FK Slavija

Slavija Sarajevo

Full name	Fudbalski klub Slavija Sarajevo
Founded	1908 (1908)
Ground	Gradski SRC Slavija Stadium, Lukavica, Istočno Sarajevo
Ground Capacity	6,000
President	Slobodan Ujić
Head coach	Slaviša Božičić
League	Premijer liga
2011-12	Premijer Liga BiH, 14th
Home colours Away colours

Fudbalski klub Slavija Sarajevo (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Славија Сарајево), commonly known as Slavija Sarajevo or simply Slavija, is football club from Istočno Sarajevo, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slavija Sarajevo is a member of the Football Association of Republika Srpska and it is active in the Premijer liga of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The club's home stadium is Gradski SRC Slavija Stadium.

Dominantly the club of Serbs, Slavija was by far the most successful club from Bosnia during the interbellum, having played 11 top league seasons (out of possible 16) in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The only other Bosnia-based club that managed to make it to top national level was Croat-dominated SAŠK (6 seasons).

History

Founded in Sarajevo during 1908 when the city was part of Austria-Hungary, the football club was part of the wider sports society of Sarajevo gymnasium students informally known as Đački sportski klub (ĐSK) or Srednjoškolski sportski klub (SSK). Since cultural and social activities in the city in those days mostly revolved around Hotel Evropa and the gymnasium, the idea about establishing a sporting club was initiated on those premises. Some of the students visited Zagreb earlier that year where they got introduced to the game of football, bringing back the first ball to Sarajevo. Notable individuals who organized club activities in this early period were students Zdravko Jeftanović (son of the Hotel Evropa owner dr. Dušan Jeftanović), Feodor Lukač, Emil Najšul, Sveto Gerovac, Stevo Jokanović, etc.^[1] Their early activities were very sporadic and basically clandestine as Austro-Hungarian occupational authorities that just annexed Bosnia instituted a ban on any kind of organized gathering.

In early 1909 the football section got its first pairs of boots and started holding regular practices and training sessions at Sarajevo Polje grounds, more precisely military workout open facility known as Egzercir in Čengić Vila area. Since the open field didn't have any goalposts, the students had to haul them in on foot from the city for every practice and match. ĐSK/SSK also informally took red and white as club colours after Slavia Prague, the club that served as inspiration for Slavs throughout Austria-Hungary. Harmer, a former striker, came from Vienna to become the team's first manager.^[2]

1910s

It wasn't until 1911 that ĐSK played its debut match, defeating a selection of Vienna soldiers 4-2.

Throughout 1912, ĐSK played friendlies in parts of Austria-Hungary populated by South Slavs. First such trip outside of Sarajevo was to the city of Split where ĐSK played local side Hajduk. The first match took place on April 7, 1912 and Hajduk won 4-1. A day later on April 8, the teams played another match with ĐSK winning this time 2-1. Curiosity from the Split visit was that posters announcing the two matches around the city billed ĐSK as "Osman" for non-specified reasons. This probably stemmed from the fact that "ĐSK" as club name was informally used even amongst its players so the Split hosts decided to make up a name for their guests' club on the spot. They seemingly found the male Muslim name Osman to be sufficiently funny and decided to print it on the posters as the club's official name.^[3]

From the fall of 1912 as the first of eventually two Balkan Wars started raging nearby, just beyond the Austria-Hungary's eastern borders, ĐSK naturally began fostering Pan-Slavic sentiment, and especially the Yugoslav idea (unification of South Slavs), even harder as national and political aspects of club's activities came to the forefront. While the Balkan League member states (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro) were getting rid of the last remains of Ottoman influence, Slavs within the borders of Austria-Hungary were restless to make some dents in the armour of their own occupiers - the Austro-Hungarian empire. By mid-1913, the Balkan Wars were over with a resounding victory for Slavs (Serbs and Montenegrins) across the border on the other side of river Drina. This had an enormously encouraging effect on Slavs (especially Serbs) in Bosnia. Austro-Hungarian authorities were not oblivious to such developments and their repression got stepped up even further. All of this led to increased tensions and boiling pot atmosphere in the city of Sarajevo.

During the second part of 1913, an ethnic split occurred within the ĐSK organization as certain number of members (all of them ethnic Croats) left ĐSK to form Hrvatski sportski klub, which later became SAŠK. However, most others stayed at the club and soon changed the ĐSK's name to Srpski sportski klub (SSK). The freshly renamed entity attempted to make its existence public and official, and to that end enlisted its connections through dr. Dušan Jeftanović, prominent local industrialist and landowner, and Jovo Šošić. However, Austro-Hungarian authorities wouldn't give an inch - the ban on organized gathering stayed firmly in place. Difficult situation that the club found itself in made its members pull together even harder and by the end of 1913 they managed to build a home ground located at Čurčić Vila in Koševo neighbourhood. However, they wouldn't get to enjoy their new home for long.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip in June 1914 set off a chain of events such as the Austrian July Ultimatum to Serbia, the subsequent Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on Serbia and the eventual outbreak of World War I. The position of Serbs in Bosnia became increasingly difficult. SSK members were no exception as many of them got arrested or forcibly conscripted to fight in the Austro-Hungarian Army. The newly built ground at Čurčić Vila got ransacked and burned by an angry mob of Croats and Bosniaks.

Football quickly became an afterthought and SSK was completely inactive all throughout World War I. After the end of war and the creation of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, SSK reactivated in 1919.

1920s

In 1921 SSK changed its name to SK Slavija. Over the next few years Slavija built a 4,000-capacity stadium in Marijin Dvor area of Sarajevo. In line with its student background the club devoted its potential to developing young players.

Slavija's first appearance in the Kingdom's top football competition took place in 1924. It featured only seven clubs and was played in the cup system. Young Slavija team crashed out at the very first stage, losing the quarterfinal to Belgrade's SK Jugoslavija 2-5.

Next season, 1925, saw Slavija get a quarterfinal bye. However, in semifinal, Jugoslavija was waiting again and Sarajevo club again conceded defeat in Belgrade, although the final score was a little more favourable this time 2-3.

The 1926 season again started with a bye, but semifinal proved to be disastrous as Građanski demolished Slavija 0-7 in Zagreb.

Slavija didn't compete in top competition over the next three seasons.

1930s

The 1930 season saw the return to top flight that now featured six clubs and was played in league system. Slavija finished the season in 5th place with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses, all of which wasn't enough to avoid the drop.

Next chance for top flight football came in 1932/1933 season. By then the competition changed format once more as it was now played in fall-spring league rhythm and expanded to 11 clubs. Slavija finished 9th in the league with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 11 losses, which was just enough to stay afloat.

Football was not played in Kingdom of Yugoslavia during 1933/34 season, so the next opportunity came in 1934/35. The league now featured 10 teams, and Slavija again barely avoided relegation, finishing third from the bottom with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 10 losses.

The 1935/36 season finally provided a much sought breakthrough for Slavija as the club came within a hair of becoming the champion of Yugoslavia. The top league now featured 14 clubs, most ever in its history up to that point. Another change was that the home-and-away cup system was brought back. Led by Milan Rajlić and Slavko Zagorac on the pitch, and Risto Šošić from the bench, Slavija first came up against Cetinje's Crnogorac, beating them 5-4 on aggregate. Next up was Građanski from Skopje in the quarterfinals - after losing the first game 1-2, Slavija recorded a famous 10-1 win in the return leg. This momentum carried into the semifinals against Novi Sad's NAK as Slavija progressed 4-2 on aggregate. That set the stage for the famous two-legged final against the powerhouse BSK team. First leg finished 1-1, but BSK prevailed 0-1 in return.

The competition for the 1936/37 returned to 10 clubs and league system. Encouraged by their previous season's historic runner-up success, Slavija entered the new campaign with high hopes. They were soon dashed, however, as the club recorded 7 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses, which was enough for a mid-table 5th place finish.

Next season was virtually identical with 7 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses that again translated to 5th place in the table. Small consolation was that this was the first time season played in the league system that Slavija didn't have more losses than wins.

In 1940 the club participated at the 1940 Mitropa Cup which unfortunatelly ended up abandoned due to the beginning of the wat. Slavija lost in the quarter-finals to Ferencvaros in a dramatic 11-1 come back from the Hungarians in Budapest, after losing to Slavija by 3-0 in Sarajevo in the first round.^[4] Slavija was led by the notable Hungarian manager Wilmos Wilhelm.^[5]

Once again just like in World War I, following the Nazi Germany invasion of Kingdom of Yugoslavia the club was inactive until the end of World War II in the Balkans. After the war, SK Slavija was disbanded without any explanation by the new communist authorities. Its stadium at Marijin Dvor was renamed "Šesti april" and used for home matches of FK Željezničar and newly formed SD Torpedo. The stadium was eventually torn down while its stands and bleachers were given to FK Željezničar for use in their Grbavica ground that was under construction.

Rebirth

In 1993, after the break-up of SFR Yugoslavia and the formation of the Football Association of Republika Srpska, FK Slavija was re-formed. In 1996, because of its pre-war tradition, it was decided that the club will become part of the newly formed First League of Republika Srpska. Slavija finished 8th at the end of the season, however because of the restructuring of the league system, they will compete in the Second League of Republika Srpska for the following seasons, returning in 2000. That season Slavija won the 1999-2000 Second League of RS unbeatable, with 19 wins and 2 draws, and a 73-6 goal difference. Slavija will play in the First League of RS until 2004 when they became league champions and earned promotion to the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2004 the club reached for the third time the semi-finals of the Bosnian Cup. Since then, the club became regular participant in the Premier League, having in between celebrated its centenary in 2008.^[2]

Honours and achievements

National Championships - 0

• Yugoslav First League:
  • Runners-up (1): 1935–36
• Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
  • Runners-up (1): 2008-09
• First League of the Republika Srpska:
  • Winners (1): 2003-04

National Cups - 1

• Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup:
  • Winners (1): 2008-09
  • Runners-up (1): 2006-07
• Republika Srpska Cup:
  • Winners (2): 2005-06, 2007–08

European record

Season	Competition	Round		Club	Home	Away
2007	UEFA Intertoto Cup	1R		Sant Julià	3-2	3-2
		2R		Oţelul Galaţi	0-0	0-3
2009-10	UEFA Europa League	2Q		Aalborg	3-1	0-0
		3Q		Košice	0-2	1-3

Current squad

As of June , 2013

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

No. Position Player 2 MF Nikola Radović 6 DF Goran Popović 8 MF Edin Dudo 9 FW Igor Radovanović 10 MF Filip Osman 11 MF Srđan Urošević 12 GK Miloš Kubura 14 MF Mahir Karić 13 DF Saša Radovanović 16 MF Marko Perišić 17 DF Denis Čomor 19 FW Nemanja Pušara

No. Position Player 20 DF Vedad Šabanović 22 DF Darko Mitrović 23 GK Stefan Tomović 24 DF Mladen Lemez 25 DF Ljubiša Berjan 26 DF Radoslav Aleksić TBA GK Miloš Đurković TBA MF Žarko Karamatić TBA MF Nemanja Prodanović TBA MF Soma Otani TBA FW Bojan Zoranović

Notable players

Although Slavija has always been a club that fostered strong Serbian sentiment, its rosters over the years have also featured some Croats, Bosniaks, Jews, Hungarians, Czechs, Austrians and Germans.

The club almost exclusively relied on its own youth system, which it mostly filled with young players from Sarajevo area, but after it established itself in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia's top league during the 1930s, Serbs from other parts of Bosnia started flocking to Slavija as well.

Slavija's most notable player ever was undoubtedly Slavko Zagorac, a classy fullback who spent decade and a half with the club, earning 7 caps for Kingdom of Yugoslavia national football team between 1932 and 1938.

Two other Slavija players had the honour of being capped for the national team. They are Milan Rajlić and Florijan Matekalo who both debuted in 1940 with a single cap each. Petar Manola spent five notable seasons at the club from 1931 until 1936 before transferring to BSK Belgrade.

Then there are Branko Stanković and Predrag Đajić who were promising juniors in Slavija when Nazi Germany invaded and dismembered the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in April 1941. Since the club was disbanded by the time World War II ended, both of them had to find another club. They both landed at newly established Red Star Belgrade where they achieved great careers that led to many appearances for FPR Yugoslavia national football team.

These players played in the club and have played in national teams:^[6]

Pre-1945 period: Milan Rajlić Branko Stanković Slavko Zagorac

Post-1945 period: Velibor Đurić Vlastimir Jovanović Ilija Prodanović Bojan Regoje Dai Lin Ostoja Stjepanović Dimitrije Injac Goran Trobok

Other players:

Ivan Andan Vladica Babović Vukašin Benović Dragan Bjelica Srđan Delipara Milanko Đerić Dejan Đermanović Ratko Dujković Đorđe Grubačić Bojan Jamina Mahir Karić Zoran Kokot Aleksandar Kosorić Đorđe Lackanović Dragiša Lazić Mladen Lučić Borislav Lukić Vladimir Mićević Milan Muminović Dejan Pantelić Novo Papaz Predrag Papaz Gojko Pivač Darko Raca Miljan Radonja Igor Radovanović Dejan Rašević Jovan Sikima Aleksandar Simić

Goran Simić Milan Srećo Zvjezdan Stanić Ivan Stanković Jovan Svitlica Ognjen Todorović Stefan Tomović Slaviša Ujić Sretko Vuksanović Emir Zeba Srđan Stanić Levan Kutalia Miloš Krstajić Branislav Arsenijević Branislav Atanacković Branko Baković Zoran Belošević Zoran Cilinšek Stefan Gavarić Ivan Ješić Žarko Karamatić Slobodan Mazić Vučina Šćepanović Dejan Šimičić Darko Spalević Miodrag Stefanović Lazar Vidić Ljubiša Vukelja Igor Žuržinov

For the list of current and former players with Wikipedia article, please see: Category:FK Slavija Sarajevo players.

Supporters

The organized supporters of the club are known as Sokolovi (The Falcons).

Managers

• Risto Šošoć (?–1937)^[7]
• Brana Porobić (1937–1938)^[7]
• Franz Unschuld (1938–1939)^[7]
• Walter Kolitsch (1939–1940)^[7]
• Vilmos Vilhelm (1940)^[8]
• Nedeljko Bugarin
• Slobodan Lubura
• Zoran Šumar
• Bojan Miličević
• Duško Petrović
• Ranko Mrkajić
• Mirko Marvan
• Srboljub Markušević
• Milomir Odović (June 3, 2005–Aug 20, 2007), (Sept 21, 2009–May 4, 2010)
• Dušan Jevrić
• Dragan Bjelica (Aug 7, 2010–Sept 12, 2011)
• Aleksandar Simić (interim) (Sept 12, 2011–Sept 23, 2011),(Nove 1, 2013-)
• Zoran Erbez (Sept 23, 2011–Jan 1, 2012)
• Milan Gutović (Jan 17, 2012–March 20, 2012)
• Vlado Čapljić (March 20, 2012–Nov 29, 2012)
• Milomir Šešlija (Jan 5, 2013–July 6, 2013)
• Dragan Radović (July 7, 2013–Oct 31, 2013)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FK Slavija Istočno Sarajevo.

• FK Slavija website (Serbian)
• Milomir Odović podnio ostavku, sportin.ba, August 19, 2007
• Dušan Jevrić novi trener Slavije, sportin.ba, September 6, 2007

v t e Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2013–14 teams Borac Čelik Leotar Mladost (VO) Olimpic Radnik Rudar (P) Sarajevo Široki Brijeg Slavija Travnik Vitez Velež Zrinjski Zvijezda Željezničar Former teams Bosna Brotnjo Budućnost Drina (Z) Glasinac Gradina GOŠK Jedinstvo Kozara Laktaši Mladost (G) Modriča Orašje Posušje Rudar (U) Sloboda Žepče Associated competitions National Cup Second level First League of the FBiH First League of the RS Seasons 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

v t e Yugoslav First League Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes / Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1923–1940) Seasons 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 Former clubs Bačka BASK BSK Belgrade Concordia Crnogorac Cetinje Građanski Niš Građanski Skopje Građanski Zagreb Hajduk Split HAŠK Ilirija Ljubljana Jedinstvo Beograd Jugoslavija Krajišnik Banja Luka Mačva NAK Novi Sad Pobeda Skopje Primorje Ljubljana Radnički Kragujevac SAŠK SAND Subotica Slavija Osijek Slavija Sarajevo Slavija Varaždin Somborski SK Sparta Zemun Viktorija Zagreb Vojvodina ŽAK Subotica ŽAK Velika Kikinda FPR Yugoslavia / SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1992) Seasons 1945 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1950 1951 1952 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 Former clubs 14 Oktobar Bor Borac Budućnost Crvenka Čelik Dinamo Vinkovci Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split Iskra Lokomotiva Mačva Maribor Nafta Napredak Naša Krila Novi Sad OFK Belgrade Olimpija Osijek Partizan Pelister Ponziana Priština Proleter Rabotnički Rad Radnički Belgrade Radnički Kragujevac Radnički Niš Red Star Belgrade Rijeka Sarajevo Sloboda Spartak RNK Split Sutjeska Teteks Trepča Trešnjevka Vardar Velež Vojvodina NK Zagreb Zemun Željezničar