FK Željezničar Sarajevo
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| Full name | Fudbalski Klub Željezničar | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Željo Plavi (The Blues) |
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| Founded | August 6, 1921 | ||
| Ground | Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo (Capacity: 25,000) |
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| Chairman |  Sabahudin Žujo |
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| Manager | Amar Osim |
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| 2009-10 | Premijer Liga, 3rd | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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FK Željezničar is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing in the capital, Sarajevo.
The initial acronym stands for Fudbalski Klub (meaning "Football Club"), and the name Željezničar means "railway worker", given because it was established by a group of railway workers.
Željezničar, alias Željo, is historically one of the most prominent and successful football teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the time of the former Yugoslavia, FK Željezničar was a member of the Yugoslav First League. Today, Željezničar is one of the most famous members of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its success includes winning one Championship in former Yugoslavia and three titles in Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The biggest European result was UEFA Cup semi-final in 1984-1985 season.
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[edit] History
As mentioned above, club was formed by group of railway workers. At the time, there were several football clubs in Sarajevo. They were rich and usually backed by various organizations. The most of them on ethnic principles (Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Jews). But Željezničar was club for common people, people interested in football and fun. Since it was a financially poor club, they used to organize dance nights and all the profit made was later used to buy shoes and ball(s).
Financial problems were not the only ones. Multiethnicity of the club was seen as a threat by many, so Željezničar was suppressed in various ways. Despite that, club managed to survive, and even beat stronger and wealthier clubs.
In 1941, World War II came to Sarajevo, and every football activity was stopped. Many footballers were members of the resistance troops, and some of them were killed. After the war, Željo was formed again, and in 1946. it won the Bosnian championship. That secured them a place in the final tournament with champions of other Yugoslav republics. Soon after, communist authorities formed a new club (now known as FK Sarajevo) and ordered Željo's best players to play for it. That had a devastating influence on the club, so it needed several years to come back to first division. For most of the time, Željezničar played in the top level. It was relegated four times (last time in 1976/77 season), but every time (except the first one in 1947) it would return quickly.
Biggest success came in 1971/1972 season when it won a championship title, the only title in Yugoslav period. In 1980/1981 season, Željezničar has reached Yugoslav cup final, but lost to another Bosnian side Velež Mostar. Biggest international result was recorded in 1984/1985 season. FK Željezničar, with Ivica Osim as a coach, reached semifinals of the UEFA Cup where they were playing against Hungarian team Videoton. Two minutes from time, Željezničar had a result that would give them a place in final and two matches with big Real Madrid. Then the moment of disaster came and Hungarians scored a killer goal. Entire Yugoslavia was crying that night. Just one of things that proves special place Željezničar has in people's hearts. Not only in those who are supporting it, but everyone.
After the collapse of Yugoslavia, another war. Grbavica stadium was occupied and football was off again. Players like Mario Stanić, Rade Bogdanović, Gordan Vidović, Suvad Katana and many others went abroad to escape the horror of war. Somehow, club managed to rise again. At first, young players were practicing indoors in school gyms. Stadium was at the first / front lines, destroyed, and yet they played in the Bosnian war championship held in 1994. Fourth place is not so important as much as the presence.
War ended in 1995. and regular championship was formed. Since then, Željezničar won three titles, every sweet in some way. One, though, more than the others. In 1998. championship, play-off was held and final match saw two big rivals at the opposite sides, playing for the trophy. FK Sarajevo was a better rival, their shots were cleared from the goal-line twice. In 89th minute, one ball was intercepted on the left side, and after a couple of passes it came to Željezničar forward Hadis Zubanović who scored a dramatic winner.
After the two more titles in 2001 and 2002, Željezničar was runner-up three consecutive times. As the best Bosnian club, they played in European cups every year. Biggest result (for the Bosnian club football as well since the independence) came in 2002. when Željezničar reached the third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League. Newcastle United was too strong, so the group stage will have to wait for some other time.
Last three seasons are not successful and fans would probably like to forget them as soon as possible. Financial problems, frequent coach changes, and weak club management above all, resulted with bad results and supporters' disappoitment. Upcoming privatization and stadium ownership issue are the main cause of problems. Supporters are boycotting the club and the attendance is lowest in years. However, everyone is hoping better times will come.
[edit] Name of the club
Željezničar was formed as RŠD Željezničar (Radničko športsko društvo, eng. Workers' sports society). Željezničar means railwayman or railway worker. Later it was known as FK Željezničar (Fudbalski klub, eng. football club), and was a part of SD Željezničar (Sportsko društvo, eng. sports society) which includes the clubs in other sports (basketball, handball, volleyball, chess, bowling, etc) with the same name. In 1993, initial acronym was changed to NK (Nogometni klub, eng. football club). In Bosnian, both fudbal and nogomet are equally used as a word for football. The word fudbal is dominant in eastern and nogomet in western parts of the country. Since 2000, club's name is officially with initial FK again.
[edit] Colours
Blue is traditionally colour of railways in this part of Europe. Since the club was founded by the railway workers, blue was a logical choice. Standard navy blue colour was always on the club's crest, but it is a different story with kits. Sometimes they were light blue, sometimes regular blue, and sometimes navy blue as it is on the crest. Sometimes kits were blue and white vertical striped. For some games in 1999-2000 season, kits were striped horizontally, and in 2002-2003 season they were even dark grey, without any traces of blue. Away kit was always white.
On the left side of the kit, by the heart, stands a crest. Since the foundation of the club, standard elements of the crest were ball and wings, also a traditional railway symbol. These standard elements were changed in design several times in the past. Some other elements were added or excluded in some periods of history. For example, circle around the original crest was added in 1990s. From 1945. to 1992. red five-pointed star stood in place of the ball, and words "Željezničar", "Sarajevo", "1921" and others were moved form one part of the crest to another many times. Current design dates back to 2000.
[edit] Stadium
Main article: Grbavica Stadium
When the club was founded, it had no stadium. There were several football grounds in Sarajevo, but other clubs didn't want to allow Željezničar to use it. So they used military training pitch called Egzercir. It wasn't actually a football ground. However, it was the closest thing they could get and it will be remembered as a club's first pitch. It was placed in part of the city known as Čengić Vila. In 1932. new ground was prepared in Pofalići (yet another part of Sarajevo), close to railway station. It wasn't much better than the last one, but it was built by the club and because of that it had a special meaning.
After the World War II, Željezničar played on Stadion "6. april" on Marijin Dvor (there is a building now behind Secondary school of technical sciences) until June 18, 1950. Authorities planned to build a street, so the club made another move to military stadium in Skenderija. Club staff was tired of all that moving and they decided to build its own stadium in Grbavica (also part of the city). Friends, supporters, members of the club and even military, all helped in construction. Stadium was officially opened on September 13, 1951. with the second league match between Željezničar and Šibenik. Željezničar won 4-1.
Ever since, Grbavica is the place of joy and sorrow for the club and its supporters. Symbolically, old railway was passing over the hill behind the stadium, and every time it would sound its whistle to salute the present masses. Stadium had a small stands on the East and South side, while the wooden stands with the roof were on the West side. Because of the reconstruction, Željezničar moved again in 1968 to city Koševo Stadium. They played there until April 25, 1976 and even won its only Yugoslav title in 1972 playing there. Grbavica was opened again that year, and in the '80s modern northern stands were built. Unfortunately, war began in 1992 and Željezničar yet again needed to play on Koševo Stadium until May 2, 1996 when it came back to Grbavica. Wooden stands burned up during the war, but project for new modern stadium is prepared and waiting for financial back-up.
Before the war, stadium capacity was more than 20,000, but now it has 12,700 seated places, but some 4,000 more can fill the unseated parts of the stadium.
[edit] Supporters
Main article: The Maniacs
The most passionate fans of FK Željezničar are known as The Maniacs. They carry the name from the late 80’s, but it would be wrong to consider that time as the start of fiery supporting on the Grbavica stadium.
Since the beginning of the club, it had its loyal supporters. It was workers' club and very popular with common people and because of its multi-ethnicity, it had a lot of problems with the influential circles, so many people were finding it exciting to support it.[citation needed] The club had bad and good moments, but loyal supporters were always there. Even when Željo ended up in the second division in 1977, the average attendance on Grbavica was close to 10,000.
In 1981, Željo reached the Yugoslav Cup final. The game was played in Belgrade and it attracted some 60,000 spectators. Thousands of Željo supporters arrived to Marakana. Despite loud support, Željo lost 2-3 to Velež, but this game caused many “undecided” ones to finally choose Željo.[citation needed]
In the second half of the 80’s the most passionate fans are getting more organized and they gave themselves the name The Maniacs. It is believed that this name is given because it represents the passion for the club.[citation needed] They are usually occupying the South Stand, although it has become an unwritten rule that after a certain number of years the older ones move to the North Stand, thus Željo today has support from both sides of the pitch. This creates very hostile atmosphere for guest team, if needed.[citation needed]
[edit] Sarajevo derby
Main article: Sarajevo derby
Many Željezničar supporters say that "Željo is a matter of philosophy, and Sarajevo a matter of geography". This saying explains the feelings of Željezničar fans about the history and existence itself of their local rivals FK Sarajevo. Famous Sarajevo derby, known across the SE Europe, is generally considered as one of few with the best atmosphere. But there is one thing that separates it from similar ones in the region and rest of the world - fans of these clubs are enemies only for the time needed for game to be played. It is not rare that father and son, two brothers, or husband and wife, are on the opposite sides. They don't speak to each other that day. But when the game ends, provocations are something of a tradition, strangest bets are needed to be fulfilled... And everybody is waiting for the next one. Although, incidents between younger fans can be seen in recent years.
So far (as of November 7, 2009), 94 league matches were played. Željezničar won 29 times, FK Sarajevo also won 29 times, while 36 matches ended with a draw. Goal-difference 117:114 in FK Sarajevo's favor. Since the independence, as a part of Bosnian championship, there were 31 games played. Sarajevo won 10 times, Željezničar won 8 times, with 13 draws. Goal-difference 39:34 for FK Sarajevo.
[edit] Current squad
As of August 12, 2009
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[edit] Out on loan
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[edit] Transfers
Transfers in (summer 2009)
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Transfers out (summer 2009)
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[edit] Notable former players
[edit] Coaches
Main article: FK Željezničar managers
Present coach: Amar Osim since June 18, 2009
[edit] Club presidents
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[edit] Records
- Biggest ever league victory: Željezničar - Barkohba 18:0 (March 23, 1925, Second Sarajevo division)
- Biggest ever league defeat: 1:9 on several occasions
- Biggest Yugoslav first division victory: Željezničar - Maribor 8:0 (August 29, 1971)
- Biggest Yugoslav first division defeat: Dinamo Zagreb - Željezničar 9:1 (September 29, 1946)
- Biggest Bosnian league victory: Željezničar - Krajina Cazin 8:0 (March 31, 2001)
- Biggest Bosnian league defeat: Zmaj od Bosne - Željezničar 9:1 (November 4, 1995)
- Most overall official appearances: Blagoje Bratić (343)
- Most league appearances: Hajrudin Saračević (313)
- Most overall official goals: Josip Bukal, Dželaludin Muharemović (127)
- Most league goals: Dželaludin Muharemović (112)
- Most league goals in a season by team: 113 (2000/2001)
- Most league goals in a season by player: 31 (Dželaludin Muharemović in 2000/2001 season)
- Most capped player: Mehmed Baždarević (54 caps for Yugoslavia, 2 caps for Bosnia-Herzegovina)
[edit] Honours
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- Champions (1): 1971/1972
- Runners-up (1): 1970/1971
3-rd place/bronze medal: 1963 and 84.
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- Runners-up (1): 1980/1981
- Championship of People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
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- Champions (1): 1946
- This competition was formed so it could be determined which club would represent Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1946/1947 Yugoslav Championship.
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- Champions (3): 1997/1998, 2000/2001, 2001/2002
- Runners-up (3): 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005
- FK Željezničar were also runners-up in one of three leagues played in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999/2000 season
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- Winners (3): 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2002/2003
- Runners-up (1): 2001/2002
- FK Željezničar were also runners-up in one of three cups played in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997/1998 season
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- Winners (3): 1998, 2000, 2001
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- Club's biggest European success was accomplished in 1984/1985 UEFA Cup when they have played in the semifinals of this competition; FK Željezničar also played in quarterfinals of the same competition in 1971/1972 season.
[edit] European record
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: FK Željezničar |
- Official Website of FK Zeljeznicar (Bosnian)
- NK Zeljeznicar Zeljo.com Gerneral Info Website (English)
- FK Zeljeznicar Supporters Site (2) (Bosnian)
- fkzeljeznicar.com - Unofficial Website of FK Zeljeznicar (Bosnian)
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