Football in Serbia
Encyclopedia
Football
is the most popular sport in Serbia
. The Football Association of Serbia
(FSS) is the national governing body and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of football in the country, both professional and amateur. The association organizes the professional Serbian Superliga
(top tier) and is responsible for appointing the management of the men's
, women's
and youth national football teams in Serbia. The association also organizes the Serbian First League
(second) and Serbian League
(third), operating the top 3 leagues.
The FSS is also responsible for organizing the Serbian Cup
, the country's league cup
competition.
It has been played from the beginning of the 20th century and there were a number of very successful Serbian football players and coaches throughout history. One of Serbia's top football clubs FK Crvena Zvezda has won the prestigious European Champions Cup
in the season 1990-1991 and has also won the Intercontinental Cup
the same year.
The most successful and popular teams are Red Star Belgrade
and FK Partizan
.
. He brought the ball to his friends from the Belgrade gymnastics society Soko, and founded the football section on 12 May.
The inaugural meeting of the Serbian Football Society took place on 1 May 1899, at the restaurant "Trgovačka kafana", at initiative of Mr. Hugo Buli, and with support of Mr. Andra Nikolić, who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Serbia
. Mr. Feti Bey, the Turkish
consul in Belgrade was elected as President, and the lawyer Mr. Mihailo Živadinović as the Vice-President.
The first football club was founded in the beginning of the 20th century. On 3 May 1901 in Subotica
the Sports Athletic Club Bačka was founded. More than two years later, notably on 14 September 1903, the football club Šumadija
was founded in Kragujevac
. It is obvious that the Subotica club was older, however, at the time of the foundation of "Bačka", the city of Subotica was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while Kragujevac, however, was on the territory of Serbia. Therefore "Bačka" is the oldest club in Serbia, and "Šumadija" the oldest Serbian club.
The national team of Serbia
has played its first match on 19 May 1911, against Zagreb
's club HAŠK
and lost by 0:8. The next day, on 20 May, against the same team they played the second match, which they also lost, by 0:6. The newspapers from Zagreb reported from these matches with credits to the Serbian team for its efforts and braveness to challenge the better and experienced rival. The Serbian newspapers already then showed that the Serbian public does not easily accept defeat, showing great criticism.
After the First World War the boundaries in the region were changed and the Serbian state already joined by the Kingdom of Montenegro
was united with other south-slavic inhabited territories of Austro-Hungary to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later in 1929 renamed into Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Football Association ("Jugoslovenski nogometni savez") was founded at a meeting in Zagreb, on 18 April 1919. The founding assembly was presided by Mr. Danilo Stojanović, popularly known as "Čika Dača", important because he was the founder of several football clubs such as Šumadija, BSK
and others.
In 1919 the Belgrade sub-association formed the first league tournament that had two editions (1919–20
and 1920–21 Serbian Football Championship
), however, the first state championship
was launched in 1923. The championships were played until 1940, and in this period the best Serbian clubs won seven state championship titles: BSK five and SK Jugoslavija
two. The interruption of the championship occurred due to disagreements between the sub-associations, which culminated in 1929 when the YFA Assembly was dissolved. The differences were resolved in February 1930, after three months of crisis. An extraordinary Assembly was convened, and it took place in Zagreb on 16 May 1930. It was voted that the association's headquarters be moved to the state capital, Belgrade, and that the name of the association would be changed into Yugoslav Football Association ("Fudbalski savez Jugoslavije").
BSK, along with HŠK Građanski, dominated the state scene until the beginning of World War II
. The end of the war was the beginning of the reconstruction, and the devastated football grounds and stadia, as well as the football clubs needed to be restored. On 25 February 1945, the football club Metalac was founded, later its name was changed into BSK, and then into OFK Beograd
, as successor to the tradition of the pre-war Beogradski Sport Klub (BSK). The Red Star Belgrade
(FK Crvena Zvezda) was formed on 4 March 1945, and FK Partizan
on 4 October of the same year. Some clubs were disbanded by the new socialist authorities, many on the ideological basis, for being considered too cosmopolitan and representative of the abolished monarchy, such as Jugoslavija or Jedinstvo Beograd, and some had simply disappeared due to man loss and long inactivity during the war. Some clubs were initially disbanded but shortly after, restored, the BASK case being the most evident, while a few top league clubs had continued their activity, as FK Vojvodina
, RFK Novi Sad, FK Mačva Šabac
and FK Radnički Kragujevac
.
After the dissolution of the federation, and the separation of Montenegro, on 26 June 2006, the Football Association of Serbia was admitted to the membership of FIFA and UEFA, as legal successor to all the previous national associations whose part it was. By this the world and European federations have acknowledged the continuity of football in the territory of Serbia, and the decisive role of Serbia in creating the history of the game in Western Balkans since the end of 19th century.
In recent years, many top Serbian players such as Dejan Stanković
and Nemanja Vidić
have gone on to forge successful careers in top European leagues. The U-21 team
were runners-up at the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship
having lost to the Netherlands in the final.
. It oversees the organization of:
Note: the aforementioned competitions are for men if not stated differently. Women's football exists but is much less developed or popular.
, both from Belgrade
.
is an annual award given from Football Association of Serbia
to the best player of the year.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
is the most popular sport in 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...
. The Football Association of Serbia
Football Association of Serbia
The Football Association of Serbia is the governing body of football in Serbia, based in Belgrade. It organizes Serbian football leagues, namely the Serbian Superliga, the Serbia national football team, as well as the Second Leagues....
(FSS) is the national governing body and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of football in the country, both professional and amateur. The association organizes the professional Serbian Superliga
Serbian Superliga
Serbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League...
(top tier) and is responsible for appointing the management of the men's
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...
, women's
Serbia women's national football team
The Serbia women's national football team represents Serbia in international women's football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia...
and youth national football teams in Serbia. The association also organizes the Serbian First League
Serbian First League
Serbian First League is the name for the second tier in Serbia's football league. The league is operated by the Football Association of Serbia. 18 teams are set to compete in this league for the 2009-10 season...
(second) and Serbian League
Serbian League
The Serbian Leagues is the third level football league in Serbia. The league is operated by the Football Association of Serbia and is split up into four sections: Srpska Liga Belgrade, Srpska Liga Vojvodina, Srpska Liga East, and Srpska Liga West...
(third), operating the top 3 leagues.
The FSS is also responsible for organizing the Serbian Cup
Serbian Cup
The Serbian Cup is the national football cup of Serbia. For sponsorship reasons it is referred to in the media as Lav Cup of Serbia since 2007.The winner of the competition gets a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round.-Sponsorship:...
, the country's league cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
competition.
It has been played from the beginning of the 20th century and there were a number of very successful Serbian football players and coaches throughout history. One of Serbia's top football clubs FK Crvena Zvezda has won the prestigious European Champions Cup
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...
in the season 1990-1991 and has also won the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
the same year.
The most successful and popular teams are Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
and FK Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
.
History
Football first came to Serbia in the spring of 1896 when Jewish student Hugo Buli, after he returned from his studies in Germany, brought the first football to BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. He brought the ball to his friends from the Belgrade gymnastics society Soko, and founded the football section on 12 May.
The inaugural meeting of the Serbian Football Society took place on 1 May 1899, at the restaurant "Trgovačka kafana", at initiative of Mr. Hugo Buli, and with support of Mr. Andra Nikolić, who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
. Mr. Feti Bey, the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
consul in Belgrade was elected as President, and the lawyer Mr. Mihailo Živadinović as the Vice-President.
The first football club was founded in the beginning of the 20th century. On 3 May 1901 in Subotica
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
the Sports Athletic Club Bačka was founded. More than two years later, notably on 14 September 1903, the football club Šumadija
FK Šumadija 1903
FK Šumadija 1903 was a football club in Kragujevac, Serbia. In 2009 was merged with FK Radnički Kragujevac and formed a new club named FK Šumadija Radnički 1923.-History:...
was founded in Kragujevac
Kragujevac
Kragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia, the main city of the Šumadija region and the administrative centre of Šumadija District. It is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River...
. It is obvious that the Subotica club was older, however, at the time of the foundation of "Bačka", the city of Subotica was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while Kragujevac, however, was on the territory of Serbia. Therefore "Bačka" is the oldest club in Serbia, and "Šumadija" the oldest Serbian club.
The national team of 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...
has played its first match on 19 May 1911, against Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
's club HAŠK
HAŠK
HAŠK was a Croatian football club established in Zagreb in 1903 which ceased operating in 1945. The club was one of the most successful sides in Zagreb and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the period between the two World Wars...
and lost by 0:8. The next day, on 20 May, against the same team they played the second match, which they also lost, by 0:6. The newspapers from Zagreb reported from these matches with credits to the Serbian team for its efforts and braveness to challenge the better and experienced rival. The Serbian newspapers already then showed that the Serbian public does not easily accept defeat, showing great criticism.
After the First World War the boundaries in the region were changed and the Serbian state already joined by the Kingdom of Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
was united with other south-slavic inhabited territories of Austro-Hungary to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later in 1929 renamed into Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Football Association ("Jugoslovenski nogometni savez") was founded at a meeting in Zagreb, on 18 April 1919. The founding assembly was presided by Mr. Danilo Stojanović, popularly known as "Čika Dača", important because he was the founder of several football clubs such as Šumadija, BSK
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
and others.
In 1919 the Belgrade sub-association formed the first league tournament that had two editions (1919–20
1919–20 Serbian Football Championship
The Serbian Football Championship season of 1919-1920 was the first held after the end of the First World War. With the football championships still not organised at national level in the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes , the clubs from Serbia joined together to play in this...
and 1920–21 Serbian Football Championship
1920–21 Serbian Football Championship
The Serbian Football Championship season of 1920-1921 was the second championship organised by the Serbian Football Federation after the 1919–20 season...
), however, the first state championship
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
was launched in 1923. The championships were played until 1940, and in this period the best Serbian clubs won seven state championship titles: BSK five and SK Jugoslavija
SK Jugoslavija
Sportski klub Jugoslavija, commonly known as SK Jugoslavija was a Serbian football club from Belgrade. It was originally formed as SK Velika Srbija in 1913 and changed its name to SK Jugoslavija in 1919.-History:...
two. The interruption of the championship occurred due to disagreements between the sub-associations, which culminated in 1929 when the YFA Assembly was dissolved. The differences were resolved in February 1930, after three months of crisis. An extraordinary Assembly was convened, and it took place in Zagreb on 16 May 1930. It was voted that the association's headquarters be moved to the state capital, Belgrade, and that the name of the association would be changed into Yugoslav Football Association ("Fudbalski savez Jugoslavije").
BSK, along with HŠK Građanski, dominated the state scene until the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The end of the war was the beginning of the reconstruction, and the devastated football grounds and stadia, as well as the football clubs needed to be restored. On 25 February 1945, the football club Metalac was founded, later its name was changed into BSK, and then into OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
, as successor to the tradition of the pre-war Beogradski Sport Klub (BSK). The Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
(FK Crvena Zvezda) was formed on 4 March 1945, and FK Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
on 4 October of the same year. Some clubs were disbanded by the new socialist authorities, many on the ideological basis, for being considered too cosmopolitan and representative of the abolished monarchy, such as Jugoslavija or Jedinstvo Beograd, and some had simply disappeared due to man loss and long inactivity during the war. Some clubs were initially disbanded but shortly after, restored, the BASK case being the most evident, while a few top league clubs had continued their activity, as FK Vojvodina
FK Vojvodina
FK Vojvodina is a football club from Novi Sad, Serbia. The club currently competes in the Serbian SuperLiga. FK Vojvodina is the third oldest football club in Serbia's SuperLiga, after OFK Beograd which was founded in 1911 and FK Javor which was founded in 1912.-History:FK Vojvodina was founded...
, RFK Novi Sad, FK Mačva Šabac
FK Macva Šabac
FK Mačva Šabac is a football club from Šabac, Serbia.-Current squad 2010-11:Last update November 2010.-Notable players:...
and FK Radnički Kragujevac
FK Radnicki Kragujevac
Fudbalski Klub Radnički 1923 is a professional football club from Kragujevac, Serbia....
.
After the dissolution of the federation, and the separation of Montenegro, on 26 June 2006, the Football Association of Serbia was admitted to the membership of FIFA and UEFA, as legal successor to all the previous national associations whose part it was. By this the world and European federations have acknowledged the continuity of football in the territory of Serbia, and the decisive role of Serbia in creating the history of the game in Western Balkans since the end of 19th century.
In recent years, many top Serbian players such as Dejan Stanković
Dejan Stankovic
Dejan Stanković is a Serbian association football player who plays for the Italian Serie A side Inter. He captained the Serbian national football team until 2011, when he announced his retirement from international football...
and Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
have gone on to forge successful careers in top European leagues. The U-21 team
Serbia national under-21 football team
The Serbia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
were runners-up at the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
having lost to the Netherlands in the final.
Competitions
The governing body of football in Serbia is the Football Association of SerbiaFootball Association of Serbia
The Football Association of Serbia is the governing body of football in Serbia, based in Belgrade. It organizes Serbian football leagues, namely the Serbian Superliga, the Serbia national football team, as well as the Second Leagues....
. It oversees the organization of:
- Leagues:
- Serbian SuperLigaSerbian SuperligaSerbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League...
- Serbian First LeagueSerbian First LeagueSerbian First League is the name for the second tier in Serbia's football league. The league is operated by the Football Association of Serbia. 18 teams are set to compete in this league for the 2009-10 season...
- Serbian LeagueSerbian LeagueThe Serbian Leagues is the third level football league in Serbia. The league is operated by the Football Association of Serbia and is split up into four sections: Srpska Liga Belgrade, Srpska Liga Vojvodina, Srpska Liga East, and Srpska Liga West...
- Zone LeagueZone LeagueThe Zone Leagues is the Fourth level football league in Serbia. The league is operated by the Football Association of Serbia and is split up into eight sections: Belgrade Zone League, Vojvodina League East, Vojvodina League West, Drina Zone League, Dunav Zone league, Morava Zone League, Niš Zone...
- Okruzna Liga
- Medjuopstinska Liga
- Opstinska Liga
- Druga Opstinska Liga
- Serbian SuperLiga
- Cup tournaments:
- Serbian CupSerbian CupThe Serbian Cup is the national football cup of Serbia. For sponsorship reasons it is referred to in the media as Lav Cup of Serbia since 2007.The winner of the competition gets a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round.-Sponsorship:...
- Serbian Cup
- National teams:
- Serbia national football teamSerbia national football teamThe 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...
- Serbia national under-21 football teamSerbia national under-21 football teamThe Serbia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
- Serbia national under-19 football teamSerbia national under-19 football teamThe Serbia national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
- Serbia national under-17 football teamSerbia national under-17 football teamThe Serbia national under-17 football team represents Serbia in international football at this age level and is controlled by Football Association of Serbia., the governing body for football in Serbia.-Current squad:...
- Serbia national football team
Note: the aforementioned competitions are for men if not stated differently. Women's football exists but is much less developed or popular.
Teams
By far the two most popular clubs in the country are Crvena Zvezda and PartizanFK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
, both from Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
Player of the Year
Serbian Footballer of the YearSerbian Footballer of the Year
Serbian Footballer of the Year is an annual award given from Football Association of Serbia to the best player of the year.Originally it has been awarded the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro.- Winners :- Trivia :...
is an annual award given from Football Association of Serbia
Football Association of Serbia
The Football Association of Serbia is the governing body of football in Serbia, based in Belgrade. It organizes Serbian football leagues, namely the Serbian Superliga, the Serbia national football team, as well as the Second Leagues....
to the best player of the year.
External links
- History of Football in Serbia via the Serbian FA