NK Čelik Zenica

NK Čelik is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing in the city of Zenica.

The name Čelik means "Steel" in Bosnian - it is derived from Turkish çelik. The name symbolizes the strength and power of the club and the city, Zenica is an industrial city well known in this part of Europe.

NK Čelik is one of the most prominent and successful football teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the time of the former Yugoslavia, Čelik played 17 years in the Yugoslav First League. Čelik won the Mitropa Cup two times, and the Intertoto Cup once. Today, Čelik is in the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is active in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After winning three titles in the Premijer League, the situation dramatically changed for NK Čelik. The club fell into great debt after many accusations of corruption within the organization. The only lasting element holding NK Čelik as a member of Premijer League of Bosnia and Herzegovina is its devoted fan base that is very active for the club at home and away games. The NK Čelik fans are known as "Robijaši" and have gained the club popularitiy for their passionate support of the club. Also, the stadium which is home to NK Čelik is called "Bilino Polje" and is the third largest stadium capacity wise in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The stadium held and will continue to host matches for the national team of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

The club placed third in the 2007-08 Premijer Liga, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup, but lost in the first round to FK Grbalj of Montenegro on away goals.

• Founded: 1945 in Zenica, Yugoslavia
• Home stadium: Bilino Polje (25,000), Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Primary colors: Black & Dark Red
• Address: Bulevar Kulina bana bb, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stadium

Name: Bilino Polje

Build year: 1972

Seats: 15.292

WEST: 6.914

EAST: 3.178

NORTH: 2.483

SOUTH: 2.717

Max attendance: 35.000 on game NK Čelik - Fiorentina

Address: Bulevar Kulina bana bb, 72000 Zenica

Honours

Mitropa Cup (2)

• winner: 1970-71 and 1971-72.
• Runner up : 1973, 1980.

UEFA Intertoto Cup (1)

• 1975 (as Rapan Cup)

Yugoslav Second League (5)

• 1966, 1968, 1980, 1983, 1985.

Played in Yugoslav First League

1967, 71, 72, 73, 74 (5th place and autumn Yugoslav champion), 75, 76, 77, 78, 81, 84, 86, 87, 88 (By court decision Čelik started 1988 campaign with -6 points and it was the last time for Čelik to play in the Yugoslav championship.)

Yugoslav cup winner U 18, 2: 1975, 76. And many times B&H Cup winner for U18, U16 etc.

Central Bosnian War Champion 3: 1992, 93, 94.

Central Bosnian War Cup Winners 3: 1992, 93, 94.

Bosnia and Herzegovina National Champion 3: 1995, 96,97, and(Vice Champion 1998).

Bosnia and Herzegovina National Cup Winners 2: 1995, 96.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Double Crown 2: 1995, 96.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Super Cup Winners 2: 1995, 96, and (Vice Champion 1997).

Successes of rugby club Čelik

51 trophies won in total

"Golden age" of this club was during 1980-ties when they were 0 times champions of SFRJ.

• Čelik won SFRJ league in following years: Ko se ovo zeza?!

6 times winners of Yugoslavian cup.

Champions of BiH 18: 1992-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10.

Winners of BiH cup 18: 1992-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10.

European record

As of January, 2009:

Current squad

As of 15 February 2011

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

Notable former players

External links

• Official website (Bosnian)
• Čelik at UEFA.com
• Čelik at Transfermarkt.de

References