FK Željezničar Sarajevo

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, unlike Željezničar. 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 embrace of members of all ethnic backgrounds was seen as a threat by many at the time, so Željezničar was suppressed in various ways. Despite that, the club managed to survive, and even beat wealthier clubs. The first official match, a friendly, was played at Kovačići, a Sarajevo settlement, on 17 September 1921 against SAŠK Napredak which resulted in 1–5 defeat. The next day another game was played, a 1–2 loss vs Sarajevski ŠK.[3]

In 1941, World War II came to Sarajevo, and all football activity was stopped. Many footballers were members of the resistance troops, and some of them were killed. After the war, Željo was reborn, and in 1946, it won the Bosnian Republic championship which was one of the 7 regional leagues formed in order to provide participants to the restored Yugoslav championship starting next season. As winners, Željezničar became one of the Bosnian representatives in the Yugoslav top-flight. Soon after, the Sarajevo citizens formed a new club called FK Sarajevo, the club that has remained a major annoyance to Željezničar's fans (known as The Maniacs) until today. That had an influence on the club, so it needed several years to come back to the 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.

Club legend Ivica Osim reached 1984–85 UEFA Cup semi-finals as manager of Željezničar. Father of Amar Osim.

In 1964, the Football Association of Yugoslavia found Željezničar guilty for match fixing. Alongside Željezničar, Hajduk Split and Trešnjevka were found guilty and were ejected from the First Yugoslav League. Among others, Željezničar players Ivica Osim and Mišo Smajlović were banned from football for one year, and executives from Željezničar including then club president Nusret Mahić were banned from football for life. After a month it was decided that the clubs will stay in the league but points will be deducted, six from Željezničar and five from Hajduk and Trešnjevka each.[4]

The club first appeared in European competitions during the 1963 Mitropa Cup, however serious competitions had to wait until the early 1970s when the team finished the 1970–71 Yugoslav First League season in 2nd place, 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 in a penalty shootout.

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

Mehmed Baždarević scored twice in the 1980–81 Yugoslav Cup final. Former Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team manager.

Željezničar's 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.

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, Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb).

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 the Red Star Stadium 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.

Željezničar's best international result was recorded in the 1984–85 season. 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. Željezničar finished the domestic championship in third place in the season before, qualifying them 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.

Grbavica Stadium during the Siege of Sarajevo.

After the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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 the 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 the first attack on Sarajevo.[7][8] Ultimately, the club's 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 Željezničar'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 the ensuing war. In 25 (out of possible 33) rounds completed, the club collected 6 wins, 4 draws and 15 losses, with a 22:42 goal difference.

The stadium was right on the front lines, and on 7 May 1992, the 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 Serb clubs joining some years later.

During the 1997–98 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.

For a long time, Željezničar were the only club that were able to defend their title in the Bosnian 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 Supercup. In the 2001–02 season, they were runners-up in the cup, but were not able to defend their Bosnian Supercup 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 the 2002–03 season, won the 2002–03 national cup and reached the club's biggest European success since competing as part of the Bosnian Premier 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.

Bosnia and Herzegovina national team captain Edin Džeko began his career at Željo.

As the best Bosnian club, the club played in European cups every year. The best 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 Herzegovina, 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 later on in the season.

The club, as result of losing to Newcastle United, entered the UEFA Cup first round, but lost to Málaga who were an eventual quarter-finalist.

Son of Ivica Osim, Amar Osim is the most successful manager in the club's history.

With the return of Amar Osim in the summer of 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 Banja Luka on away goals, while remaining undefeated. In the following 2010–11 season, the club failed to defend their Premier League title, finishing third. However, Željezničar managed to win the national cup instead, their fourth, against Čelik Zenica. During the 2011–12 season, they brought back the league title to Grbavica, their sixth 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 managing 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 club, with nine. The club was for a long time undefeated in the Bosnian Cup matches 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 advanced to the final beating Široki Brijeg on 3–0 aggregate. In the final they clash with rivals from the former Yugoslav League, Čelik Zenica. The first game was played at Grbavica Stadium which finished 1–0 in favor of the home team. The 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 which they were automatically gave to compete in the UEFA Europa League. Željezničar were able to celebrate their 90th birthday with a trophy.

In the season 2011–12, Željezničar 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. In the 2012–13 season, Željezničar won their 7th title in the club's history, 6th Bosnian one, once again under the guidance of Amar Osim.

Between 2013 and 2018, Željezničar had a trophy drought as it did not win any trophies in that period, even though they could have on multiple occasions as they finished 2nd on three occasions, every time just missing out on the title.

The club has had a poor final series results (post regular season); finishing second during competitions for seasons 2016–17 (by single point; being first until the final two rounds) and 2017–18 surrendering titles to rivals HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, who were coached by Blaž Slišković, both times. Further disappointments came when club failed to acquire license to compete in 2019–20 European competitions.

The trophy drought ended in May 2018, as the club won the 2017–18 Bosnian Cup under the guidance of then manager Admir Adžem.[13]

In the period from October to December 2018, the club lost 5 league matches in a row, the worst in the club's history. That made manager Milomir Odović (in 2003–04 and 2015 made great results with Željezničar) resign after the 4th consecutive loss.[14] Their 5th consecutive loss came on 2 December, against Široki Brijeg in the last game of the first part of the season. In that game, Adin Mulaosmanović and Ismet Štilić were caretaker managers.[15] On 31 December 2018, Amar Osim for a second time in his career came back to Željezničar and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[16] In Osim's first game after returning to the club, Željezničar lost against Radnik Bijeljina, making that 6 losses in a row,[17] but in his second game against Mladost Doboj Kakanj, Željezničar beat Mladost and ended their 6-game loss run.[18]

The 2019–20 Bosnian Premier League season ended abruptly on 1 June 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina,[19] with Željezničar having to settle with a second spot on table. City rivals Sarajevo won the title even though Željezničar won six points from two derby matches played during the league season. In the 2019–20 Bosnian Cup, they finished at the semi-final stage as the competition was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The 2020–21 season started strongly winning four opening matches, however their run in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League was affected due to the pandemic. The first qualifying round match between Maccabi Haifa, originally scheduled to be played on 27 August 2020 was postponed due to five members from Željezničar's delegation testing positive for COVID-19 and the whole team being put into quarantine by the Israeli authorities.[20] Originally six players earlier tested positive and did not travel, being left in Sarajevo.[21] The team returned to Sarajevo before UEFA made a decision to finally play the match on 9 September at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa. Željezničar traveled again but lost 1–3 (thus eliminated after revised rules due to the pandemic) after being in quarantine 9 days prior with little to no training and no competitive matches since shock loss at home to Mladost Doboj Kakanj in the 5th round on 21 August of the 2020–21 Bosnian Premier League season.

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". 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.[25]

During the 2017–18 League season, Željezničar beat Sarajevo in 3 out of 4 league matches, the most in one season and didn't even lose that season as there was also 1 draw.[26]

During the 2018–19 League season, Željezničar lost against Sarajevo in 2 out of 3 league matches, the most in one season and didn't even win that season as there was also 1 draw. The last match was played on 4 November 2020 where Željezničar drew at Koševo 1–1.[27]

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 the 2009–10 season the two teams mainly competed against each other for one of the titles (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 to 2016 season).

• Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
  • Winners (6): 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13
  • Runners-up (7): 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20
• 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
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic League:
  • Winners (1): 1946[39]

• Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup:
  • Winners (6): 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2017–18
  • Runners-up (3): 1996–97, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2012–13
• Yugoslav Cup:
  • Runners-up (1): 1980–81
• Supercup of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
  • Winners (3): 1998, 2000, 2001 (record)[39]

• UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League:
  • Semi-finalists (1): 1984–85
  • Quarter-finalists (1): 1971–72

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

Especially short competitions such as the Supercup 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.

As of 1 February 2021[46]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  SRB Filip Erić 2 DF  SRB Siniša Stevanović 4 DF  BIH Jasmin Čeliković (on loan from Rijeka) 5 DF  BIH Aleksandar Kosorić (Vice-captain) 6 DF  BIH Luka Miletić 7 MF  BIH Sedad Subašić 8 MF  BIH Mustafa Mujezinović 9 FW  BIH Luka Juričić 10 FW  BIH Ermin Zec 12 GK  BIH Irfan Fejzić 13 GK  BIH Vedad Muftić 14 MF  BIH Semir Štilić (Captain) 15 DF  BIH Vedran Vrhovac

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  BIH Mehmed Alispahić (3rd captain) 17 DF  BIH Ivan Milićević (on loan from Lokomotiva) 18 MF  BIH Edin Mujić 20 MF  BIH Mladen Veselinović 21 DF  CRO Ante Blažević 22 MF  BIH Petar Bojo 24 FW  CRO Ivan Lendrić 25 DF  CRO Frane Ikić 27 MF  BIH Hamza Gasal 29 FW  BIH Salko Nargalić 33 DF  BIH Eldar Šehić 90 MF  BIH Samir Bekrić (4th captain)

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 28 DF  BIH Omar Beća

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  BIH Dženan Osmanović (at Igman Konjic until 30 June 2021) — MF  BIH Amar Mehić (at Zvijezda Gradačac until 30 June 2021)

• Filip Erić
• Siniša Stevanović
• Aleksandar Kosorić
• Luka Miletić
• Mustafa Mujezinović
• Luka Juričić
• Ivan Milićević
• Petar Bojo
• Ivan Lendrić

As of 17 December 2020[50]

Rank	Team	Points
330	Shkupi	3.000
331	Ružomberok	3.000
332	Runavík	3.000
333	Željezničar	3.000
334	Balzan	3.000
335	Celje	2.850
336	Rudar Velenje	2.850