History of Crvena zvezda

Crvena zvezda Football Club was founded on March 4^th 1945, based on the idea coming from the members of United Association of Anti-Fascist Youth of Serbia, but initially, a month before that, i.e. in February 1945, a new sports community was founded, and it soon grew into a sports association and got the name Crvena zvezda. The first game our club played was against the First Battalion of the Second Brigade of KNOJ and Crvena zvezda won the match 3:0; the first goal was scored by Kosta Tomašević. During this first, founding year, our team played a total of 36 games, won 30 of them, 5 ended in a draw and the only match we lost was in Timisoara against Romania.

The first Trophy didn’t come until 1948, when we won the first Cup, and in the finals we defeated Partizan with the impressive 3:0. The upcoming period is characterized by constant trophy-gaining and after three Cups in the most crowded competition in 1951, the most successful Serbian club gains the title of the best club in the Championship, during the unforgettable thriller Championship ending. We managed to reach the five-point advantage Dinamo from Zagreb had (back in those days a victory was worth 2 points) during the last three rounds of the Championship, and the raptured fans set the newspapers on fire at the stadium and carried their heroes on their shoulders throughout the city of Belgrade. In the decades to come, Crvena zvezda grows into a world class giant, with recognizable fast and efficient game. Numerous experts and sports officials contributed to the victories of the Club, the organization kept rising to higher levels, a new stadium was built...

We dominated in national competitions and the time came for us to go one step further, to reaffirm all our efforts and hard work through a continental trophy. We missed the first great opportunity to do so in the UEFA Cup Finals in 1979, when we were defeated by Borussia from Moenchengladbachm after a dubious referee presiding. For the next almost decade and a half, the red and white team was a constant participant in Euro Cups, we defeated many football giants, and Crvena zvezda became a symbol for East-European football thanks to great games and outstanding grandmasters among its team

The crown of success finally arrived at Belgrade Marakana Stadium in 1991 when the Golden generation of the Serbian club won European and World Championships. In the European Cup Finals we defeated Olympique from Marseille, just to go on and bring the World Cup from Tokyo into the premises of the Crvena zvezda stadium a few months later.

Unfortunately, a generation of young and extremely talented players wasn’t able to stay together due to the civil war in ex-Yugoslavia. Furthermore, our country suffered sports sanctions and we were banned from international competitions. The circumstances in the club are often correctly associated with those in the country, because our club has, ever since it was founded, shared the destiny of the Serbian people. We went through a very turbulent period, but even in those circumstances we managed to win a significant number of trophies within the national borders. With the come-back of the ex-players from the so called Golden generation, Vladan Lukić and Robert Prosinečki, to the positions of the President and the Coach, return to the success path was announced. We turned to the young Serbian players who possess enormous potential and, beyond any doubt, with the support of our fans, who have frenetically been there for us since the Club was founded, Crvena zvezda will surely become a symbol of light and efficient game, which will, we are convinced, bring us many trophies in the future.

A new chapter in the history of the Serbian most decorated club was opened in May 2012, when the first, historical, direct elections were held to choose the new management of the club. All members had the right to vote. Vladan Lukic was elected as the President as the only candidate, thus starting his second term at the head of the red-whites. However, the months that followed failed to bring the expected stability to the club from Ljutice Bogdana Street. Crvena zvezda faced great financial difficulties, followed by weak results of the team, which all caused Robert Prosinecki to leave the coaching post in August. Aleksandar Jankovic was quickly appointed instead of him. Still, new turbulence need not have been waited for long. Vladan Lukic resigned in November, after which a Working Group was formed with the task to organize new elections. The second direct elections at Marakana stadium were held on 17th and 18th November. Dragan Dzajic won, again as the only candidate. This way the most acknowledged Serbian football player of all times, and in his time the best left wing in the world, returned to his Crvena zvezda and, together with his closest associates and members of the Managing Board, tackled the numerous problems that came upon the Serbian sports giant.