FK Željezničar Sarajevo

FK Željezničar

Full name	Fudbalski Klub Željezničar
Nickname(s)	Željo [1] Plavi (The Blues)
Founded	19 September 1921
Ground	Grbavica Stadium
Capacity	12.000
Chairman	Vedran Vukotić
Manager	Slavko Petrović
League	Premier League
2015–16	5th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Sport clubs of SD Željezničar
Football	Basketball (Men's)	Basketball (Women's)
Handball	Skiing	Shooting
Judo	Chess	Volleyball
Table Tennis	Weightlifting	Mountaineering

Fudbalski klub Željezničar (English: Football Club Željezničar) is the biggest and most successful Bosnian 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. In Bosnia, the club is traditionally known for producing talented players, rather than signing them. The club usually relies on selling its most talented players at the end of each season ^[2] to survive financially.

During the time of the former Yugoslavia, FK Željezničar were national champions once in the 1971–72 season, qualifying the club for the European Cup during the 1972–73 season where they were eliminated in the first round. The club has also finished as runners-up once in the league, as well as playing in a 1980–81 Yugoslav Cup final. In Europe, the club is most famous for reaching both the UEFA Cup semi-finals during the 1984–85 season and the quarter-finals during the 1971–72 season.

The club is the first Bosnian team to reach the UEFA Cup semifinals and one of the few teams ever to do so from Yugoslavia. Željezničar is the most successful football team in present-day Bosnia, having won 6 Bosnian championships, 5 Bosnian Cups and 3 Bosnian Supercups. The club has never qualified for UEFA Champions League (post European Cup) as best club could reach was 2002–03 Champions League third qualifying round, losing to Newcastle United 0–5 on aggregate. Their Local town rival is FK Sarajevo, who competes with them in the Sarajevo derby. Zeljeznicar has historically dominated the derby

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 de Setúbal.^[3] The club has produced many Yugoslav and Bosnian greats, including Ivica Osim, Božo Janković, Mehmed Baždarević, Josip Katalinski, Edin Bahtić, Haris Škoro, Dželaludin Muharemović, Almir Gredić, Edin Višća and Edin Džeko.

History

Pre-independence (1921–1992)

Željezničar was formed by a 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, most of them on an ethnic basis: Bosniaks, Serbs, Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Jews. But Željezničar was a club for the common people, people interested in football and fun. Since it was a financially poor club, they used to organize dance nights and all the profits made were later used to buy shoes and balls.

Financial problems were not the only ones. The club's multiethnicity was seen as a threat by many, so Željezničar was suppressed in various ways. Despite that, the club managed to survive, and even beat stronger and wealthier clubs. The first official match, a friendly, was played at Kovačići, a Sarajevo settlement, on September 17, 1921 against SAŠK which resulted in 1–5 defeat. The next day another game was played a 1–2 loss vs Sarajevski ŠK.^[4]

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 the champions of the other Yugoslav republics. Soon after, Sarajevo citizens formed a new club called FK Sarajevo, the club that has remained a major irritant to Željezničar fans (known as The Maniacs) until today. 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 (the last time in the 1976–77 season), but every time (except the first time in 1947) it returned quickly.

UEFA Cup 1971–72 quarter-finalists

The club first appeared in European competitions during the 1963–64 Mitropa Cup, however serious competitions had to wait until the early 1970s when the team finished the 1970–71 Yugoslav First League season in second position, a result which allowed the club to play in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup where they made the quarter-finals on their very first appearance losing to Ferencvárosi on the away goals rule.

1971–72 Yugoslav champions

1971–72 Yugoslav First League table (top 5 only):

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Željezničar (C)	34	21	9	4	55	20	+35	51	1972–73 European Cup
2	Red Star Belgrade	34	19	11	4	57	21	+36	49
3	OFK Belgrade	34	17	11	6	56	26	+30	45
4	Vojvodina	34	15	12	7	50	38	+12	42
5	Partizan	34	15	9	10	41	35	+6	39

Mehmed Baždarević, current manager of Bosnia national football team, scored two goals in 1980–81 Yugoslav Cup final.

Their greatest domestic success at the time came in the 1971–72 season when the team won the championship title, their only top-tier title in the Yugoslav period, which qualified the club for the European Cup during the 1972–73 season where they were eliminated in the first round by Derby County.

FK Željezničar also finished in third place in the top-tier league on two occasions in a league traditionally dominated by the big four clubs (Red Star Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb).

1980–81 Marshal Tito Cup finalists

In the 1980–81 season, Željezničar reached the Yugoslav cup final (Marshal Tito Cup), but lost 2–3 to another Bosnian side Velež Mostar with both Mehmed Baždarević and Vahid Halilhodžić scoring a brace for their respective teams. The venue for the final was Stadion Crvene Zvezde in Belgrade played in front of 40,000 fans. That season Željezničar finished the 1980–81 Yugoslav First League in a disappointing 14th position which meant the club did not play in Europe even though it made the Yugoslav Cup final.

UEFA Cup 1984–85 semi-finalists

Ivica Osim, former manager, reached the 1984–85 UEFA Cup semi-finals with the club.

Željezničar's biggest international result was recorded in the 1984–85 season when the team, led by manager Ivica Osim, reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup (renamed to UEFA Europa League since the 2009–10 season) where they were eliminated by Hungarian team Videoton, having finished the domestic championship in third place to qualify for the competition.^[5] Željezničar appeared to have had the result at home, leading 2–0 (3–3 on aggregate) against the Hungarians that would send them into a final against Spanish club Real Madrid on the away goals rule; however, two minutes from full-time Videoton scored a crucial goal, eliminating the home side 4–3 on aggregate. Edin Bahtić finished the competition as second-top scorer with 7 goals, one short of József Szabó.^[6]

Prior to this success, the team played the quarter-final stage of the inaugural year of the UEFA Cup competition.

Post-independence (1992–present)

Downtown Grbavica during the war time.

After the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina the war broke out and football stopped. The game between Željezničar and FK Rad scheduled to be played on 5 April 1992 at Stadion Grbavica as part of Round 26 of 1991–92 Yugoslav First League was abandoned 35 minutes (14:55 p.m. local time) before kick-off due to gunfire around the stadium, a result of first attack on Sarajevo.^[7][8] Ultimately, the clubs final completed match in the Yugoslav Championship was a 6-1 defeat on 29 March 1992 in Belgrade against Partizan. Players like Mario Stanić, Rade Bogdanović, Gordan Vidović, Suvad Katana and many others had days earlier went abroad to escape the horror of war leaving it up to junior players to play out remaining rounds of the championships. However all of Zeljeznicar's matches in the 2nd half of the 1991–92 season were declared void due to rule, as the club could not play out remaining matches due to ensuing war. In 25 (out of possible 33) rounds completed, the club collected 6 wins, 4 draws and 15 losses, with 22:42 goal difference.

The stadium was right on the front lines, and on 7 May 1992 western side was destroyed along with SD Željezničar premises near by,^[7] however Željezničar managed to take part in the 1994–95 First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina championship playing its home matches in Grbavica. The fourth-place result was not as important as simply taking part.

The war ended in 1995 so a regular championship was formed contested only by Bosniak and Croatian clubs with Serbian clubs joining some years later.

Modern era; new beginnings

Sanel Jahić, pictured in APOEL FC shirt, appeared 37 times, scoring 19 goals for Željezničar.

During the 1998 championship, a play-off was held and the final match on 5 June saw two big city rivals playing for the trophy. FK Sarajevo played well, their shots were cleared from the goal-line twice. In the 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. That was the only goal of the game which brought his club its first championship title in independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among Željezničar club fans, this day, titled "Zubandan", is celebrated every year.

FK Željezničar are the only club that were able to defend their title in the Premier League, as champions in the 2000–01 and 2001–02 season under the command of Ivica Osim's son, Amar Osim. The club repeated this success again in the early 2010s. Under Amar's command, Željezničar also won the 2000–01 national cup, which completed the double, the first time any club in Bosnia and Herzegovina achieved that, securing also the 2001 Bosnian Super Cup. In 2001–02 they were runners-up in the cup, but were not able to defend their Bosnian Super Cup title (even though they won the league) as it was discontinued. Amar was dismissed from the club in October 2003 after the club was runner-up in 2002–03 season, won the 2002–03 national cup and reached the club's biggest European success since competing as part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina league, that is the 2002–03 Champions league third qualifying round which they lost against Newcastle United.^[9] They continued their journey in the UEFA Cup, losing to Málaga due to a penalty they scored in the second leg. Željezničar finished as runners-up both seasons after Amar Osim's departure. After they secured qualification for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup through their league position, they failed to get a licence for European competition, missing out on substantial financial gain from UEFA. This led to many problems for the club, and over the next four seasons Željezničar struggled in the middle of the league.

As the best Bosnian club, the club played in European cups every year. The biggest result (for Bosnian club football as well since independence) came in 2002, when Željezničar reached the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, having eliminated Akraness and Lillestrøm in previous rounds to get there. Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle United, captained by Alan Shearer, were too strong, winning 5–0 on aggregate when Sanel Jahić received a red card in the 69th minute of the reverse leg at St James' Park. The game was held at Koševo Stadium in front of 36,000 fans from all over Bosnia, and to this day is among the best attended games in Bosnian club football history, although short of a match at the same stadium between the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team's 2–1 friendly win over Italy in November 1996, which was attended by 40,000. Newcastle United reached the second, group stage of the tournament.

The club as result of losing to Newcastle United entered UEFA Cup 2002–03 third qualifying round but lost to Málaga who were an eventual quarter-finalist.

Osim returns; multiple champions

Locomotive is symbol of the club

With the return of Amar Osim in summer 2009, Željezničar once more claimed the title in the 2009–10 season, but failed to take the double as they lost in the final of the 2009–10 Bosnian cup to Borac on away goals, while remaining undefeated. In the following 2010–11 season, the club failed to defend their Premier League title, finishing third. However the club managed to win the national cup instead, their fourth, against Čelik. During the 2011–12 season, they brought back the league title to Grbavica, their seventh domestic league title, three rounds before the end of the season, breaking many records on the way (run of 35 games without loss; 12 straight league wins; 3 seasons in Bosnian Cup competition without loss).^[10] Željezničar also won the 2011–12 Bosnian cup, claiming their second double in their history, both won under the coaching of Amar Osim.^[11][12] As a result, Amar Osim became the most successful manager in terms of trophies won since the creation of the football club, with nine. The club is yet to lose a single Bosnian Cup match since the first round of the 2008–09 Bosnian Cup season, having won two Cup finals and losing one on aggregate since the 2008–09 season.

During the 2010–11 season Željezničar won their fourth cup of Bosnia and 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.

In season 2011–12 Željezničar has won their 6th title in the team's existence. They won the title with three rounds left in the competition. They repeated the successful campaign in cup competition also when they won the title with 1–0 on aggregate against Široki Brijeg. That was the first double for any club since unified Bosnia and Herzegovina football competitions started in 2002–03 season.

European results in decline

Edin Džeko, pictured in Manchester City shirt, began his career at FK Željezničar.

Since 2005, financial problems (due to continuous slow recovery from Bosnian War), frequent coaching and player changes and weak club management, resulted in poor results and supporters' disappointment. Upcoming privatization and the stadium ownership issue are two major causes of the club's problems. Supporters have boycotted the club and the attendance at the time was lowest in years. In 2010 the team had many changes including the chairman and the coach President FK Željezničar Sabahudin Žujo and Nijaz Brković all replaced. Fans tend to fill up stadiums only when the club plays versus a big European club in UEFA preliminary stages.

In Europe, club struggles to advance to group stages of UEFA club competitions. It is a very poor record for a club with such a football pedigree (UEFA Cup 1984–85 semi-finalists).^[13]

After Bosnia and Herzegovina independence, all continental football competitions organized by UEFA, Željezničar hosts at the Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium (Koševo Stadium) as Grbavica stadium (which is used in domestic League and Cup only) does not satisfy UEFA requirements. Looking from the positive perspective, the club rarely loses at home in Sarajevo, and statistics show that in all minor European tournaments, Željezničar has only lost 5 home matches from 35 played (not including European Cup/UEFA Champions League), while the away statistics show the team tends to win less away, with only 8 won from 35 played. Željezničar is far less successful when playing in UEFA Champions League preliminary stages, having faced 8 opponents, it only triumphed versus two on aggregate over the course of clubs history.

Stadium

Stadium Grbavica view toward north

When the club was founded, it had no stadium. There were several football grounds in Sarajevo, but other clubs didn't want to allow Željezničar to use them. So the club used a military training pitch called Egzercir which wasn't actually a football ground. However, it was the best ground they could get and will always be remembered as the club's first pitch. Egzercir was located in a part of Sarajevo known as Čengić Vila. In 1932 a new ground was built in Pofalići (yet another part of Sarajevo), close to the railway station. It wasn't much better than the last one, but it was built by the club and because of that it had a special meaning.

After World War II, Željezničar played at the "6 April" Stadium in Marijin Dvor (there is a building now behind the technical sciences secondary school) until 18 June 1950. Authorities planned to build a street, so the club made another move to military stadium in Skenderija. Club staff was tired of all that moving and they decided to build its own stadium in Grbavica (also part of the city). Friends, supporters, members of the club and even military, all helped in construction. Stadium was officially opened on 13 September 1951. with the second league match between Željezničar and Šibenik. Željezničar won 4–1.

Ever since, Grbavica has been a place of joy and sorrow for the club and its supporters. Symbolically, the old railway line passed over the hill behind the stadium, and every time a train went by during a match it would sound its whistle to salute the fans. The stadium had small stands on the east and south side, while wooden stands with a roof were located on the west side. Because of the reconstruction, Željezničar moved again in 1968 to Koševo Stadium. They played there until 25 April 1976 and even won the club's only Yugoslav title in 1972 playing there.

Grbavica was opened again that year, and in the '80s modern northern stands were built. Unfortunately, war began in 1992 and Željezničar yet again needed to play on Koševo Stadium until 2 May 1996 when it came back to Grbavica. During the 1990s war the stadium suffered heavy structural damage. The stadium was located between the first front lines and endured heavy fighting. Bosnian Serbs' forces burned the wooden terraces. It was not until 1996 that a football match would be played here again. Symbolically, the first match after the war was the local derby. Wooden stands that burned up during the war will be rebuilt as part of a project for new modern stadium but is on hold waiting for financial back-up.

Before the war, stadium capacity was more than 20,000, but now it officially has 8,898 seated places, but some 8,000 more can fill the unseated parts of the stadium.

Name of the club

Ćevabdžinica "Željo" in Sarajevo named after the club serving Sarajevski ćevap.

Željezničar was formed as RŠD Željezničar (Radničko športsko društvo, eng. Workers' sports society). Željezničar means railwayman or railway worker. Later it was known as FK Željezničar (Fudbalski klub, eng. football club), and was a part of SD Željezničar (Sportsko društvo, eng. sports society) which includes the clubs in other sports (basketball, handball, volleyball, chess, bowling, etc.) with the same name. In 1993, initial acronym was changed to NK (Nogometni klub, eng. football club). In Bosnian, both fudbal and nogomet are equally used as a word for football. The word fudbal is dominant in eastern and nogomet in western parts of the country. Since 2000, club's name is officially with initial FK again.

In the modern times, there is even a restaurant named after the club's name. Such example is the national dish Ćevapi restaurant at the heart of Sarajevo called Ćevabdžinica "Željo".

Colours

Blue is traditionally colour of railway workers in this part of Europe. Since the club was founded by the railway workers, blue was a logical choice. Standard navy blue colour was always on the club's crest, but it is a different story with kits. Sometimes they were light blue, sometimes regular blue, and sometimes navy blue as it is on the crest. Sometimes kits were blue and white vertical striped. For some games in 1999–00 season, kits were striped horizontally, and in 2002–03 season they were even dark grey, without any traces of blue. Away kit was always white.

On the left side of the kit, by the heart, stands a crest. Since the foundation of the club, standard elements of the crest were ball and wings, also a traditional railway symbol. These standard elements were changed in design several times in the past. Some other elements were added or excluded in some periods of history. For example, circle around the original crest was added in the 1990s. From 1945. to 1992. red five-pointed star stood in place of the ball, and words "The Maniacs", "Sarajevo", "1987" and others were moved form one part of the crest to another many times. Current design dates back to 2000.

• 

  F.K.Željezničar logo during SFR Yugoslavia

• 

  F.K.Željezničar logo recently after the war

Supporters

FK Željezničar main supporter group are called Manijaci (The Maniacs). There is also subgroups like Blue Tigers, Joint Union, Urban Corps, Stari Grad and Vendetta.^[14]

In popular culture, Stole Anđelović (Stole iz Bora) – a passionate club supporter from Bor, is known decades (over 40 years) for traveling 450 km to attend most FK Željezničar Sarajevo home games, and was a long time supporter of Yugoslav national team as well as fan of Ivica Osim.^[15][16]

Rivalry

Sarajevo derby (Vječiti derbi)

The Maniacs slogan: For entire life.

Željezničar has a fierce rivalry with their city-rivals Sarajevo, which is known as the Sarajevo derby, the biggest derby in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is contested regularly since both teams are part of the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Many Željezničar supporters say that "Željo is a matter of philosophy, and Sarajevo a matter of geography". This saying explains the feelings of fans about their history, existence and even reason why they support Željezničar and not FK Sarajevo. Famous Sarajevo derby, known across the Southeast Europe, is generally considered as one of few with the best atmosphere. But there is one thing that separates it from similar ones in the region and rest of the world – fans of these clubs are enemies only for the time needed for game to be played. It is not rare that father and son, two brothers, or husband and wife, are on the opposite sides. They don't speak to each other that day. But when the game ends, provocations are something of a tradition, strangest bets are needed to be fulfilled. And everybody is waiting for the next one. Although, incidents between younger fans can be seen in recent years.

During 2015-16 season the club beat FK Sarajevo both home and away, a first time the club has beaten Sarajevo away at Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium in 12 years.^[17]

Željezničar-Borac Banja Luka rivalry

Stadium Grbavica view toward south

Also another notable rivalry started to shape in recent years. Since the season 2008–09, the time when Borac started to be standard in the Premier League once again, a great rivalry started to develop between the two teams. Starting from 2009–10 season the two teams mainly competed against each other for one of the title (the league title or national cup) and even the attendance almost got on pair with the Sarajevo derby. The rivalry also has a root in the fact that Sarajevo and Banja Luka are, by a good margin, the two biggest cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first being also the capital of the whole country while the second takes the role as the de facto capital of Republika Srpska entity. Since independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina the teams met each other 22 times (6 of which are in national cup), although they played the first time against each other in 1947 Yugoslav Cup. In those 22 matches, Željezničar won 12 times, while Borac managed to win 7 times, with 3 matches ending in a draw. The goal difference is 31:19 in favor of Željezničar (Not including results from 2015–16 season).

Kit manufacturers

Period	Kit Provider	Shirt Sponsor
1971–		Unioninvest [18]
1980–81		Šipad [19]
1981–		Gro Put Sarajevo [20]
1984–88	Adidas [21]
1985–		Zetatrans [22]
1990–		Tehnika [23]
1993–94	Lotto	Intersport [24]
1997–		Drina [25]
1998–		Bosnalijek [26]
2002–03	Diadora	Bosnalijek [27]
2003–05		Liqui Moly [28]
2005–06	Legea
2006–07	Joma
2007–09		Logosoft
2009–10		CODE
2010–11	Legea
2011–12	Macron
2012–13	Patrick	Sarajevo Osiguranje
2013–2016	Joma	UniCredit Bank
2016–	Diadora

Club seasons

FK Željezničar Sarajevo is the most decorated club from Bosnia and Herzegovina having won most Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cups and Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina titles.

Honours

League Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Winners (6): 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13 (Record) Runners-Up (4): 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2014–15 Yugoslav First League: Winners (1): 1971–72 Runners-up (1): 1970–71 Yugoslav Second League: Winners (3): 1956–57 (zone II A), 1961–62 (west), 1977–78 (west) Runners-up (1): 1953–54 People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina League: Winners (1): 1946 [29]

Cup Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup: Winners (5): 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12 (Record) Runners-up (3): 1996–97, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2012–13 Yugoslav Cup: Runners-up (1): 1980–81 Super Cup of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Winners (3): 1998, 2000, 2001 (Record) [29] UEFA Cup: Semi-finals (1): 1984–85 Quarter-finals (1): 1971–72

Doubles

• Premier League and National Cup (2): 2000–01, 2011–12 (Record)

Especially short competitions such as the Super Cup of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Intercontinental Cup (now defunct), FIFA Club World Cup or UEFA Super Cup are not generally considered to contribute towards a Double or Treble, but they contribute to the bigger tuples.

Željezničar in Europe

FK Željezničar Sarajevo has played more games in European competitions than any other football team from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As of 6 August 2015

Competition	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
European Cup / Champions League	16	4	1	11	13	31	−18
UEFA Cup / Europa League	46	18	12	16	60	54	+6
International Football Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup	6	2	3	1	9	7	+2
Mitropa Cup	16	7	5	4	23	15	+8
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	2	0	0	2	7	9	−2
Total	86	29	21	34	112	116	-4

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goals difference. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.

Best results in European competitions

Season	Achievement	Notes
UEFA Cup
1971–72	Quarter-final	eliminated on penalties by Ferencváros 2–1 in Budapest, 1–2 in Sarajevo
1984–85	Semi-final	eliminated by Videoton 2–1 in Sarajevo, 1–3 in Fehérvár
Mitropa Cup
1963–64	Semi-final	eliminated by MTK Budapest 1–1 in Sarajevo, 0–1 in Budapest
1968–69	Semi-final	eliminated by Sklo Union Teplice 1–1 in Sarajevo, 1–2 in Teplice

Records

• Biggest ever league victory: Željezničar – Barkohba 18:0 (23 March 1925, Second Sarajevo division)
• Biggest ever league defeat: 1:9 on several occasions
• Biggest Yugoslav first division victory: Željezničar – Maribor 8:0 (29 August 1971)
• Biggest Yugoslav first division defeat: Dinamo Zagreb – Željezničar 9:1 (29 September 1946)
• Biggest Sarajevo derby victory by Željezničar: Željezničar – Torpedo 9:1 (29 December 1946)
• Biggest Bosnian league victory: Željezničar – Krajina Cazin 8:0 (31 March 2001)
• Biggest Bosnian league victory: Željezničar – Leotar Trebinje 8:0 (28 August 2010)
• Biggest Bosnian league defeat: Zmaj od Bosne – Željezničar 9:1 (4 November 1995)
• Most overall official appearances: Blagoje Bratić (343)
• Most league appearances: Hajrudin Saračević (313)
• Most league games without loss (Bosnia-Herz): 35 games (Season 2011–2012)
• Most straight wins (Bosnia-Herz): 12 league games
• Most overall official goals: Josip Bukal, Dželaludin Muharemović (127)
• Most league goals: Dželaludin Muharemović (112)
• Most league goals in a season by team: 113 (2000–01)
• Most league goals in a season by player: 31 (Dželaludin Muharemović in 2000–01 season)
• Most capped player: Mehmed Baždarević (54 caps for Yugoslavia, 2 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Record departures

	Player	To	Fee	Year
1.	Semir Štilić	Lech Poznań	€800.000	2008[30]
=2.	Amir Hadžiahmetović	Konyaspor	€500.000	2016[31]
=2.	Riad Bajić	Konyaspor	€500.000	2015[32]
3.	Ibrahim Šehić	Mersin İdmanyurdu	€425.000	2011[30]
4.	Edin Višća	İstanbul B.B.	€400.000	2011[30]
5.	Nermin Zolotić	Gent	€350.000	2014[30]
6.	Samir Bekrić	Incheon United	€300.000	2010[30]
7.	Boubacar Dialiba	Real Murcia	€150.000	2008[30]
8.	Adnan Gušo	Spartak Moscow	€120.000	2001
9.	Josip Kvesić	Antalyaspor	€115.000	2015[33]

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Irfan Fejzić 2 DF Siniša Stevanović 3 DF Amar Beširević[upper-alpha 1] 4 DF Matteo Boccaccini (on loan from Brescia) 5 DF Aleksandar Kosorić (captain) 6 DF Kerim Memija 7 DF Sanel Jahić 8 MF Darko Marković 10 MF Samir Bekrić (vice-captain) 11 MF Jovan Blagojević 13 GK Vedran Kjosevski 15 DF Jadranko Bogičević 16 DF Srđan Stanić 20 MF Zajko Zeba 21 FW Dženis Beganović

No. Position Player 23 FW Stevo Nikolić 24 FW Ivan Lendrić 25 MF Uglješa Radinović 27 DF Kemal Osmanković 29 FW Ajdin Mujagić 30 GK Aldin Ćeman 39 MF Denis Žerić 40 GK Emir Ćutahija 80 MF Sandi Križman 88 MF Miroslav Stevanović — MF Dino Hasanović — MF Anel Šabanadžović[upper-alpha 1] — DF Haris Kurtović[upper-alpha 1] — MF Aldin Hrvanović[upper-alpha 1] — MF Meldin Jusufi[upper-alpha 1]

Players with multiple nationalities

• Srđan Stanić
• Sanel Jahić
• Vedran Kjosevski
• Aleksandar Kosorić
• Miroslav Stevanović
• Stevo Nikolić

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — MF Damir Sadiković (at Krško until 30 June 2017)

Club officials

Coaching staff

Name Role Slavko Petrović Head coach TBD Assistant coach Aldin Čenan Head scout Haris Alihodžić Team manager Almir Seferović Fitness coach Elvis Karić Goalkeeping coach Erdijan Pekić Commissioner for Security Zlatko Dervišević Doctor Edin Kulenović Doctor Raif Zeba Physiotherapist Mirza Halvadžija Physiotherapist Other information Honorary Chairman of the Club Ivica Osim Chairman of the Assembly Ermin Pešto Chairman of the Supervisory Board Senad Misimović Chairman of the Board Vedran Vukotić Director Mirsad Šiljak Team manager Haris Alihodžić Head coach Slavko Petrović Ground (capacity and dimensions) Grbavica Stadium (12,000 / 105x66 m) Source: Željezničar and Grbavica Stadium

Club ranking

UEFA coefficient

Correct as of 29 August 2016.^[34][35] The table shows the position of Željezničar (highlighted), based on their UEFA coefficient club ranking, and four clubs, which are closest to Željezničar's position (the two clubs with the higher coefficient and the two with the lower coefficient).

2016	2015	Mvmt.	Club	2012–13	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	Points
263	297	+34	AFK Aarhus	1.160	0.760	0.580	1.100	1.250	4.850
264	309	+45	Nõmme Kalju	0.325	1.700	0.800	0.700	1.275	4.800
265	236	−21	Željezničar	1.250	1.300	0.850	1.300	0.100	4.800
266			Zagłębie Lubin	0.500	0.625	0.950	1.100	1.575	4.750
264	267	−3	Piast Gliwice	0.500	0.625	0.950	1.100	1.075	4.750

Notes

1. Player with an apprenticeship contract.

References

1. "Osim card coming up trumps at Željezničar (Željo for short)". uefs.com. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
2. "Berjan: Željo je dobijao aplauz po cijeloj Jugoslaviji". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
3. Europe's Club of the Century retrieved from www.iffhs.de, 13 September 2009
4. "Osnivanje kluba – FKZ". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
5. 1984–85 UEFA Cup Results at RSSSF.com
6. Edin Bahtić Goals scored 1984–85 UEFA Cup source
7. "PALJBA NA GRBAVICI". oslobodjenje.ba. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
8. 5 April 1992 was the date of the first attack on Sarajevo by the JNA and Serb paramilitaries and is considered the beginning of the siege.
9. Newcastle get their reward (vs FK Željezničar)
10. "Povratak na stari kolosijek". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
11. Fuad Krvavac (16 May 2012). "Željezničar clinch Bosnian-Herzegovinian Cup". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
12. Fuad Krvavac (9 May 2012). "Željezničar regain Bosnian league title". uefa.com. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
13. V. Vukmirovic (23 July 2014). "How to be a host where you are not one (Kosevo)". sportsport.ba. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
14. "Željezničar Podgrupe (Fan Sub-support groups)". themaniacs.org. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
15. "Stole (iz Bora) Anđelović 1990s interview". nileaoux nile YouTube kanal. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
16. "ŽELJO TV: Stole iz Bora 2010s interview". FK Željezničar YouTube kanal. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
17. sportsport.ba (24 April 2016). "Željina dupla pobjeda tek osma u historiji derbija" (in Bosnian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
18. "Željo TV – Nova sezona – epizoda 51 – Unioninvest sponsor". Zvanični YouTube kanal FK Željezničar. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
19. "Fudbalski Klub Željezničar – Šipad sponsor". themaniacs.org. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
20. "Fudbalski Klub Željezničar – Gro Put Sarajevo sponsor". themaniacs.org. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
21. "Željezničar je evropski hit". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
22. "Rođen Mehmed Baždarević – Meša". historija.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
23. "Grbavica me oblikovala i kao igrača i kao čovjeka". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
24. "Fudbalski Klub Željezničar – Intersport sponsor". themaniacs.org. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
25. "Željezničar 1997/1998 group photo – Drina sponsor". themaniacs.org. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
26. "Izdizanje iz pepela". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
27. "Prije 13 godina na prepunom Koševu Plavi ugostili Newcastle". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
28. "Godine za zaborav". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
29. "Željezničar klub Uspjesi 1946". fkzeljeznicar.ba. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
30. "Svi transferi Željezničara u posljednjih deset godina". sarajevski.ba. 2015.
31. "Amir Hadžiahmetović potpisao za Konyaspor". scsport.ba. 30 January 2016.
32. "Najveći transfer u historiji Željezničara: Bajić potpisao na tri godine sa Konyasporom". scsport.ba. 8 August 2015.
33. "Zasluge idu Odi, Željo izgleda bolje nego u prethodnih nekoliko godina". source.ba. 2015.
34. "Club coefficients 2015/16". UEFA official website. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
35. "UEFA Team Ranking 2016". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 29 May 2016.

External links

• Official website (Bosnian)
• Official fan shop website (Bosnian)
• Official supporters' website (Bosnian)