Mostar derby
Encyclopedia
The Mostar derby is a football rivalry in Mostar
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
between HŠK Zrinjski and FK Velež. The derby took place for the first time in 2000 and was played until 2003 when Velež was relegated from the Premijer liga
.
Both Mostar clubs are two of the oldest in the nation. HŠK Zrinjski (full name Hrvatski Športski Klub Zrinjski, English
: Croatian Sports Club Zrinjski) was formed in 1905 while FK Velež was formed in 1922. However, the clubs had vastly different histories. Zrinjski was a reasonably successful club in the first half of the century, but was banned by communist Yugoslav authorities for competing in the Prva HNL under Ustasha regime during the World War II
. At this point its records, along with those of other Croatian clubs, were destroyed. On the other hand, FK Velež thrived during the Yugoslav communist period, twice winning the Yugoslav Cup.
After the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zrinjski was reestablished. At the same time, war broke out in the county. Over the course of the war and in its aftermath Mostar became a divided city with the Croats
holding the west side and the Bosniaks
the east, with those remaining Serbs living in the east as well. Zrinjski took over Velež's Bijeli Brijeg Stadium
, as it was located deep inside the informal Croatian territory of Federation BiH, thus forcing Velež to move to Vrapčići stadium.
The two clubs did not meet until 2000 for their first game. This happened because the nation's three ethnic groups each ran their own parallel leagues up until that point, with Velež in Premijer liga
and Zrinjski in the Herzeg-Bosnia First League
.
08.09.1922. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 1:0
13.04.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 2:0
29.04.1923. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:0
01.05.1923. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:2
15.07.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:0
25.xx.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 4:0
12.11.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:0
31.08.1924. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 1:0
25.07.1928. Sarajevo: Zrinjski – Velež 4:0
26.07.1931. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 5:1
xx.12.1934. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:1
14.04.1935. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:1
06.03.1938. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 4:2
xx.xx.1938. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 1:0
The Ultras are almost exclusively Croats, while the Red Army are mostly Bosniaks.
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, 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...
between HŠK Zrinjski and FK Velež. The derby took place for the first time in 2000 and was played until 2003 when Velež was relegated from the Premijer liga
Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the top football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the country's most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs with last two teams relegated at the end of every season....
.
Both Mostar clubs are two of the oldest in the nation. HŠK Zrinjski (full name Hrvatski Športski Klub Zrinjski, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Croatian Sports Club Zrinjski) was formed in 1905 while FK Velež was formed in 1922. However, the clubs had vastly different histories. Zrinjski was a reasonably successful club in the first half of the century, but was banned by communist Yugoslav authorities for competing in the Prva HNL under Ustasha regime during the 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...
. At this point its records, along with those of other Croatian clubs, were destroyed. On the other hand, FK Velež thrived during the Yugoslav communist period, twice winning the Yugoslav Cup.
After the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zrinjski was reestablished. At the same time, war broke out in the county. Over the course of the war and in its aftermath Mostar became a divided city with the Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
holding the west side and the Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
the east, with those remaining Serbs living in the east as well. Zrinjski took over Velež's Bijeli Brijeg Stadium
Bijeli Brijeg Stadium
Bijeli Brijeg, officially name: Stadium of HŠK Zrinjski is a football stadium in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is currently the home of HŠK Zrinjski Mostar. It formerly served as Velež Mostar's stadium. The stadium was built in 1971 and currently has a capacity of 25,000...
, as it was located deep inside the informal Croatian territory of Federation BiH, thus forcing Velež to move to Vrapčići stadium.
The two clubs did not meet until 2000 for their first game. This happened because the nation's three ethnic groups each ran their own parallel leagues up until that point, with Velež in Premijer liga
Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the top football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the country's most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs with last two teams relegated at the end of every season....
and Zrinjski in the Herzeg-Bosnia First League
Herzeg-Bosnia First League
The First League of Herzeg-Bosnia served as the top football league for Croats clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the country's war and post-war periods of the 1990s. During these years, football was divided along ethnic lines, with the Croat, Bosniak and Serb populations each running their own...
.
Derby from 1922 – 1938
xx.09.1922. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:108.09.1922. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 1:0
13.04.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 2:0
29.04.1923. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:0
01.05.1923. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:2
15.07.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:0
25.xx.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 4:0
12.11.1923. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:0
31.08.1924. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 1:0
25.07.1928. Sarajevo: Zrinjski – Velež 4:0
26.07.1931. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 5:1
xx.12.1934. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 2:1
14.04.1935. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 3:1
06.03.1938. Mostar: Velež – Zrinjski 4:2
xx.xx.1938. Mostar: Zrinjski – Velež 1:0
Modern derby
- 1 March 2000: Velež-Zrinjski 2:2 (Exhibition, Koševo Stadium)
- 13 August 2000: Zrinjski-Velež 2:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 24 February 2001: Velež-Zrinjski 2:0 (Vrapčići)
- 25 November 2001: Zrinjski-Velež 1:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 25 May 2002: Velež-Zrinjski 2:0 (Vrapčići)
- 24 November 2002: Zrinjski-Velež 1:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 24 May 2003: Velež-Zrinjski 4:1 (Vrapčići)
- 28 October 2006: Velež-Zrinjski 2:1 (Vrapčići)
- 5 May 2007: Zrinjski-Velež 2:1 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 11 November 2007 Zrinjski-Velež 2:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 17 May 2008: Velež - Zrinjski 1:0 (Vrapčići)
- 13 September 2008: Velež-Zrinjski 0:2 (Vrapčići)
- 8 April 2009: Zrinjski-Velež 2:1 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 20 October 2009: Zrinjski-Velež 2:1 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 21 April 2010: Velež-Zrinjski 0:0 (Vrapčići)
- 25 August 2010: Zrinjski-Velež 2:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 26 February 2011: Velež-Zrinjski 1:0 (Vrapčići)
- 28 September 2011 Cup: Zrinjski-Velež 0:3 (technical win, 0-1 regular) (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 02 October 2011: Zrinjski-Velež 1:0 (Bijeli Brijeg)
- 19 October 2011 Cup: Velež-Zrinjski 2:0 (Vrapčići)
Fans
The two fan groups which support each team are:- FK Velež Supporters: Red Army MostarRed Army MostarThe Velež Mostar fans are called Red Army. This large group existed of many smaller groups like Zealots, Eagles, Chicago Street, Carina, Furia. Nowadays they are joined by Union Jack Crew, Infernal Service, Brigata Rossa, Youth Division, New Force, etc. Members are mainly Bosniaks, with a few...
- HŠK Zrinjski Supporters : Ultras ZrinjskiUltras ZrinjskiUltras-Zrinjski, official: Klub navijača Ultras-Zrinjski Mostar is the organisation of football supporters of the football club HSK Zrinjski Mostar. They support all sports teams under HŠK Zrinjski .The fan club's name was given in 1993...
The Ultras are almost exclusively Croats, while the Red Army are mostly Bosniaks.