Group of Regionalliga founders. They finished 15th Regionalliga in 2008–09 season and normally relegated to Oberliga Nord. However, they remained in Regionalliga after Kickers Emden
's forced relegation from 3. Liga
to the Oberliga due to financial problems.
The club is actively involved several community-oriented programs built around anti-racism, intercultural understanding, a campaign against violence in families, and a campaign for respect for homosexuals known as "Respect-Gaymes".
Working with the German Football Association
Türkiyemspor paved the way for teams rooted in the country's various immigrant communities (Migrantenvereine) to participate in first and second division football in Germany. Normally, league rules limit the number of foreign players permitted in a team's squad. Türkiyemspor squads typically included many players without German citizenship from families of long-term migrant workers in the Turkish community. League rules were modified to exempt players without citizenship who could show that they had played several years of youth football in Germany.
who joined the Turkish club Gençlerbirliği before moving on to Galatasaray
. Other former Türkiyemspor players currently active professionally in Turkey include Cemil Mengi
at Çaykur Rizespor
, Serkan Birtan at Istanbul
club Eyüpspor
, and Deniz Aydoğdu
at İzmir
club Karşıyaka.
Michael Fuß
set a Verbandsliga goal scoring record with 66 tallies in 1999–2000.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The club began in 1978 as a loose association of young footballers playing recreationally as Kreuzberg Gençler Birliği (Kreuzberg Youth Union), named after the Berlin district of Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg, a part of the combined Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough located south of Mitte since 2001, is one of the best-known areas of Berlin...
. The club was formally registered as BFC İzmirspor in 1983 and was named for the city of İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
where many of the club members had roots.
History
The club would field competitive sides in the third division (known variously as the Amateur Oberliga Berlin, the Amateur Oberliga Nordost-Mitte, and Regionalliga Nordost through this period) from the late 80s and on into the mid-90s. They also captured three consecutive Paul Rusch Cups (today's Berlin Cup) from 1989 to 1991 while making cup final appearances in 1988, 1993, and 1995. Those wins put them into DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
competition: they were put out in the first round in each of their first two appearances and advanced only as far as the second round in the 1991–92 tournament.
The club suffered a devastating blow in the 1990–91 season when they missed an opportunity for promotion to the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
when they were sanctioned for the use of an ineligible player. The club was leading its division in a close race with Tennis Borussia Berlin
Tennis Borussia Berlin
Tennis Borussia Berlin is a German football club based in Berlin-Westend.- History :The team was founded in 1902 and takes its name from its origins as a tennis and ping-pong club. "Borussia" is a Latinised version of Prussia. In 1903 the club took up football and quickly developed a rivalry with...
when an arbitrator ruled that the transfer to Türkiyemspor of player Piotr Podkowik was illegal under league rules. Prior to this the BFV (Berliner Fußball-Verband or Berlin Football Federation) had approved the use of the player by the club. The president of the federation apologized, indicating that the league had made a mistake and that the club was blameless. By the time the unexpected decision had come down, Podkowik had already appeared in seven matches with the team and they were ordered to replay three of these games. The division title came down to the final game of the season against TeBe with Türkiyemspor needing only a draw to advance: instead they went down to a stinging 0–5 defeat and so failed to advance. Since then the team has seen a dramatic decline in the number of spectators attending their matches.
By the mid-90s the team found itself overmatched and slipped to fourth tier play in the Amateur Oberliga Nordost-Nord after a last place finish in 1995. Türkiyemspor fell to the Verbandsliga Berlin (V) in 1998 and spent two seasons there before returning to the Oberliga Nordost-Nord (IV) on the strength of a division championship in 2000. They continue to compete at this level, earning uneven results at or just below the mid-table. They finished NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Nord
The NOFV-Oberliga Nord is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the northern states of former East Germany and West-Berlin. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the fourth tier of the league system. It covers the German states of Berlin, Brandenburg and...
as 3rd in 2007–08 season and became one of the North Group of Regionalliga founders. They finished 15th Regionalliga in 2008–09 season and normally relegated to Oberliga Nord. However, they remained in Regionalliga after Kickers Emden
Kickers Emden
BSV Kickers Emden is a German association football club, located in Emden, Lower Saxony.-History:The club first began playing in 1928 as a section of the gymnastics club Emder Turnverein, which was founded in 1861...
's forced relegation from 3. Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
to the Oberliga due to financial problems.
Impact of the club on German football
Türkiyemspor is recognised as being among the most successful clubs spawned within Germany's immigrant communities. They have contributed to creating a positive image for their community and helped set a confident example for Turks in the country with many other ethnically-Turkish clubs following in their footsteps. The name Türkiyemspor is now also used by clubs in Moenchengladbach, Wuppertal, Breuberg, Amsterdam, Australia, and the United States. The club and it supporters have also often been the target of hostility and attacks by extreme right-wing groups.The club is actively involved several community-oriented programs built around anti-racism, intercultural understanding, a campaign against violence in families, and a campaign for respect for homosexuals known as "Respect-Gaymes".
Working with the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
Türkiyemspor paved the way for teams rooted in the country's various immigrant communities (Migrantenvereine) to participate in first and second division football in Germany. Normally, league rules limit the number of foreign players permitted in a team's squad. Türkiyemspor squads typically included many players without German citizenship from families of long-term migrant workers in the Turkish community. League rules were modified to exempt players without citizenship who could show that they had played several years of youth football in Germany.
Famous players
More than forty players have gone on to professional careers after getting their start with Türkiyemspor. The most widely recognized of these is Ümit KaranÜmit Karan
Ümit Karan is a retired Turkish football player.He formerly played for Gençlerbirliği S.K., Ankaraspor, Galatasaray and Eskişehirspor.-Club career:...
who joined the Turkish club Gençlerbirliği before moving on to Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
. Other former Türkiyemspor players currently active professionally in Turkey include Cemil Mengi
Cemil Mengi
Cemil Mengi is a Turkish footballer.Mengi came through the ranks of Türkiyemspor Berlin as a youth player before moving to Turkey where he made 4 appearances for Çaykur Rizespor in the Süper Lig. As of 2011, the attacking midfielder is playing for BFC Viktoria 1889.- External links :* at...
at Çaykur Rizespor
Çaykur Rizespor
Çaykur Rizespor is a Turkish sports club based in Rize. Çaykur Rizespor is currently playing in the TFF First League. The club was founded in 1953 in green-yellow colours and had professionalship status in 1968 as Rizespor and changed its colours to blue-green...
, Serkan Birtan at Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
club Eyüpspor
Eyüpspor
Eyüpspor is the football team of Istanbul district Eyüp. Team colours are lavender and yellow. They play at the 2,500 capacity Eyüp Stadı. Eyüp fans have strong rivalry with Fatih Karagümrük and Beykoz 1908 fans and this causes big riots during the matches between those two teams...
, and Deniz Aydoğdu
Deniz Aydoğdu
Deniz Aydoğdu is a professional Turkish footballer.Aydoğdu made 2 appearances in the Süper Lig during his playing career.- References :* at transfermarkt.de * at the Turkish Football Federation...
at İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
club Karşıyaka.
Michael Fuß
Michael Fuß
Michael Fuß is a German footballer.After coming through the ranks of Hertha BSC, Fuß switched to city rivals Hertha Zehlendorf before moving to Türkiyemspor Berlin where he scored a Verbandsliga record 66 goals in 34 league games, helping the club to become Berlin-Liga champions of the 1999–2000...
set a Verbandsliga goal scoring record with 66 tallies in 1999–2000.
Current squad
Honours
- Verbandsliga Berlin (V) champions: 2000
- Berliner Landespokal winners: 1988, 1990, 1991