The Orthodox Holiday Đurđevdan in the year 1995 will always remain dear to the Crvena zvezda fans. That’s when in the 100th eternal derby, after a turnover at Marakana, Crvena zvezda defeated Partizan 2:1. The scorers for the grand victory, at the very end of the game were Darko Kovačević (penalty kick) and Mitko Stojkovski, the hero of the derby, who scored only that one goal in the course of the Championship, but it was golden! Unforgettable atmosphere at Marakana 80.000 spectators, and the festive mood in the overcrowded North stand, with inevitable torches and a big celebration in the end. The season ended in a fantastic way, by winning the Cup Double!
In the summer of 1994, after a slow season, Ljupko Petrović returned to the club. A few new players came, a few left, and a whole new team was created. The start itself wasn’t very encouraging, because we suffered a defeat by OFK Beograd in the first round in Karaburma (1:2), so the red and white team got unjustly written off by many too soon. Then the team played two derbies and got two draws, 2:2 against Vojvodina from Novi Sad and 1:1 against Partizan. But then the same rivals got run over, 3:0 Vojvodina in Novi Sad and 3:2 Partizan and our club took the lead in the table.
However, the lead came with two unexpected defeats...The next derby at the Partizan stadium ended winner-less (2:2), but the grand decision was taken in the 100th derby at Marakana. Crvena zvezda won the 20th title and in eight derbies against Partizan and Vojvodina, the team never tasted the bitterness of a defeat – four of them were won, and four ended in a draw.
Crvena zvezda’s young, new team was truly the best, and the fact that they scored most and let in least goals proves it. Nevertheless, the Autumn session was conquered by Vojvodina, who was up by two points, but the end-of-Championship table looked like this: Crvena zvezda (42), Partizan (38), Vojvodina (37)...The best Crvena zvezda scorers were Darko Kovačević and Nebojša Krupniković, who scored 24 goals each.
- I knew even while playing back in Osijek what Crvena zvezda meant. As Vojvodina and Rad’s coach, I got to know the Crvena zvezda team very closely, as a dignified rival. I admit, I was skeptical about creating the new Crvena zvezda after Bari and Tokyo. However, a great team was created in a short while, as well as were great players. Only Crvena zvezda can do this! Back in those hard, hardest days, under sanctions, they maintained their level. Trust me, such a joyful day as the one in Bari comes only once in a lifetime, but I have greeted the Cup Double four years later as the happiest man aware of Crvena zvezda’s unfading greatness.
Roster:
Ivan Adžić 33-6, Srđan Bajčetić 14-1, Božidar Bandović 1, Miodrag Božović 1, Žarko Dragaš 1, Goran Đorović 27, Zoran Đorović 3, Bratislav Živković 25-2, Darko Kovačević 31-24, Aleksandar Kristić 7, Nebojša Krupniković 30-24, Darko Ljubojević 1, Vinko Marinović 2, Zoran Mašić 6-4, Zvonko Milojević 31-22 received goals, Rade Mojović 1, Perica Ognjenović 3, Marko Perović 33-7, Dejan Petković 36-8, Darko Pivaljević 7-2, Nikola Radmanović 24, Zoran Riznić 7-2, Nenad Sakić 29, Milan Simeunović 4-7 received goals, Dejan Stanković 7, Jovan, Stanković 13, Predrag Stanković 13-2, Dejan Stefanović 30-9, Goran Stojiljković 17-7, Mitko Stojkovski 28-1.
Coach:
Ljupko Petrović