FK Slavija

FK Slavija

Full name	Fudbalski klub Slavija
Founded	1908; 103 years ago (1908)
Ground	Gradski SRC Slavija Stadium, Lukavica, Istočno Sarajevo (Capacity: 6,000)
President	Dragan Kulina
Head coach	Zoran Erbez
League	Premijer liga
2009-10	14th
Home colours Away colours

Fudbalski klub Slavija (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Славија) is football club from Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. FK Slavija is a member of the Football Association of Republika Srpska and it is active in the Premijer liga of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The club's home stadium is Gradski SRC Slavija Stadium.

Dominantly the club of Serbs, Slavija was by far the best club from Bosnia between the two world wars, having played 11 top league seasons (out of possible 16) in Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The only other Bosnia-based club that managed to make it to top national level was Croat-dominated SAŠK (6 seasons).

History

The football club was founded in 1908 as part of the wider sports society of Sarajevo gymnasium students informally known as Đački sportski klub (ĐSK) or Srednjoškolski sportski klub (SSK). Since cultural and social activities in the city in those days mostly revolved around Hotel Evropa and gymnasium, the idea about a sporting club was initiated on those premises. Some of the students visited Zagreb earlier that year where they got introduced to the game of football and brought back the first ball to Sarajevo. Notable individuals who organized club activities in this early period were students Zdravko Jeftanović (son of Hotel Evropa's owner dr. Dušan Jeftanović), Feodor Lukač, Emil Najšul, Sveto Gerovac, Stevo Jokanović, etc. Their early activities were very sporadic and basically clandestine as Austro-Hungarian occupational authorities that just annexed Bosnia instituted a ban on any kind of organized gathering.

In early 1909 the football section got its first pairs of boots and started holding regular practices and training sessions at Sarajevo Polje grounds, more precisely military workout open facility known as Egzercir in Čengić Vila area. Since the open field didn't have any goalposts, the students had to haul them in on foot from the city for every practice and match. ĐSK/SSK also informally took red and white as club colours after Slavia Prague, club that served as inspiration for Slavs throughout Austria-Hungary.

1910s

It wasn't until 1911 that ĐSK played its debut match, defeating a selection of Vienna soldiers 4-2. Throughout 1912, ĐSK played friendlies in parts of Austria-Hungary populated by South Slavs. First such trip outside of Sarajevo was to the city of Split where ĐSK played local side Hajduk. The first match took place on April 7, 1912 and Hajduk won 4-1. A day later on April 8, the teams played another match with ĐSK winning this time 2-1. Curiosity from the Split visit was that posters announcing the two matches around the city billed ĐSK as "Osman" for non-specified reasons. This probably stemmed from the fact that "ĐSK" as club name was informally used even amongst its players so the Split hosts decided to make up a name for their guests' club on the spot. They seemingly found the male Muslim name Osman to be sufficiently funny and decided to print it on the posters as the club's official name.^[1]

From the fall of 1912 as the first of eventually two Balkan Wars started raging nearby, just beyond the Austria-Hungary's eastern borders, ĐSK naturally began fostering Pan-Slavic sentiment, and especially the Yugoslav idea (unification of South Slavs), even harder as national and political aspects of club's activities came to the forefront. While the Balkan League member states (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro) were getting rid of the last remains of Ottoman influence, Slavs within the borders of Austria-Hungary were restless to make some dents in the armour of their own occupiers - the Austro-Hungarian empire. By mid 1913, the Balkan Wars were over with a resounding victory for Slavs (Serbs and Montenegrins) across the border on the other side of river Drina. This had an enormously encouraging effect on Slavs (especially Serbs) in Bosnia. Austro-Hungarian authorities were not oblivious to such developments and their repression got stepped up even further. All of this led to increased tensions and boiling pot atmosphere in the city of Sarajevo.

During the second part of 1913, an ethnic split occurred within the ĐSK organization as certain number of members (all of them ethnic Croats) left ĐSK to form Hrvatski sportski klub, which later became SAŠK. However, most others stayed at the club and soon changed the ĐSK's name to Srpski sportski klub (SSK). The freshly re-named entity attempted to make its existence public and official, and to that end enlisted its connections through dr. Dušan Jeftanović, prominent local industrialist and landowner, and Jovo Šošić. However, Austro-Hungarian authorities wouldn't give an inch - the ban on organized gathering stayed firmly in place. Difficult situation that the club found itself in made its members pull together even harder and by the end of 1913 they managed to build a home ground located at Čurčić Vila in Koševo neighbourhood. However, they wouldn't get to enjoy their new home for long.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip in June 1914 set off a chain of events such as the Austrian July Ultimatum to Serbia, the subsequent Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on Serbia and the eventual outbreak of World War I. The position of Serbs in Bosnia became increasingly difficult. SSK members were no exception as many of them got arrested or forcibly conscripted to fight in the Austro-Hungarian army. The newly-built ground at Čurčić Vila got ransacked and burned by an angry mob of Croats and Bosniaks.

Football quickly became an afterthought and SSK was completely inactive all throughout World War I. After the end of war and the creation of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, SSK reactivated in 1919.

1920s

In 1921 SSK changed its name to SK Slavija. Over the next few years Slavija built a 4,000-capacity stadium in Marijin Dvor area of Sarajevo. In line with its student background the club devoted its potential to developing young players.

Slavija's first appearance in the Kingdom's top football competition took place in 1924. It featured only seven clubs and was played in the cup system. Young Slavija team crashed out at the very first stage, losing the quarterfinal to Belgrade's SK Jugoslavija 2-5.

Next season, 1925, saw Slavija get a quarterfinal bye. However, in semifinal, Jugoslavija was waiting again and Sarajevo club again conceded defeat in Belgrade, although the final score was a little more favourable this time 2-3.

The 1926 season again started with a bye, but semifinal proved to be disastrous as Građanski demolished Slavija 0-7 in Zagreb.

Slavija didn't compete in top competition over the next three seasons.

1930s

The 1930 season saw the return to top flight that now featured six clubs and was played in league system. Slavija finished the season in 5th place with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses, all of which wasn't enough to avoid the drop.

Next chance for top flight football came in 1932/1933 season. By then the competition changed format once more as it was now played in fall-spring league rhythm and expanded to 11 clubs. Slavija finished 9th in the league with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 11 losses, which was just enough to stay afloat.

Football was not played in Kingdom of Yugoslavia during 1933/34 season, so the next opportunity came in 1934/35. The league now featured 10 teams, and Slavija again barely avoided relegation, finishing third from the bottom with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 10 losses.

The 1935/36 season finally provided a much sought breakthrough for Slavija as the club came within a hair of becoming the champion of Yugoslavia. The top league now featured 14 clubs, most ever in its history up to that point. Another change was that the home-and-away cup system was brought back. Led by Milan Rajlić and Slavko Zagorac on the pitch, and Risto Šošić from the bench, Slavija first came up against Cetinje's Crnogorac, beating them 5-4 on aggregate. Next up was Građanski from Skopje in the quarterfinals - after losing the first game 1-2, Slavija recorded a famous 10-1 win in the return leg. This momentum carried into the semifinals against Novi Sad's NAK as Slavija progressed 4-2 on aggregate. That set the stage for the famous two-legged final against the powerhouse BSK team. First leg finished 1-1, but BSK prevailed 0-1 in return.

The competition for the 1936/37 returned to 10 clubs and league system. Encouraged by their previous season's historic runner-up success, Slavija entered the new campaign with high hopes. They were soon dashed, however, as the club recorded 7 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses, which was enough for a mid-table 5th place finish.

Next season was virtually identical with 7 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses that again translated to 5th place in the table. Small consolation was that this was the first time season played in the league system that Slavija didn't have more losses than wins.

Once again just like in World War I, following the Nazi Germany invasion of Kingdom of Yugoslavia the club was inactive until the end of World War II in the Balkans. After the war, SK Slavija was disbanded without any explanation by the new communist authorities. Its stadium at Marijin Dvor was renamed "Šesti april" and used for home matches of FK Željezničar and newly formed SD Torpedo. The stadium was eventually torn down while its stands and bleachers were given to FK Željezničar for use in their Grbavica ground that was under construction.

After the break-up of SFR Yugoslavia, Slavija was re-formed. Since gaining promotion for the 2004/2005 season, Slavija competes in Premijer liga.

Notable players

Although Slavija has always been a club that fostered strong Serbian sentiment, its rosters over the years have also featured some Croats, Bosniaks, Jews, Hungarians, Czechs, Austrians and Germans.

The club almost exclusively relied on its own youth system, which it mostly filled with young players from Sarajevo area, but after it established itself in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia's top league during 1930s, Serbs from other parts of Bosnia started flocking to Slavija as well.

Slavija's most notable player ever was undoubtedly Slavko Zagorac, a classy fullback who spent decade and a half with the club, earning 7 caps for Kingdom of Yugoslavia national football team between 1932 and 1938.

Two other Slavija players had the honour of being capped for the national team. They are Milan Rajlić and Florijan Matekalo who both debuted in 1940 with a single cap each. Petar Manola spent five notable seasons at the club from 1931 until 1936 before transferring to BSK Belgrade.

Then there are Branko Stanković and Predrag Đajić who were promising juniors in Slavija when Nazi Germany invaded and dismembered the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in April 1941. Since the club was disbanded by the time World War II ended, both of them had to find another club. They both landed at newly established Red Star Belgrade where they achieved great careers that led to many appearances for FPR Yugoslavia national football team.

Honours and achievements

National Championships - 0

• Yugoslav First League:

• Runners-up (1): 1935–36

• Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• Runners-up (1): 2008-09

• First League of the Republika Srpska:

• Winners (1): 2003-04

National Cups - 1

• Football Cup of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• Winners (1): 2008-09
• Runners-up (1): 2006-07

• Republika Srpska Cup:

• Winners (1): 2005-06

European record

Season	Competition	Round		Club	Home	Away
2007	UEFA Intertoto Cup	1R		Sant Julià	3-2	3-2
		2R		Oţelul Galaţi	0-0	0-3
2009-10	UEFA Europa League	2Q		Aalborg	3-1	0-0
		3Q		Košice	0-2	1-3

Current squad

As of September 22, 2010

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Ratko Dujković 2 DF Nemanja Milenković 3 DF Đorđe Lackanović 4 DF Bojan Regoje (captain) 5 DF Predrag Papaz 7 FW Dejan Rasevic 8 MF Goran Simić 9 FW Igor Radovanović 10 MF Miljan Radonja 11 MF Ognjen Šehovac 12 GK Nemanja Kulina

No. Position Player 13 FW Nemanja Šešlija 14 MF Novo Papaz 15 MF Ognjen Todorović 16 MF Marko Perišić 17 MF Bojan Jamina 20 MF Levan Kutalia 21 DF Ivan Stanković 22 MF Nikola Ašćerić 23 GK Stefan Tomović 24 DF Saša Radovanović 31 GK Dušan Remić

Notable former players

These players played in the club and have played in national teams:^[2]

Pre-1945 period: Milan Rajlić Branko Stanković Slavko Zagorac

Post-1945 period: Vlastimir Jovanović Ilija Prodanović Bojan Regoje Dai Lin Goran Trobok

For the list of current and former players with Wikipedia article, please see: Category:FK Slavija Sarajevo players.

Supporters

The supporters of the club are known as Sokolovi (Falcons).

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ FK Slavija at National-Football-Teams

External links

• FK Slavija website (Serbian)
• Milomir Odović podnio ostavku, sportin.ba, August 19, 2007
• Dušan Jevrić novi trener Slavije, sportin.ba, September 6, 2007