E53 – Football Against Violence: Inside Samsunspor’s Purple Jersey Project – ft. Zeycan Yıldırım

DESCRIPTION

In this episode, we speak with Zeycan R. Yıldırım, CMO of Samsunspor, about the Purple Jersey Project and social responsibility in modern football clubs. From turning a special jersey into a platform against violence toward women to building programs around self-defense, gender equality education, psychological support, and football clinics for women and girls, we explore how clubs turn purpose into long-term community action through clear identity, consistency, and trust.

We explored several intriguing questions:

• How did Zeycan’s background in fashion, business, and activism lead her into football?
• Why did Samsunspor decide to create the Purple Jersey Project?
• How can a football shirt become a platform for social responsibility?
• What activations were built around the project beyond the jersey itself?
• How did players, fans, and Turkish media respond to the campaign?
• Why does credible social impact need action, partners, and measurable outcomes?
• How does Samsunspor connect its club identity with the wider history and values of Samsun?
• What can other clubs learn from this project when choosing causes for their own communities?
• How is Generation Z changing the way clubs think about stadium attendance and fan engagement?
• What advice does Zeycan give to women who want to work in football leadership?