# 1997–98 Mersin İdmanyurdu season

Mersin İdmanyurdu (also Mersin İdman Yurdu, Mersin İY, or MİY) Sports Club; located in Mersin, east Mediterranean coast of Turkey in 1997–98. Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) participated in Second League 1997–98 season for the 24th time. MİY had a bad season in league and finished 6th. The team also participated in Turkish Cup in 1997–98 and eliminated at Round 4.
H. Okan Merzeci was succeeded by Mehmet Küver as president of the club. Zafer Bilgetay was head coach at the start of the season. Kasım Gündüz completed first half of the season. In the second half Zafer Göncüler managed the team. Türkay Başaran had the most appearances, 32, while Hakan Kayalar was the league and season top goalscorer with 10 goals.

## 1997–98 Second League participation

Mersin İdmanyurdu took place in Group 1 in Second League 1997–98 season. League played in three stages. In the first stage 51 teams in five groups (one with 11 and others with 10 clubs) played for first two rankings to play in promotion group. The promotion group consisted of those 10 teams. At the end of the second stage top two teams promoted to First League 1998–99. Remaining 8 teams in each ranking group and ninth team in 2nd group played in classification groups, by carrying points and goals from ranking groups. Bottom two teams relegated to Third League 1998–99 at the end of the season. In the third stage, 8 clubs (3 from the promotion group and 1 each from 5 classification groups) played one-leg play-off games in Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium to determine the third team to be promoted to First League.
Mersin İdmanyurdu took place in Group 1 consisted of 10 teams and finished first stage at sixth place and couldn't take a place in promotion group. In classification group, team finished 6th again and couldn't attend to promotion play-off games.

### Results summary

Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 1997–98 Second League season league summary:
| | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Stage | Pc | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pt | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pt | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pt |
| Ranking Group | 6 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 7 |
| Classification Group | 5 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 2 |
| Overall | 6 | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 44 | 43 | +1 | 38 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 26 | -12 | 9 |

### Ranking group league table

Mersin İY's league performance in TFF Second League Ranking Group 1 in 1997–98 season is shown in the following table.
| Pc | Team | Games | Games | Games | Games | Goals | Goals | Pts | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away |
| Pc | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | F–A | R | Pc | F–A | R | Pc |
| 1 | Adanaspor (Q) | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 37 | 23 | 35 | 2–1 | 17 | 6 | 0–3 | 8 | 8 |
| 2 | Sarıyer (Q) | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 21 | 34 | 1–1 | 15 | 6 | 1–1 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 26 | 31 | 2–3 | 5 | 6 | 0–0 | 14 | 6 |
| 4 | Hatayspor | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 27 | 2–2 | 4 | 6 | 1–1 | 13 | 7 |
| 5 | Konyaspor | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 0–0 | 7 | 6 | 1–1 | 16 | 6 |
| 6 | Mersin İdmanyurdu | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 20 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Boluspor | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 28 | 20 | 5–2 | 12 | 7 | 0–2 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | Kemerspor | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 33 | 20 | 5–1 | 9 | 7 | 1–2 | 18 | 6 |
| 9 | Bakırköyspor | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 31 | 17 | 0–1 | 10 | 7 | 2–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Gaziosmanpaşaspor | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 26 | 16 | 2–2 | 2 | 2 | 1–2 | 11 | 7 |

### Ranking group games

Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 1997–98 Second League season first half game reports in Ranking Group 1 is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.

### Classification Group

Classification group 1 was played with 8 teams remaining after top two of ranking group were promoted to promotion group. Top team in the group promoted to promotion play-offs, while bottom two teams relegated to 1997–98 Third League season. Points and goals were carried from ranking group. MİY obtained 5 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses and finished sixth. Mersin İY's league performance in Second League Classification Group 1 in 1997–98 season is shown in the following table.
| Pc | Team | Games | Games | Games | Games | Goals | Goals | Pts | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away |
| Pc | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | F–A | R | Pc | F–A | R | Pc |
| 1 | İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor (Q) | 32 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 44 | 56 | 1–2 | 10 | 4 | 3–4 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Konyaspor | 32 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 51 | 29 | 53 | 1–1 | 13 | 5 | 1–1 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Hatayspor | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 40 | 43 | 1–0 | 12 | 4 | 0–1 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Boluspor | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 37 | 42 | 40 | 1–0 | 8 | 4 | 0–1 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Bakırköyspor | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 44 | 58 | 39 | 2–0 | 4 | 5 | 2–3 | 11 | 6 |
| 6 | Mersin İdmanyurdu | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 44 | 43 | 38 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Kemerspor (R) | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 38 | 60 | 34 | 2–1 | 2 | 5 | 1–1 | 9 | 4 |
| 8 | Gaziosmanpaşaspor (R) | 32 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 32 | 49 | 27 | 3–0 | 7 | 4 | 0–2 | 14 | 6 |

### Classification group games

Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 1997–98 Second League season first half game reports in Classification Group 1 is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.

## 1997–98 Turkish Cup participation

1997–98 Turkish Cup was played by 83 teams in 6 rounds prior to quarterfinals. First five round were played in one-leg elimination system, starting from 6th round two leg elimination rounds were played. [Mersin İdmanyurdu] had participated in 36th Turkish Cup (played as Türkiye Kupası in 1997–98 from Round 2 and eliminated at Round 4. The opponents were from Second League like MİY. MİY attended to the cup starting from second round. In the second round MİY eliminated their historical rivals Adana Demirspor which took place in 2nd League Group 2 in that season. In the third round the opponents were Group 2 runners-up Eskişehirspor. Hatayspor was the team to which MİY lost in 4th round. Beşiktaş won the cup for the 5th time.

### Cup track

The drawings and results Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) followed in 1997–98 Turkish Cup are shown in the following table.
| Round | Own League | Opponent's League | Opponent | A/H | Score | Result |
| Round 2 | Second League | Second League | Adana Demirspor | H | 1–0 | Promoted to R3 |
| Round 3 | Second League | Second League | Eskişehirspor | H | 1–0 | Promoted to R4 |
| Round 4 | Second League | Second League | Hatayspor | H | 1–3 | Eliminated |

### Game details

Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 1997–98 Turkish Cup game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.

## Management
### Club management

H. Okan Merzeci, mayor of Mersin city was president of the club. However, on 20 October 1997 Merzeci died due to cerebral hemorrhage. Halil Kuriş acted as mayor while municipality official Mehmet Küver became president of the club.

### Coaching team

Zafer Bilgetay was head coach at the start of the season. After presidential change, when 10the round was lost and team was eliminated from the cup, Kasım Gündüz who coached the team in previous season as well, took over the team. Zafer Göncüler came to the position before the start of the second stage and completed the season.
1997–98 Mersin İdmanyurdu head coaches:
| Head Coach | Period | Pl | W | D | L | Notes |
| Zafer Bilgetay | 03.07.1997 – 18.09.1997 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Left after 4th round of first stage. |
| | 20.09.1997 – 29.10.1997 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
| Kasım Gündüz | 30.10.1997 – 12.02.1998 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Left in the mid-season. |
| Zafer Göncüler | 12.02.1998 – 31.05.1998 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | Contract ended at the end of the season. |

## 1997–98 squad

Appearances, goals and cards count for 1997–98 Second League Group 1 matches and 1997–98 Turkish Cup (Türkiye Kupası) matches only. Starting from this season, the number of players in roster were increased to 18; of the 7 substitutes 3 were eligible to be replaced. Players who only appeared in game rosters were included and listed in order of appearance.
| O | N | Name | Birth | Born | Pos | LA | LG | CA | CG | TA | TG | | | ← Season Notes → |
| 1 | 1 | Varol Özhan | 20 Jan 1968 | İzmir | GK | 4 | | | | 4 | | | | 1997 ST Altay. |
| 2 | 2 | Bülent Kapıcı | 29 Aug 1973 | Istanbul | DF | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 2 | 8 | 1 | → previous season. |
| 3 | 3 | Türkay Başaran | 20 Sep 1966 | Çanakkale | DF | 31 | | 1 | | 32 | | 2 | | → previous season. |
| 4 | 4 | Mustafa Çevirgen | 12 Feb 1973 | Adana | DF | 20 | | 1 | | 21 | | 5 | | → previous season. |
| 5 | 5 | Hakan Turgut | 4 Dec 1968 | Mersin | DF | 12 | | | | 12 | | 2 | | → previous season. |
| 6 | 6 | Mehmet Özer | 3 Sep 1971 | Siirt | MF | 21 | 1 | 1 | | 22 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1997 ST Erzurumspor. |
| 7 | 7 | Recep Yavaş | 11 Aug 1972 | Adapazarı | MF | 27 | 6 | 1 | | 28 | 6 | 2 | | 1997 ST Akçakocaspor. |
| 8 | 8 | Gökhan Sakar | 7 Apr 1975 | Osmaniye | MF | 28 | 2 | 2 | | 30 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1997 ST Ankaragücü. |
| 9 | 9 | Hakan Kayalar | 13 Apr 1970 | İzmir | FW | 30 | 10 | 1 | | 31 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1997 ST Altay. |
| 10 | 10 | Hüseyin Gün | 1 Jan 1975 | İzmir | MF | 11 | 2 | 1 | | 12 | 2 | 2 | | 1997 ST Aydınspor. |
| 11 | 11 | Kemal Yardımcı | 1 Jan 1972 | Şanlıurfa | FW | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 3 | | → previous season. |
| 12 | 12 | Okan Kopan | 19 Oct 1976 | Zonguldak | GK | 19 | | | | 19 | | 3 | 1 | → previous season. |
| 13 | 13 | Önal Arıca | 23 Feb 1976 | Mersin | DF | 25 | 1 | 3 | | 28 | 1 | 6 | 1 | → previous season. |
| 14 | 14 | Murat Şaş | 19 May 1977 | Gaziantep | FW | 8 | 1 | 3 | | 11 | 1 | | | → previous season. |
| 15 | 15 | Fazlı Ulusoy | 18 Mar 1975 | Istanbul | FW | 29 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 9 | | | → previous season. |
| 16 | 16 | Abdullah Akan | 1 Feb 1970 | Diyarbakır | DF | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1997 ST Ceyhanspor. |
| 17 | 17 | Yalçın Günay | 2 Jun 1974 | Bayburt | MF | 26 | 1 | 3 | | 29 | 1 | 7 | | → previous season. |
| 18 | 18 | Serkan Uçak | 23 July 1977 | Mersin | FW | 7 | | 2 | | 9 | | 1 | | → previous season. |
| 19 | 16 | Ümit Aktaş | 12 Jul 1968 | Mersin | MF | 19 | | 2 | | 21 | | 2 | | 1997 ST Diyarbakırspor. |
| 20 | 17 | Aydın Yetgin | 5 June 1975 | Rize | MF | 2 | | 3 | | 5 | | | | 1997 SL Altay. |
| 21 | 12 | Oğuzhan Doğar | 1 Jun 1978 | Osmaniye | GK | 9 | | 3 | | 12 | | | | → previous season. |
| 22 | 18 | Murat Erdoğan | 1 Aug 1976 | London | MF | 18 | 5 | 2 | | 20 | 5 | 2 | | → previous season. |
| 23 | 18 | İbrahim Durmuşlu | 22 May 1973 | Silifke | DF | 20 | | 2 | | 22 | | 4 | 1 | 1997 ST Silifkespor. |
| 24 | 15 | Ferit Kaya | 2 Jan 1975 | Afşin | MF | 26 | 2 | 2 | | 28 | 2 | 4 | | → previous season. |
| 25 | 12 | Volkan Barış Ercan | 10 Sep 1980 | Mersin | GK | | | | | | | | | Amateur player. |
| 26 | 15 | Mevlüt Metli | 17 Aug 1979 | Mersin | MF | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | Amateur player. |
| 27 | 16 | Selman Turan | 11 Nov 1978 | Mersin | DF | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | Amateur player. |
| 28 | 17 | Eyyüp Özdemir | 4 Jun 1983 | Beytüşşebap | DF | | | | | | | | | Amateur player. |
| 29 | 15 | Nurullah Saygılı | 10 Sep 1976 | Kiğı | FW | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | → previous season. |
| 30 | 18 | İnan Günal | 4 Apr 1980 | Tunceli | DF | 3 | | 1 | | 4 | | | | First time professional. |
| 31 | 17 | Turhan Aktarla | 19 Nov 1974 | Mersin | MF | | | | | | | | | 1997 ST Alanyaspor. |
| 32 | 16 | Arap Öztürk | 15 May 1977 | İzmir | FW | 16 | 3 | | | 16 | 3 | 2 | | 1998 WT Karşıyaka. |
| 33 | 12 | Hakan Baygın | 14 Aug 1969 | Mersin | GK | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1998 WT Ispartaspor. |