NK MIK CM Celje

Football club infobox
clubname = NK Celje


fullname = Nogometni klub Celje
nickname = "Grofje" (counts)
founded = 1919
ground = Arena Petrol, Celje
capacity = 13,400
chairman = Marjan Vengust
manager = Slaviša Stojanovič
league = 1.SNL
season = 2007-08
position = 7th
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NK Celje is one of the oldest Slovenian football (soccer) clubs. They are based in Celje, Slovenia's third largest city. They play in First Slovenian League named PrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije. Together with ND Gorica and NK Maribor they are the only club participating in 1. SNL since its formation in 1991.

History

NK Celje have been among the best Slovenian football clubs for some time now. They have a long tradition as they were formed in 1919 as SK Celje. Soon after second world war, in 1946, the club changed its name to NK Kladivar (expressionistic term in Slovene for a "blacksmith"). In 1964 they qualified for Yugoslav Second League where they played for two years in a row.

In 1992, year after Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia, the club again changed its name, this time to Publikum. They reached the finals of Slovenian Cup in 1993 and 1995, but lost on both occasions, having been beaten by Olimpija Ljubljana and Mura. In 2003 NK Celje was in a title race with Maribor until the very last, but in the end finished second in the PrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije and also lost Slovenian cup finals against Olimpija Ljubljana. Two years later in 2005 the club reached Slovenian cup finals for the third time and on this occasion they finally lifted their first trophy, beating ND Gorica with 1:0 in front of their own fans on Arena Petrol. NK Celje were also in the finals the next year, but this time lost to FC Koper after penalty shootout.

Achievements

*Slovenian Cup: 1::2004/05

Stadiums

Club has two football stadiums, the Arena Petrol and Skalna Klet, where members of the first team train most of the time.

Domestic league and cup results

:*Best results are highlighted.

Current squad

"As of October 2008" [http://www.nk-celje.si/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=64]

External links

*sl icon [http://www.nk-celje.si/ Official Site]