Sarajevo derby

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Sarajevo derby
Other namesEternal derby
LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
TeamsŽeljezničar
Sarajevo
First meeting12 August 1954
Latest meeting3 March 2024
Statistics
Meetings totalTotal: 151
Official: 131 (League competition)
All-time seriesTotal:

The Sarajevo derby, also known as the Eternal derby (Bosnian: Vječiti derbi), is the name given to any football match between rival clubs Željezničar and Sarajevo, the two primary clubs in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the most viewed annual sporting event in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]

During the match, fans usually create a competitive atmosphere with big flags, paper rolls, scarfs and loud chanting. It is not uncommon to see members of the same family on opposite sides, not speaking to each other on the day of the derby, with opposing fans engaging in mutual provocations at the end of the match, eagerly awaiting the next confrontation although, in recent years, this has led to clashes between some younger fans.

Željezničar leads in head-to-head results in competitive matches with 47 wins to Sarajevo's 45 with 59 draws. Along with Zrinjski Mostar and Široki Brijeg, they are the only clubs in the Bosnian Premier League to have never been relegated.[2]

History[edit]

The history of the Sarajevo derby dates back to 1954, but the rivalry began eight years earlier. At the end of the World War II the three major clubs in Sarajevo, Đerzelez, SAŠK and Slavija, were disbanded by the new authorities[3] which formed FK Sarajevo in 1946. Since the idea was for this new club to represent the city on a national level, SD Torpedo, as initially FK Sarajevo was called, needed the best players from the city. Numerous notable players were brought to the club, and they received good salaries for that time. On the other side, FK Željezničar Sarajevo is a club which was formed by a group of railway workers much earlier, in 1921. However, until then, during the pre-war period, they were in the shadow of Đerzelez, SAŠK and Slavija and had never managed to qualify to the Yugoslav Championship. Željezničar won the second-tier Bosnian championship title in 1946, as part of the Yugoslav football league system, and that achievement marked the beginning of their climb. After the war, these two clubs became the most prominent and successful clubs in Sarajevo, and since then, the rivalry between the two has been intense.

FK Sarajevo supporters were considered to be upper-class individuals, mainly from Bosniak dominated old and central parts of town. On the other side, supporters of FK Željezničar were usually working-class with liberal image. Those differences were later partly erased. Both clubs have supporters from all classes and from all ethnic groups, even if FK Sarajevo fan base is still very predominately Bosniak. FK Željezničar has the image of a liberal club and they are popular even among other supporters in the region, while FK Sarajevo's support outside Sarajevo comes mostly from the Bosniak dominated areas in the region and diaspora.[citation needed]

Since they played in different levels, first matches between FK Željezničar and FK Sarajevo were friendlies. The first official league match was held in 1954; FK Sarajevo won 6–1. That is still the biggest victory by any team in these matches.

As of 3 March 2024, 131 league matches have been played. Željezničar have won 39 times, Sarajevo have won 37 times, while 55 matches ended in a draw. Goal difference is 151:150 in Sarajevo's favour. In all competitions, Željezničar and Sarajevo have played 151 times, Željezničar have won 47 times, Sarajevo have won 45 times and 59 games have ended in a draw.

Honours[edit]

FK Sarajevo Competition FK Željezničar
Domestic
5 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6
7 Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup 6
1 Supercup of Bosnia and Herzegovina (defunct) 3
13 Aggregate 15
Yugoslavia Era (1946–1992)
2 Yugoslav First League 1
2 Aggregate 1
15 Total Aggregate 16

All competitions[edit]

As of match played 3 March 2024

The Sarajevo derby is currently played three times a year in the Premier league, but they may also play against one another in other competitions. There are also friendly matches and games played in various tournaments. Although these games are not included in official statistics.

Matches Wins Draws Goals
Sarajevo Željezničar Sarajevo Željezničar
Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina 68 18 18 32 68 64
Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup 14 6 4 4 21 19
Supercup of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 0 1 0 0 4
1992–Present 83 24 23 36 89 87
Yugoslav First League 63 19 21 23 83 86
Yugoslav Cup 5 2 3 0 10 13
1946–1992 68 21 24 23 93 99
Total 151 45 47 59 182 186

Head-to-head ranking in Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina[edit]

P. 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7 7 7 7
8
9 9 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

• Total: FK Sarajevo 16 times higher, FK Željezničar 12 times higher.

Records[edit]

  • Most appearances: Slobodan Janjuš – 21 (16 for Željezničar, 5 for Sarajevo)
  • Best goalscorers: Asim Ferhatović (Sarajevo), Dželaludin Muharemović (Željezničar) – 6 goals
  • Record win: Željezničar – Torpedo 9:1 (29 December 1946, first derby match recorded)
  • Biggest attendance: 55,000 (10 March 1982, Koševo Stadium)
  • Double victory (two wins in a season): Željezničar (1968–69, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20); Sarajevo (1955–56, 1966–67, 1998–99, 2006–07, 2018–19);
  • Longest unbeaten run: 11 games (Sarajevo: 6 June 1963 – 1 December 1968; Željezničar: 15 October 2000 – 5 April 2006)
  • Longest unbeaten run (home): 17 games (Željezničar: 3 April 1977 – 26 October 1997)
  • Longest unbeaten run (away): 6 games (Sarajevo: 2 June 1963 – 29 June 1969; Željezničar: 28 April 2001 – 21 April 2007)
  • Longest winning run: 3 games (Željezničar: 14 May 1988 – 10 December 1989; Sarajevo: 5 April 2006 – 21 April 2007)
  • Longest winning run (home): 3 games (Željezničar two times: 23 August 1981 – 18 March 1984 & 10 October 1999 – 11 May 2002)
  • Longest winning run (away): Two games by both teams on several occasions;
  • Radmilo Mihajlović is the only player to score a hat-trick. (7 September 1986, Željezničar won 4–1)

Note that only league matches are included in statistics. Cup, other tournaments and friendly matches are not included.

Fans[edit]

Club Ultras Stand
FK Željezničar Sarajevo The Maniacs South
FK Sarajevo Horde Zla North
Željezničar supporters at Grbavica Stadium
Željezničar supporters at Grbavica Stadium

Probably the best known thing about the Sarajevo derby are the fans. Fans create an impressive atmosphere with cheering and choreography. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.

FK Željezničar's most passionate fans (wearing blue) are called Manijaci because their love for the club is on the edge of insanity, so it is said. They are located on the South side of stadium (the Holy South as they call it). The older fans ones are known affectionately as the Košpicari (which can metaphorically be translated as "seed eaters", although the name itself has different meaning - namely that of "seed sellers").

FK Sarajevo's most passionate fans (crimson) are called the Horde Zla (Evil hordes) after the popular Zagor comic book.[4][5] In home games at Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, they are located on the North stands, while the older fans are known as the Pitari (similar to the Košpicari etymology except referring to pie and not seeds) and they are mainly on the East side.

When the derby is played on Grbavica Stadium, Horde zla are on the North-East side of the stadium, The Maniacs are on the East, South and West side, while the Pitari and Košpicari are on the North. When the game is played on Koševo, The Maniacs are on the South and South-West side, Horde zla on the North and the East. Pitari are on the East as well. West stands are mixed with both Pitari and Košpicari sitting there.

Results 1946–1992[edit]

Derby FK Sarajevo vs FK Željezničar in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1946–1992
Total games 68 68 Total games
Won 21 21 Lost
Draw 23 23 Draw
Lost 24 24 Won
Goals For 93 93 Goals Against
Goals Against 98 98 Goals For
# Date Stadium Home Score Away Report Watch on YouTube
1 29 December 1946 Stadion 6. april Željezničar 9–1 Torpedo Report
2 30 August 1978 Grbavica Željezničar 4–0 Sarajevo
3 10 March 1982 Koševo Sarajevo 1–2 Željezničar 42,000 attn.

League Results 1992–present[edit]

Stadium Matches Wins
FK Sarajevo
Draws Wins
FK Željezničar
Goals
FK Sarajevo
Goals
FK Željezničar
Koševo 34 11 17 6 39 25
Grbavica 31 7 13 11 28 35
Bilino Polje 1 0 1 0 1 1
Bosnian FA Training Centre 1 0 1 0 0 0
Total matches 67 18 32 17 68 61
# Date Stadium Home Score Away Report Watch on YouTube
1 14 September 1994 Bilino Polje, Zenica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report
2 15 November 1995 Koševo FK Sarajevo 5–0 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
3 2 May 1996 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report Watch on youtube
4 22 September 1996 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report
5 16 April 1997 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–0 FK Željezničar Report
6 26 October 1997 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–2 FK Sarajevo Report Watch on youtube
7 3 May 1998 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–1 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
8 5 June 1998 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–1 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
9 8 August 1998 Koševo FK Sarajevo 3–1 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
10 14 March 1999 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–2 FK Sarajevo Report Watch on youtube
11 10 October 1999 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–0 FK Sarajevo Report
12 6 May 2000 Koševo FK Sarajevo 4–1 FK Željezničar Report
13 23 September 2000 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–0 FK Sarajevo Report
14 28 April 2001 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–3 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
15 11 November 2001 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–2 FK Željezničar Report
16 4 May 2002 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–0 FK Sarajevo Report
17 22 September 2002 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report Watch on youtube
18 13 April 2003 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–1 FK Željezničar Report
19 5 October 2003 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–1 FK Željezničar Report Pogedaj
20 30 April 2004 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–1 FK Sarajevo Report
21 30 October 2004 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–1 FK Željezničar Report
22 30 April 2005 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report
23 15 October 2005 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
24 5 April 2006 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–1 FK Sarajevo Report
25 30 September 2006 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–1 FK Sarajevo Report
26 21 April 2007 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–1 FK Željezničar Report
27 6 October 2007 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–0 FK Sarajevo Report
28 19 April 2008 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
29 8 November 2008 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
30 9 May 2009 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–0 FK Sarajevo Report
31 7 November 2009 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–2 FK Sarajevo Report
32 15 May 2010 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
33 24 October 2010 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–0 FK Sarajevo Report
34 7 May 2011 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
35 5 November 2011 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–0 FK Sarajevo Report Watch on youtube
36 12 May 2012 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–2 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
37 3 November 2012 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–0 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
38 8 May 2013 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–0 FK Sarajevo Report
39 30 October 2013 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report Watch on youtube
40 4 May 2014 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo
41 2 November 2014 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–2 FK Sarajevo
42 16 May 2015 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar
43 4 October 2015 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–0 FK Sarajevo Report
44 24 April 2016 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–1 FK Željezničar
45 23 July 2016 Grbavica FK Željezničar 1–1 FK Sarajevo Report
46 16 October 2016 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar
47 15 April 2017 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–0 FK Sarajevo
48 20 May 2017 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–0 FK Željezničar
49 19 August 2017 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–1 FK Željezničar
50 27 November 2017 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–1 FK Sarajevo
51 15 April 2018 Koševo FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar
52 19 May 2018 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–1 FK Sarajevo Report
53 15 August 2018 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–2 FK Sarajevo Report
54 3 November 2018 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–1 FK Željezničar Report
55 6 April 2019 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–3 FK Sarajevo Report
56 31 August 2019 Grbavica FK Željezničar 5–2 FK Sarajevo Report
57 30 November 2019 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–3 FK Željezničar Report
58 4 November 2020 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–1 FK Željezničar Report
59 1 March 2021 Grbavica FK Željezničar 0–0 FK Sarajevo Report
60 1 May 2021 Koševo FK Sarajevo 3–1 FK Željezničar Report
61 22 September 2021 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–0 FK Željezničar Report
62 5 March 2022 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–0 FK Sarajevo Report
63 10 May 2022 Koševo FK Sarajevo 1–1 FK Željezničar Report
64 26 August 2022 Grbavica FK Željezničar 2–2 FK Sarajevo Report
65 8 March 2023 Bosnian FA Training Centre, Zenica FK Sarajevo 0–0 FK Željezničar Report
66 12 May 2023 Koševo FK Sarajevo 2–2 FK Željezničar Report
67 8 October 2023 Koševo FK Sarajevo 3–0 FK Željezničar Report
68 3 March 2024 Grbavica FK Željezničar 3–0 FK Sarajevo Report
Colors
Sarajevo win
Draw
Željezničar win

Little derby[edit]

Both the two big Sarajevo clubs have a rivalry with Slavija Sarajevo,[6][7] a club dominated by Bosnian Serbs in eastern Sarajevo.[citation needed]

Another football club from Sarajevo was Olimpik; located in the small neighbourhood of Otoka, but their support group was very small.[citation needed]

Olimpik's games between its rivals, FK Sarajevo and FK Željezničar, in town were known as the little town derby (Mali gradski derbi). After Olimpik were relegated from the Premier League in the 2016–17 season, until the 2020–21 season, the little derby was not hosted.[8][9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ K.H. (29 November 2019). "Legende sarajevskog derbija: Ovo je najveća utakmica u BiH" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Samo četiri nogometna kluba u BiH nikada nisu ispadali iz Premijer lige BiH u niži rang takmičenja!". sportskevijesti.com (in Bosnian). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ^ fsks.ba (16 August 2011). "Fudbal u Sarajevu". fsks.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  4. ^ "Horde zla!". stripovi.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Horde zla ZG ZS 641 FK Sarajevo". stripovi.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ^ "SvenskaFans". svenskafans.com.
  7. ^ "Tuča navijača Slavije i Sarajeva koji su neorganizovano došli u Lukavicu (FOTO) (VIDEO)". telegraf.rs.
  8. ^ "Žrijeb Premijer lige BiH: Vječiti derbi Željezničar - Sarajevo u 13. kolu". klix.ba. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Na Dan nezavisnosti BiH mali sarajevski derbi sudi Zeničanin Bureković". 24sata.info. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

External links[edit]