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FK SARAJEVO
(BOSNIA) |
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FK
Sarajevo stands for Fudbalski Klub Sarajevo (Football Club Sarajevo),
historically one of the most prominent and succesfull football teams in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the time of the former Yugoslavia, FK
Sarajevo was a prominent member of the Yugoslav First League. Today, FK
Sarajevo is one of the most famous teams in the Football Association of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Founded: October 24th, 1946 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
Formerly known as: FK Torpedo, 1946-1949. SD Metalaca Sarajevo, 1947-1949.
FK Sarajevo, 1949-
Home stadium: Stadium Koševo (34,600), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
History
FK Sarajevo was established less than a year after the liberation of
Sarajevo from Nazi rule by Partisan forces. The result of a combination
between football teams Udarnik (roughly translated: forefronters) and
Sloboda (freedom), the club first appeared on the Yugoslavian sports scene
in 1946 under the name S.D. Torpedo. It played its first match on November
3rd 1946. By 1947, the name was changed to S.D. Metalaca Sarajevo, before
being simplified to FK Sarajevo in 1949.
FK Sarajevo first entered the renowned First League of Yugoslavia after
eliminating Sloga from Novi Sad. FK Sarajevo drew the first match 3-3 in
Novi Sad, but then dominated the second match in Sarajevo 5-1. FK Sarajevo
lasted only one season in the First League before falling out, but made it
back in 1950. From there, FK Sarajevo remained a stable component of the
First League every year except the 1957-1958 season.
FK Sarajevo quickly gained world-wide fame, making various international
appearances, and playing in a number of prominent European tournaments. The
years 1957-1967 were some of the more prosperous times for the team. Backed
by stars such as Mirsad Fazlagic, Vahidin Musemic, and Asim Ferhatovic (who
is widely remembered as the best Bosnian football player ever), the team
enjoyed great success. In 1967 FK Sarajevo were Champions of the Yugoslavian
First League, breaking a long trend of Croatian and Serbian football
dominance.
Asim Hase Ferhatovic's retirement in 1968 was one of the most important
events in Sarajevo Sport history. The day itself has become something of a
legend, glorified in the notable 80's song Dan Kad Je Otišao Hase (The Day
That Hase Left) by popular Sarajevo garage rock band Zabranjeno Pušenje (No
Smoking). The day that Asim Hase Ferhatovic played his last game, the famous
Sarajevo newspaper the Oslobodenje ran the headline Jedan Je Hase! (There is
Only One Hase!). The success did not stop with Hase's leaving however. From
1948 to 1982, FK Sarajevo played 226 international matches on four
continents. Of these it won 107, drew, 58, and lost 61 with a goal
differential of 570 for to 383 against.
The early 80's turned out to be FK Sarajevo's second golden age. In 1980 FK
Sarajevo were runners up for the Yugoslav First League Championship. By 1982
the team went 2 rounds into the esteemed UEFA Cup before falling to the
eventual runner up R.S.C. Anderlecht. In 1985, FK Sarajevo dominated the
traditional Yugoslavian heavyweights and qualified for the UEFA Champions
League, behind such stars as the legendary Safet Sušic. The good times did
not last however. The next few years saw the decline of FK Sarajevo,
distinguished by the loss of Sušic and poor results.
These difficulties however were minuscule compared to what was to come. The
aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina and siege of Sarajevo in the early
90's stopped almost all cultural life in the capital. For its part, FK
Sarajevo did what it could. Many of FK Sarajevo's supporters, including the
infamous Horde Zla (Hordes of Evil) joined the Bosnian army to defend their
homeland against the agressors, and despite all difficulties FK Sarajevo
played a friendly game against the local peacekeepers in 1994, which it won
4-1.
Since the end of the war, FK Sarajevo have been in the Football Association
of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There they have been one of the most succesfull
and dominant club's in the league's short history, even making several brief
appearances in European competition. In 2004, FK Sarajevo legend Safet Sušic
was voted Bosnia and Herzegovina's best player of the last 50 years to mark
UEFA's Golden Jubilee.
Notable Figures
Mirsad Fazlagic
Asim Ferhatovic
Vahidin Musemic
Safet Sušic
Achievements
Yugoslavian First League Champions: 2
1967, 1985
Yugoslavian First League Runners Up: 2
1965, 1980
Yugoslavian Cup Runners Up: 2
1967, 1982
Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina Champions: 1
1999
Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup: 2
1997, 1998
Supporters
The supporters of the team are known as Horde Zla (Hordes of Evil). The
team's supporters were historically called Pitari while an individual was,
and is still, known as a Pitar. Their rowdyness during the matches of the
time provoked accusations of being dangerous. The Horde Zla originated after
a game in the late 80's, when several members of the Pitars created a new
identity based on a Zagor comic book of the same name. Today, Pitari and
Horde Zla are interchangeable.
Supporters of FK Sarajevo come from many parts of the city and country. The
older parts of Sarajevo are particularly known as a fan base, as are some
traditionally Bosniak neighberhoods (although the team's supporters are not
limited to any one religion, and have always included fans from all three of
Bosnia and Herzegovina's major ethnicities). |
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