Red Star Belgrade

Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда Београд - Serbian pronunciation: [tsrʋena zʋeːzda beǒɡrad]), commonly known as Red Star Belgrade or simply Red Star, is a professional football club based in Belgrade, the major part of the Red Star Sports Society and the most successful club in Serbia, with a record of 25 national championships and 24 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions. Red Star was also the most successful club in former Yugoslavia and finished as first in the Yugoslav First League all-time table.^[1] They are the only Serbian (and ex-Yugoslav) club to have ever won the European Cup, having done so in 1991, and the only team from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to have ever won the Intercontinental Cup, which it won also in 1991. In the following season, Red Star reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Before they reached 1957, 1971, the semi-finals, as well as 1958, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1987 the quarterfinals of the European Cup. In 1979, they reached the UEFA Cup final, but lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Also, they reached in 1975 the semifinals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Red Star is the most successful club from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, being the only club which was both European and World club champion. Many analysts believe that if it wasn't for the Yugoslav War, Red Star could have gone on to become one of the greatest football clubs ever.^{[citation needed]}
According to 2008 polls, Red Star Belgrade is the most popular football club in Serbia, with nearly 48.2% of the population supporting them.^[2] The club is also very popular in Montenegro and Republika Srpska. They also have many supporters in all other former Yugoslavian republics and in the Yugoslav diaspora. Their main rivals are fellow Belgrade side Partizan. The championship matches between these two clubs are known as The Eternal derby. In September 2009, British Daily Mail ranked the Red Star – Partizan derby fourth among the 10 greatest football rivalries of all time.^[3]
According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics' list of the Top 200 European clubs of the 20th century, Red Star Belgrade is the highest-ranked Serbian and ex-Yugoslavian club, sharing the 27th position on the list with Feyenoord.^[4] In 2011, American web site Bleacher Report ranked Red Star among the Top 50 most influential teams in the world

Stadium

Red Star Stadium viewed from the air

Main article: Red Star Stadium

Red Star's home ground is the Red Star Stadium. With a maximum capacity of about 60 000, of which 55,538 seats, it is the largest stadium in Serbia and in the former Yugoslavia. The stadium was opened in 1963, and in the course of time and due to the fact that stadium's former capacity was about 110,000, it got the unofficial moniker "Marakana", after the large and famous Maracanã stadium in Brazil, and Belgrad's sold-out "Marakana" garnered the reputation of being a very tough ground for visiting teams to play in. During the mid-90s, in order to meet UEFA demands for spectators comfort and security, standing places at the stadium were completely done away with and seats were installed on all four stands. In the years, since the stadium's capacity was gradually decreased, followed different stadium modernisations. In 2008, the club reconstructed the stadium's pitch Under-soil grass heaters, improved drainage system were installed and new modern turf replaced the old surface. The training pitch, located next to the stadium, was also renovated by laying down synthetic turf and installing new lighting equipment. In 2011, the stadium received also a new modern LED scoreboard. Today, the stadium has a central lodge, named 5 Zvezdinih Zvezda (English: 5 Star's of Red Star), which consist of five segments, each bears the name of one of Red Star's legendary players (Mitić, Šekularac, Džajić, Petrović, Stojković), two other VIP lounges and a special VIP gallery with over 450 seats. It has also modern press box with a capacity of 344 seats including seven extra-comfortable seats, an extra media center, the Red Cafe and a restaurant. On the west stand of the stadium exist also an official Red Star shop along with a Delije shop. The playing field measures are 110 x 73 m, and is illuminated at 1,400 lux floodlights. According to the known German Web portal "Stadionwelt", belongs Belgrade’s "Marakana" to the Top 50 football stadiums in Europa, that must be seen.^[15] In 2012, American Bleacher Report ranked the Red Star Stadium, especially if it’s sold out, on the 1st place among the most intimidating stadiums in the world.^[16]

New stadium

In 2012, Red Stars executive board signed a memorandum for the reconstruction of the Red Star Stadium.^[17] The current stadium is expected to be redesigned by Chinese company NCEC (Natong Construction Engineering Constructing Co.) in corporation with Portuguese Holding company Sonae Sierra. The 34.8 hectares of land, named "Zvezdani Grad" (English: Star City or Starry City), will include the stadium with approximately 50,000 seats, fitness centre, ambulance, shopping and Spa centre, office towers, a five-star hotel, modern apartment blocks and underground parking. The area between the stadium and the shopping centre, which will allow a visit in the summer, and winter conditions, will be used for markets, cafes, restaurants, and provide space for temporary exhibitions and performances. Ticket office and club shop will also be placed in the this covered area. On the roof of the shopping centre will be a public garden with entrance from the shopping centre, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Belgrade. The stadium will be covered with solar panels that will supplement the energy needs of the stadium, another areas will be used for collecting rainwater for irrigation of football fields and green areas of the complex. The new stadium will be recognized for the symbol of the club - the Red Star, then the main structure of the stadium will be in the form of five-pointed star. The cost of the project is estimated to be between €450-600 million. Should be really €600 million, then it will be the third, after the new Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, most expensive stadium in the world.^[18][19]

Supporters

Main article: Delije

Delije section at Red Star Stadium.

The organized supporters of Red Star are known as Delije, the plural of the singular form Delija, which in Serbian generally signifies a courageous, brave, strong or even handsome young man. A rough English translation might be simply "Hardman". The name Delije first began to be used by hardcore Red Star supporters during late 1980s, with official inauguration taking place in 1989. Up to that point, the Red Star fans were scattered amongst several organized fan groups that shared in the north stand of Red Star's stadium. The Delije belongs today to one of the most famous supporter groups in the world, who support all clubs in the Red Star Sports Society. Their style of supporting includes the use of large and small flags, displaying of banners and especially the creation of colorful and large choreographys, noisy and constant cheering and other supporters stuff. The acoustic support is often coordinated by a so-called "Vodja" (Serbian: leader) by a megaphone and accompanied by drums. Delije members exist also outside of Belgrade, as well exist various fan groups in cities across Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska. They also have members in all other former Yugoslavian republics and in the Yugoslavian diaspora. As a sign of appreciation, Red Star painted in the late 1990s, the word Delije in block letters across their stadium's north stand.

Notable fans

Notable fans

Affiliated clubs

Spartak Moscow
Olympiacos

The Eternal derby

Main article: Večiti derbi

Graffiti of the Delije at Red Star Stadium.

Red Star’s fiercest and long standing city rival is Partizan, the other large and popular sport society in Serbia. The clubs are also the most popular ones in Montenegro and Republika Srpska. They also have many supporters in all other former Yugoslavian republics and also in the Yugoslavian diaspora. The rival started immediately after the creation of the two clubs in 1945. Red Star was founded with close ties to the Interior ministry and Partizan as the football section of the Yugoslav People's Army. Since then, both clubs have been dominant in domestic football. The match is particularly noted for the passion of the Red Star’s supporters, called Delije, and Partizan’s supporters, the Grobari (English: Gravediggers or Undertakers). The stands of both teams feature fireworks, coloured confetti, flags, rolls of paper, torches, smoke, drums, giant posters and choreographies, used to create visual grandeur and apply psychological pressure on the visiting teams, hence the slogan "Welcome to Hellgrade". Some fans use sometimes also trumpets, similar to the supporters in South America. This creates for the region a typical and distinctive Balkan Brass Band atmosphere. Both sets of supporters sing passionate songs against their rivals, and the stadiums are known to bounce with the simultaneous jumping of the fans. There are many derbies in world football but very few compare to this, it is more than just game and has a deeper meaning.^[24] The duel is regarded as one of the greatest football rivalries in the world and the matches between these rivals have been labeled as the Eternal derby. Given its widespread touch on the entirety of a major city, it's dubbed one of, along with the Old Firm, the Rome derby and the Istanbul derby, the most heated rivalries in European football.^[25] In 2009, British Daily Mail ranked the Eternal derby 4th among the 10 greatest football rivalries of all time.^[3] The biggest attendance for a Red Star - Partizan match was about 108,000 spectators at the Red Star Stadium.