Adana Demirspor Kulübü is a multi-sports club based in Adana, Turkey. The football department is the most popular department, which was relegated to TFF 1. Lig on 16 March 2025 after 4 seasons at the Super Lig. Founded by railway workers of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) in 1940, the football team's success at the Adana League and the water polo team's unbeaten National League titles in the club's first three decades built a large worker fan base in the city. Some supporters who were unhappy with the management of the club founded Adanaspor in 1954, and competition among the two clubs for the citywide support and domination since then, created one of the fiercest rivalries of Turkish football which continues to this day as the Adana derby. They currently play in the TFF 2. Lig, following back-to back relegations, with one of them being administrative.
Adana Demirspor was the first club based outside of Istanbul, Ankara, or İzmir to join the National Football League in the 1960–61 season, before this the league games were only hosted in the three cities. The water polo team was the first champions of the Turkish Water Polo League and had dominated the first three decades of the league, winning 21 league titles in 25 years, from the early 1940s to mid 1960s.
Adana Demirspor are by far the most successful of the 38 Demirspor clubs that are founded by the employees of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD). Most Demirspor clubs have jersey colours identical to Adana Demirspor, and bear the TCDD symbol on their logo. Ankara Demirspor are the only other Demirspor club that compete in the Turkish professional football league system, and the only ones still affiliated with the TCDD.
History
Turkish State Railways (TCDD) had begun sports activities in 1930 with the foundation of Eskişehir Demirspor. İzmir Demirspor, Ankara Demirspor, Kayseri Demirspor and Istanbul (Haydarpaşa) Demirspor were founded in following years.
Turkish law of National Defence Obligation came into effect with the upcoming Second World War to prepare civil youth for the possible entry of Turkey to war. The law required the institutions, that have over 500 employees to found sports clubs. This law accelerated the sports activities of TCDD and 33 more Demirspor clubs were founded in almost every major station. The foundation of Adana Demirspor was laid down in 1938 by TCDD Adana Headquarters (6th Region). First Club General Meeting was held at the Station building on 12 January 1940. After 2 years' preparation, Region Chief Eşref Demirağ, Vasfı Ramzan, Hasan Silah, Hikmet Tezel, Feridun Kuzeybay, Seha Keyder, Emin Ersan, Esat Gürkan, Kenan Gülgün and 500 TCDD employees founded the club on 28 December 1940. Eşref Demirağ was elected the first President and held this position until 1946. TCDD 6th Region Chiefs held the president seat until 1969 and Board of Directors were formed from the directors, supervisors and other employees of the 6th Region.
Football, Athletics, Cycling, Wrestling, Swimming and Waterpolo departments were opened with the foundation. A building at the Adana Railway Station was converted into Club House and a training ground was built next to it. A TCDD wagon was designated for Adana Demirspor which was connected to trains that take club teams to away games.
1941 to 1960: Waterpolo Unbeatables & Adana Football Masters
Adana Demirspor waterpolo team joined the Turkish Waterpolo League in 1942 at the same year, Turkey's newest Swimming Complex had opened in Adana. From 1942 to 1965, Adana Demirspor had won the Waterpolo League title for 21 times, without losing a game at 17 of the 21 seasons. Under the leadership of club legend Muharrem Gülergin, 40 players, who earlier developed their swimming skills at water canals of Adana and then joined the club at the swimming complex, became known as the Unbeatables nationwide. Other than waterpolo, these players also broke national and international records in swimming.
Adana Demirspor joined the Adana Football League in 1941. The league, which also known as Çukurova League, was founded as a first-tier semi-professional league in 1924 consisting clubs from Adana, Mersin and later Hatay, Maraş and Malatya Provinces. Adana Demirspor won the league title for the first time at 1942–43 season. ADS won the league title a record of 15 times in 17 seasons from 1942 to 1959.
Adana Demirspor was qualified for the Turkish Amateur Championship for the first time in 1943 and joined every year that they won the Adana title. The club secured the National Third Spot in 1947 at the finals in Ankara, behind Ankara Demirspor and Fenerbahçe. ADS were the National Third again in 1951 at the finals in Balıkesir, behind Beşiktaş and Altay. ADS won the Turkish Amateur Championship in 1954 after defeating Hacettepe 1–0, with Selami Tekkazancı (Füze Selami) scoring the only goal. Adana League was upgraded to fully professional league in 1955, thus Adana Demirspor football team upgraded to a pro-team. As Turkish National League was founded in 1959, Adana League was downgraded to a Second Tier League. TARİHÇE Adana Demirspor . Retrieved 4 June 2010
1961 to 1984: Multi-sports success
Turkey did not have a nationwide professional league until 1959, instead, teams competed in regional leagues like Adana, Ankara, Eskişehir, İzmir, Kayseri, and Trabzon. The Milli Lig, known today as the Süper Lig, was founded in 1959. The league consisted of eight clubs from Istanbul, and four clubs each from Ankara and İzmir. Adana Demirspor had promoted to the Milli Lig at the third season (1960–61), becoming the first club outside the three largest cities. The rules at that time, did not allow games to be played outside of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, thus Adana Demirspor had to play their home games in Ankara, turning every game into an away game. Without fan support and with difficulties of long trips, ADS could not stay long at the National League, as they relegated back to Adana League, after finishing last place with 18 points in the first season. The club returned to Adana League at 1961–62 season, where they competed for another two years.
The second tier (2.Lig) of the Milli Lig During this season, the Milli Lig became the 1.Lig, and the newly created Second Division was titled the 2. Lig. However, the second level league is now known as the 1. Lig (First League), and the top-level league is now the Süper Lig. was founded in 1963, and Adana Demirspor were one of the founder clubs of the league. ADS were the Runner-up of the first season (1963-64) of the 2.Lig, though could not promote to top tier. TCDD put an end to governing ADS, and in 1969, businessmen Mahmut Karabucak was elected the first president outside of TCDD. Adana Demirspor had competed in the 2. Lig for nine years and had promoted to 1. Lig for the second time at the 1972–73 season. They secured promotion after defeating Uşakspor 2–0, with goals from Fatih Terim and Bektaş Yurttasın.
Adana Demirspor secured the 10th position at the Turkish Top Tier 1973-1974 season and with Adanaspor already at the Top Tier, Adana was the first city, outside the three league founder cities, to hold two clubs and to host derby games at the top tier. ADS secured mid-positions at the top tier until 1981 and reached the finals of the 1977–78 Turkish Cup. Demirspor lost the first leg of the final with a 3–0 score, and failed to comeback in the second leg, drawing 0–0 with Trabzonspor. They met Trabzonspor in a cup final once more that year, this time in the Prime Minister's Cup, but would go on to lose 2–1. Hacı Döner was elected the President in 1979 and soon after Coşkun Özarı was hired as the Head Coach. ADS reached its apex when the club finished sixth in the 1981–82 season with Coşkun Özarı. This season was Adana Demirspor's the best result till finishing fourth in the 2022–23 season. ADS had also performed well at the following season securing the 7th position. Adana Demirspor were at the Top Tier straight for 11 years, after relegating to Second Tier at 1983–84 season with a goal difference.
Adana Demirspor water polo team won the 21st title of Turkish Water polo First Tier in 1965. This was the last title and ADS continued competing at water polo throughout 1970s. ADS swimmer Erdal Acet broke the record of swimming La Manche in 9 hours 12 minutes on 1 September 1976. He improved the record by 8 minutes a year later. ADS basketball promoted to the Turkish Basketball First Tier in 1973. After playing one season, basketball team relegated to Second Tier. ADS promoted to First Tier again in 1976.
1984 to 1995: First-Second Tier fluctuations
Adana Demirspor were grouped into 2.Lig Group A with other clubs east of Ankara at the 1984–85 season. ADS could not start the Second Tier journey well as they finished 9th that season. Next season, Metin Türel was hired as the coach and ADS had a head to head to run for promotion with Diyarbakırspor. On the 28th match week, 4 games to the end, ADS was the group leader, and had a game against Diyarbakırspor at a rough environment in Diyarbakır. ADS played with fear and were attacked on the field. Diyarbakırspor won the game with a 2–1 score, took the group leadership and promoted to top tier at the end of the season. ADS had an excellent performance at the following 1986–87 season, again at Group A, promoting to First Tier at the end of the season with 10 point lead. Ali Hoşfikirer coached the team at the second half-season.
Adana Demirspor hired Fuad Muzurovic as the new coach at the third First Tier spell. ADS had completed the 1987–88 season at 10th position and Zijad Svrakic scored 22 goals. Scoring 16 more goals at the following season, Svrakic is the all-time First Tier goal scorer of ADS, in one season and in total. ADS barely saved from relegation at the following 1988–89 season after defeating Karşıyaka 2–1 at the last game. ADS had a very low performance at the 1989–90 season, getting locked at the relegation zone most of the time and relegating to Second Tier weeks before the season end.
Adana Demirspor was placed into Group C at the Second Tier 1990–91 season, with other clubs from Eastern Turkey. Under the leadership of coach Ali Hoşfikirer, ADS had a very successful season, winning all the home games except one and having several away wins. ADS led the group most of the season and won the League title with 8-points ahead of Malatyaspor. Adana Demirspor did not start their fourth spell of the First Tier well and performed poorly throughout the 1991-92 season, winning only 5 times and relegating back to Second Tier with 8-points short to relegating zone.