FK Partizan

Fudbalski klub Partizan (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Партизан, English: Partizan Football Club) is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978. It holds records such as playing in the first European Champions' Cup match in 1955,^[1] becoming the first Eastern European club to play in the European Champions' Cup final in 1966, and becoming the first club from Serbia to take part in the UEFA Champions League group stages. It is a major part of the Sports Association Partizan. The second division team FK Teleoptik is also owned by Partizan. According to a recent poll, FK Partizan is the second most popular football club in Serbia behind rivals Red Star Belgrade, with 32.2 percent of the population supporting the club.^[2]

Club history

Formation

Partizan was founded on October 4, 1945,^[3] in Belgrade, as a football section of the Central House of the Yugoslav Army "Partizan", and was named after the Partisans, the communist military formation during the World war II in Yugoslavia. The club was formed and initially managed by the group of young high officers of the Yugoslav People's Army. Among them were Svetozar Vukmanović, Koča Popović and Ratko Vujović. Two days after its establishment, Partizan made its first step on the football scene, with the friendly match against selection of Zemun that ended 4–2. Florijan Matekalo entered the record books as the first goal scorer in the history of Partizan, while Franjo Glazer was the first manager. Just three weeks later, Partizan went on the first of many international tours, travelling to Czechoslovakia where they beat the selection of Slovak Army with 3-1. At the time, just months after the WWII in Yugoslavia ended, no organized football competition was yet restored, so Partizan played only friendly games and tournaments both home and abroad.

Early years (1946–1958)

Finally, in late August, 1946, the new Yugoslav league started, so Partizan played its first official match, beating Pobeda Skoplje with 1-0. Since the club had the highest ambitions from the very beginning, it attracted some of the best players from all over the country: Stjepan Bobek, Miroslav Brozović, Zlatko Čajkovski, Kiril Simonovski, Bela Palfi, Franjo Rupnik, Prvoslav Mihajlović, Aleksandar Atanacković, Miodrag Jovanović, Vladimir Firm, Ratko Čolić and Franjo Šoštarić. Prominent football expert Illés Spitz became the manager, and spent next 14 years on various positions in the club. His implementation of top European training methods and playing tactics, combined with technically gifted squad, proved essential in winning the first championship in debut season, along with the first cup title. The second championship title was won in 1948/49 season. Partizan played its home games on the old BSK stadium until 1949, when its own stadium was built on the same site and named Stadion JNA (Stadium of Yugoslav People's Army).

In 1950 the club evolved from a football section of the Army into independent club under the umbrella organization JSD Partizan. The first clubs president became Ratko Vujović. In 1953 the remaining formal connections between the club and the Army ceased. Although during the 1950s Partizan had a very strong squad, led by national team players like Bobek, Čajkovski, Miloš Milutinović, Marko Valok, Bruno Belin, Tomislav Kaloperović and Branko Zebec, the club had a long break without winning a championship, only winning cup titles in 1952, 1954 and 1957. Despite the absence of domestic titles, Partizan's great performances on high quality tournaments throughout Europe gained them significant continental reputation. On September 4, 1955, Partizan participated in the first ever Champions Cup match, in Lisbon against Sporting CP. The final result was 3–3, with Milutinović becoming the first scorer in a most prestigious club competition in Europe.

The Partizan's babies (1958–1966)

By the mid 1950s, the first big Partizan generation was well over its peak. Only two titles and four cups in first 15 years of existence were not enough for a club of Partizan's stature, ambition and popularity. In 1958, club left way behind 13 years of playing in blue-red kits and adopted the now famous black and white colors. The change in a club's image and appearance was followed by radical changes in the playing squad. The number of young players, offsprings of Partizan's own youth ranks known as Partizanove bebe (The Partizan's babies), soon emerged into one of the best generations Europe's ever seen. The rise of the generation began with Milutin Šoškić, Fahrudin Jusufi, Jovan Miladinović, Velibor Vasović, Milan Galić, Ilija Mitić, Zvezdan Čebinac, Lazar Radović, Vladica Kovačević and Velimir Sombolac. Very soon, they were joined by Ljubomir Mihajlović and Mustafa Hasanagić, and finally Ivan Ćurković, Josip Pirmajer, Branko Rašović and Radoslav Bečejac. Managers Spitz, Matekalo and Bobek monitored and guided their devolopment. The decision to rely mostly on youngsters quickly gave results - Partizan took three consecutive championship titles, in 1960/61, 1961/62 and 1962/63. Efficient and attractive performances earned the club its popular nickname Parni valjak (The Steamroller). In 1964/65 season, the team added the fourth title in five years.

The 1965–66 European Cup campaign was the crown of this generation's career. After eliminating Nantes (2–0, 2–2) and Werder Bremen (3–0, 1–0) in the first two rounds, Partizan were drawn against Sparta Prague in the quarterfinals. In the first leg, held in Prague, Partizan suffered a hard 4-1 defeat. Although they were not given any chances in the return leg in Belgrade, Partizan pulled off a convincing 5–0 win in front of 50.000 spectators, and with aggregate score 6–4 qualified for the semifinals. Manchester United, led by George Best and Bobby Charlton, awaited them on the last step to the finals. Partizan won in a first leg on Stadion JNA with 2-0, and resisted the heavy pressure on Old Trafford, conceding only once, so with 2-1 on aggregate they eliminated English giants. Partizan's babies achieved the greatest success in history of Partizan, a place in 1966 European Cup final against the famous Real Madrid. The final game was played on May 11, at Heysel Stadium, Brussels. Until 70th minute Partizan was 1–0 up (goal by Velibor Vasović), but lost to the Spaniards 2–1 at the end. Still, Partizan became the first club from Eastern Europe to have played in a European Cup final.

Crisis (1966-1976)

The sudden increase in the reputation of Partizan team was not followed by increase in the organizational structure. After the defeat in the finals, club administration failed to operate on a higher level, and Partizan entered a long organizational crisis. All main players signed contracts with biggest western clubs, and the promising generation was scattered. This was a period of mediocre results, and for a decade not a single trophy was won. Few players remained from the previous generation - Milan Damjanović, Blagoje Paunović and Borivoje Đorđević. In a short period of time, numerous managers were in position. The arrival of Momčilo Vukotić and Nenad Bjeković announced better days for Black & Whites.

The Brief Return (1976-1982)

On July 11, 1976, in Ljubljana, Partizan played the last game of the season against Olimpija and needed a win to clinch the title ahead of rivals Hajduk Split. In the last second before the final whistle Bjeković scored the winning goal and Partizan won 0-1. The 7th championship trophy was finally won, after full decade of waiting, by the new generation of players, such as Vukotić, Bjeković, Rešad Kunovac, Ilija Zavišić, Refik Kozić, Ivan Golac, Radmilo Ivančević, Boško Đorđević, Nenad Stojković. Partizan won its 8th title in 1977-78 season, enforced with Nikica Klinčarski, Petar Borota, Slobodan Santrač, Aleksandar Trifunović, Xhevat Prekazi, Pavle Grubješić. The same year Partizan won Mitropa Cup. Black & Whites finished first in Group A, ahead of Perugia and Zbrojovka Brno and defeated Hungarian side Honvéd in the finals by 1–0. The manager was Ante Mladinić.

Unexpectedly, the next 1978-79 season turned out to be the worst in Partizan history. They finished 15th in the league, barely avoiding relegation with a 4-2 victory against Budućnost in the last fixture. The new crisis was serious, which reflected in the results next season, when Partizan finished 13th. It took a two more seasons, but Partizan eventually recovered.

Memorable years (1982-1991)

When Momčilo Vukotić, Nenad Stojković, Nikica Klinčarski were joined by Ljubomir Radanović, Zvonko Živković, Zoran Dimitrijević and Dragan Mance, another great generation was formed. Partizan became champion for 1982/83 season, in large part due to extraordinary performances of young Dragan Mance. He helped Partizan win the league by scoring 15 goals, and immediately became a fan favourite. He also led the club in their 1984–85 UEFA Cup second round tie against English side Queens Park Rangers, one of the most memorable matches in the club's history. QPR won the first leg 6–2, but Partizan advanced after a 4–0 return victory.^[4] That match was voted on the 70th position among Top 100 greatest matches in the history of football, in a poll organized by Eurosport in September 2009.^[5] On September 3, 1985, the players tragically lost their teammate and the fans lost their idol - Mance died in a car crash on Novi Sad-Belgrade highway. He was only 22 years old, and at the peak of his popularity. In his honour, the street next to the clubs stadium in Belgrade carries his name.^[6]

After the last week was of 1985-86 season, Partizan was crowned champion due to better goal difference than second-placed Red Star. However, this was followed by scandal and controversy caused by Yugoslav FA presidency led by Slavko Šajber. Due to allegedly wide match-fixing during the last week of fixtures, Partizan was stripped of the league title, which was now awarded to their archrivals Red Star. Also, Partizan, along with 11 other clubs suspected of being involved in match-fixing, had to start the following season with -6 points. After a series of appeals and lawsuits the entire case eventually went all the way to the Yugoslav Constitutional Court. By the time the Court delivered its final ruling on July 29, 1987, the next season was already completed with Vardar winning the title due to 12 teams starting the season with -6 points. The court's ruling was that there was no evidence of wrongdoing in the last week of the 1985–86 season and thus that season's title was given back to Partizan. That also meant that there was no merit for the 6-point docking in the 1986-87 and now that season's table was re-counted so that now Partizan became a new champion. Still, based on wrong decisions of the FA, Red Star and Vardar got to represent Yugoslavia in the 1986–87 and 1987-88 European Cup, instead of regular champions Partizan. This incident prevented the generation of Milko Đurovski, Fahrudin Omerović, Zvonko Varga, Vladimir Vermezović, Admir Smajić, Goran Stevanović, Nebojša Vučićević, Miloš Đelmaš, Srečko Katanec, Fadil Vokrri and Bajro Župić from showing their full potential in Europe.

Partizan spent the final years in SFR Yugoslavia undergoing significant organizational changes. In 1989, former goalkeeper Ivan Ćurković became club president while Mirko Marjanović became the president of Partizan's executive board. Most important Partizan players in this final years were Predrag Mijatović, Slaviša Jokanović, Predrag Spasić, Dragoljub and Branko Brnović, Budimir Vujačić, Vujadin Stanojković, Darko Milanič and Džoni Novak. However, this great generation was overshadowed by their crosstown rivals Red Star's rampage through domestic league and Europe. Partizan only won the 1989 national cup, 32 years after the last victory in that competition.

Decade of domestic success (1990s)

After the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia Partizan won two titles in a row in 1993 and 1994. Next three championships Partizan won in 1996, 1997 and 1999. Partizan also won national cups in 1992, 1994 and 1998. The key man for these trophies was Ljubiša Tumbaković. He became the most successful manager in the history of Partizan. In 1997 Partizan was reintroduced to European competitions following the lift of the UEFA ban on clubs from FR Yugoslavia. This decade has been marked by numerous team changes and the circle of selling the best players to richer European clubs after just a couple of seasons of first-team football and replacing them with fresh young talents. Many players are credited with the successes of the nineties, such as Predrag Mijatović, Slaviša Jokanović, Savo Milošević, Albert Nađ, Dragan Ćirić, Zoran Mirković, Saša Ćurčić, Branko Brnović, Goran Pandurović, Dražen Bolić, Niša Saveljić, Damir Čakar, Budimir Vujačić, Ivan Tomić, Gjorgji Hristov, Đorđe Tomić, Ivica Kralj, Mateja Kežman and many others.

Domination in Serbia and reestablishment in Europe (2000s)

In the last 11 years, Partizan has won 7 national championships (2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11), 4 cups and managed to qualify two times for the UEFA Champions League. First time, the club played in the 2003–04 Champions League, after eliminating Newcastle United. Partizan was drawn in a tough group with Real Madrid, FC Porto (actual winner of the UEFA Cup and the eventual winner of the competition) and Olympique de Marseille (eventual runner-up of the UEFA Cup). The team never lost a home game, playing 0–0 with Real Madrid, and 1–1 with FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille while playing some inspired football in the away match in Madrid (0–1), Marseille (0–3) and Porto (1–2). They are the first, and so far the only Serbian team to qualify for the main draw of this elite European club competition since its inception in 1992. For the second time he qualified for the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League after beating RSC Anderlecht. Now, the draw for the group phase decided that Partizan will play in group H, alongside Arsenal F.C., Shakhtar Donetsk and S.C. Braga. On matchday 1, Partizan lost against Shakhtar on Donbass Arena in Donetsk – 0–1 (0–0). Next game Partizan played against Arsenal at Partizan Stadium and lost 1–3 (1–1), after they played inspired football with a 10 man in last 30 min's of the match. In two matches against Braga, Partizan failed to score and they lost both games (0–2 in Braga; 0–1 in Belgrade). The last two rounds in the group have also brought inspired football, but unfortunately it wasn't enough so Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal defeated Partizan once again, 0–3 (0–0) in Belgrade and 1–3 (0–1) at the Emirates Stadium.

In the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, Partizan reached the round-of-16 in the UEFA Cup, where it was eliminated by CSKA Moscow, the eventual winner of the competition. In the 2007–08 UEFA Cup qualifying stages, Partizan was expelled and fined €30,056 due to crowd trouble, after fighting broke out with opponent fans during their qualifying match against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, and after beating them by an aggregate score of 11–1.^[7] Seasons 2007–08 and 2008–09 will remain as one of the most successful in club's domestic history. In season 2008–09 the club successfully defended their league and cup double from 2007–08 season, for the first time in its history. On July 21, 2009, Partizan demolished Welsh champions Rhyl, with a score of 8–0 (12–0 on agg.) This score is their largest ever winning margin in European competitions.

Many players contributed to these successes, some of them are Mladen Krstajić, Saša Ilić, Ivica Iliev, Zvonimir Vukić, Igor Duljaj, Vladimir Ivić, Danko Lazović, Taribo West, Andrija Delibašić, Milan Smiljanić, Zoran Tošić, Stevan Jovetić, Ivan Obradović, Nenad Đorđević, Radosav Petrović, Almami Moreira, Lamine Diarra, Cléo and many.

The club is still a member of the same sports association, which includes 25 clubs in different sports, as well as the Football Association of Serbia, but it has complete independence regarding organisation, management, finances, material goods and facilities.

Club colours and crest

Colours

Until the 1970s all clubs from Europe did not wear jerseys of famous manufacturers. It is known that the first manufacturer of sports equipment that highlighted its logo on the jersey was the Admiral (Leeds United's uniform) in the 1973. In the mid-70s Partizan equipment consisted of prevail striped or plain white jerseys with a collar, with Adidas shorts. The late 70's (1977, 1978) Partizan often carries a set of Adidas gear, mostly in white. From season 1978–79 Partizan's first long contract with "Sport" sport manufacturer from Belgrade. Cooperation with the "Sport" manufacturer lasts until early spring season of 1982–83, when Partizan returns to "Adidas", wearing striped jerseys usually with thin lines. By the end of the 80's, shorts was almost always white, like socks. Adidas only changed the design of shirt collar and color sleeve. Since 1983–85 were white, and then the 1985–86 and 1986–87 black, returning to the white sleeves was in the late 1987. In early 1990, Partizan left "Adidas" after 7 years and entered into a contract with an anonymous Swiss sport manufacturer "Vocado". Next season, "Vocado" goes the classic striped shirts, it's a jersey in which Partizan won the Cup in 1992. It remains to remember the first red and blue jersey after more than 30 years, carried in Malta against Hibernian in the UEFA Cup in 1990. The following sanctions and an inability to find well-known foreign sponsor, and Partizan then carries all sorts of sport kits – "Admiral", and then the derby in 1993 with a set of white Diadora gear, then the derby at home venue in the Umbro equipment. For 1994–95 season a new technical sponsor was the Japanese Asics then since 1996–97 sponsor was Nike. Nike releases a new 1998–99 season jersey, mainly white with a blue set of applications on the collar. In spring 2000, Partizan exceeds with the local "NAAI", and afterwards from 2000–01 contracted with Puma sport manufacturer. Striped jerseys were quite identical as the Nike jerseys from the 1996–97 and 1997–98 season. Later on, club moved to the Kappa jerseys. In the first season, the stripes on the jersey were thin and then moved to wide. All this time there was a spare and lots of variants – gray, red and blue, white and black jerseys. In the 2010–11 season Partizan returned to tradition with the most powerful global brand – Adidas.^[8][9]

Crest

The first crest carried by Partizan had only abbreviation JA – Jugoslovenska Armija (The Yugoslav Army). It was a blue circle with a red five-pointed star edged in yellow with the letters JA inside it. Soon, no one knows exactly when, the crest experience great changes and began to take the shape of the crest that is seen today. The central circle was white with a red five-pointed star in it, in a blue circle in which, in white letters, is written – The Yugoslav Army and both are bordered by a yellow circle and over the circle is a green wreath. At the bottom of the emblem are red and white lines, and on the top is red torchlight. The emblem is actually a clear association with the crest of the former state – Yugoslavia, with the difference as the torch and stars on the Partizan crest replaced places. This emblem club use since 1947. Fifties, there is a small change in the emblem of Partizan but significant, where for the first time inserted team name in yellow outer circle and written in Cyrillic and Latin. Separated from the Army, Partizan Belgrade receives a new crest. The inscription of the Yugoslav Army is disappearing from the crest and it was replaced by Sports association. This emblem has a "shelf life" until 1958, when Partizan changed his club colors of blue and red to black and white, very original and previously unknown on the football sky of former Yugoslavia. Then the Sport Society adds Yugoslav adjective, and the color emblem is drastically changing. Complete crest becomes black and white, with red torch and five-pointed star, while the line at the bottom of crest cross in black and white. So Partizan wear this emblem mostly in its history, the emblem that has become a real brand and a symbol of Partizan. From 1992, Yugoslavia ceased to exist and instead of Jugoslovensko Sportsko Društvo (Yugoslav Sports Association) in a black circle on the crest for the first time was inserted – Football club and this emblem remains unchanged to date. In the 2007–08 season Partizan won its 20th championship and added two stars on the top of the emblem as the symbol for 20 and more titles. Author of the Partizan crest is academic painter Branko Šotra. Parallel with this crest there is an alternative emblem, Partizan supporters popularly called it "lopata" (The shovel). This emblem found its place only on tickets, souvenirs, annual tickets and club brochures, but never sewn on the jersey of FK Partizan.^[10]

Club records

Momčilo Vukotić is Partizan's record-holder by number of appearances (791 matches). The goal-scoring record-holder is striker Stjepan Bobek, with 425 goals. Over 130 Partizan football players were in the Yugoslav national team and Stjepan Bobek, Branko Zebec, Zlatko Čajkovski, Fahrudin Jusufi, Velibor Vasović, Milan Galić, Milutin Šoškić, Slaviša Jokanović and Predrag Mijatović (a former sporting director of Real Madrid) are among them. Former Partizan player Savo Milošević played 102 matches for the national football team, a national record. Stjepan Bobek holds national team record with 38 goals, second place is shared by Partizan legends Savo Milošević and Milan Galić, they scored 37 goals each of them. It holds records such as playing in the first European Champions' Cup match in 1955, becoming the first Eastern European club to play in the European Champions' Cup final in 1966, and becoming the first club from Serbia to take part in the UEFA Champions League group stages.

Player records

_{*Players in bold are still active}

The "black and whites" are record-holders of the Yugoslav First League, in terms of points scored during a campaign, with 107 in one year's championship and are the only unbeaten champion team ever (in the 2004–05 season). Partizan also won the most national championships since the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, being a champion 12 out of 19 times. They are the only Serbian club ever, since the first nation-wide domestic football competition in 1923, to win four consecutive national titles, not leaving the throne since 2007–08 season. Arguably, Partizan's most exciting match was a double header against Celtic in 1989. The first tie was held in Mostar (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) which Partizan won 2–1. The second leg was held in Scotland which Celtic won 5–4. Partizan scored in the last minute to qualify on the away goals rule in front of nearly 50,000 fans. Currently, the player with both most appearances and most goals scored for Partizan in Europe is Saša Ilić (63 appearances, 15 goals).

Club all-time European record

As of August 19, 2011

UEFA Ranking

As of May 30, 2011^[11]

Club Ranking for 2011 (Previous year rank in italics, UEFA Club Coefficients in parentheses)

• 112 (108) FK Austria Wien (16.465)
• 113 (56) Rapid Bucureşti (16.164)
• 114 (123) FK Partizan Belgrade (15.850)
• 115 (120) NEC Nijmegen (15.025)
• 116 (172) BSC Young Boys (14.980)

Best results in European competitions

• This match was played at Pod Goricom Stadium in Titograd instead of at FK Partizan's home ground in Belgrade since UEFA barred FK Partizan again from playing home matches within a 300 km radius of their home ground after more crowd trouble in the previous round's home tie vs FC Groningen.
• This match was played at Krasnodar instead at Moscow due to a bad weather conditions.

Club fans

First groups of organized supporters began to visit the JNA stadium in the late 1950s. Those were mainly young men from Belgrade, and they occupied southern stands of the stadium. In those times, support was expressed by loud singing as well as polling of referees and opposite team's players.

Partizan's participation in the European Cup final in 1966 attracted much more fans to the stadium, and is considered to be the crucial moment of the organized fans moving to a south stand of the stadium where they are gathering up to this day. Partizan's supporters, Grobari (The Gravediggers), were formed in 1970. The nickname itself was given by their biggest rivals (Delije of Red Star Belgrade), referring to the club's mostly black colors which were similar to the official uniforms of cemetery undertakers. The other theory is that the name arrives from misinterpretation of Partizan's stadium street name – Humska (humka roughly translates as grave), when actually the street was named after Serbian medieval land of Hum, nowadays part of Herzegovina and South Dalmatia. They support all clubs in the Sports Association Partizan. In 1999, the organized supporters who traditionally occupy the south stands at the stadium split into two groups. The newly formed group named Južni Front (Southern Front) accused several top members of the Grobari organization for abusing their privileges, and the club itself for favoring those individuals. In 2006, they settled their differences and today there are three major fan groups: Južni Front, Grobari 1970 and Grobari Beograd. From 2005 until 2007, fan groups boycotted all Partizan matches until former sports director Bjeković and general secretary Zečević resigned, which was their main goal. Bjeković finally resigned in May and Zečević in September 2007. As a result of their demands being accepted, the Grobari returned to the stands of Partizan Stadium. Grobari have become recognizable by noisy and constant cheering and their devotion and loyalty to the club. The basis of their cheering is the principle of voice and palms along with songs in distinctive style. Grobari also do other actions characteristic to organized fan groups, such as choreographies, banners and flares. Danny Dyer featured the Grobari on the Real Football Factories International show. In the episode he labelled the Grobari as a group willing to do anything for the respect of the club.^[12]

Notable fans

Notable fans include Serbian President Boris Tadić^[13], President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik^[14], filmmaker Emir Kusturica^[15], tennis players Ana Ivanović^[16] and Viktor Troicki^[17], swimmer Milorad Čavić^[18], writer Duško Radović^[19], actors Rade Šerbedžija^[20], Dragan Bjelogrlić^[21] and Sergej Trifunović^[22] and musicians Zoran Kostić Cane^[23] and Eddy Grant.^[24]

Stadium and training ground

The club's stadium is now named Stadion FK Partizan, although it was known as Stadion JNA (Stadium of the Yugoslav People's Army) for most of its history, and is still sometimes called that. The stadium seated approximately 55,000 people before UEFA's law of having seats across the entire stadium. The stadium was used from the mid-fifties until 1987 as the final point of yearly festivities called the Day of Youth. Each year on May 25, the baton of the Relay of Youth was finally passed into the hands of Josip Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia. The playing field measures 105 x 70 m, and is illuminated at 1,400 lux. The current capacity is 32,710 people.^[25]

New stadium

The current stadium is expected to be redesigned by Swiss firm Mob Lab. The capacity of new Partizan arena will be approximately 36,000 seats with a modern business park filled with hotels and office buildings. The 12.5 hectares of land will include a large commercial area, a five-star hotel, a business centre, multiplex cinema, nine tennis courts and around 400 apartments.^[26]

SC Partizan-Teleoptik

The sports centre Partizan-Teleoptik, also known as "Zemunelo" (the name being composed to show the resemblance to A.C. Milan's sports centre, Milanello), is situated on the surface of almost 10 hectares, in the west part of Zemun, on the intersection of two major highways and in vicinity of the airport. Regarding functionality, architectural solutions, modern equipment and building materials used, this centre is among sports buildings of the highest value in Europe. At present, it is a training and preparatory base of all Partizan selections, consisting of around six hundred sportsmen beginning with the first team, through the 2nd division team of Teleoptik, down to the youngest categories of the large Partizan family. Sports centre currently consists of: seven ideal grass pitches, all suitable for night training, two "latest generation" all-weather pitches, central building with total surface of 4,000 square metres, there is a sauna in the basement, as well as gym with the top of the range equipment, amusement room (pool table, darts, table football, chess, etc.)and other modern facilities, ground floor has a restaurant with an balcony, first floor is a medicine centre with modern equipment containing rooms for physiotherapy, kinesis and hydro therapy, there is also a meeting room on the first floor, reception hall for guests, administrative offices, and offices of Partizan and FK Teleoptik management and representatives, building also has 19 apartments (14 two and three bed rooms for players and five for the technical personnel), there is a dining room for players with balcony on a top floor and centre also has a kitchen with modern equipment, under supervision of top food experts;^[27]

Current squad

As of 9 August 2011^[28]

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

Players with multiple nationalities

• David Manga
• Aleksandar Lazevski
• Aleksandar Ranković
• Nemanja Rnić
• Medo

Out on loan

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

For recent transfers, see List of Serbian football transfers winter 2011-12.

Partizan technical staff

Partizan management

Partizan second team

The Eternal derby

Partizan's city rival is Red Star Belgrade (Serbian: Црвена звезда, Crvena zvezda). 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 (Serbian: Вечити дерби, Večiti derbi). 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.^[29] These matches are always greatly anticipated and quite spectacular, but in recent years the amount of violence and hooliganism made attendance fall an inevitable consequence. The greatest attendance was about 108,000 spectators.

British Daily Mail in September 2009 has ranked the Partizan – Red Star derby on the 4th position among 10 greatest football rivalries in the world.^[30]

Club presidents

Club notable players & managerial history

Notable players

Managerial history

In Partizan's history, 35 coaches have coached the club. The first manager was Franjo Glaser and the last manager was Aleksandar Stanojević, who was appointed on April 16, 2010. Partizan currently doesn't have a head coach. Ljubiša Tumbaković had the longest reign as Partizan coach, with nine years (seven consecutive) in charge, and is the most successful coach in Partizan history with six national championships and three national cup wins.

Trophies winners

Club honours

National Championships – 23

National Cups – 12

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

• Only European and Cup matches

References

External links

• Official website (Serbian) (English)
• FK Partizan Official Football Camp
• FK Partizan at UEFA
• FK Partizan Web TV
• FK Partizan Official Fan Shop
• FK Partizan at Facebook
• FK Partizan at utakmica.rs
• FK Partizan at kapiten.rs

Fans and supporters:

• juznifront.com
• grobari1970.org
• izaberipartizan.com
• partizan.net
• partizanbeograd.com
• volimpartizan.com