Full name | Akhisar Belediye Gençlik ve Spor |
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Nickname(s) | Akigolar |
Founded | 8 April 1970 |
Ground | Manisa 19 Mayıs Stadium |
Capacity | 16,597 |
President | Hüseyin Eryüksel |
Manager | Okan Buruk |
League | Süper Lig |
2015–16 | Süper Lig, 8th |
Website | Club home page |
Location | Manisa, Turkey |
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Operator | Akhisar Belediyespor |
Capacity | 20,000-seat |
Field size | 105 x 68 metres |
Construction | |
Opened | 1974 |
Renovated | 2008 |
Tenants | |
Manisaspor (1974–present) Akhisar Belediyspor (2012–present) |
Akhisar Belediye Gençlik ve Spor (Akhisar Municipality Youth and Sports Club) is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Akhisar. Formed in 1970, Akhisarspor are nicknamed Akigo. The club colours are green, black, and yellow. The club has a great rivalry against Turgutluspor and Manisaspor. The club plays its home games at the Manisa 19 Mayıs Stadium, which is also used by Manisaspor.
Akhisar Belediyespor had their first major success in 2012 when they won the TFF First League and as a result were promoted to the Süper Lig. They currently play in the Süper Lig and haven't been relegated since their promotion in 2012.
The club was founded in 1970 by the merger of three soccer teams, Güneşspor, Gençlikspor and Doğanspor in Manisa. The club's colors are black, green, and yellow, representing Güneşspor, Gençlikspor and Doğanspor, respectively. Yılmaz Atabarut was the founder and the first president of the club.
The club competed in the Turkish regional amateur series until 1984, when it was promoted to the TFF Third League, the fourth level in the Turkish football league system. Ten years later, in 1994, they were relegated back to the regional amateur league for one season.
In 1995, the club was promoted back to the third league. In the 2000–2001 season, the club advanced to the TFF Second League and after nine years there, they were promoted to the TFF First League. They became the champion of the league in their first season which brought them to the highest level of Turkish soccer, the Süper Lig.
In 2012, the club brought in Bruno Mezenga, Çağdaş Atan and Ibrahima Sonko to strengthen their squad. In January 2013, they signed Greek striker Theofanis "Fanis" Gekas who went on to score 12 goals for the remainder of the 2012/13 season, and assisted in the effort to keep the club in the division. The club ended on a 14th place in the Süper Lig.