Football in Montenegro
Encyclopedia
Montenegro
was independent from the late middle ages
until 1918, where the country became a part of various incarnations of Yugoslavia
and the state union of Serbia and Montenegro
. During this time, football in Montenegro was part of the wider Yugoslavian structures. As a result of the Montenegrin independence referendum
held on May 21, 2006, Montenegro declared independence two weeks later, on June 3, and formed its own football association
.
. This had previously existed as a lower-level league in Yugoslavia and in Serbia and Montenegro. It is at the top of a pyramid of three leagues, of which the lowest, the Montenegrin Third League
, is split into two regional competitions, one covering the north of the country and one for the south. Though no teams entered in the 2006/07 season, UEFA has confirmed that since 2007, the champions of the Montenegrin First League will enter the qualification tournament for the UEFA Champions League
; the runners-up will enter the UEFA Cup
and a third team will enter the Intertoto Cup.
Montenegro was always one of the junior members, footballing-wise, of the Yugoslav federation. The most successful Montenegrin football team of all time is FK Budućnost Podgorica
(previously Buducnost Titograd). Prior to the accession of Slovenia
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
, Croatia
and Macedonia
from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, they had been the only Montenegrin team to appear in the Yugoslavian First League. Their best finish in the league had been sixth place on three occasions, as well as appearances in the final of the Yugoslav Cup
(later Serbia-Montenegro Cup) in 1965, 1977 and 2004. In 2005 they became the only Montenegrin team to compete in European football, appearing in the Intertoto Cup. After the reduction in the size of Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro), teams such as FK Mogren
and FK Zeta
also appeared in the national top league.
The premier cup competition in Montenegro is the Montenegro Cup, first contested in 2006/07. The winners enter the UEFA Cup.
played its first match in Podgorica
on March 24, 2007, when they beat Hungary
2-1. Its home stadium is Podgorica city stadium
and its coach is legendary Montenegrin footballer Zoran Filipović
. Montenegro are members of UEFA and play in a red kit with yellow trim. After independence in June 2006, Montenegro was still represented by the Serbia and Montenegro team which had qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. Serbia and Montenegro’s final game in this tournament, a 3-2 defeat against Côte d'Ivoire
was the final game for the unified side.
, was organised first by the Football Association of Yugoslavia
, founded in 1919 and renamed the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro
in 2003. Yugoslavia
, later Serbia and Montenegro, was one of the leading countries in European football. They twice reached the semi-finals of the World Cup
(in 1930
and 1962
) and twice finished runners-up in the European Championships (in 1960 and 1968). Famous Montenegrins who played for the Yugoslav and Serbia and Montenegro team included Dragoljub Brnović
, Dejan Savićević
Milos Zaravic and Predrag Mijatović
.
Domestically, the highest league in the area was the Yugoslav League Championship, which was awarded to the winner of the Yugoslav First League
. The Montenegrin First League
, during this time, was the highest league played on a Montenegrin level. It formed part of the third tier of football in Yugoslavia.
team was seen as the successors to the Serbia and Montenegro team. However, at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, held in the latter half of June and in July 2006, Serbia and Montenegro continued to play, representing the two independent states of Serbia
and Montenegro
. Despite an impressive record in qualification for the tournament, the team struggled in a tough first round group
and were eliminated having won no games, conceded ten goals and scored just two. After the tournament, the team disbanded and was replaced by Serbia
.
had been in existent as a sub-federation since 1931, but applied for independent membership of FIFA
and UEFA
on June 30, 2006. Full membership of UEFA was given in January 2007. Meanwhile, the association had continued to run the Montenegrin First League as the new country’s premier football competition. The winners of this will enter European competition in 2007. The new national team
was organised and its first fixture was against Hungary
in Podgorica
on March 24, 2007. The Montenegrin side
won the match 2-1.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
was independent from the late middle ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
until 1918, where the country became a part of various incarnations of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and the state union of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. During this time, football in Montenegro was part of the wider Yugoslavian structures. As a result of the Montenegrin independence referendum
Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
held on May 21, 2006, Montenegro declared independence two weeks later, on June 3, and formed its own football association
Football Association of Montenegro
The Football Association of Montenegro is the governing body of football in Montenegro, based in Podgorica.It organizes the football leagues:*Montenegrin First League...
.
Domestic competitions
The top-tier football competition in Montenegro is the Montenegrin First LeagueMontenegrin First League
The First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round...
. This had previously existed as a lower-level league in Yugoslavia and in Serbia and Montenegro. It is at the top of a pyramid of three leagues, of which the lowest, the Montenegrin Third League
Montenegrin Third League
The Third League of Montenegro is the third top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league...
, is split into two regional competitions, one covering the north of the country and one for the south. Though no teams entered in the 2006/07 season, UEFA has confirmed that since 2007, the champions of the Montenegrin First League will enter the qualification tournament for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
; the runners-up will enter the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and a third team will enter the Intertoto Cup.
Montenegro was always one of the junior members, footballing-wise, of the Yugoslav federation. The most successful Montenegrin football team of all time is FK Budućnost Podgorica
FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:...
(previously Buducnost Titograd). Prior to the accession of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, they had been the only Montenegrin team to appear in the Yugoslavian First League. Their best finish in the league had been sixth place on three occasions, as well as appearances in the final of the Yugoslav Cup
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
(later Serbia-Montenegro Cup) in 1965, 1977 and 2004. In 2005 they became the only Montenegrin team to compete in European football, appearing in the Intertoto Cup. After the reduction in the size of Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro), teams such as FK Mogren
FK Mogren
FK Mogren is a football club based in Budva, Montenegro, currently competing in the Montenegrin First League.-History:The club was founded in 1920.The Mogren at its inception called Budva FK, and from 1991 was called FK Mogren....
and FK Zeta
FK Zeta
FK Zeta is a football club from Montenegro. It is based in Golubovci, a suburb of Podgorica.- History :The club was formed in 1927 as FK Danica. In 1945 it was renamed to FK Napredak. In 1955 it was renamed to FK Zeta....
also appeared in the national top league.
The premier cup competition in Montenegro is the Montenegro Cup, first contested in 2006/07. The winners enter the UEFA Cup.
National team
The Montenegro national teamMontenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
played its first match in Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
on March 24, 2007, when they beat Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
2-1. Its home stadium is Podgorica city stadium
Podgorica city stadium
Podgorica Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Podgorica, Montenegro.Notable matches played at the stadium include:*SFR Yugoslavia - Luxembourg 0:0 - att: 15,000...
and its coach is legendary Montenegrin footballer Zoran Filipović
Zoran Filipovic
Zoran Filipović was a player of great success in the 1970s and 1980s for Red Star Belgrade and SL Benfica...
. Montenegro are members of UEFA and play in a red kit with yellow trim. After independence in June 2006, Montenegro was still represented by the Serbia and Montenegro team which had qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. Serbia and Montenegro’s final game in this tournament, a 3-2 defeat against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
was the final game for the unified side.
Pre-2006
Football in Montenegro, as part of YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, was organised first by the Football Association of Yugoslavia
Football Association of Yugoslavia
The Football Association of Yugoslavia was the governing body of football in Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, with a major administrative branch in Zagreb....
, founded in 1919 and renamed the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro
Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro
The Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro was the governing body of football in Serbia and Montenegro, based in Belgrade. It organized the football league, the national team, the cup tournament as well as the Second Leagues of both republics....
in 2003. Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
, later Serbia and Montenegro, was one of the leading countries in European football. They twice reached the semi-finals of the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
(in 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and 1962
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
) and twice finished runners-up in the European Championships (in 1960 and 1968). Famous Montenegrins who played for the Yugoslav and Serbia and Montenegro team included Dragoljub Brnović
Dragoljub Brnovic
Dragoljub Brnović is a former Montenegrin football player. He was born on 2 November 1963 in Montenegro, Yugoslavia. He played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy for the Yugoslav team, where he became notorious for missing one of the penalty kicks in the quarter-finals against Argentina, sending...
, Dejan Savićević
Dejan Savicevic
Dejan Savićević , is a Montenegrin former football player and is the president of the Montenegrin FA....
Milos Zaravic and Predrag Mijatović
Predrag Mijatovic
Predrag "Peđa" Mijatović is a Montenegrin football player and former sports director of Real Madrid. He is considered one of Yugoslavia's best players of the 1990s. He was acclaimed as the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1997...
.
Domestically, the highest league in the area was the Yugoslav League Championship, which was awarded to the winner of the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
. The Montenegrin First League
Montenegrin First League
The First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round...
, during this time, was the highest league played on a Montenegrin level. It formed part of the third tier of football in Yugoslavia.
2006 FIFA World Cup
Following Montenegro's independence in June 2006, the SerbiaSerbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
team was seen as the successors to the Serbia and Montenegro team. However, at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, held in the latter half of June and in July 2006, Serbia and Montenegro continued to play, representing the two independent states of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. Despite an impressive record in qualification for the tournament, the team struggled in a tough first round group
2006 FIFA World Cup - Group C
Play in Group C of the 2006 FIFA World Cup completed on 21 June 2006. Argentina won the group, and advanced to the second round, along with Netherlands. The two sides tied for points in the standings, but Argentina won the tie-break on goal difference, and so won the group with the Netherlands in...
and were eliminated having won no games, conceded ten goals and scored just two. After the tournament, the team disbanded and was replaced by Serbia
Serbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
.
Post-independence
The Football Association of MontenegroFootball Association of Montenegro
The Football Association of Montenegro is the governing body of football in Montenegro, based in Podgorica.It organizes the football leagues:*Montenegrin First League...
had been in existent as a sub-federation since 1931, but applied for independent membership of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
on June 30, 2006. Full membership of UEFA was given in January 2007. Meanwhile, the association had continued to run the Montenegrin First League as the new country’s premier football competition. The winners of this will enter European competition in 2007. The new national team
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
was organised and its first fixture was against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
in Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
on March 24, 2007. The Montenegrin side
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
won the match 2-1.
See also
- Montenegro national football teamMontenegro national football teamThe Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
- Football Association of MontenegroFootball Association of MontenegroThe Football Association of Montenegro is the governing body of football in Montenegro, based in Podgorica.It organizes the football leagues:*Montenegrin First League...