FK Sutjeska Nikšić
| Club crest | |||
| Full name | Fudbalski klub Sutjeska (Sutjeska Football Club) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Plavi (The Blues), Plavo-bijeli (The Blue-Whites) | ||
| Founded | 1920 (94 years ago) | ||
| Ground | City stadium “Kraj Bistrice” Nikšić, Montenegro | ||
| Capacity | 5,214[1] | ||
| President | Đorđije Goranović | ||
| Manager | Dragan-Gaga Radojičić | ||
| League | Telekom 1. CFL | ||
| 2013-14 | 1st (Champions) | ||
| Website | http://www.facebook.com/sutjeskafc.me/ | ||
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| Active sport clubs of Sutjeska | ||
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| Football | Basketball | Volleyball |
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| Handball | Athletics | Shooting |
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| Judo | Handball Women | Boxing |
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| Tennis | ||
FK Sutjeska is a football club from Nikšić, Montenegro, currently competing in the Telekom 1. CFL. Its colours are blue and white. FK Sutjeska is a part of the Sutjeska sport society based in the same city. As seen on the logo, the club was established in 1920. Sutjeska won their second Telekom 1. CFL in the 2013-14 season and provided participation in second qualifying round for UEFA Champions League 2014-15.
History
The first name of the club upon its establishment was SK Obilić, but in 1927 changed its name to SK Hajduk. Later though (before World War II began), the club changed its name to SK Hercegovac. As the Second World War raged in the territories of Yugoslavia, the club's name was changed in 1945 to Sutjeska in honour of Yugoslav communists killed in the Battle of Sutjeska.
Sutjeska made its debut in the Yugoslav First League in the 1964 season. It is one of only two football clubs from Montenegro who competed in the first tier football league of Yugoslavia. As a result, FK Sutjeska gained considerable prestige and international reputation, and therefore remains one of the biggest sporting institutions in Montenegro. It is especially the most recognized sports organization in the city of Nikšić.[2]
Even after the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, Sutjeska remained at the top football league in subsequent-state FR Yugoslavia. After a great season in 2003, Sutjeska had a notable appearance in European competition in which they eliminated Racing FC Union Luxembourg in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.[3] Following Montenegrin independence, the team made the final of the Montenegrin Cup. The club finished in third place of the T-Com 1. CFL in the 2008-09 season and participated in the qualification rounds for the UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated by FC Partizan-MTZ Minsk from Belarus.[4]
On June 1, 2013, after winning against FK Lovćen on the final day of the season, Sutjeska lifted five points clear of challengers FK Budućnost and won the Telekom 1. CFL title for the first time in club history and participated in qualifying for UEFA Champions League 2013-14.[5] In the second qualifying round, against Moldavian champion FC Sheriff, Sutjeska has won a great tie in Tiraspol, but at home not withstand tremendous pressure and was defeated.
In the 2013-14 season, the second time in a row, Sutjeska won title, becoming the first club from the founding of the League where it is managed.
Youth program
Sutjeska's youth academy is one of the most famous and recognized in Montenegro along with that of FK Budućnost. The first Sutjeska player to have been selected for the Yugoslav national team was Vojin Lazarević, who would later have a bright career with Red Star Belgrade. Lazarević was capped by the Yugoslav senior side in a friendly match against Romania in 1964 while still playing in Nikšić.[6]
In 1976, a notably talented generation of the youth team became the champions of Yugoslavia; the team included named that would later turn to be successful soccer players like Brajan Nenezić, Mojaš Radonjić, and Pero Giljen. Interestingly, Pero's own son Vladan Giljen became a successful goalkeeper after learning his trade in Sutjeska. Four years after the famed 1976 generation made its first mark in Yugoslav football, Sutjeska won the Yugoslav Cup in 1980 – becoming the only Yugoslav club at the time to have won both trophies.
In 2010, Sutjeska's cadet team (for under-17 players) were champions of Montenegro in the country's U-17 league. During the same year, Sutjeska's U-19 team won the Gallipolli Cup in Italy, which one of the most prestigious international tournaments for players of this age group. The U-19 teams of U.S. Lecce, A.S. Bari, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, and FC Krylia Sovetov Samara all competed for the title which Sutjeska's youth team won.
Most notably, Sutjeska was the club in which the famous Juventus F.C. striker Mirko Vučinić began his career.[7]
Sutjeska in Europe
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | First round |  Racing FC
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3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 
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| Second round |  Tampere United
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0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 
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| 2009–10 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  FC Partizan-MTZ Minsk
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1–1 | 1–2(aet) | 2–3 |
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| 2013–14 | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round |  FC Sheriff
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0–5 | 1–1 | 1–6 |
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| 2014–15 | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round |
UEFA ranking
- As of 26 May 2014
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 369 |  FC Chikhura Sachkhere |
2.475 |
| 370 | FC Torpedo Kutaisi |
2.475 |
| 371 | FC Gagra |
2.475 |
| 372 |  FK Sutjeska |
2.450 |
| 373 |  FC Nitra |
2.450 |
| 374 | FC Lahti |
2.435 |
Stadium
City stadium “Kraj Bistrice” boasts a capacity 5,214 seats. The grass surface is non-artificial and is surrounded by an athletic track. Located around the building is a spacious parking lot. The sports complex adjacent to the stadium is a modern training field with synthetic surface and a mini auditorium space.
The Dukes (fans)
The Dukes (Vojvode) is popular name for the most ardent Sutjeska fans. They have been established as an NGO in 1988 in Nikšić and today constitute one of the most numerous group of supporters in Montenegro. Their place is in the eastern stand, and is traditionally followed by all the matches of all sports that compete under the “Sutjeska” name, both home and away matches. The biggest Sutjeska rival is FK Budućnost Podgorica, as the "Barbarians" (Varvari) are considered to be their biggest competition.
Current squad
- As of 26 May 2014
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Technical staff
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Club management
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Notable players
Zoran Banović- Damir Čakar
- Andrija Delibašić
- Vojin Lazarević
- Dražen Međedović
- Brajan Nenezić
- Nikola Nikezić
- Vukašin Poleksić
- Mirko Vučinić
- Miljan Zeković
/ Duško Radinović- / Milan Zirojević
- / Zoran Vorotović
Notable coaches
- Dragan Radojičić (June 13, 2012–)
Dragan Lacmanović- Nikola Rakojević (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010)
- Pero Giljen
- Brajan Nenezić (2007)
- Branko Smiljanić (2004)
- Slavenko Kuzeljević (2003–04)
- Dragoljub Bekvalac (1998–99)
- Milan Zirojević
References
- ^ Upravni Odbor Sutjeska. "Stadion".
- ^ Sutjeska from Niksic - Loved by the city - Vijesti Arhiva (2004) (In Serbian)
- ^ Annabet - Sutjeska - Racing FC Union Luxembourg 3:0
- ^ MTZ-Ripo Minsk - Sutjeska 2:1 (uefa.com)
- ^ [1] UEFA: Sutjeska hold nerve to lift first Montenegrin crown - June 1, 2013
- ^ Никшић Град и људи - Трагом старих фотографијa 1944-1970. Page 116. By Maksim Vujacic. 1996
- ^ Sutjeska colts racing like thoroughbreds - May 6, 2009 UEFA.com