National Champions 1980.

With a convincing victory over Sarajevo (4:1), practically the only rival that could deny them the championship celebration in the 1979/80 championship, Crvena zvezda became the national champion for the 14th time. Sarajevo was ahead of Zvezda for a long time, but our first team players overtook them and secured first place with two rounds to go. In this way, Crvena zvezda proved for the umpteenth time that there is no better, more successful and more popular club in Yugoslav football than the Belgrade red and whites!

As many as 14 titles in 35 years of existence. That is a feat that few clubs in Europe, or even in the world, can boast of. By winning the new title, the most trophy-winning Yugoslav club also won its 22nd participation on the European stage, this time in the strongest competition - the European Champions Cup. Even then, Crvena zvezda had great ambitions in Europe, namely to be the champion of the Old Continent, but they would achieve that feat only 10 years later. At the end of the 70s of the last century, Vladimir Petrović, Dušan Savić, Srebrenko Repčić and Miloš Šestić shone in the red and white jersey.

Before Sarajevo, Crvena zvezda had brilliantly defeated their big rivals Velež (2:0) and Hajduk (3:1), and traditionally had a positive record against Partizan (2:0, 0:0). When the team came into the hands of the legendary player and coach Branko Stanković, the title-winning team continued their work. A year earlier, not even a slight generational change could stop Zvezda on its way to the final showdown - the UEFA Cup final and a clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach, which won the trophy after a great fight.

The leader of the new generation was the exceptional midfielder Vladimir Petrović Pižon, who would be deservedly promoted to the fourth Star of Crvena zvezda. That season, goalkeeper Živan Ljukovčan kept the goal safely, and Mile Jovin and Boško Djurovski, whose time was just coming, stood out in defense. Blagojević, Borovnica, Krmpotić, Milosavljević and one of the most experienced - striker Filipović, who in tandem with Dušan Savić was the biggest threat to opposing goalkeepers.

- They called me "Iron Stannet" for no reason . I did ask the players to work harder than they were trained to, I did shake up some "stars" when necessary, but I respected and loved them like my own sons. Borussia was no better than us in the two final matches, and referee Michelotti got involved a little, but I have no regrets - said Branko Stanković.

That season, Crvena zvezda was convincingly first with 48 points, seven more than second-placed Sarajevo and nine each than Radnički Niš and Napredak from Kruševac. Partizan finished the championship in 13th place, just one point more than the penultimate Osijek, who were relegated from the league.