Koševo City Stadium

Koševo City Stadium (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Gradski stadion Koševo / Градски стадион Кошево),[3] also Koševo Olympic Stadium or Stadium Asim Ferhatović - Hase[4][5] (Stadion Asim Ferhatović Hase / Стадион Асим Ферхатовић Хасе) is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Koševo neighborhood of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its official name is Olimpijski stadion Koševo – Asim Ferhatović-Hase. Stadium is opened by the city, and leased on longterm basis by football club FK Sarajevo.[2] The club proposed the new name for its sporting and football events, in honor to its former footballer and club's legend, Asim Ferhatović - Hase. It hosted the opening ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Koševo City Stadium[1]
Olimpijski stadion Koševo - Asim Ferhatović-Hase stadium
Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium - UEFA
LocationBetanija, Centar, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (selected matches)
Coordinates43°52′26″N 18°24′31″E
OwnerSarajevo City Council
OperatorSarajevo City Council
Capacity34,500[2]
Field size105 x 68 m (114.8 x 74.4 yd)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1946
Opened1947
Renovated1984
1996
Expanded1984
Tenants
FK Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Construction

The stadium was opened in the year 1947. In 1984, it was reconstructed for the 1984 Winter Olympics, and is therefore often called Olympic Stadium (Olimpijski stadion / Олимпијски стадион). In July 2004, FK Sarajevo proposed the new name for sporting and football events, in honor to its former player and club's legend from the 1960s, Asim Ferhatović - Hase.

Today, the total capacity of Stadium Koševo is 34,500 seat, and up to 70,000 for musical and various public events, such as U2's concert as part of their PopMart Tour in 1997 and Dino Merlin's Burek tour in 2004 and Hotel Nacional in 2015, or hosting of papal pastoral visitations by Pope John Paul II two days visit between 12–13 April 1997 and Pope Francis on 6 June 2015. For a long time it was also the home stadium of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.

History

Construction works started in 1947. The stadium was literally buried into a local hill thus merging with its natural surroundings. In 1950, a pitch and a tartan track were also added. The first international football match, between Yugoslavia and Turkey, was played in 1954.

In 1966, the stadium hosted an athletic championship for the Balkans. It was renovated for that occasion. A new administration building was built, so were the new locker rooms and a restaurant. A modern scoreboard and new lighting were also provided.

The stadium was renovated for the third time after the Bosnian War, in 1998. By adding the chairs on every stand the seating capacity of the stadium was reduced to 34,500.

Throughout its football history, the stadium was usually a home ground for FK Sarajevo's and FK Željezničar's international matches. The Sarajevo audience witnessed many great matches against Europe's finest clubs such as Manchester United, Dynamo Kyiv, Derby County, Basel, Hamburger SV, Newcastle United, Celtic etc.

The stadium's largest attendance was recorded in a 1981–82 Yugoslav First League match between Sarajevo and Željezničar. Allegedly, up to 60,000 people attended the game, though the exact number was never officially published.

1984 Winter Olympics

On 7 February 1984, the Asim Ferhatović Hase stadium hosted the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics for which it was thoroughly renovated and expanded. About 50,000 people attended the ceremonies. The west stand held 18,500 seating places at that time.[6]

Panoramic view of Koševo Stadium during the 1984 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Notable events

International Football Matches

Notable Club Friendlies

Concerts

Other events
Pope Francis celebrating a mass at the stadium on 6 June 2015.
  • Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass in the stadium in front of 50,000 people - 13 April 1997
  • Pope Francis celebrated a mass in the stadium in front of 67,000 people - 6 June 2015

See also

References
  1. http://www.centar.ba/stranica/sportski-tereni-i-plohe
  2. "Stadion". FK Sarajevo.
  3. http://www.centar.ba/stranica/sportski-tereni-i-plohe
  4. "45 search results for "stadion Koševo"". sarajevo.ba (in Bosnian and English). Grad Sarajevo - City of Sarajevo (stadium owner). Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. "25 search results for "stadion Asim Ferhatović Hase"". sarajevo.ba (in Bosnian and English). Grad Sarajevo - City of Sarajevo (stadium owner). Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  6. 1984 Winter Olympics official report. pp. 10-14, 90.
  7. Znate li da je slavni Pele postigao gol na Koševu?;klix.ba, 14 May 2011
  8. Željezničar igrao protiv milanskog Intera 3:3;klix.ba, 16 June 2012
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