Stadion Grbavica

Grbavica Stadium

Valley of Cups
Grbavica Stadium - UEFA
Location	Ulica Zvornička 21, Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates	43°50′48″N 18°23′14″E / 43.84667°N 18.38722°E / 43.84667; 18.38722Coordinates: 43°50′48″N 18°23′14″E / 43.84667°N 18.38722°E / 43.84667; 18.38722
Owner	FK Željezničar Sarajevo
Capacity	13,785 (League Matches)
Field size	105 x 66 m (114.8 x 72.2 yd)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1949–53
Opened	13 September 1953
Renovated	25 April 1976
Expanded	2017
Construction cost	> €2 million
Tenants
FK Željezničar Sarajevo (1953-1968, 1976-present)

Grbavica Stadium is located in Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The football stadium has terraces close to the pitch and it is the home of FK Željezničar. The stadium has a capacity to hold 13,785 seated spectators, with more room for standing spectators under South stands (capacity up to 16,000). Grbavica Stadium is also known as the Dolina Ćupova "Valley of Cups".

Construction

The building of the football ground in Grbavica started during the late 1940s by SD Željezničar. Although there were several football pitches with bleachers and stands in Sarajevo at the time (including the freshly built Koševo Stadium), it was decided by communist authorities that Željezničar should have its own playing facility. Many of the club's supporters, friends, and members, including a number Yugoslav People's Army personnel helped in the construction of the stadium. Unlike Koševo that was a large-scale project with generous state support through funds and manpower, Grbavica had a lot fewer people working on it and as a result took much longer to complete. A new pitch with a drainage system was built and the stands were built with concrete. The south and east side were made out of concrete, while wooden stands that were taken from the Marijin Dvor ground that was torn down, got placed on the west side. At first, Grbavica was a multi-use stadium. Competitions in cycling and athletics were organized, as well as football matches. Eventually its use became football only. It was officially opened on September 13, 1953 with the Yugoslav Second League western division match between Željezničar and Šibenik. Željezničar won 4–1.

1970s renovations

Northern stand built in 1986

In 1968 renovations on the stadium began and on April 25, 1976 Grbavica was re-opened. About 50,000 cubic meters of materials were used, and the floodlights were installed. Two training pitches and the "little sports stadium" were added, as well as new dressing rooms, showers and other important facilities. The Đurasović family were the first donors.

1986: Northern stand added

In 1986 a proper northern stand was finally built. There were plans for the whole stadium to be remodeled and encircled to look like the newly built north stand, but they got shelved for the time being. As a result of the renovations, in October 1987, Yugoslav national football team (coached at the time by Željo legend Ivica Osim) played its first ever match at the stadium. In a Euro 88 qualification clash versus Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia won 3–0.

Stadium post-war in 1996

Stadium in 2006

Structural damage during Bosnian War

The stadium suffered heavy structural damage during the Bosnian War that broke out in 1992. The stadium was located between the first front lines and endured heavy fighting. Bosnian Serbs' forces burned the West stand wooden terraces. It was not until 1996 that a football match would be played here again. Symbolically, the first match after the war was the local derby. The capacity of North stands holds 5377 seats.^[1]

It was partly remodelled in following years. In 2004, 8898 seats were installed on the north and south stand and some small work was done to the terraces. The last major job done on the stadium was in 2008–09 when the floodlights were repaired. On 22 April 2009, after about 18 years, a game under floodlights was again played on Grbavica. There are new proposals for a major overhaul of the current facilities. The new project proposes the creation of new roofed terraces on each side, and the increase of the capacity to 24,000 seated places. Other facilities such as a training ground near the stadium are proposed. These new proposals are still waiting financial backing.

On Monday, 13 February 2012, a section of the roof above the west stand collapsed after 10 days of heavy snowfall. The main reason for the collapsing of the roof was the bad maintenance of the whole terrace and roof were the snow was not removed since the first snowfall, but also the war damages on the buildings.

As at 2016, West stands hold 690 seats since May 2016, while south stands capacity is 3068 seats. A modern LED Display has been installed in the south stand. ^[2]

2017: Eastern stand added

Eastern stand construction started in 2016

East stand was rebuilt (an all seated stand replacing the entire East standing section) with works finishing in early April 2017. The capacity of east stands is 4650 seats.^[3][4][5] The East stand was funded entirely by club supporters and local businesses.^[6][7] United States midfielder Mix Diskerud donated funds to the project by buying 50 seats for the North stand as well as two ten year passes for East stand.^[8][9] Former club managers and players the likes of Amar Osim, Edin Džeko, Ibrahim Šehić and Semir Štilić among others, also donated.^[10] Regional clubs also supported the project, with donations coming from Dinamo Zagreb.^[11][12]

On 1 April 2017, Željezničar will play host to Sloboda Tuzla during Championship round of 2016–17 Premier League season and on the day the newly built Eastern Stand will be open to public.

Location

The stadium is located in the Grbavica neighbourhood, under the Šanac Hill which was traversed by railway tracks. When the train was passing over the stadium, it would sound its horn to salute the crowd. Nowadays, the old railway is no longer in use. There are however trolleybuses that pass by the stadium and visitors are able to come to the stadium using other modes of public transportation as well. The tramway line is also very close near the Socijalno station, which is located 600 meters away from the stadium.

Stadium Grbavica ahead of match between Željezničar and Sloboda Tuzla, 1 April 2017.

Notable matches

By far the most notable match played at the stadium was the 1984-85 UEFA Cup semifinal return leg on Wednesday, 24 April 1985 between Željezničar and Hungarian visitors Videoton FC from Székesfehérvár. Videoton brought a 1–3 advantage from the first leg, however, the home side fought valiantly in front of the racous home crowd of 27,000 fans^[13] and was 2–0 ahead on goals by Edin Bahtić in the 5th and Edin Ćurić in the 62nd minute. Just a few minutes from the end, Željo still had a result that would see it take on mighty Real Madrid in the UEFA Cup final. However, disaster struck in the 87th minute when Videoton right back József Csuhay was left unmarked and scored a goal for 2–1 that took his team to the final and saw Željezničar's hopes dashed in the cruelest of fashions.

Anniversaries

Home club supporters at Grbavica

• As part of the 50th birthday celebration on 16 June 1971, Željezničar played Inter Milan. Final result was 3-3 (however location was Koševo Stadium).
• As part of the 55th birthday celebration for the Željezničar (and 90th birthday celebration for Arsenal) played at Stadion Grbavica on August 16, 1976, Željezničar pulled out a friendly 1-1 draw with Arsenal.^[14][15]
• As part of the 60th birthday celebration for the Željezničar, in 1981, Yugoslavia national team played with Željezničar at Grbavica Stadium.
• As part of the 80th birthday celebration for the Željezničar, on October 2, 2001, the team welcomed Bundesliga side Wolfsburg with goals scored by Muharemović and Nermin Fatić FK Zeljo won 2-0.^[16]
• As part of the 90th birthday celebration for the Željezničar, on November 8, 2011 the team welcomed a full strength national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and played a friendly that finished 1-2 in favor of the visitors. The scorer for the national team was Vedad Ibišević with two goals. The lone scorer for Željezničar was Mirsad Bešlija.^[17]

International matches

Senior teams only.

Date		Result		Competition
14 October 1987	Yugoslavia	3–0	Northern Ireland	Euro 88 qualifying
15 August 2001	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–0	Malta	Friendly
27 March 2002	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4–4	Macedonia	Friendly
10 August 2010	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–1	Qatar	Friendly

Concerts

Due to its smaller size (to Stadium Koševo), the stadium has seen far less music concerts held at its location. Some concerts at Stadium Grbavica were:

• In 1999, Kemal Malovčić and Šemsa Suljaković held a concert.
• On 6 July 2013, Mladen Vojičić Tifa held a concert.^[18]

Stadium Grbavica, March 2017

See also

• List of football stadiums in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• FK Željezničar

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grbavica Stadium.

External links

• Željezničar football club - Official