FK Borac Banja Luka

Borac Banja Luka

Full name	Fudbalski klub Borac Banja Luka
Nickname(s)	Crveno-plavi (The Red-Blues) Velikan iz Platonove (Giant from Platon's street) Krajiški ponos (Pride of Krajina)
Founded	4 July 1926 (1926-07-04)
Ground	Banja Luka City Stadium
Ground Capacity	9,730
President	Dejan Kusturić
Head coach	Aleksandar Janjić
League	Premier League
2014–15	Premier League, 5th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Fudbalski klub Borac Banja Luka (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Бopaц Бања Лука, Serbian pronunciation: [bǒːrat͡s]) is a professional football club based in the city of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it's the major part of the Borac Banja Luka Sports Society. Borac Banja Luka is one of the most successful clubs in Republika Srpska and one of the most popular football clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name Borac means "Fighter".

History

Early years (1926–1953)

Borac Banja Luka' anthem

The football club Borac Banja Luka was founded on 4 July, in 1926. Originally it was named Radnički sportski klub Borac, which means Labour Sports Club Borac, and its roots come from the relation the club had with labour movements during the first half of the 20th century. The club was founded by a group of football aficionados including the writer, activist and People's Hero of Yugoslavia Veselin Masleša, Rudolf "Rudi" Hiter, Savo Novaković, Nikola Pucar, Brane Pucar, Mustafa Softić, Nikola Kuković, Žarko Vranješević, Mile Stefanović, Brane Stefanović and others. They were mostly commercial assistants who believed that they could contribute a more efficient fight for workers rights by establishing the football club. The name "Borac" (English: fighter) was given by Masleša who said: “If you are going to fight for workers rights, why don't you give the club name Borac”.^[1][2]

Club`s first president was Rudolf Hiter, and Savo Novaković was named vice president, with supervisory board headed by Đoko Jovanović. Before World War II started, training and everything else related to football, official and unofficial, was located in the surrounding of Banja Luka. As football attracted more and more attention in the city on the Vrbas river, there was a need for new, bigger and modern stadium. The opening ceremony of the newly built stadium took place on September 5, 1937, on the ground of the present-day Banja Luka City Stadium. The club's first success in this early period came in 1928, when RSK Borac won a tournament played in Sarajevo. Before World War II, the major club in Banja Luka was SK Krajišnik, however, after 1945 Borac replaced Krajišnik as city´s main club. Borac played conference leagues in order to qualify for the reestablished Yugoslav First League where defeated Sloboda Novi Grad 14–3 on aggregate, FK Kozara from Banja Luka with 8–4 on aggregate and Borac Kozarska Dubica 7–0 on aggregate and became Banja Luka district champions. In 1945, RSK Borac was renamed in FK Borac Banja Luka and played for two years in the Yugoslav Third League, before it was promoted to the Yugoslav Second League in 1953.

Decades of success in the first and second league (1960–1992)

In 1961, Borac was promoted to the Yugoslav First League for the first time, but was promptly dropped back down at the end of the season. The club had to wait for almost a decade for the return to top flight. It was in the 1970/71 season, and the club stayed in the top league for four consecutive seasons. In this period, precisely in 1974, Borac achieved the Yugoslav Cup final. They were defeated by Hajduk Split in Belgrade, and as the runner-up, they have provided placement for the 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup season. In the first round of Cup Winners' Cup, Borac played against US Rumelange from Luxembourg. The first leg was played in Banja Luka where Borac recorded a record win in European competitions by a 9–0.^[3]

The second leg was won by Borac by 1–5, meaning 14–1 on aggregate, and played in the second round against R.S.C. Anderlecht. The "Red-Blues" won the home match but it was 1–3 on aggregate at the end for the Belgians, who became winers of the European Cup Winners' Cup that season. Borac Banja Luka was the only team who beat R.S.C Anderlecht in one match (at home by 1–0) during the cup season. In the 1974–75 season, Borac played in the second league, but the club achieved a quick promotion and thus ensured the beginning of a new 5-year first league period that lasted until 1980. The following nine seasons, Borac spent in the second League, before a final top league period between 1989 and 1992. Borac's best placement in the first League was in 1992, when it finished the season as 4th. In total, Borac played 487 matches in Yugoslav First League during a 46 years long period.^[4]

Memorable years (1988–1992)

Yugoslav Cup winner (1988)

From 1988–92, Borac enjoyed the best period in its long history. In 1988, Borac achieved its biggest success. They won the Yugoslav Cup, the second major football competition in the former Yugoslav football and became the only second league club that ever achieved this. In the final, Borac defeated Yugoslav football giant Red Star by 0–1 at JNA stadium in Belgrade.^[5][6][7][8] The historic goal was scored by Senad Lupić, one of the Borac`s legends. At the ceremony, president of Yugoslav Football Association Antun Čilić gave the golden plaques to Borac players and head coach. The next day, tens of thousands of Borac supporters gathered at Krajina square in Banja Luka and gave their team a hero’s welcome.

Borac Banja Luka v Red Star

11 May 1988

Borac Banja Luka	1–0	Red Star
Lupić  60'	Report

Stadion JNA, Belgrade Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Blažo Zuber (Bačka Topola)

BORAC BANJA LUKA: GK ' Slobodan Karalić DF ' Stojan Malbašić DF ' Mario Mataja DF ' Milorad Bilbija DF ' Zvonko Lipovac MF ' Damir Špica (c) MF ' Božur Matejić MF ' Nenad Popović FW ' Suad Beširević FW ' Amir Durgutović  74' FW ' Senad Lupić  88' Substitutes: MF ' Mile Šijaković  74' FW ' Vlado Lemić  88' Manager: Husnija Fazlić

RED STAR: GK ' Stevan Stojanović DF ' Slobodan Marović DF ' Goran Jurić DF ' Slavko Radovanović DF ' Miodrag Krivokapić MF ' Goran Milojević MF ' Robert Prosinečki MF ' Žarko Đurović  71' FW ' Borislav Cvetković FW ' Dragan Stojković (c) FW ' Dragiša Binić Substitutes: MF ' Dejan Joksimović  71' Manager: Velibor Vasović

First European title (1992)

In 1992, Borac won its first international trophy, the Mitropa Cup.^{[9][10][11][12]} The club won the cup in the Italian city Foggia.

At that time there was a civil war in Yugoslavia, but despite that, they travelled to Italy in hope to write history. After the elimination of U.S. Foggia in front of 30,000 spectators, Borac met in the final BVSC Budapest at Pino Zaccheria Stadium. Filipović scored but gave only temporary advantage to Borac because the Hungarians equalized by Tuboly. That was the result of regular time, so the winner was decided by penalties. Borac won 5–3 from the white spot and got the trophy. Sašivarević, Stavljanin, Filipović, Bilbija, and Simeunović scored for Borac, and goalkeeper Simeunović saved his goal twice. Borac head coach was Smilevski, who was recently named as the member of Borac`s "Best Eleven" squad in its history. Borac played a total of twelve games in UEFA competitions and has never lost a European match at its home ground. Also, seven Borac players have participated in the Yugoslav national football team in its history.

Borac v BVSC Budapest

27 May 1992

Borac	1–1	BVSC Budapest
Filipović  4'	Report	Tuboly  63'
	Penalties
Šašivarević Stavljanin Filipović Bilbija Simeunović	5–3	Nikiforov Iscak Nahóczky Molnár Tuboly

Pino Zaccheria Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Steindl (Austria)

Recent years (2001–present)

The First League of the Republika Srpska was the top flight of the Republika Srpska before 2002. Borac won the Republika Srpska championship three times (2001, 2006 and 2008). Their 2008 title was won dominantly with 14 points ahead of Sloga Doboj. Borac has won five Republika Srpska Cups, in 1995 against Rudar Prijedor, 1996 against Jedinstvo Brčko, 2009 against Radnik Bijeljina, 2011 again against the club from Bijeljina and in 2012 against Sloboda Mrkonjić Grad. In 2002, the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina was created as three national competitions were merged in one.

It became the country's most prestigious level of football competition. Also, since 2002, the clubs from entire country are competing in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup. In 2010, Borac won the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup and finished as third the national championship. During the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League season, they played in the second round against FC Lausanne-Sport, but were knocked out in front of sold-out Banja Luka City Stadium with 1–2 on aggregate for the Swiss club. In 2011, Borac became the football champion of Bosnia and Herzegovina with only 4 defeats and 15 conceded goals during 30 matches. The club won also the Republika Srpska Cup. In the following 2011–12 UEFA Champions League season, Borac start the qualifying matches against Maccabi Haifa. First match was played in Haifa, where Borac got the lead by the goal from Raspudić, a goal that surprised Maccabi Haifa as they were controlling the game. A minute into the first half's extra time, Amasha equalized for Maccabi Haifa. But then, an inexplicable black hole occurred at Borac performance and they conceded three goals in only three minutes and Borac lost by 5–1. In the second leg, Borac showed great performance and won 3–2 by two goals from Krunić and one from Vidaković, however, the tournament was over for them. In 2012, Borac finished the national championship as third and qualified for the European football competition season. The draw for the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League was held in Nion and Borac got Čelik Nikšić from Montenegro as their opponent. Borac was knocked out by away goal rule (3-3a).

Colours and crest

Colours

Borac Banja Luka's traditional home colors are red and blue with white socks (colours that are contained on the Serbian flag). Borac has maintained the red-blue shirt for its home kit throughout the history of the club. It's traditional away colours are all blue or all red. The club's kit is currently manufactured by NAAI, a Serbian sports clothing company.

Crest

Borac Banja Luka's present crest contains name of the club and the name of the City of Banja Luka on the background formed from the sections that are colored as Serbian flag. On the top of the crest the year of club foundation is located. In addition, the whole crest is framed with gold color.

• 

  Borac's crest during the former Yugoslavia

• 

  Borac's present crest

Stadium

Banja Luka City Stadium

The home field of Borac is the Banja Luka City Stadium. It has 9,730 seats and is one of the most modern stadiums in the country. The stadium was built in 1937 by Bogoljub Kujundžić as a donator. Since then, the stadium underwent several expansions and reconstructions in the years 1973, 1981, 2010 and 2012. In 2010, the stadium underwent complete reconstruction. New seats were installed on east and west stands, locker rooms were renovated, a completely new VIP lounge and room for media was built, new lighting, sound systems and video surveillance were installed, and trophy and technical rooms were renovated. In 2012, new north stand was built with a capacity of 2,492 seats, which increased the total capacity of the stadium to 9,730. According to recent plans, the east stand will be covered by a roof in the upcoming years. In the near future, the construction of the south stand will began, which would increase the total capacity to approximately 13,000 seats.

A panorama of the Borac Banja Luka stadium

New Stadium

In 2008, expert committee has chosen the concept of building a new stadium. The new stadium will have 30,000 seats, and whole complex will cover 205,000 square meters. It will include two additional football fields, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. The cost of the whole project is estimated to be €50 million and it will meet the highest FIFA an UEFA demands.

Supporters

As one of the most successful football club in country, Borac always had considerable number of supporters. The organized supporters of FK Borac are known as Lešinari^[13] (Serbian Cyrillic: Лешинари) and they are the oldest organized supporter group in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were established in 1987. The gathering point of the club's most loyal and passionate fans is the East stand of Banja Luka City Stadium.

Honours

Domestic

• Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
  • Winners (1): 2010–11
  • Third Place (3): 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13

• First League of Republika Srpska:
  • Winners (3): 2000–01, 2005–06, 2007–08

• Yugoslav Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1988
  • Runners-up (1): 1974

• Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup:
  • Winners (1): 2010
  • Runners-up (1): 2004

• Republika Srpska Cup:
  • Winners (5): 1995, 1996, 2009, 2011, 2012

European

• Mitropa Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1992

Club records

Domestic competitions

Borac Banja Luka in UEFA competitions

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away
1975–76	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Rumelange	9–0	5–1
		2R		Anderlecht	1–0	0–3
1988–89	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Metalist Kharkov	2–0	0–4
1992	Mitropa Cup	SF		Foggia	2–2 pen. (4–2)
		F		BVSC Budapest	1–1 pen. (5–3)
2010–11	UEFA Europa League	2Q		Lausanne-Sport	1–1	0–1
2011–12	UEFA Champions League	2Q		Maccabi Haifa	3–2	1–5
2012–13	UEFA Europa League	1Q		Čelik Nikšić	2–2	1–1

UEFA ranking

Rank	Team	Points
290	Dila Gori	3.333
	WIT Georgia	3.333
	Tirana	3.333
293	Borac Banja Luka	3.316
	Široki Brijeg	3.316
295	Suduva Marijampole	3.300

As of 12 August 2012 Source

Current squad

As of 7 February 2016

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Branislav Ružić 2 DF Branko Trninić 3 DF Ognjen Petrović 4 MF Ajdin Redžić 5 DF Dejan Popović 6 DF Nemanja Vidović 9 DF Filip Ristovski 10 MF Fedor Predragović 11 MF Toni Jović 12 GK Goran Vukliš 13 DF Dušan Komljenović 15 DF Boris Raspudić (captain) 16 FW Ognjen Škorić

No. Position Player 19 MF Stefan Savić 21 FW Predrag Zekanović 22 DF Srđan Bečelić (vice-captain) 23 FW Miloš Kukić 24 MF Uglješa Radinović 26 DF Nebojša Runić 28 FW Vladimir Đilas 29 MF Lazar Marjanović 30 GK Stefan Pupovac 33 MF Darko Maletić –– FW Armando Mance –– MF Vladan Milosavljev –– MF Miloš Dujković

Players with dual citizenship

• Branislav Ružić
• Nemanja Vidović

Borac technical staff

Club management

Managers

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FK Borac Banja Luka.

• Official website (Serbian)
• Sport association Borac (Serbian)
• Official supporters' website (Serbian)
• Borac Banja Luka at UEFA.com

Bosnia and Herzegovina club football supporter associations Fukare Horde Zla Lešinari Robijaši Red Army Manijaci Škripari Sokolovi Ultras