Fudbalski Klub Partizan (Serbian Cyrillic: ФК Партизан, English: Football Club Partizan) is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The second division team Teleoptik is also owned by Partizan. According to UEFA, Partizan has the second-ranking youngster school in Europe (after Ajax Amsterdam).[citation needed]
| Partizan's emblem | |||
| Full name | Fudbalski klub Partizan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Grobari, Crno-beli | ||
| Founded | 1945 | ||
| Ground | Stadion Partizana, Belgrade | ||
| Capacity | 32,710 | ||
| Chairman |  Ivan Ćurković | ||
| Manager | Miodrag Ješić | ||
| League | Meridian Superliga | ||
| 2005-06 | 2nd | ||
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The club played in 2003/04 UEFA Champions League season, after eliminating Newcastle United in the last qualifying round. Partizan also played in a 1966 European Cup final against Real Madrid, after eliminating Manchester United in semifinals.
History
Partizan was founded on October 4, 1945, as a part of Yugoslav Sports Association. The club is still a member of the same association now renamed to Sports Association of Serbia, including 25 clubs in different sports, as well as the Football Association of Serbia, but it has complete independence regarding organisation, management, finances, material goods and facilities.
The club was initially formed under Yugoslav People's Army, and the stadium was named for most of the time Stadion JNA (Stadium of Yugoslav People's Army). In the early 50's club became independent from the Army. The first international match was played on December 6, 1945, against CSKA Moscow (then known as CDKA).
There are several companies in the Partizan business system, which are working together with the club. There are also few own public organs such is a radio station "MIP" ("Music & Partizan") and magazine "Samo Partizan" ("Only Partizan").[citation needed]
Partizan's current colors are black and white, after blue and red for the first thirteen years.
Fans
Partizan's fans, known as Grobari (Gravediggers), were formed in the late 70's. The nickname itself was given by their biggest rivals F.C. Red Star Belgrade fans, referring to club's mostly black colours which were similar to official uniforms of cemetery undertakers. They generally support all clubs in the Sports Association Partizan. In 1999, organized fans who traditionally occupy South stands at the stadium split into two groups. Newly formed group named Južni Front (South Front) accused several top members of Grobari organization for abusing their privileges, and the club itself for favorising those individuals. Last year fans have settled their differences and today there are three major fan groups: "Južni Front", "Grobari 1970" and "Grobari Beograd". As of november 2005, all fan groups are boycotting the FC Partizan matches until president Ivan Ćurković, sports director Nenad Bjeković and general secretary Žarko Zečević resign.
Stadium & sports centre
The primary stadium of the club is now named "Stadion Partizana", although it was known as "Stadion JNA" (Stadium of the Yugoslav People's Army) for most of its history, and is still sometimes called that. The stadium seats 32,710 people.
Stadium was used from mid fifties until 1987 as the final point of yearly festivities called the "Day of Youth". Each year on May 25th, the baton of Relay of Youth was finally passed into the hands of Josip Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia.
The Sports Centre "Partizan-Teleoptik", also known as "Zemunelo" (the name being composed to show the resemblance to the A.C. Milan's sports center, Milanello), is situated on the surface of almost 10 hectares, in the west part of Zemun, on the intersection of two mayor highways and in vicinity of the airport. Regarding funcionality, architectural solutions, modern equipment and bulding materials used, this centre is among sports buildings of the highest value. At present, it`s a training and preparatory base of all Partizan selections,consisting of around six hundred sportsmen- beginning with the first team, through the 2nd division team of Teleoptik, down to the youngest categories of large Partizan family.
Current squad
As of 04.08.2006 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
FK Partizan have won 19 national championships:
- 8 in the era of the Serbia-Montenegro / Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
2004/05, 2002/03, 2001/02, 1998/99, 1996/97, 1995/96, 1993/94, 1992/93
- 11 in the era of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia:
1986/87, 1985/86, 1982/83, 1977/78, 1975/76, 1964/65, 1962/63, 1961/62, 1960/61, 1948/49, 1946/47
FK Partizan have also won 9 national cups:
- 4 in the era of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
2000/01, 1997/98, 1993/94, 1992/93
- 5 in the era of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
1988/89, 1956/57, 1953/54, 1952, 1946/47,
Internationally, Partizan was the runner-up in the European Cup Championship in 1966, the winner of the Mitropa Cup in 1978, the quarterfinalist of Cup Winners' Cup in 1989 and have reached the "round-of-16" in the UEFA cup four times.
Records & highlights
Momčilo Vukotić is the Partizan record-holder by the number of appearances: He played in 752 matches. The goal scoring record-holder is a striker Stjepan Bobek, with 403 goals.
Over 130 Partizan football players were in the Yugoslav national team and Stjepan Bobek, Branko Zebec, Zlatko Čajkovski, Fahrudin Jusufi, Milan Galić, Milutin Šoškić, Slaviša Jokanović and Predrag Mijatović. Former Partizan player Savo Milošević played 101 matches for the national football team, which is an absolute national record.
The "Black and whites" are record-holders of the Yugoslav First League, in terms of points scored during a campaign, with 107 in one year's championship and are the only unbeaten champion team ever (in season 2004/05). Partizan also won most national championships since the break of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, being a champion 8 out of 14 times.
Arguably Partizan's most exciting match was a double header against Celtic in 1989. The first tie was held in Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) which Partizan won 2-1. The second leg was held in Scotland which Celtic won 5-4. Partizan scored in the last minute to qualify on the away goals rule in front of over 70,000 fans. Partizan also played in a 1966 European Cup final against Real Madrid, after eliminating Manchester United in semifinals. At one point Partizan was 1-0 up, only to lose to the Spaniards 2-1 at the end.
Some of the highlights from Partizan's recent past include an UEFA Champions League appearance in 2003-04 season. After eliminating Newcastle United in the last qualifying round, Partizan was drawn in a tough group with Real Madrid, FC Porto (actual winner of the UEFA cup and the eventual winner of the competition) and Olympique de Marseille (eventual runner-up of the UEFA cup). The team never lost a home game, playing 0:0 with Real Madrid, and 1:1 with FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille. They are the first, and so far the only Serbian team to qualify for the main draw of this elite European club competition since its inception.
In the next season, Partizan reached the round-of-16 in UEFA Cup, where it was eliminated by CSKA Moscow, later winner of the competition.
Perhaps one of the best Partizan players ever is Dragan Mance. He led Partizan in their UEFA Cup tie against English side Queens Park Rangers. The Rangers won the first leg 6-2, but Partizan advances after a 4-0 return victory. Mance died in a car crash in the peak of his glory.
The eternal derby
Partizan's city rival is Red Star Belgrade, and the matches between these rivals are often called "the eternal derby" (Serbian Latin: večiti derbi, Serbian Cyrillic: вечити дерби). These games were always hotly anticipated and quite spectacular, but the lower quality of football that’s been displayed in recent times, as well as very large amount of violence and hooliganism, made the fall of the attendance an inevitable consequence. The derby played May 11, 2005 in the semi-final of the Serbia and Montenegro Cup had only 8,000 spectators, which is all-time lowest attendance in these matches. The greatest attendance was about 108,000 spectators. The first ever derby was won by Red Star; Partizan has the largest victory: 7-1.
Coaching history
Miodrag Ješić (May 18, 2006 - present)
Jürgen Röber (October 6, 2005 - May 11, 2006)
Vladimir Vermezović (January 6, 2004 - October 2, 2005)- Lothar Matthäus (December 22, 2002 - December 13, 2003)
- Ljubiša Tumbaković (May 24, 2000 - December 18, 2002)
- Miodrag Ješić (June 3, 1999 - May 21, 2000)
- Ljubiša Tumbaković (July 3, 1992 - Summer 1999)
Ivica Osim (July 1, 1991 - July 3, 1992)- Miloš Milutinović (July 1, 1990- July 1, 1991)
- Nenad Bjeković (April 29, 1990 - July 1, 1990)
- Ivan Golac (September 27, 1989 - April 26, 1990)
- Momčilo Vukotić (September 12, 1988 - September 27, 1989)
- Fahrudin Jusufi (July 1, 1987 - September 12, 1988)
- Nenad Bjeković (August 19, 1984 - June 30, 1987)
- Miloš Milutinović (July 1, 1982 - August 19, 1984)
- Tomislav Kaloperović (July 1, 1980 - July 1, 1982)
- Josip Duvančić (July 1, 1979 - June 30, 1980)
- Jovan Miladinović (April 15, 1979 - July 1, 1979)
- Florijan Matekalo (January 1, 1979 - April 14, 1979)
- Ante Mladinić (January 12, 1977 - December 31, 1978)
- Jovan Miladinović (October 16, 1976 - December 31, 1976)
- Tomislav Kaloperović (November 17, 1974 - October 15, 1976)
- Mirko Damjanović (November 30, 1973 - November 16, 1974)
- Velibor Vasović (December 24, 1971 - November 29, 1973)
- Gojko Zec (July 2, 1970 - December 23, 1971)
- Kiril Simonovski (November, 1969 - June, 1970)
- Stevan Vilotić (Autumn, 1969 - November, 1969)
- Stjepan Bobek (Autumn, 1967 - Autumn, 1969)
- Stevan Vilotić (July, 1967 - Autumn, 1967)
- Abdullah Gegić (Autumn, 1965 - July, 1967)
- Marko Valok (March, 1965 - Autumn, 1965)
- Aleksandar Atanacković (August, 1964 - December, 1964)
- Florijan Matekalo (February, 1964 - August 1, 1964)
- Marko Valok (Autumn, 1963 - February, 1964)
- Kiril Simonovski (at the end of the season 1962/63)
- Stjepan Bobek (1960/61 - until the very end of the season 1962/63)
- Iliješ Špic (1958/59 - 1959/60)
- Geza Kaločaj (1957/58)
- Florijan Matekalo (January, 1957 - until the end of the season 1956/57)
- Kiril Simonovski (from the begging of the season 1956/57 - January, 1957)
- Aleksandar Tomašević (1955/56)
- Iliješ Špic (1954/55)
- Milovan Ćirić (1953/54)
- Iliješ Špic (second half of the season 1952/53)
- Toni Pogačnik (1952 - until the second half of the season 1952/53)
- Iliješ Špic (1946-1951)
- Franjo Glazer (1945)
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External links
- Official club site
- Unofficial club site
- grobari1970 fans site
- juzni front fans site
- FootballDatabase provides FK Partizan's profile
- Videoblog - The fans of FK Partizan