Sarajevo derby
Encyclopedia
The Sarajevo
derby
is a match between big city rivals FK Željezničar Sarajevo and FK Sarajevo
, two of the biggest and most popular clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. It is generally considered as one of few with the best atmosphere in the region. Fans usually make great decore with a lot of big flags, paper rolls, scarfs and loud chanting. This derby is also similar to the Merseyside derby
between Everton
and Liverpool
; it is not uncommon to see members of the same family that are on opposite sides. They don't speak to each other that day. But when the game ends, provocations are something of a tradition, strangest bets need to be fulfilled, and everybody is waiting for the next one. Although, incidents between younger fans can be seen in recent years.
was formed by the local authorities. On the other side, FK Željezničar Sarajevo is a club formed in 1921 by a group of railway workers. They won the second-tier Bosnian championship title in 1946, as a part of first post-war
Yugoslav league system. Since the idea was to create a new club who would represent the city and the republic on national level, newly formed FK Torpedo (as FK Sarajevo was called at the time) needed the best players from the city, so several FK Željezničar players were transferred to the new club on authorities' decision. These players received good salaries and new suits. Ever since, the rivalry was present between these two clubs.
At first, Sarajevo supporters were considered to be upper-class individuals with ties to the ruling communist authorities. On the other side, supporters of FK Željezničar were usually working-class with liberal image. Those identifications were true in 1950s and 1960s, but these differences were later erased. Both clubs have supporters from all classes and (it is very important to say when we talk about Bosnia) from all ethnic groups, even if FK Sarajevo fan base is predominately Bosniak. FK Željezničar still have the image of liberal club and they are popular even among other supporters in the region.
Since they played in different levels, first matches between FK Željezničar and FK Sarajevo were friendlies. The first official league match was held in 1954; FK Sarajevo won 6-1. That is still the biggest victory by any team in these matches.
So far (as of October 24, 2010), 96 league matches were played. Both clubs won 29 times, while 38 matches ended with a draw. Goal difference
is 117-114 in FK Sarajevo's favour. Since the independence, as a part of Bosnian championship
, 33 games were played; Sarajevo won 10 times, Željezničar won 8 times, with 15 draws, and goal difference 39-34 for FK Sarajevo.
as of March 19, 2008
Note that only league matches are included in statistics. Cup, other tournaments and friendly matches are not included.
FK Željezničar's most passionate fans (wearing blue) are called The Maniacs because their love for the club is on the edge of insanity, so it is said. They are located on the South side of stadium (the Holy South as they call it). The older fans ones are known affectionately as the Košpicari (which can metaphorically be translated as "seed eaters", although the name itself has different meaning - namely that of "seed sellers").
FK Sarajevo's most passionate fans (crimson) are called the Horde Zla
(Evil hordes) after the popular Zagor
comic book. In home games on Koševo Stadium
, they are located on the North stands, while the older fans are known as the Pitari (similar to the Košpicari etymology except referring to pie and not seeds) and they are mainly on the East side.
When the derby is played on Grbavica
, Horde zla are on the East and NE side of the stadium, The Maniacs are on the South and West side, while the Pitari and Košpicari are on the North. When the games is played on Koševo, The Maniacs are on the South and SW side, Horde zla on the North and the East. Pitari are on the East as well. West stands are mixed with both Pitari and Košpicari sitting there.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
is a match between big city rivals FK Željezničar Sarajevo and FK Sarajevo
FK Sarajevo
FK Sarajevo is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina and is one of the most popular clubs in the country. Founded on October 24, 1946, the club was the most successful club from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in former Yugoslavia, winning two First League...
, two of the biggest and most popular clubs in 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...
. It is generally considered as one of few with the best atmosphere in the region. Fans usually make great decore with a lot of big flags, paper rolls, scarfs and loud chanting. This derby is also similar to the Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
between Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
; it is not uncommon to see members of the same family that are on opposite sides. They don't speak to each other that day. But when the game ends, provocations are something of a tradition, strangest bets need to be fulfilled, and everybody is waiting for the next one. Although, incidents between younger fans can be seen in recent years.
History
The history of Sarajevo derby dates back to 1954, but the rivalry began eight years earlier. In 1946 FK SarajevoFK Sarajevo
FK Sarajevo is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina and is one of the most popular clubs in the country. Founded on October 24, 1946, the club was the most successful club from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in former Yugoslavia, winning two First League...
was formed by the local authorities. On the other side, FK Željezničar Sarajevo is a club formed in 1921 by a group of railway workers. They won the second-tier Bosnian championship title in 1946, as a part of first post-war
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...
Yugoslav league system. Since the idea was to create a new club who would represent the city and the republic on national level, newly formed FK Torpedo (as FK Sarajevo was called at the time) needed the best players from the city, so several FK Željezničar players were transferred to the new club on authorities' decision. These players received good salaries and new suits. Ever since, the rivalry was present between these two clubs.
At first, Sarajevo supporters were considered to be upper-class individuals with ties to the ruling communist authorities. On the other side, supporters of FK Željezničar were usually working-class with liberal image. Those identifications were true in 1950s and 1960s, but these differences were later erased. Both clubs have supporters from all classes and (it is very important to say when we talk about Bosnia) from all ethnic groups, even if FK Sarajevo fan base is predominately Bosniak. FK Željezničar still have the image of liberal club and they are popular even among other supporters in the region.
Since they played in different levels, first matches between FK Željezničar and FK Sarajevo were friendlies. The first official league match was held in 1954; FK Sarajevo won 6-1. That is still the biggest victory by any team in these matches.
So far (as of October 24, 2010), 96 league matches were played. Both clubs won 29 times, while 38 matches ended with a draw. Goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
is 117-114 in FK Sarajevo's favour. Since the independence, as a part of Bosnian championship
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....
, 33 games were played; Sarajevo won 10 times, Željezničar won 8 times, with 15 draws, and goal difference 39-34 for FK Sarajevo.
Other competitions
The Sarajevo derby is currently played twice a year in the Premier league, but they may also play against one another in other competitions. There are also friendly matches and games played in various tournaments. Although these games are not included in official statistics, they are just as important as the ones played in the league.| Games | FKŽ wins | Draws | FKS wins | FKŽ goals | FKS goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yugoslav Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Bosnian Cup | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 20 |
| Bosnian Super Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 30 | 28 |
as of March 19, 2008
Records
- Most appearances: Slobodan JanjušSlobodan JanjušSlobodan Janjuš is a Bosnian former football goalkeeper.He represented a number of domestic clubs, having played with all of them, beside Second League FK Radnički Pirot, in the Yugoslav First League, namely, FK Željezničar Sarajevo, FK Vojvodina, FK Sarajevo, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, NK Dinamo...
- 21 (16 for Željezničar, 5 for Sarajevo) - Best goalscorers: Asim FerhatovićAsim FerhatovicAsim "Hase" Ferhatović was a Bosnian footballer. He started his professional football career in 1948 for FK Sarajevo...
(Sarajevo), Dželaludin MuharemovićDželaludin MuharemovicDželaludin Muharemović is a former Bosnia and Herzegovina football player. He is currently employed as a sporting director in FK Željezničar. He was also a replacement team manager for four months.-Playing career:...
(Željezničar) - 6 goals - Record win: Željezničar - Sarajevo 1:6 (October 10, 1954, first ever league derby)
- Biggest attendance: 55,000 (March 10, 1982, Koševo Stadium)
- Double victory (two wins in a season): Željezničar (1968/1969, 1989/90, 2000/2001); Sarajevo (1955/1956, 1966/1967, 1998/1999, 2006/2007);
- Longest unbeaten run: 11 games (Sarajevo: June 6, 1963 - December 1, 1968; Željezničar: October 15, 2000 - April 5, 2006)
- Longest unbeaten run (home): 17 games (Željezničar: April 3, 1977 - October 26, 1997)
- Longest unbeaten run (away): 6 games (Sarajevo: June 2, 1963 - June 29, 1969; Željezničar: April 28, 2001 - April 21, 2007)
- Longest winning run: 3 games (Željezničar: May 14, 1988 - December 10, 1989; Sarajevo: April 5, 2006 - April 21, 2007)
- Longest winning run (home): 3 games (Željezničar two times: August 23, 1981 - March 18, 1984 & October 10, 1999 - May 11, 2002)
- Longest winning run (away): Two games by both teams on several occasions;
- Radmilo MihajlovićRadmilo MihajlovicRadmilo Mihajlović is a former Bosnian Serb footballer who played for the Yugoslavia national football team.-Career:He started playing football at Sutjeska Foča and was spotted there as a talented forward.-FK Željezničar:...
is the only player to score a hat-trickHat-trickA hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
. (September 7, 1986, Željezničar won 4-1).
Note that only league matches are included in statistics. Cup, other tournaments and friendly matches are not included.
Fans
Probably the best known thing about the Sarajevo derby are the fans. Usually, they are much more exciting to watch than the game itself. Especially in recent times, since the Bosnian championship has at times lacked in quality. Fans create an impressive atmosphere with loud cheering and original choreography. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.FK Željezničar's most passionate fans (wearing blue) are called The Maniacs because their love for the club is on the edge of insanity, so it is said. They are located on the South side of stadium (the Holy South as they call it). The older fans ones are known affectionately as the Košpicari (which can metaphorically be translated as "seed eaters", although the name itself has different meaning - namely that of "seed sellers").
FK Sarajevo's most passionate fans (crimson) are called the Horde Zla
Horde Zla
Horde Zla are an Ultras group who support the Bosnian football club FK Sarajevo. -History:The club's supporters were historically called Pitari while an individual was, and is still, known as a pitar. Their rowdiness during the matches of the time provoked accusations of being dangerous...
(Evil hordes) after the popular Zagor
Zagor
Zagor is an Italian comic book created by editor and writer Sergio Bonelli and artist Gallieno Ferri. Zagor was first published In Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1961.-Character:...
comic book. In home games on Koševo Stadium
Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium
Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium is a stadium owned by the city of Sarajevo. It is also known as Koševo Stadium and formerly Olympic Stadium. Koševo Stadium is located in the Koševo neighborhood of Sarajevo and it is used mostly by FK Sarajevo....
, they are located on the North stands, while the older fans are known as the Pitari (similar to the Košpicari etymology except referring to pie and not seeds) and they are mainly on the East side.
When the derby is played on Grbavica
Grbavica Stadium
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 12,000 spectators, with 9,000 places that are seated...
, Horde zla are on the East and NE side of the stadium, The Maniacs are on the South and West side, while the Pitari and Košpicari are on the North. When the games is played on Koševo, The Maniacs are on the South and SW side, Horde zla on the North and the East. Pitari are on the East as well. West stands are mixed with both Pitari and Košpicari sitting there.
External links
- Football Derbies - Sarajevo derby
- Official Website of FK Sarajevo
- Official Website of FK Željezničar
- Website of FK Sarajevo supporters
- Website of FK Željezničar supporters
- Unofficial Website of FK Sarajevo 1
- Unofficial Website of FK Sarajevo 2
- Unofficial Website of FK Željezničar 1
- Unofficial Website of FK Željezničar 2