FK Čelik Nikšić

Čelik Nikšić
ФК Челик Никшић

Full name	Fudbalski Klub Čelik Nikšić
Nickname(s)	Metalurzi
Founded	1957 (1957)
Ground	Stadion Željezare, Nikšić, Montenegro
Ground Capacity	2,000
Head Coach	Slaviša Đurković
League	Montenegrin Third League
Home colours Away colours

Fudbalski Klub Čelik Nikšić (Фудбалски клуб Челик Никшић/Fudbalski klub Čelik Nikšić) is a football club based in Nikšić, Montenegro, founded in 1957.

Foundation

FK Čelik was established in 1957 after Nikšić-based club FK Javorak went bankrupt. While Čelik was not the official successor of Javorak, the initiative to create a club was taken by former Javorak player Savo Pejović. Eventually, a potential leader was found in Marko Orović who had a long history of business in football within Nikšić. The name "Čelik" was given in memory of Petar Saveljić, who had worked at the local steel mill before playing football with Savo Pejović.^[1]

History

In their first season, Čelik played in the Titogradski podsavez - South, which was fourth level in former SFR Yugoslavia. Very soon, Čelik became regular participant of Montenegrin Republic Football League (third level). First biggest success for Čelik came at the 1961, when the club from Nikšić won the Montenegrin Cup. During the '80s, Čelik became one of the most successful clubs in Montenegrin Republic Football League, but their first appearances in Yugoslav Second League came during the 90's. At the August 2012, Čelik played their first match at the First Football League.

The club's biggest success happened when they won the 2011–12 Montenegrin Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory against FK Rudar Pljevlja despite still playing in the Montenegrin Second League that season.^[2] Winning the cup allowed the club to enter the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase, where they beat Bosnian powerhouse Borac Banja Luka on away goals. Facing Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk in the second qualifying round, the team garnered even more attention from the local media as the players and staff traveled from Nikšić to Donetsk (2,143 kilometers) by bus, which, after being denied entry to Moldova,^[3] lasted approximately 70 hours on the road.^[4] The team, having arrived in Donetsk on the same day of the match, lost the first leg 7-0, giving Metalurh its most historic win in UEFA competition.^[5] While Čelik played with much more resistance in the second leg, the team was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League after the game ended 2-4 for Metalurh.^[6]

After failing in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League qualifying, the club informed the league that because of financial problems it would not be able to play the 2014–15 season in the top flight,^[7] and re-emerged in the Third Division.

Fans

The Čelik supporters group is called Fap mašina, founded in 2001. Their main rival is FK Sutjeska Nikšić with whom they contest the Nikšić derby.^[8]

League results

Country	Season	League	Position
	1992–93	Third League	11th
	1993–94	Third League	8th
	1994–95	Third League	11th
	1995–96	Third League	2nd
	1996–97	Second League	3rd
	1997–98	Second League	2nd
	1998–99	Second League	15th
	1999–2000	Second League	13th
	2000–01	Second League	5th
	2001–02	Second League	6th
	2002–03	Second League	7th
	2003–04	Second League	10th
	2004–05	Third League	9th
	2005–06	Third League	6th
	2006–07	Second League	10th
	2007–08	Second League	2nd
	2008–09	Second League	10th
	2009–10	Second League	8th
	2010–11	Second League	8th
	2011–12	Second League	1st
	2012–13	First League	3rd
	2013–14	First League	3rd

In Europe

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Aggregate
2012–13	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Borac Banja Luka	1–1	2–2	3–3 (a)
		2Q	Metalurh Donetsk	2–4	0–7	2–11
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Budapest Honvéd	1–4	0–9	1–13
2014–15	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Koper	0–5	0–4	0–9

Honours

• Montenegrin Cup: (1)
  • 2011–12
• Montenegrin Second League: (1)
  • 2011–12
• Republic Cup of Montenegro (1)
  • 1961, 1997, 1999

See also

• Montenegrin First League
• Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav football competitions (1946–2006)

References