KK Zagreb
Encyclopedia
Košarkaški klub Zagreb (Zagreb Basketball Club) is a professional basketball
club based in Zagreb
, Croatia
. It competes in the Croatian League, the Adriatic League and in the 2011/12 season for the first time in ULEB Euroleague. For sponsorship reasons since 2007 the club is known as Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje.
. In 1976 club was renamed to KK Novi Zagreb to represent Novi Zagreb ("New Zagreb"), part of Zagreb located south of the Sava river
. After Croatia became indepentend country, "Novi" was just dropped out and the club name got its simplier and present form - KK Zagreb. From the beginnings Zagreb players were known under the nickname Ants as a symbol of hard work and team spirit.
Since its establishment KK Zagreb worked its way up over 19 years to join the famed first division
in ex-Yugoslavia in 1989. Though it carries the name of a great basketball capital KK Zagreb had always lived a bit in the shadow of cross-town rival Cibona but since the beginning of the Croatian League in the early 1990s Zagreb has made a name of its own, becoming one of the better teams in the country. Until late 2000s club was mainly known for its youth categories which won numerous Croatian and European titles, while senior team was always in the shadow of Croatian basketball "Big Three" - Cibona, Zadar
and Split
. In recent years, when its became a permanenet member of the Eurochallenge Cup
competition, the club increased its budget with an intention to to make another step forward in its ambitious plans and won its first domestic trophies, the Croatian Cup
in 2008 and 2010. It was only a matter of time, when the team will move from its traditional base in school sports hall Trnsko (capacity 3,000) to a bigger one, which happened in 2010, when they moved to Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
, home of their better known rival Cibona. Moving to a new and bigger hall proved to be some kind of "growing up" for KK Zagreb as the club won double title, winning both Championships of Croatia and Croatian Cup
in 2011.
Sean May Damir Mulaomerović
Sašo Ožbolt
Josip Sesar
Mario Stojić
Marko Tomas
Ante Tomić
Luka Žorić
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club based in 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...
, 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 ...
. It competes in the Croatian League, the Adriatic League and in the 2011/12 season for the first time in ULEB Euroleague. For sponsorship reasons since 2007 the club is known as Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje.
History
The club was founded in 1970 under the name KK Siget after Siget neighbourhood in ZagrebZagreb
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...
. In 1976 club was renamed to KK Novi Zagreb to represent Novi Zagreb ("New Zagreb"), part of Zagreb located south of the Sava river
Sava River
The Sava is a river in Southeast Europe, a right side tributary of the Danube river at Belgrade. Counting from Zelenci, the source of Sava Dolinka, it is long and drains of surface area. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia, along the northern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and through Serbia....
. After Croatia became indepentend country, "Novi" was just dropped out and the club name got its simplier and present form - KK Zagreb. From the beginnings Zagreb players were known under the nickname Ants as a symbol of hard work and team spirit.
Since its establishment KK Zagreb worked its way up over 19 years to join the famed first division
YUBA Liga
The Yugoslav Basketball League was the name of two successive national basketball leagues:* the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia league from 1945 to 1992* the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro from 1992 to 2006...
in ex-Yugoslavia in 1989. Though it carries the name of a great basketball capital KK Zagreb had always lived a bit in the shadow of cross-town rival Cibona but since the beginning of the Croatian League in the early 1990s Zagreb has made a name of its own, becoming one of the better teams in the country. Until late 2000s club was mainly known for its youth categories which won numerous Croatian and European titles, while senior team was always in the shadow of Croatian basketball "Big Three" - Cibona, Zadar
KK Zadar
KK Zadar is a Croatian professional basketball team from the city of Zadar playing in the A-1 Liga.Zadar is the place where Croatian basketball was born in 1930. Zadar's reputation has been of a basketball hotbed with a team that can capture trophies at any given moment...
and Split
KK Split
KK Split , KK Split CO for sponsorship relations is a basketball club from Split, Croatia. Currently, KK Split competes in the A-1 Liga and Krešimir Ćosić Cup.-History:...
. In recent years, when its became a permanenet member of the Eurochallenge Cup
EuroChallenge
The EuroChallenge is the 3rd tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe. It is organized and run by FIBA Europe...
competition, the club increased its budget with an intention to to make another step forward in its ambitious plans and won its first domestic trophies, the Croatian Cup
Krešimir Cosic Cup
The Krešimir Ćosić Cup is the national basketball cup of Croatia. The cup has been played for since 1992.-Cup winners:-Performance by club:...
in 2008 and 2010. It was only a matter of time, when the team will move from its traditional base in school sports hall Trnsko (capacity 3,000) to a bigger one, which happened in 2010, when they moved to Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrovic Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall is an Indoor sporting arena in Zagreb, Croatia. It serves as the home court for the professional basketball club KK Cibona. The arena has a seating capacity of 5,400 people.-History:...
, home of their better known rival Cibona. Moving to a new and bigger hall proved to be some kind of "growing up" for KK Zagreb as the club won double title, winning both Championships of Croatia and Croatian Cup
Krešimir Cosic Cup
The Krešimir Ćosić Cup is the national basketball cup of Croatia. The cup has been played for since 1992.-Cup winners:-Performance by club:...
in 2011.
Name through history
- 1970-76 KK Siget
- 1976-91 OKK Novi Zagreb
- 1991-07 KK Zagreb
- 2007-11 KK Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje (Zagreb CO)
Honours
- Croatian Championship: 1
- 2011
- Croatian CupKrešimir Cosic CupThe Krešimir Ćosić Cup is the national basketball cup of Croatia. The cup has been played for since 1992.-Cup winners:-Performance by club:...
: 3- 2008, 2010, 2011
Notable players
Mario KasunMario Kasun
Mario Kasun is a Croatian professional basketball player. Currently he is a member of Croatian club KK Zagreb.-Pro career:...
Sean May Damir Mulaomerović
Damir Mulaomerovic
Damir Mulaomerovic is a Bosnian-born Croatian professional basketball player who currently plays for KK Zagreb....
Sašo Ožbolt
Sašo Ožbolt
Sašo Ožbolt is a Slovenian professional basketball player. He is 191 cm tall and currently plays for Red Star Belgrade Ožbolt competed for Slovenia at the 2006 FIBA World Championship....
Josip Sesar
Josip Sesar
Josip Sesar is a Croatian professional basketball player.-Basketball career:...
Mario Stojić
Mario Stojic
Mario Stojić is an Croatian professional basketball player, playing the small forward position.- Clubs :* Sava Osiguranje Rijeka - - 1996/1997* KK Zagreb - - 1997/2000...
Marko Tomas
Marko Tomas
Marko Tomas is a Croatian professional basketball player. Currently, he is a member of the pro club Fenerbahçe Ülker.-Pro career:...
Ante Tomić
Ante Tomic
Ante Tomić is Croatian writer and journalist.A native of a village Glavina Donja near Imotski, Tomić graduated in philosophy and sociology at the University of Zadar....
Luka Žorić
Luka Žorić
Luka Žorić is a Croatian professional basketball player who plays for Unicaja Málaga in Spain. In 2011 Luka received award for Most Valuable Player of the NLB Adriatic League while playing for KK Zagreb.- External links :* *...