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Crvena zvezda
Logo of Red Star Belgrade
Full nameFudbalski klub Crvena zvezda
Nickname(s)Crveno-beli (The Red-Whites)
Founded4 March 1945; 79 years ago (1945-03-04)
GroundRed Star Stadium
Belgrade, Serbia
Capacity55,538[1]
Head CoachNenad Lalatović
LeagueSerbian SuperLiga
2013–14Serbian SuperLiga, 1st
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда, Serbian pronunciation: [t͡srʋena zʋeːzda beǒɡrad]), commonly known as Red Star Belgrade or simply Red Star, is a Serbian professional football club based in Belgrade, the major part of the Red Star Sports Society and the most successful club in Serbia, with a record of 26 national championships and 24 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions. Red Star was also the most successful club in former Yugoslavia and finished as first in the Yugoslav First League all-time table.[2]

They are the only Serbian and Ex-Yugoslav club to have ever won the European Cup, having done so in 1991, and the only team from the Southeastern and Eastern Europe to have ever won the Intercontinental Cup, which it also won in 1991. In the following season, Red Star reached the semi-finals of the European cup. Before they reached 1957, 1971, the semi-finals, as well as 1958, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1987 the quarterfinals of the European Cup. In 1979, they reached the UEFA Cup final, but lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Also, they reached in 1975 the semifinals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Therefore, Red Star is the most successful club from the Southeastern- and Eastern Europe, being the only club which was both European and World club champion.

According to 2008 polls, Red Star Belgrade is the most popular football club in Serbia, with nearly 48.2% of the population supporting them.[3] They have many supporters in all other former Yugoslavian republics and in the Serbian diaspora. Their main rivals are fellow Belgrade side Partizan. The championship matches between these two clubs are known as The Eternal derby. In September 2009, British Daily Mail ranked the Red Star – Partizan derby fourth among the 10 greatest football rivalries of all time.[4]

According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics' list of the Top 200 European clubs of the 20th century, Red Star Belgrade is the highest-ranked Serbian and Ex-Yugoslavian club, sharing the 27th position on the list with Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam.[5]

History

Red Star legend Dragoslav Šekularac.

In February 1945, during World War II, a group of young men, members of the Serbian United Antifascist Youth League, decided to form a Youth Physical Culture Society, that was to become Red Star Belgrade on 4 March. At the end of the Second World War, several pre-war Yugoslav clubs were dissolved because they had played matches during the war and were labelled collaborators by Marshal Tito's communist authorities. Two of these clubs from Belgrade were SK Jugoslavija and BSK Belgrade. Red Star was formed from the remains of Jugoslavija and they were given Jugoslavija's stadium, offices, players, and even their red and white colours. The name Red Star was assigned to the club after a long discussion, and the first vice presidents of the Sport Society, Zoran Žujović and Slobodan Ćosić, were the ones who assigned it.[6] Red star was soon adopted as a symbol of Yugoslavia and Serbia, a sporting institution that remains the country's most popular to this day.[7] On that day, Red Star played the first football match in the club's history against the First Battalion of the Second Brigade of KNOJ (People's Defence Corps of Yugoslavia) and won, 3–0.

Red Stars first successes involved small steps to recognition. The club won its first championship in 1953. It was a team of players such as Beara, Durković, Stanković, Popović, Mitić, Kostić and Šekularac. Those football players, whose names are still remembered, won four Yugoslav championships and two Cups, not missing the opportunity to win every Yugoslav Trophy for five straight seasons. As champions, Red Star were Yugoslavia's entrants into the 1957–58 European Cup where they were famously beaten, 5–4, on aggregate by English champions Manchester United in the quarter-finals, with the team managed by Matt Busby beating Red Star, 2–1, in the first leg in England before drawing, 3–3, with them in Yugoslavia in the return game on 5 February at JNA Stadium.[8] The second leg is notable for being the last game played by the "Busby Babes". On the return flight to England the following day, the plane crashed in Munich, West Germany, resulting in the deaths of 23 people including eight Manchester United players.[9]

In 1958, Red Star won its first European trophy, the Mitropa Cup, who had been played during summer, in the break between the seasons. Following the Mitropa cup, one of the most influential figures in Red Star's history began to emerge as a force for change in the club. Miljan Miljanić was a football player in Red Star in the 1950s, but it was during his tenure as head coach in the summer of 1966 that he achieved fame. In the first season, he completely changed the club's lineup of players and the club finished fifth in the table, the same as in the previous year. Afterwards, the generation led by Dragan Džajić, officially the best player in the history of Serbia and one of the best left wingers in the history of the world, began to leave a deep mark on Yugoslav and Serbian football.

Red Star's starting lineup against Borussia in Düsseldorf. (coach: Branko Stanković).

After the Miljanić era, it was not before the time of Gojko Zec, whose reign as head coach was to last four years and bring Red Star three trophies and the first great European final. The first season with Gojko Zec at the helm was quite literally a real demonstration of force – the league was won with an advantage of nine points over all rivals, which was, up to that moment, the biggest margin of victory in the history of the league. In the following season, Red Star finished second in the league, paving the way for a great performance in the 1978–1979 season of the UEFA Cup. After eliminating teams like Arsenal, West Bromwich and Hertha BSC, Red Star achieved for the first time the Cup final. And there, Red Star met on Borussia Mönchengladbach, which played five European finals from 1973–1980. The Germans, awaited about 100,000 fiery supporters, fall in residues by a goal from Miloš Šestić, but Jurišić’s gave Gladbach a psychological advantage before the rematch. This game was played at the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, where Italian referee gave a questionable penalty to the Germans, and the Danish player Allan Simonsen sealed Red Star's fate. The Foals won, 2–1, on aggregate.[10]

After the 1970s, historical matches against Udo Lattek’s Barcelona followed during the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup. In both matches Barcelona was the better team and Red Star was finally eliminated. Remarkably was, when Barça’s Maradona scored his second goal in front of about 100,000 spectators at "Marakana", the Belgrade audience were so excited about the goal, that even the loyal Belgrade fans applauded Maradona.[11] Gojko Zec returns to the team in 1983, finding only one player from the champions generation he was coaching back in 1977 – Miloš Šestić. Zec similarly repeated the team’s triumph from his previous mandate by winning the championship immediately upon his arrival. Gojko Zec would later leave the club in a controversial Scheiber's case-style scandal which was the result of irregularities in the 1986 season.

After Zec left in 1986, there were great changes in the club. The management of the club, run by Dragan Džajić and Vladimir Cvetković, began to build a team that could compete with some of the most powerful European side. During that summer, Velibor Vasović became coach and the side was strengthened by acquiring a number of talented young players, among whom Dragan Stojković and Borislav Cvetković stood out. In the first season that started with penalty points, Red Star focused on the European Cup and achieving good results. In 1987, a five-year plan was developed by the club with the only goal being to win the European Cup. All that was planned was finally achieved. On the club's birthday in 1987, it started. Real Madrid were defeated at "Marakana". From that day through to March 1992, Red Star enjoyed the best period of success in its history. In these five seasons, Red Star won four National Championships; in the last of those four years of heyday, the club won the 1991 European Cup Final which was played in Bari. Red Star coach Petrović brought the team to Italy a week before the finals, in order to peacefully prepare the players for a forthcoming encounter with Olympique. By that time, Red Star had 18 scores at 8 matches, whereas the French champion had 20. Therefore, the 100th European competing final was expected to be a spectacle of offense. Nonetheless, both Petrović and Goethals opted for a defence and the match settled down into a war of attrition. After a 120 minute game and only few chances on both sides, the decision was made following the penalty shootout. After several minutes of stressful penalties, two of Marseille's players missed their penalties, and Darko Pančev converted his penalty and brought the European Cup to Yugoslavia for the first time. Red Star won the shootout, 5–3, on 29 May 1991 in front of 60,000 spectators and the millions watching on television around the world. 20,000 Red Star fans at Stadio San Nicola and millions of them all over Yugoslavia and the World celebrate the greatest joy in Red Star’s history. Sadly the night of the 1991 European Cup Final was to prove to be one of the final times that Yugoslavia could come together to celebrate as one.[12][13] They won unbeaten the 1990–91 European Cup in Bari and the 1991 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.

Dejan Stanković was the youngest captain ever in Red Star's history.

In 1992, the club was weakened by the departure of almost the whole champions generation (new players were later added, such as Drobnjak and Ivić). In addition, Red Star had to defend the trophy out of their country due to the war in former Yugoslavia (not even in Serbia, although there was possible), thereby reducing their chances of defending their title. UEFA changed the form of the championship that year and instead of the cup they started the 1991–92 Champions League, in which eight best teams from the continent participated. In domestic competition, main rival Dinamo Zagreb left the league, just as all the other clubs from Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia did, and the championship in a Yugoslavia that was cut in size was played on the edge of observance of regulations around the beginning of the Bosnian War. At the end of May the UN had the country under sanctions and dislodging Yugoslav football from the international scene. The disintegration of Yugoslavia, the civil war (1992–1995), the inflation and the UN sanctions have hit Red Star hard. In the period between May 1992 and May 2000, only one championship victory was celebrated at "Marakana". However, they did manage to win five cups, along with several glorious European performances, including the famed 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup showdown against an FC Barcelona side which featured Ronaldo and Hristo Stoichkov.

Immediately after the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia ended, Red Star won the 17th cup in its history by winning 4:2 against Partizan. Just a season later, the club returned to the European spotlight by making it to the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League qualification, where Red Star was eliminated by Bayer from Leverkusen (0–0 and 0–3 in away), which would later be a finalist in the Champions League that year. Muslin left the bench in September 2001, after which Red Star's subsequent seasons became more volatile.

In the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Red Star was barely eliminated (by 3–1 aggregate score) same A.C. Milan side which ended up winning the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final. Furthermore, the campaign in Group F of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup was a large disappointment, especially given that the first game against Bayern Munich was a sensational last-minute loss (by a score of 2–3 in Belgrade). In those recent years, Red Star's teams featured the likes of Žigić, Pantelić, Janković, Luković, Basta, Biševac, Milijaš, Koroman, Castillo, Gueye, and Đokić. After a six-year drought, Red star won their 26th league title in season 2013–14.

Despite Red Star's success on the pitch in 2013–14, the financial situation at the club has worsened—so much so that the club were banned from participating in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League for which they qualified by winning the Serbian SuperLiga. The UEFA Club Financial Control Body found that Red Star's debts to players, some of whom had not been paid for at least six months, staff and other clubs, totalled €1.86 million. The club board were also alleged to have hidden debts and falsified documents. This, on top of an earlier UEFA disciplinary measure in 2011, meant Red Star did not meet the necessary Club Licencing and Financial Fair Play criteria and, as such, should not have been granted a UEFA license by the Serbian FA.[14] Rivals Partizan took Red Star's place in the UEFA Champions League.

Crest and colors

File:FC Red Star Belgrade Logo (Old).svg
Red Star Belgrade's previous logo

At the end of the World War II, several of pre-war Yugoslav clubs were dissolved because they had played matches during the war and were labelled collaborators by Marshal Tito's communist authorities. One of these clubs were SK Jugoslavija from Belgrade. Red Star was formed from the remains of Jugoslavija and they were given their red and white colours. The typical kit of Red Star is a shirt with red and white vertical stripes, and red or white shorts and socks. Sometimes used the club also an all-red one next to the all-white one. Red Star used also as away kit or third kit, an all-blue jersey, but very rarely, so that the club used all the colours of the Serbian flag. The crest is a red five-pointed star, white framed, on a red-white background. In addition, the whole crest is framed with gold colour. In two golden stars on the top of their emblem, symbolizing the twenty titles won.

Stadium

Red Star Stadium viewed from the air.

Red Star's home ground is the Red Star Stadium. With a maximum capacity of about 60 000, of which 55,538 seats, it is the largest stadium in Serbia and in the former Yugoslavia. The stadium was opened in 1963, and in the course of time and due to the fact that stadium's former capacity was about 110,000, it got the unofficial moniker "Marakana", after the large and famous Maracanã stadium in Brazil, and Belgrad's sold-out "Marakana" garnered the reputation of being a very tough ground for visiting teams to play in. During the mid-90s, in order to meet UEFA demands for spectators comfort and security, standing places at the stadium were completely done away with and seats were installed on all four stands. In the years, since the stadium's capacity was gradually decreased, followed different stadium modernisations. In 2008, the club reconstructed the stadium's pitch, under-soil grass heaters, improved drainage systems were installed and new modern turf replaced the old surface. The training pitch, located next to the stadium, was also renovated by laying down synthetic turf and installing new lighting equipment. In 2011, the stadium received also a new modern LED scoreboard. Today, the stadium has a central lodge, named 5 Zvezdinih Zvezda (English: 5 Star's of Red Star), which consist of five segments, each bears the name of one of Red Star's legendary players (Mitić, Šekularac, Džajić, Petrović, Stojković), two other VIP lounges and a special VIP gallery with over 450 seats. It has also modern press box with a capacity of 344 seats including seven extra-comfortable seats, an extra media center, the Red Cafe and a restaurant. On the west stand of the stadium exist also an official Red Star shop along with a Delije shop. The playing field measures are 110 x 73 m, and is illuminated at 1,400 lux floodlights. According to the known German Web portal "Stadionwelt", belongs Belgrade’s "Marakana" to the Top 50 football stadiums in Europa, that must be seen.[15] In 2012, American Bleacher Report ranked the Red Star Stadium, especially if it’s sold out, on the 1st place among the most intimidating stadiums in the world.[16]

Youth school

See also: Red Star Belgrade Academy

Nemanja Vidić, former youth player of Red Star.

Red Star's team was always formed out of its youth players and by bringing young, talented footballers, mainly from other Serbian clubs, like Dragan Stojković, but also from other Yugoslav clubs, like Robert Prosinečki, into the team. During its history, the club had continuously developed numerous professional football players. Probably its most notable home-bred footballers are definitely Dragan Džajić (retired), officially the best player in the history of Serbia (the choice of the Football Association on the 50th anniversary of UEFA, known as the Golden Player), who achieved the 3rd place at the election for the European Footballer of the Year in 1968, and is part, next to players like Zidane, Van Basten and Beckenbauer, of "the greatest European Championship XI of all time", elected by Goal.com.[17] Dragoslav Šekularac (retired), who was runners-up with Yugoslavia at 1960 European Football Championship, Vladimir Petrović "Pižon" (retired), Vladimir Jugović, who was two times European Champion (with Red Star & Juventus), Nemanja Vidić, who won with Manchester United the Champions League, as well as Dejan Stanković with Inter Milan, and Dušan Savić(retired). Another former players were Stanislav Karasi, Vladica Popović, Vladislav Bogićević, the brothers Boško and Milko Đurovski, Zoran Filipović, Ratomir Dujković, Ognjen Petrović, followed by Stevan Stojanović, the goalkeeper of the European Cup winner generation from 1991, and striker Miloš Šestić. Further notable players from the recent past are former Real Madrid player Perica Ognjenović, Nebojša Krupniković, Goran Drulić, Zoran Jovičić, Vladan Lukić, Goran Gavrančić, Nikola Lazetić and Ivan Dudić. Further are Marko Pantelić, Boško Janković, Dušan Basta, Nenad Tomović, Zvonko Milojević, Filip Đorđević, Vujadin Savić, Jagoš Vuković, Vladimir Stojković, Uroš Ćosić, Nenad Lalatović, Dragan Mrđa, Dejan Milovanović and Vladimir Dišljenković. Former Red Star & Real Madrid football coach legend Miljan Miljanić, was also member of Red Star’s football youth school.

Supporters

Delije section at Red Star Stadium.

The organized supporters of Red Star are known as Delije, the plural of the singular form Delija, which in Serbian generally signifies a courageous, brave, strong or even handsome young man. A rough English translation might be simply "Hardman"or "Studs". The name Delije first began to be used by hardcore Red Star supporters during the late 1980s, with official inauguration taking place in 1989. Up to that point, the Red Star fans were scattered amongst several organized fan groups that shared in the north stand of Red Star's stadium. The Delije belongs today to one of the most famous supporter groups in the world, who support all clubs in the Red Star Sports Society. Their style of supporting includes the use of large and small flags, displaying of banners and especially the creation of colorful and large choreographies, noisy and constant cheering and other supporters stuff. The acoustic support is often coordinated by a so-called "Vodja" (Serbian: leader) by a megaphone and accompanied by drums. Delije members exist also outside of Belgrade, as well exist various fan groups in cities across Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also have members in all other former Yugoslavian republics and in the Yugoslavian diaspora. As a sign of appreciation, Red Star painted in the late 1990s, the word Delije in block letters across their stadium's north stand.

The Eternal derby

Graffiti of the Delije at Red Star Stadium.

Red Star’s fiercest and long standing city rival is FK Partizan, the other large and popular sport society in Serbia. The clubs are also the most popular ones in Montenegro and Republika Srpska. They also have many supporters in all other former Yugoslavian republics and also in the Yugoslavian diaspora. The rival started immediately after the creation of the two clubs in 1945. Red Star was founded with close ties to the Interior ministry and Partizan as the football section of the Yugoslav People's Army. Since then, both clubs have been dominant in domestic football. The match is particularly noted for the passion of the Red Star’s supporters, called Delije, and Partizan’s supporters, the Grobari (English: Gravediggers or Undertakers). The stands of both teams feature fireworks, coloured confetti, flags, rolls of paper, torches, smoke, drums, giant posters and choreographies, used to create visual grandeur and apply psychological pressure on the visiting teams, hence the slogan "Welcome to Hellgrade". Some fans use sometimes also trumpets, similar to the supporters in South America. This creates for the region a typical and distinctive Balkan Brass Band atmosphere. Both sets of supporters sing passionate songs against their rivals, and the stadiums are known to bounce with the simultaneous jumping of the fans. There are many derbies in world football but very few compare to this, it is more than just game and has a deeper meaning. The duel is regarded as one of the greatest football rivalries in the world and the matches between these rivals have been labeled as the Eternal derby. Given its widespread touch on the entirety of a major city, it's dubbed one of, along with the Old Firm, the Rome derby and the Istanbul derby, the most heated rivalries in European football.[18] In 2009, British Daily Mail ranked the Eternal derby 4th among the 10 greatest football rivalries of all time.[4] The biggest attendance for a Red Star - Partizan match was about 108,000 spectators at the Red Star Stadium.

Honours and achievements

Red Star has won 2 international trophies 2 regional and 50 domestic making them the most successful football club in Serbia and former Yugoslavia.

Domestic

National Championships – 26 (record)

National Cups – 24 (record)

International

Red Star is the most successful club from Serbia (and former Yugoslavia) in all European competitions, and the only club from Eastern Europe that has won both UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup. The club competed in 50th European seasons, and the most notable results are:

International titles – 4

Other Tournaments - 16

Individual awards

Domestic

Yugoslav First League top scorers

Season Name Goals
1951 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kosta Tomašević 16
1953 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Todor Živanović 17
1959 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borivoje Kostić 25
1960 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borivoje Kostić 19
1969 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vojin Lazarević 22
1975 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dušan Savić 24
1977 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Filipović 21
1979 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dušan Savić 24
1990 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Darko Pančev 25
1991 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Darko Pančev 34
1992 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Darko Pančev 25

FR Yugoslavia First League top scorers

Season Name Goals
1993 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Anto Drobnjak 22
1997 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Jovičić 21
1998 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Saša Marković 27

Serbia and Montenegro First League top scorers

Season Name Goals
2004 Serbia and Montenegro Nikola Žigić 19
2005 Serbia and Montenegro Marko Pantelić 21

Serbian SuperLiga top scorers

Season Name Goals
2008 Serbia Nenad Jestrović 13
2011 Serbia Andrija Kaluđerović 13
2014 Serbia Dragan Mrđa 19

Yugoslav Footballer of the Year Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Sportperson of the Year in Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Serbian SuperLiga Footballer of the Year

International

Ballon d'or
European Golden Boot
Golden Player
FIFA Best Young Player Award
UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament
UEFA Euro Top Scorer
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament

Club records

Dragan Džajić is Red Star’s record appearance holder, with 615 matches. The goal-scoring record-holder is also Dragan Džajić, with 370 goals. Numerous Red Star’s players were in the Yugoslavian national team and Rajko Mitić, Dragoslav Šekularac, Dragan Džajić, Branko Stanković, Vladimir Durković, Vladica Popović, Jovan Aćimović, Vladimir Petrović, Tomislav Ivković, Dušan Savić, Miloš Šestić, Dragan Stojković and Dejan Savićević (a former player A.C. Milan ) are among them. Dragan Džajić played 85 matches for the Yugoslavian national football team, a national record. Red Star holds records such as to be only the second foreign team that could beat Liverpool on the Anfield Road (after Ferencváros in the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup), which was also the only defeat of Liverpool at home in the European Cup history in the whole 20th century (during 1973–74 European Cup).[19] Red Star was also the first team that could beat Bayern Munich on the Olympic Stadium in its long UEFA competition history (during the 1990–91 European Cup).[20] They are the only Serbian (and ex-Yugoslav) club, and only the second team from this southern corner of Europe and Eastern Europe, to have ever won the European Cup, having done in 1991, which was also the 100th UEFA competing final. Red Star is among the nine clubs, which have ever won the European Cup unbeaten. They are also the only team from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to have ever won the Intercontinental Cup, which it won also in 1991. Red Star is the most successful club from the Balkans and Eastern Europe being the only club to win both UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup. Miodrag Belodedici was the first ever Red Star player who won European Cup with two different teams, Steaua and Red Star, and very curious the both the name is a star. Later, the double winners were also Dejan Savićević (Red Star and AC Milan) and Vladimir Jugović (Red Star and Juventus)

Top 10 scorers of all time

Rank. Player Period Goals
1 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragan Džajić 1963–75; 1977–78 370
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Filipović 1970–80 302
3 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Rajko Mitić 1945–58 262
4 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bora Kostić 1951–61; 1962-66 158
5 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ivan Toplak 1954–61 144
6 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dušan Savić 1973-82 120
7 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Darko Pančev 1988-92 84
8 Serbia and Montenegro Mihajlo Pjanović 1999–03 81
9 Serbia Nenad Milijaš 2006-2009; 2012-2014 62
10 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Predrag Đajić 1945-55 59

Last updated on: 7 September 2014

Top 10 most appearances of all time

No Player Period App.
1 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragan Džajić 1963–75; 1977–78 615
2 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Rajko Mitić 1945–58 572
3 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Filipović 1970–80 520
4 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Predrag Đajić 1945-55 439
5 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladimir "Pižon" Petrović 1972–82 257
6 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borivoje Kostić 1951–61; 1962-66 250
7 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubomir Lovrić 1945–52 241
8 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jovan Aćimović 1965-76 237
9 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Boško Đurovski 1978-89 237
10 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miloš Šestić 1973–84 216

Last updated on: 25 October 2013

Club all-time European record

Red Star Belgrade Seasons P W D L GF GA Match %W
Representing Serbia Serbia 8 40 13 10 17 53 54 32.50
Representing FR Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro 11 66 26 20 20 106 78 39.39
Representing SFR Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 33 179 89 30 60 346 237 49.72
Total 52 285 128 60 97 505 369 44.90
Competition P W D L
European Cup / Champions League 108 55 19 34
UEFA Cup / Europa League 141 60 31 50
European Cup Winners' Cup 34 12 10 12
UEFA Super Cup 1 0 0 1
Intercontinental Cup 1 1 0 0
Total 285 128 60 97
As of Aug 08, 2013

UEFA Ranking

As of 11 May 2014[21]
Rank Team Points
172 Czech Republic Jablonec 9.370
173 Norway Molde FK 9.355
174 Serbia Red Star Belgrade 9.325
175 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta FC 9.150
176 Switzerland Luzern 9.205

Best results in European competitions

Season Achievement Notes
European Cup / UEFA Champions League
1991 Winner defeat France Olympique de Marseille 0–0 in Bari, 5–3 pen.
1957 Semi final lost to Italy Fiorentina 0-1 in Belgrade, 0-0 in Firenze
1971 Semi final lost to Greece Panathinaikos Athens 4-1 in Belgrade, 0-3 in Athens
UEFA Cup / Europa League
1979 Runners-up lost to Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–1 in Belgrade, 0–1 in Düsseldorf
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1975 Semi final lost to Hungary Ferencváros Budapest 1–2 in Budapest, 2–2 in Belgrade
Mitropa Cup
1958 Winner defeat Czechoslovakia Ruda Hvijezda Brno 4–1 in Belgrade, 3–2 in Brno
1968 Winner defeat Czechoslovakia Spartak Trnava 0–1 in Trnava, 4–1 in Belgrade

Biggest win in UEFA competition:

Season Match Score
European Cup / UEFA Champions League
1957–58 Red StarStade Dudelange 9–1
1969–70 Red StarLinfield F.C. 8–0

Current squad

As of 31 August 2014.[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Serbia SRB Damir Kahriman
2 DF Serbia SRB Marko Petković
4 DF Serbia SRB Darko Lazić
5 DF Serbia SRB Nikola Mijailović (captain)
6 DF Serbia SRB Bogdan Planić
7 FW Serbia SRB Đorđe Rakić
8 MF Serbia SRB Darko Lazović
9 FW Serbia SRB Luka Jović
10 MF North Macedonia MKD Daniel Avramovski
11 MF Slovenia SVN Nejc Pečnik
13 DF Serbia SRB Predrag Đorđević
14 DF Montenegro MNE Savo Pavićević
15 DF Serbia SRB Nikola Antić
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Serbia SRB Stefan Đorđević
20 MF Serbia SRB Miloš Bosančić
24 MF Serbia SRB Mihailo Ristić
25 MF Serbia SRB Goran Gogić
27 MF Serbia SRB Aleksandar Katai (on loan from Olympiacos)
28 MF Serbia SRB Vukan Savićević
30 DF Serbia SRB Vukašin Jovanović
31 GK Serbia SRB Marko Trkulja
34 DF Serbia SRB Miloš Stojanović
44 FW Serbia SRB Nenad Gavrić
55 MF Serbia SRB Aleksandar Kovačević
84 FW Serbia SRB Đorđe Despotović
95 GK Serbia SRB Predrag Rajković

Players with dual licenses

As of 31 August 2014.[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
35 MF Serbia SRB Marko Grujić (with Kolubara Lazarevac)
No. Pos. Nation Player
45 MF Serbia SRB Milan Jokić (with Kolubara Lazarevac)

Players out on loan

As of 31 August 2014.[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Serbia SRB Uroš Grčić (at Turbina Vreoci until the end of 2014-15 season)
GK Serbia SRB Filip Manojlović (at Sopot until the end of 2014-15 season)
DF Serbia SRB Miloš Brajović (at Dinamo Pančevo until the end of 2014-15 season)
DF Serbia SRB Zlatko Iličić (at Sopot until the end of 2014-15 season)
DF Serbia SRB Marko Marinković (at Sinđelić Beograd until the end of 2014-15 season)
DF Senegal SEN Mamadou Mbodj (at Napredak Kruševac until the end of 2014)
MF Serbia SRB Nemanja Ahčin (at Mladost Lučani until the end of 2014-15 season)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Serbia SRB Nikola Stojković (at BSK Borča until the end of 2014-15 season)
MF Serbia SRB Petar Đuričković (at Radnički Niš until the end of 2014)[24]
MF Serbia SRB Nikola Karaklajić (at Sinđelić Beograd until the end of 2014)
MF Serbia SRB Lazar Mitrović (at Sopot until the end of 2014-15 season)
FW Serbia SRB Nikola Đorđević (at BASK until the end of 2014)
FW Nigeria NGA Ifeanyi Onyilo (at Cyprus Ermis Aradippou until the end of 2014-15 season)[25]

Retired number(s)

12Serbia Delije (the 12th Man)

Club officials

Coaching history

For details see List of Red Star Belgrade football coaches

Club presidents

3

Notable players

Stars of Red Star

Red Star has almost a 50 year long tradition of giving the title of the Star of Red Star (Serbian: Звездина звезда / Zvezdina zvezda) to the players that had a major impact on the club's history and have made the name of the club famous around the globe. So far, five players and the entire 1991 team were officially given the title. They are:

The 1991 European and World Champions Generation

Coach:

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljupko Petrović, born in Brusnica Velika, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, spent his playing career in Yugoslavia with Osijek in the 1970s, and in the United States playing indoor soccer during the early 1980s. In 1982 he returns to Yugoslavia and starts his coaching career at youth levels of his former club Osijek. In 1984 he becomes assstant manager at Spanish side Espanyol and soon return to Osijek now to become the main manager for 3 years. Later he spends one season with Spartak Subotica before coaching Yugoslav national team youth levels during 1987 and 1988. Next he manages Vojvodina between 1988 and 1990 and archives an exceptional result by winning with them the Yugoslav championship in 1989. This success will open the door for him to Red Star who bring him and Siniša Mihajlović from Vojvodina. After winning the European and Intercontinental Cups with Red Star, he coaches numerous clubs throughout the world.

Goalkeepers:

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Stevan Stojanović (captain), born in Kosovska Mitrovica, SR Serbia, was Red Star goalkeeper for almost a decade. He later played with Royal Antwerp in Belgium. He was Yugoslav U-21 and Olympic international.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milić Jovanović, born in Belgrade, SR Serbia, came to Red Star from Napredak, and later played during the 1990s in Portugal.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Kaluđerović, born in Bar, SR Montenegro, came to Red Star from Mornar. He later played with Djurgården in Sweden.

Defenders:

  • Romania Miodrag Belodedici, born in Socol, Romania, was the only foreigner in Red Star that season, although his family was part of the Serbian minority in Romania. He came to Red Star after defecting from Causescu's regime in 1988. By the time he came, he already won the European Cup with Steaua in 1986, and 5 Romanian champinships, and was an established player of the Romanian national team. After 3 seasons in Belgrade, he continued his career in Spanish La liga with Valencia, Valladolid and Villarreal, before finishing his career in Mexico playing with Atlante. He made over 50 appearances for the Romanian national team and was part of Romanian squad at the 1994 World Cup, 1996 EURO and 2000 EURO.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Marović, born in Bar, SR Montenegro, played with Osijek before joining Red Star. Afterward he continued his career in Sweden, Denmark and China. He was a Yugoslav international. Later between 2010and 2012 he was assistant manager at Red Star while Prosinečki was the coach.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ivica Momčilović, born in Bojnik, SR Serbia, played with Napredak before joining Red Star. Afterward he played in Cyprus and Sweden.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ilija Najdoski, born in Kruševo, SR Macedonia, was one of the main Vardar players during the 1980s. He joined Red Star in 1988. After 4 season with the Red&White's he moved to Spain where he played 2 seasons in La liga with Valladolid. He later played with Denizlispor, CSKA Sofia and FC Sion before retiring. He was Yugoslav international, and later during the mid-1990s one of the main players of the Macedonian national team.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Duško Radinović, born in SR Montenegro, played with OFK Titograd and Sutjeska before joining Red Star. Afterward he played in Sweden.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Refik Šabanadžović, born in Tuzi, SR Montenegro, a Montenegrin Bosniak, he played with Željezničar Sarajevo where he became one of their main players during mid-1980s and a Yugoslav national team player. He came to Red Star in 1987 and played 4 seasons in Belgrade. Later he moved to Greece where he played 7 seasons in the very top of Greek football with AEK Athens and Olympiacos. He finished his career in the United States. He was a member of the Yugoslav 1988 Olympic squad and played in the 1990 World Cup.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Goran Vasilijević, born in SR Serbia, played with Zemun and Radnički Niš before coming to Red Star. Later he played in Bulgaria and Japan.

Midfielders:

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Siniša Mihajlović, born in Vukovar, SR Croatia, a Serb from Croatia, started playing with a local club, Borovo, from where he moved to Vojvodina. He was part of Vojvodina golden generation that won the Yugoslav championship in 1989. A year later he came to Red Star and became one of the more influential and charismatic players. In 1992 when economical and sports sanctions were imposed to FR Yugoslavia not allowing its teams to compete internationally, he moved to Italy where he played the rest of his career with Serie A teams Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter. He is considered by specialists as one of the best free-kick takers of all time. He played 63 mtches and scored 10 goals for the Yugoslav national team, and was present at the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000. After retiring he became a coach.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milorad Ratković, born in Zenica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, was one of the star players of Čelik Zenica during the 1980s from where he came to Red Star in 1990. Besides a loan to Borac Banja Luka, he later played in Spain with Celta Vigo and Sevilla.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vlada Stošić, born in Vranje, SR Serbia, was only 19 when he came to Red Star in 1984. He stayed in the club until the winter break of the 1991–92 season when he moved to Spain and play with Mallorca and Betis during the mid-1990s. Then, in 1997, he joined Belodedici in Mexico and played a season with him at Atlante. He finished his career in Portugal with Vitoria Setubal. He played one match for the Yugoslav national team in 1990.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Rade Tošić, born near Ugljevik, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, played most of the 1980s with Sloboda Tuzla. He became Yugoslav national team player and joined Hajduk Split in 1988. Red Star brought him from Hajduk in 1990. After two seasons with Red Star, he continued his career in Spain with Mérida and Catellon.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladimir Jugović, born in Milutovac, SR Serbia, was one of the main Yugoslav players during the 1990s. He came young to Red Star, however, in three seasons he won it all. He joined Sampdoria in 1992, later Juventus, Lazio and Inter, and will play in the Italian Serie A until 2001, with the exception of the 1998–99 season that he will play in the Spanish La Liga with Atlético Madrid. He played 41 matches for the Yugoslav national team, scoring on three occasions, and was present at the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Robert Prosinečki, born in Schwenningen, West Germany, was a son of Yugoslav emigrants. Still in Germany he started playing in the youth team of Stuttgarter Kickers. In 1980 he returned with his family to Yugoslavia and joined Dinamo Zagreb. He debuted for Dinamo senior team in 1986–87, however in the next season he was brought to Belgrade to Red Star. He immedatelly established himself as one of the most talented Yugoslav youngsters, a fame which will be confirmed by his exhibitions at the 1987 FIFA youth championship where he helped Yugoslav team win the gold and got himself acclaimed as tournament's best player. He was among the crutial players of Red Star during his 4 seasons in the club. In the meantime he also became Yugoslav national team player and played in the 1990 World Cup where he got the title of the best young player. With all this, it was no surprise his move to Real Madrid in 1991. After three seasons in Madrid, he played another three seasons in Spanish La liga, with Oviedo, Barcelona and Sevilla, one season each. By this time the old Yugoslavia got dismembered, and Prosi chose to represent his father country, Croatia. He became a regular in the Croatian national team and played with them in the EURO 1996, 1998 World Cup (where Croatia finished third) and 2002 World Cup. After retiring he became a coach, and coached Red Star between 2010 and 2012.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dejan Savićević, born in Titograd, SR Montenegro, was playing with Budućnost when during the season 1987–88 he became chased by major Yugoslav clubs. The back then 21-year old talented youngster at the end of the season ended up signing with Red Star and will become one of clubs legends. He was only 20 when he debuted for the Yugoslav national team and since then became a regular. He stayed three and a half seasons with Red Star, a period which was crowned with the 1991 European Cup and him winning the Ballon d'Or in 1991. Besides, he was awarded as the Yugoslav best athlete that same year. In 1992 he joined AC Milan and stayed in San Siro for the next 6 and a half years. With Milan he won in 1994 the Champions League and the European Supercup, besides 3 Serie A titles and 2 Italian Supercup titles. He became known by the Milan fans as Maestro and one of his main highlghts was the incredible goal he scored against Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final. He left Milan during the 1998–99 winter break and joined again Red Star. However, he stayed only half a season, and left to Rapid Wien where he played two more seasons before retiring. During the entire 1990s he was among the main players of the Yugoslav national team, and has played in the 1990 and 1998 World Cups. After retreing for a period he became a coach and coached FR Yugoslavia national team, and he is the president of the Montenegrn Football Association since 2004.

Strikers:

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Darko Pančev, born in Skopje, SR Macedonia, started playing with Vardar Skopje in 1982 and became Yugoslav First League topscorer in the 1983–84 season being only 19. Red Star brought him in summer 1988 and during the 4 seasons he spent in Belgrade, he became club's main goalscorer. He was again Yugoslav championship topscorer in 3 seasons in a row between 1989 until 1992, and he will win the European Golden Boot in 1991. He made 91 appearances and scored 84 goals in the league for Red Star. In 1992 he signed with Inter, however he didn't adapted well in Italy, and later played in Germany and Switzerland before finishing his career. Regarded as one of the best Macedonian players ever, he was a regular in the Yugoslav national team durng the late 1980s and played with Yugoslavia in the 1990 World Cup. Later he played for the Macedonian national team in their first matches between 1993 and 1995. After retiring he worked in the Mcedonian Football Federation and has been the sports director of Vardar.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragiša Binić, born in Kruševac, SR Serbia, played with Napredak and Radnički Niš before joining Red Star in 1987. He played with Red Star only one season and will play with French side Brest and Spanish Levante before returning to a second spell with Red Star in what will be a European Cup winning season. After that season he moved abroad again playing with a number of clubs such as Slavia Prague, APOEL and Nagoya Grampus. He played for the Yugoslav national team in 1990 and 1991.
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladan Lukić, born in Sopot, SR Serbia, came to Red Star in 1986 aged only 16. His great scoring abilities made him become a regular in the Yugoslav national team in 1991, however his luck turned around in a match against Austria when he got an injury. He left Red Star in 1993 when he joined Atlético Madrid. During his career until 2000 he also played with Vojvodina, OFK Belgrade, Marbella, Sion, Metz and Paniliakos. In 1998 he played 2 more games for FR Yugoslavia national team. After retiring he became the chairman of his hometown club, FK Sopot, and between 2009 and 2012 he was Red Star president.

More notable players

To appear in this section a player must have either:
  • Played at least 80 matches for the club.
  • Has senior national team appearances.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
1977–1979 Admiral
1980–1991 Puma

Lee Cooper - Kristal Zaječar - Drina - Casucci - DEXIM

1991–1994 Hummel Classic
1994–1996 Diadora Beobanka
1996–1998 Kappa
1998–2001 Pils Light
2001–2002 Adidas
2002–2005 Wiener Städtische

Sharp

2005–2006 Toyota
2006–2008 Nike
2008–2009
2010 2344 – Za moju Zvezdu
2010–2012 Gazprom
2012–2013 Legea
2013– Puma

The popular Serbian folk singer Boban Zdravković, devoted during the 90s to Red Star a song with the name "Marakano". Among the Red Star fans the song become to a cult.[26]

The team gives its name to Italian book Crvena Zvezda, Enrico Varrecchione. The novel is based on a football uchronia involving AC Milan and Red Star, leading to a different historical background who prevent Silvio Berlusconi to win the elections in 1994.[27]

Billy Bragg's 1991 UK top thirty hit song "Sexuality" contains the lyric "I had an uncle who once played for Red Star Belgrade." When interviewed many years later Bragg was asked if this was true, to which he replied that his uncle actually played for Fulham but that did not fit the rhyme with played.[28]

Two non-related bands, one of them from Great Yarmouth, Great Britain,[29][30] and the other one from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States,[31] shared the name Red Star Belgrade.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Yugoslavian first league all-time table
  3. ^ Svaki drugi Srbin navija za Crvenu zvezdu retrieved from www.b92.net, 18 March 2008
  4. ^ a b THE LIST: The greatest rivalries in club football, Nos 10–1
  5. ^ Europe's Club of the Century retrieved from www.iffhs.de, 13 September 2009
  6. ^ "History Start". crvenazvezdafk.com.
  7. ^ Fifa.com - FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd (Red Star Belgrade) - Red Star claim gold for the Balkan peninsula
  8. ^ Red Star Belgrade - Manchester United 3-3 (1958)
  9. ^ Munich Air Crash
  10. ^ UEFA Cup Final 1979
  11. ^ Red Star Belgrade - F.C. Barcelona 2-4 (1982)
  12. ^ Red Star Belgrade - Olympique de Marseille 0:0 (5:3 pen.)(29.05.1991)
  13. ^ Red Star Belgrade - Olympique de Marseille 0:0 (5:3 pen.)(29.05.1991) Part 2
  14. ^ "Red Star player pay a hefty price". fifpro.org. 18 June 2014.
  15. ^ blic.rs - Stadion Zvezde među 50 najznačajnijih u Evropi
  16. ^ 10 Most Hostile World Football Stadiums
  17. ^ goal.com - The greatest European championship XI of all time
  18. ^ "The Inferno At Yesterday's Biggest Rivalry Game". theoffside.com. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  19. ^ F.C. Liverpool - Red Star Belgrade 1-2
  20. ^ UEFA.com - 1990/91: Red Star spot on
  21. ^ [2]
  22. ^ "First Team". FK Crvena zvezda. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  23. ^ a b "The list of players out on loan". Red Star Belgrade. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  24. ^ Đuričković na pozajmici u Radničkom at juznevesti.com, 31-1-2014 Template:Sr icon
  25. ^ „Sport”: Onjilo u Ermisu, Zvezda čeka Dedića at Večernje novosti, 9-8-2014 Template:Sr icon
  26. ^ Boban Zdravković - Marakano
  27. ^ [3]
  28. ^ Interview with Billy Bragg
  29. ^ stare.uk.com - STARE History
  30. ^ Red Star Belgrade - Too far
  31. ^ www.allmusic.com - Red Star Belgrade
Official