Yeni Malatyaspor Loses 38 Matches out of 39 Games in Turkish Second Division

• Yeni Malatyaspor ended the 2024–25 season with 38 losses in 38 games, scoring just 14 goals and conceding 153
• The club was crippled by €20 million in debt and a 21-point deduction from FIFA, leaving Malatyaspor unable to compete
• In 2023, the team’s goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyüp Türkaslan, tragically died during a massive earthquake that also destroyed club's facilities

Yeni Malatyaspor has lost 38 matches out of their 38 league games in the Turkish second division.

Malatyaspor, the former side of ex-Black Stars midfield maestro Afriyie Acquah, also scored only 14 goals while conceding a staggering 153.

The club’s disastrous season, marred by administrative chaos and tragedy, marks one of the most dramatic declines in modern football.

Yeni Malatyaspor's season to forget

To lose every single league game in a professional division is virtually unheard of. Malatyaspor’s 2024–25 campaign was not just poor, it was historically catastrophic.

With zero points from matches (and 21 points deducted by FIFA), the club officially ended the season with -21 points, placing them firmly at the bottom of the table.

This works out to an average of four goals conceded per match, highlighting a defensive crisis and a club completely overwhelmed on the pitch.

Yeni Malatyaspor's financial struggles

While the on-field results are shocking, the root of Malatyaspor’s collapse lies in the boardroom.

Years of mismanagement culminated in a financial disaster. The club’s former president reportedly left behind debts nearing €20 million.

Such a financial burden crippled operations and led to FIFA intervening with a 21-point deduction for unpaid dues and other sanctions.

This off-field turmoil left the squad depleted, underfunded, and largely uncompetitive.

With little to no resources available for rebuilding or attracting quality players, the team was forced to field what essentially amounted to a youth or semi-professional side in a league filled with seasoned professionals.

Impact of Turkish earthquake on Yeni Malatyaspor

As if financial ruin wasn’t enough, Yeni Malatyaspor was also deeply affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey in 2023, the same disaster that claimed Christian Atsu's life.

The calamity killed thousands of people, including Ahmet Eyüp Türkaslan, the team’s goalkeeper.

The club lost not just a player but a friend, and the emotional scars from that tragedy lingered well into the following seasons.

Beyond the human loss, the club’s facilities and infrastructure were severely damaged. Stadiums, training grounds, and administrative buildings were impacted, making daily operations extremely difficult.

Teams that financial crisis like Yeni Malatyaspor

Yeni Malatyaspor’s 2024–25 season shows how compounded crisis (financial mismanagement, natural disasters, and administrative failures) can devastate a football club.

However, they are not the first team to face such problems. Several football clubs have faced severe financial crisis but managed remarkable comebacks through restructuring, community support, and strategic investments. Below are some of them:

1. SSC Napoli (Italy): Napoli were declared bankrupt in 2004 but the club was re-founded by film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis as "Napoli Soccer" and started in Serie C1.

By 2007, they returned to Serie A and have since become a dominant force, clinching the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season.

2. Parma Calcio 1913 (Italy): After bankruptcy in 2015 due to the Parmalat scandal, Parma was re-established in Serie D.

They demonstrated resilience and achieved three consecutive promotions, returning to Serie A by the 2018/19 season.

3. AEK Athens (Greece): Facing financial turmoil and relegation in 2013, AEK Athens chose to restart from the third division.

Their rapid rise saw them back in the top flight by 2015/16, culminating in a league and cup double in the 2022/23 season.

4. Rangers FC (Scotland): Rangers were liquidated in 2012 and re-entered Scottish football in the fourth tier.

Through consistent performances and strong fan support, they returned to the Premiership within four years and have since reclaimed their status as title contenders.

5. Leeds United (England): Financial mismanagement led to administration and relegation to the English League One in 2007. After years of rebuilding, Leeds secured promotion to the Premier League in 2020, marking a significant turnaround. They are back in the Premier League again for the 2025-2026 season.

Otto Addo visits Alexander Djiku in Turkey

YEN.com.gh earlier reported Black Stars head coach Otto Addo's visit to Ghana defender Alexander Djiku in Turkey.

The visit, which happened in January this year, was just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.

Djiku played a major role in both victories in March as Ghana took a commanding lead in their World Cup qualifying group, but narrowly missed out on the list of top performers against Chad and Madagascar.

Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article

Source: YEN.com.gh