KK Bosna Royal

KK Bosna Royal (Bosnian: Košarkaški klub Bosna Royal) is a professional basketball team based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which became European champion by winning the 1978–79 FIBA European Champions Cup. It is the most successful Bosnian club of all time. KK Bosna Royal competes in the Basketball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the University Sport Society USD Bosna (Bosnian: Univerzitetsko sportsko društvo Bosna).

Bosna Royal
NicknameStudenti (Students)
Bordo-bijeli (Maroon-whites)
LeaguesBosnian League
Founded1951 (1951)
HistoryKK Bosna
(1951–2014)
KK Bosna Royal
(2014–present)
ArenaDvorana Mirza Delibašić
(capacity: 6,500)
Olympic Hall Zetra
(capacity: 12,000)
LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Team colors     
Championships3 Yugoslav Championships
2 Yugoslav Cups
4 Bosnian Championships
3 Bosnian Cups
1 EuroLeague
Websitekkbosna.ba

History

1951–1955: Formation and early years

The club was founded in 1951 as a member of the University Sports Society Bosna (Bosnian: Univerzitetsko sportsko društvo Bosna). The club's first chairman and coach was doctor Nedžad Brkić, with the roster composed mostly of students enrolled in the University of Sarajevo.[1] The first four years of the club's existence were spent in the lower-tier Sarajevo city league, which the team went on to win in 1955, earning a promotion to the SR Bosnia and Herzegovina league. The team roster in these early years included the likes of Brkić, Marušić, Takač, Bise, Bjelica, Cindrić, Bilić, Đurasković, Fetahagić, Uzelac, Džapa, Pilav, Hofbauer, Lovrenović, Beganović and Dimitrijević.[1]

1955–1972: Rise to the top

For the next 17 years the club competed in the regional SR Bosnia and Herzegovina league, steadily building a team with which it could enter the Yugoslav First League. On 28 April 1972 a decisive win against local city rivals KK Željezničar Sarajevo would promote the club to the top-tier of Yugoslav basketball where it would compete for the next 20 years.[2] The architect of the club's historic triumf and later European glory was charismatic young coach Bogdan Tanjević. Players of this era included Terzić, Milavić, Čečur, Pavlić, Nadaždin, Dumić, Soče, Varajić, Pejović, Pešić, Krvavac and Đogić.[2]

1972–1984: The glory years

The future European championship winning roster was completed with the arrival of legendary Mirza Delibašić in 1972. The first 6 seasons in the Yugoslav First League represented a coming of age process, with the team eventually going on to win its first title in 1978, led by star players Ratko Radovanović, Žarko Varajić and Mirza Delibašić. A year later KK Bosna became the first team, aside from CSKA Moscow, to win the European championship without a single foreign player on its roster. Namely, on April 5, 1979 the team, led by the late Delibašić and game MVP Varajić, defeated Italian Powerhouse Emerson Varese 96:93.[3] The club started its EuroLeague season in the Quarterfinal group stage, finishing first in its group. Once in the Semifinals, the side sent a message to contenders by edging the defending champions Real Madrid 114:109 in overtime, in Sarajevo. KK Bosna would eventually win all of its home games and would advance to the title game by edging Greek side Olympiacos 83–88, in Piraeus. Bosna's opponent in the final would either be Emerson Varese or Real Madrid, who faced each other off in the final game of the round. The Italian side beat Madrid 82:83. The aforementioned game will be remembered for Prada's misses: Namely, Luis Maria Prada famously missed 3 consecutive free throws with no time on the clock, forever changing European basketball history. Once in the title game, KK Bosna downed mighty Emerson Varese 96:93 in front of 15,000 fans in the Palais des Sports, Grenoble, France. Varajić led the team in scoring with 45 points, while Delibašić followed with 30. The former is still the record holder for most points in a Euroleague final.[4] Radovanović added 10 more points, while Americans Bob Morse and Charlie Yelverton scored 30 and 27 points respectively for Varese.[5] In the next four seasons KK Bosna would go on to win two more Yugoslav championships (1979-80; 1982-83), as well as a silver medal in the 1980 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, which it hosted. A second Yugoslav Cup triumf followed a year later.[6]

1984–1992: Pre-war years

After nearly a decade of continuous success, most of the star players transferred abroad in the mid-1980s. Namely, Delibašiš, Varajić, Radovanović, Đogić along with coach Bogdan Tanjević who took over Juventus Caserta moved to foreign clubs. As a result, the club management decided to transfer members of its talented youth department to the senior team, along with bringing in a handful of new players from other Yugoslav clubs. Nenad Marković, Gordan Firić, Samir Avdić and others all came in through the youth ranks but their time in the club was cut short by the start of the Bosnian War.

1992–1997: Hardest of times

With the start of the Bosnian War in 1992 competitive basketball was halted in the newly independent country for nearly four years. A talented generation on the verge of success was forced to transfer to foreign sides, and in doing so the club was forced to fight for bare survival. The side's star prospect, Nenad Marković, joined Italian side Stefanel Trieste, while the likes of Avdić, Firić and others left to Spain, Italy and Turkey. At the end of the 1997–98 season, a play-off for the national title was organized. KK Bosna lost 2–1 to HKK Široki in the final series. A year later the maroon-whites, brandishing a roster that included Mirković, Terzić, Subašić, Konaković, Kurtagić, Halimić, Lerić, Isaković, Bukva, Džuho and Radović, coached by former European championship-winning team member, Sabit Hadžić won the national title after a play-off victory.

Famous members

The club remembrance has gathered all players, coach Tanjević, assistant coaches Prodanović, Krehić, first club's coach Halilović and all the club members who helped Bosna achieve a great success, such as the winning of the European title. Unfortunately, two key members of Bosna championship team are not alive anymore. Mirza Delibašić and Sabahudin Bilalović have died, but they will be remembered by the club and fans forever. Many great players and coaches from the region joined the remembrance in memory to one great generation of Bosna players and their accomplishments.

2014–present: Change of name

In October 2014, the club decided to continue under the new name, Bosna Royal.[7][8]

Supporters

KK Bosna traditionally garnered a majority of its fan base from supporters of FK Sarajevo, and more specifically the latter's ultras firm, Horde zla, given the fact that both clubs share unique maroon and white team colours.

Through time the two sides became colloquially interchangeable, as Horde zla equally followed both, with the two clubs forming an unofficial, so-called Maroon Family. On 29 August 2013 FK Sarajevo and KK Bosna's handball sister club, RK Bosna, signed a cooperation agreement based on the principle of strengthening ties between the aforementioned family members.[9] On 6 November 2013 the same was done between FK Sarajevo and KK Bosna Royal, by which the forty-year-old relationship was officialized.[10]

Home venues

Skenderija Sports Center, home of KK Bosna Royal
Olympic Hall Juan Antonio Samaranch

KK Bosna Royal play their home fixtures at the Skenderija Sports Center, located in the Centar Municipality of Sarajevo. It was constructed in 1969 as a cultural and sport center, but was later revitalized and expanded for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Below the structure is a shopping mall. It sustained minor damage during the war, but is decaying due to lack of upkeep, it is revitalized since 2007. On 12 February 2012, after a record snowfall in Sarajevo, the roof of one of the halls fell in making that building unusable. The damage after this is said to be 'huge' and is yet unknown if that building will be rebuilt.[11]

In 1977, when Sarajevo was voted to host the 1984 Winter Olympics, they discovered that they needed more than only the brand-new building Zetra to host every figure skating and ice hockey event. So they started to reconstruct and expand the Skenderija into a real state-of-the-art ice-sports centre. It was also chosen as the centre for the representatives and press-reporters.[12]

KK Bosna Royal occasionally hosts games in the Olympic Hall Juan Antonio Samaranch, previously known as Zetra Olympic Hall. The arena was constructed specifically for the 1984 Winter Olympics, hosted in Sarajevo, and was completed in 1983. Its first major event was the 1983 World Junior Speed Skating Championships. It was described as an "ultramodern, angular edifice"[13] with a copper roof.

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Bosna Royal roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
SG 4 Pašalić, Muhamed 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 33 – (1987-08-27)27 August 1987
SG 5 Mašić, Ali 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 20 – (2000-03-09)9 March 2000
SG 6 Begić, Hamza 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 20 – (2000-07-14)14 July 2000
PG 7 Sokolović, Aleksandar 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 27 – (1993-07-08)8 July 1993
F 8 Pavlović, Ozren 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 26 – (1994-03-01)1 March 1994
SG 9 Kosovac, Dino 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 21 – (1999-05-31)31 May 1999
PF/C 10 Genjac, Haris 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 24 – (1996-12-06)6 December 1996
SF 11 Klještan, Željko 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 29 – (1992-01-16)16 January 1992
SF 13 Grubor, Miloš 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 30 – (1991-01-13)13 January 1991
C 15 Bašić, Refik 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) 25 – (1995-10-05)5 October 1995
PF/C 16 Besedič, Jure 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 28 – (1992-04-12)12 April 1992
PF/C 17 Hadžifejzović, Sead 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 31 – (1989-04-03)3 April 1989
SF 18 Radak, Deni 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 19 – (2001-06-11)11 June 2001
F 19 Ivić, Srđan 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 25 – (1995-05-04)4 May 1995
SG 20 Bajrović, Bakir 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 19 – (2001-11-09)9 November 2001
Head coach
  • Ahmet Pašalić
Assistant coach(es)
  • Mladen Jojić

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Honours

Total titles: 13

Domestic competitions

Winners (4): 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08
Winners (3): 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10

Former domestic competitions

Winners (3): 1977–78, 1979–80, 1982–83
Runners-up (1): 1976–77
Winners (2): 1977–78, 1983–84
Runners-up (3): 1979-80, 1985–86, 1991–92

European competitions

Winners (1): 1978–79
3rd place (1): 1979–80
4th place (2): 1980–81, 1983–84
Runners-up (1): 1977–78
Semifinalist (1): 1989–90

Worldwide competitions

International record

Season Achievement Notes
EuroLeague
1978–79 Champions defeated Emerson Varese, 96–93 in the final of European Champions Cup in Grenoble
1979–80 Semi-final group stage 3rd place in a group with Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv, Real Madrid, Sinudyne Bologna, Nashua EBBC and Partizan
1980–81 Semi-final group stage 4th place in a group with Sinudyne Bologna, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv, Nashua EBBC, Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow
1983–84 Semi-final group stage 4th place in a group with FC Barcelona, Banco di Roma Virtus, Jollycolombani Cantù, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Limoges CSP
FIBA Korać Cup
1977–78 Final lost to Partizan, 110–117 in the final (Banja Luka)
1989–90 Semi-finals eliminated by Ram Joventut, 90-90 (D) in Sarajevo and 72-94 (L) in Badalona
FIBA Intercontinental Cup
1979 2nd 2nd place in a league with Sírio, Emerson Varese, Piratas de Quebradillas and Mo-Kan NCAA Stars
1980 3rd 3rd place in a league with Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv, Atlética Francana, Real Madrid and Kansas NCAA All-Stars

In European and worldwide competitions

Records

2012–2019

Club management

As of 23 February 2016[14]

Current staff
  • Vice-chairman: Almir Bradić
  • Member: Emir Avdagić

List of club presidents

List of directors

  • Svetislav Pešić 1981-1982
  • Goran Radonjić 1989-
  • Zlatko Akšamija 2001–2002
  • Elmedin Konaković (5.2003–2008)
  • Admir Bukva (2008–2014)
  • Damir Krupalija 29.5.2015–11.11.2016
  • Goran Perc 26.10.2017–8.12.2017

List of sporting directors

Coaching history

Below is a list of KK Bosna Royal coaches from 1951 until the present day.

 
Name Nationality Years
Nedžad Brkić 1951–1963
Milenko Novaković 1963–1971
Bogdan Tanjević 1971–1974
Luka Stančić 1974–1975
Bogdan Tanjević 1975–1980
Draško Prodanović 1981–1982
Svetislav Pešić 1982–1987
Mirza Delibašić 1987
Milivoje Karalejić 1988
Mladen Ostojić 1988
Ibrahim Krehić 1988-1989
Mirza Delibašić 1989
Draško Prodanović 1990
Miodrag Baletić 1991–1992
Mirza Delibašić 1992
Anto Đogić 1994
Jovo Terzić 1994
Sabit Hadžić 1998–2000
Asim Bradić 2000–2001
Draško Prodanović 2001–2002
Hamdo Frljak 2002–2003
Mensur Bajramović 2003–2007
 
Name Nationality Years
Nenad Marković 2007
Jurij Zdovc 2007–2008
Alen Abaz 2008
Vlada Vukoičić 2008–2009
Goran Šehovac 2009–2010
Dejan Parežanin 2010–2011
Damir Zeljković 2011
Sabahudin Bašović 2011
Hamdo Frljak 2011–2012
Sabahudin Bašović 2012
Emir Halimić 2012
Dragoljub Vidačić 2012–2014
Samir Lerić 2014
Sabahudin Bašović 2014
Damir Zeljković 2014–11.6.2015
Senad Redžić 11.6.2015–22.2.2016
Dušan Gvozdić 23.2.2016–24.7.2017
Aleksandar Damjanović 10.8.2017–8.1.2018.
Miloš Pejić 8.1.2018–19.3.2018.
Denis Bajramović 19.3.2018–3.4.2019.
Sabahudin Bašović 3.4.2019–28.8.2019.
Aleksandar Damjanović 28.8.2019–3.9.2019.

Kit

Recent finishes and attendance

See also

References

  1. "Počeci (1951.-1955.)" (in Bosnian). Kkbosna.ba. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  2. "Republička liga BiH (1955.-1972.)" (in Bosnian). Kkbosna.ba. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  3. "1979: Bosna starts a true dynasty". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  4. "50 Years interview: Zarko Varajic, KK Bosna". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  5. "KK Bosna-Emerson Varese Stats". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  6. "Historijat" (in Bosnian). Kkbosna.ba. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  7. Basketball Club "Bosna" not dissolved, changed name to "Bosna Royal", Al Jazeera Balkans, 22 October 2014.
  8. Club Assembly Decides: "Students" from now on KK Bosna Royal Archived 2014-10-23 at the Wayback Machine, Avaz daily, Sarajevo. 21 October 2014.
  9. "RK Bosna i FK Sarajevo potpisali saradnju" (in Bosnian). Oslobođenje. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  10. "Članovi FK Sarajevo besplatno na utakmice KK Bosna" (in Bosnian). Fcsarajevo.ba. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  11. "The roof of the Olympic sports hall "Skenderija" collapsed in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in February 2012 after heavy snow". Montreal Gazette. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  12. 1984 Winter Olympics official report. Archived 2011-12-21 at WebCite pp. 105-8.
  13. "Now Bring On The Torch" Bob Ottum, Sports Illustrated, March 14, 1983
  14. "KK Bosna uprava" (in Bosnian). Kkbosna.ba. Retrieved 2014-08-12.

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