Notable football clubs in İzmir are: Altay SK, Altınordu, Göztepe A.Ş., İzmirspor and Karşıyaka SK. Currently there is no team from İzmir playing in the Turkish Super League, but the teams of İzmir were once among the greatest in Turkey. Göztepe A.Ş. played the semi finals of the UEFA Cup in the 1968-1969 season, and the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1969-1970 season; becoming the first ever Turkish football club to play a semi-final game in Europe. Altay SK and Göztepe A.Ş. have won the Turkish Cup twice for İzmir.
Legendary 1960s football star Metin Oktay, a native of İzmir, played in İzmirspor, Galatasaray and Palermo.
Despite the current lack of any İzmir-based team in the Turkish Super League, İzmir Atatürk Stadium regularly hosts many Super League and Turkish Cup derby matches, including those of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray.
Several important international sports events were held in İzmir:
- 1971 – Mediterranean Games,
- 7/ 22 August, 2005 – Summer Universiade, the International University Sports Games,
- 2/ 7 September, 2005 – preliminary games of European Women’s Basketball Championship,
- 4/ 9 July, 2006 – European Seniors Fencing Championship.
- 14/23 July, 2006 – U20 European Basketball Championship for Men
Sports Centers in Izmir
| City Club Wellness Center Kıbrıs Şehitleri Cad. No: 39 K:1 D:101 Alsancak İzmir Phone: +90 (232) 464 24 24 |
Ege Aerobik Spor Sağlık Klübü Mithatpaşa Cad. No: 756/A Villa Apt. Küçükyalı İzmir Phone: +90 (232) 232 78 94 |
| Gym Club Spor Merkezi Mithatpaşa Cad. No: 716/A Küçükyalı İzmir Phone: +90 (232) 231 66 65 |
Piramit Spor Salonu Mithatpaşa Cad. No: 542/A Küçükyalı İzmir Phone: +90 (232) 483 27 53 |
| Sports International 2040 Sokak No:3 Mavişehir Karşıyaka İzmir Phone: +90 (232) 324 15 00 |
Goodlife Spor & Sağlıklı Yaşam Merkezi 860 Sok. No:14 K: 3 Pirinç Center Konak / İZMİR Phone: +90 (232) 489 70 79 |
| Aquacity Balçova Termal Sağlıklı Yaşam Merkezi Balçova Termal Tesisleri 35330, Balçova, İZMİR Phone: +90 (232) 259 97 72 |