Fudbalski Klub Željezničar (Football Club Željezničar) is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name Željezničar means “railway worker”, given because it was established by a group of railway workers.
Željezničar, was founded in September 1921 in Sarajevo and is the most prominent and successful football team in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the time of the former Yugoslavia, FK Željezničar were national champions once in 1971–72 season, finishing as the runner-ups in 1970–71 season (and reaching a Quarter-Final stage of inaugural year of the UEFA Cup competition) as result, all under the command of Milan Ribar, and also finishing third two times in 1962–63 and 1983–84 season. They also played once in the finals of the Yugoslav Cup in 1980–81, losing to another Bosnian side, Velež. The manager was Ivica Osim, under whose command the club also reached its biggest overall European success in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 1984–85, when they lost to Videoton.
Today Željezničar is one of the most famous members of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its success includes winning one title during when the championships were based on ethnic principles in 1997–98 season under the command of Enver Hadžiabdić (who also brought the Bosnian Super Cup in 1998), and four titles in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They claimed also five national cups during this way with the first being in 1999–00 under the second spell of Enver Hadžiabdić but he didn’t stay long enough to also claim the Bosnian Super Cup in 2000, which was done by his successor Hajrudin Đurbuzović. This was also his second spell in Željezničar, while in his very short first spell at the end of 1996–97 season he was the runner-up in the national cup. The club has never qualified for UEFA Champions League as best club could reach was 2002–03 Champions league third qualifying round, losing to England side Newcastle United.
According to the IFFHS list of the Top 200 European clubs of the 20th century, an organization recognized by FIFA, Željezničar is the highest ranked Bosnian club, sharing the 110th position on the list with AZ Alkmaar and Vitória F.C..
FK Željezničar Sarajevo logo
Željezničar was formed by group of railway workers. During the early 20th century, there were several football clubs in Sarajevo. They were rich and usually backed by various organizations. The most of them on ethnic principles, Serbs, Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Jews). But Željezničar was a club for common people, people interested in football and fun. Since it was a financially poor club, they used to organize dance nights and all the profit made was later used to buy shoes and ball(s).
Financial problems were not the only ones. Multiethnicity of the club was seen as a threat by many, so Željezničar was suppressed in various ways. Despite that, club managed to survive, and even beat stronger and wealthier clubs.
In 1941, World War II came to Sarajevo, and every football activity was stopped. Many footballers were members of the resistance troops, and some of them were killed. After the war, Željo was formed again, and in 1946. it won the Bosnian championship. That secured them a place in the final tournament with champions of other Yugoslav republics. Soon after, Sarajevo citizens formed a new club FK Sarajevo, club that become an eyesore to Željezničar fans The Maniacs all to this days. That had a devastating influence on the club, so it needed several years to come back to first division. For most of the time, Željezničar played in the top level. It was relegated four times (last time in 1976/77 season), but every time (except the first one in 1947) it would return quickly.
Biggest success came in 1971/1972 season when it won a championship title, the only title in Yugoslav period. In 1980/1981 season, Željezničar has reached Yugoslav cup final, but lost to another Bosnian side Velež Mostar. Biggest international result was recorded in 1984/1985 season. FK Željezničar, with Ivica Osim as a coach, reached semifinals of the UEFA Cup where they were playing against Hungarian team Videoton. Two minutes from time, Željezničar had a result that would give them a place in final and two matches with big Real Madrid. Then the moment of disaster came and Hungarians scored a killer goal. Entire Yugoslavia was crying that night. Just one of things that proves special place Željezničar has in people’s hearts. Not only in those who are supporting it, but everyone.
After the collapse of Yugoslavia, another war. Grbavica stadium was occupied and football was off again. Players like Mario Stanić, Rade Bogdanović, Gordan Vidović, Suvad Katana and many others went abroad to escape the horror of war. Somehow, club managed to rise again. At first, young players were practicing indoors in school gyms. Stadium was at the first / front lines, destroyed, and yet they played in the Bosnian war championship held in 1994. Fourth place is not so important as much as the presence.
War ended in 1995. and regular championship was formed. Since then, Željezničar won five titles, every sweet in some way. One, though, more than the others. In 1998. championship, play-off was held and final match saw two big rivals at the opposite sides, playing for the trophy. FK Sarajevo was a better rival, their shots were cleared from the goal-line twice. In 89th minute, one ball was intercepted on the left side, and after a couple of passes it came to Željezničar forward Hadis Zubanović who scored a dramatic winner.
After the two more titles in 2001 and 2002, Željezničar was runner-up three consecutive times. As the best Bosnian club, they played in European cups every year. Biggest result (for the Bosnian club football as well since the independence) came in 2002. when Željezničar reached the third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League. Newcastle United was too strong, so the group stage will have to wait for some other time.
Next seasons were not successful and fans would probably like to forget them as soon as possible. Financial problems, frequent coach changes, and weak club management above all, resulted with bad results and supporters’ disappointment. Upcoming privatization and stadium ownership issue are the main cause of problems. Supporters were boycotting the club and the attendance is lowest in years. However, everyone is hoping better times will come. In 2010 the team had a lot of changes including the chairman and the coach President FK Željezničar Sabahudin Žujo and Nijaz Brković. With Amar Osim coming back as a head coach the team started to play much better than previous years. In the mid season the team was on the middle of the table. However the second half of the season was much better the players started to come together. They started to win on the road only losing one game in Tuzla vs FK Sloboda Tuzla. As the season went along the supporters stopped boycotting and returned back where they belong. FK Zeljeznicar averaged the most fan base in the league. Željezničar became the Bosnian champions for the fourth time (fifth overall) in their history, giving them the most championships of any team in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The team also reached the finals of Bosnian Cup where they lost to Borac on the away goal rules.
In season 2010/2011 Željezničar have won their fourth cup of Bosnia-Herzegovina. They have advanced to the final beating Široki Brijeg on 3:0 aggregate. In the final they clash with rival from former Yugoslav League Čelik. First game was played at Grbavica Stadium which finished 1:0 in favor of the home team. Second game was played at Bilino Polje Stadium which Željezničar won 3:0 and won 4:0 on aggregate. That concluded Željezničar’s season in they automatically gives them to compete in Europa League. Željezničar celebrated their 90th birthday with a trophy.
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