FK Željezničar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Željezničar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Fudbalski Klub Željezničar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Željo Plavi (The Blues) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1921 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 20,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | to be elected soon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager |  Dželaludin Muharemović |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Premijer Liga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Premijer Liga, 6th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 that it was originally 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 season 1984/85.
Contents |
[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 treat by many, so Željezničar was surpressed 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, local 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 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 prooves 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 lines, destroyed, and yet they played in the Bosnian war championship held in 1994. Third 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 then 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-off 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 two seasons are not successful and fans would probably like to forget them as soon as possible. Financial problems, frequent coach changes, and weak 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 attendance is not more than 500 in recent games. However, everyone is hoping better times will come.
[edit] Sarajevo derby
Main article: Sarajevo derby
Many Željezničar supporters say that "Željo is the matter of phylosophy, and Sarajevo matter of geography". FK Sarajevo is the club's biggest rival. 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 fullfilled... And everybody is waiting for the next one. Although, incidents between younger fans can be seen in recent years.
So far (as of October 14, 2006), 88 league matches were played. Željezničar won 28 times, Sarajevo won on 27 occasions, while 33 matches ended with a draw. Goal-difference 113:110 in FK Sarajevo's favour. Since the independece, as a part of Bosnian championship, there were 25 games played. Sarajevo won 8 times, Željezničar won 7 times, with 10 draws. Goal-difference 35:30 for FK Sarajevo.
There is one more saying that explains a lot - "Every pussy can burn and destroy Sarajevo, but only Željo can actually defeat it".
[edit] Current squad
As of 23 October 2006[1]
|
|
[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... Most of them with women and men sections) 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.
Pronunciation: Zheh-liez-nee-char. Explanation: "Zh" sounds like "s" in pleasure, or like French (or Portuguese) pronunciation of letter "j". Accent is on the first syllable which should be pronunciated like "gé" in protégé. Second syllable "liez" is combination of "lie", which sounds like "lie" in alien, and "z" like in pez. "Nee" sounds like english word knee (but quicker), and "char" is like in chart (without "t", of course). Nickname Željo can be pronunciated like Zheh-llio. "Zheh" is the same as above, just longer, and "llio" sounds like "llio" in million.
Cyrillic version of the club's name is Фудбалски клуб Жељезничар.
[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. Unfortunatelly, 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 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, known as The Maniacs, are one of the top supporter groups in BiH. 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 it's multiethnicity, it had a lot of problems with the influential circles, so many people were finding it exciting to support it. The club had it's 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, which was the top attendance for a Cup finals game (except for those played by Belgrade clubs). 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.
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. And that passion is very close to insanity. 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.
[edit] Most notable former players
|
|
[edit] Coaches
|
|
|
[edit] Club presidents
|
|
|
[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: Željezničar - Dinamo Zagreb 1:9 (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 (127)
- Most league goals: Josip Bukal (111)
- 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
- Yugoslavian First League Champions: 1
-
- 1971/1972
- Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina Champions: 3
-
- 1997/1998, 2000/2001, 2001/2002
- Football Cup of Bosnia and Herzegovina Winners: 3
-
- 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2002/2003
- Super Cup of Bosnia and Herzegovina Winners: 3
-
- 1998, 2000, 2001
[edit] External links
- Official Website of FK Zeljeznicar (Bosnian)
- Fudbalski Klub Zeljeznicar (Bosnian)
- FK Zeljeznicar Supporters Site (Bosnian)
- NK Zeljeznicar Zeljo.com Gerneral Info Website (English)
- FK Zeljeznicar Supporters Site (2) (Bosnian)
