FC Baník Ostrava
Encyclopedia
FC Baník Ostrava is a football
club from the Silesia
n part of the city of Ostrava
, Czech Republic
. It is based in Slezská Ostrava
district of the city.
Founded in 1922 as SK Slezská Ostrava, Baník is one of the most traditional clubs in the country - it has won numerous national and international trophies. Their home stadium is Bazaly
, and club colours are blue and white. Baník's greatest rivals are Sparta Prague; with a regional "Silesian derby" taking place with SFC Opava
. In 2005 however SFC Opava
was relegated from the Gambrinus liga
. Currently, there is a friendship between the supporters of Baník and GKS Katowice
from the Silesia
n region of Poland
.
SK Slezská Ostrava was a poor club, raising money for functioning of the club was a common concern. It had no own playing field and was forced to loan fields from wealthier clubs. The first own field was built in autumn of 1925 at Kamenec. It was however stony and did not meet requirements of the football officials. In 1934 club activists succeeded in renting the land at Stará střelnice from regional wealthy industrialist Count Wilczek. During the summer of 1934 a new field was built there. Many workers volunteered to help with the construction for free. Workers and coal miners often came directly from shifts to build the field.
SK Slezská Ostrava began to compete with other teams in the league system in spring of 1923. It started in the lowest division (III. třída župy) and was promoted to higher division the same year. It took however some time for the club the appear in the highest divisions of football in Czechoslovakia. In 1934 the club won the promotion to the Moravian-Silesian Division, one of the highest leagues in the country. The promotion made SK Slezská Ostrava a popular team in the city and the public interest was rising. The 1935 derby against Slovan Ostrava was watched at Stará střelnice by 5,400 spectators.
Since 1934 the club began also to pay money to footballers, which was made legal by the Czechoslovak Football Association the same year. In the Moravian-Silesian Division, the club played in the safe mid-table position, and faced regional sides like SK Baťa Zlín or Polonia Karwina
. In the 1936-1937 season, SK Slezská Ostrava won the Moravian-Silesian Division and advanced to the qualification tournament for the First League. The team faced several noted sides, including the DFC Prague and Čechie Karlín, and finally won the tournament to be promoted to the First League for the first time in history.
in Czechoslovakia was dominated by Prague
teams at that time, which were advanced in all aspects. Promotion to the First League was therefore a big success for SK Slezská Ostrava. In 15 years the team advanced from the obscure minnows to the highest level of football in the country. The first league match at Stará střelnice was played on 22 August 1937 against 1. ČsŠK Bratislava. In the second match, the newcomer team faced famous Sparta Prague in Prague. Though Sparta's roster was full of national team
players, Baník won 3-2 and caused immediate sensation. SK Slezská Ostrava survived three seasons in the First League before being relegated back to Division in 1940.
SK Slezská Ostrava played in the Division until 1943, when it was again promoted to the First League. Promotion to the highest league sparked even stronger interest in football of local people. Later famed opera singer Rudolf Asmus even sang the new anthem for the club. In the 1943-1944 season the home attendances of SK Slezská Ostrava reached the highest level so far. The match against Slavia Prague was attended by 33,000 people. The club was relegated back to the second-tier division (now named Second League) in 1949, but won the league in 1950 and returned to the First League. The club changed its name after World War II
and again in 1948 after the communist coup d'état
.
, Baník achieved its biggest league success so far, ending second in the league after Sparta. In 1959 Baník played for the last time at the old Stará střelnice stadium. Stará střelnice did not meet requirements made by the football association. The pitch was not grassy, but covered with slag
, which was also a reason to close down the stadium. New Bazaly
stadium was constructed in 1959 in Slezská Ostrava
, and was opened on 19 April 1959.
In the 1965-1966 season Baník was weakened by the generation change. It ended 13th in the league table and was relegated to the Second League. A year later Baník was again promoted to the top division. Since then Baník plays exclusively in the top flight of football in the country.
. It was club's first domestic trophy. As a winner of domestic cup, Baník advanced to the Cup Winners' Cup. It was a first European cup appearance in club's history. Baník eliminated Irish Cork Hibernians F.C.
in the first round, but was eliminated in second round by East German 1. FC Magdeburg
, who later won the cup. In the 1974-1975 season of the UEFA Cup
Baník eliminated Real Sociedad
, FC Nantes and S.S.C. Napoli
, only to be eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual Cup winners Borussia Mönchengladbach
.
In the 1974-1975 season Baník finished 13th in the First League. No one expected the team to make a good result in the forthcoming season. Jiří Rubáš
was appointed as a new manager of Baník in the half of the 1975-1976 season. Baník managed to improve in the second half of the season and became Czechoslovak champions for the first time in history. Before the last match at Škoda Plzeň, Baník was second in the league table, trailing one point after Slavia Prague. Baník however won 1-0 in Plzeň, while Slavia lost 0-1 to Slovan Bratislava
in Bratislava. These results granted Baník the first title.
The true Golden Era in history of the club however started when Evžen Hadamczik
took over as manager of Baník on 1 January 1978. Hadamczik was a young coach, without previous league experience. In 1978, the club won the Czechoslovak Cup for the second time in history. In the 1978-1979 season Baník finished second, with only worse score than champions Dukla Prague. In this season Hadamczik started also team's home stadium invincibility. On 20 August 1978 Baník lost at Bazaly
to Dukla Prague. Since then Baník did not lose 74 home matches in a row, thus being almost five years undefeated at their home ground. In the same season of the Cup Winners' Cup, Baník made it to the semi-finals knocking out Sporting Lisbon, Shamrock Rovers and 1. FC Magdeburg
on their way. Baník was eliminated in the semi-finals by Fortuna Düsseldorf
.
Team squad was stable in the Golden Era years. The best players like Lička and Vojáček
were regularly playing for the national team. Others like Radimec
, Rygel
, Němec
and Šreiner played also for the Olympic team. In the 1979-1980 season Baník won its second Czechoslovak title, finishing five points ahead of Zbrojovka Brno. In the 1980-1981 season of the UEFA European Cup Baník reached the quarter-finals, where it was knocked out by Bayern Munich
. In the same season, Baník also won the First League again. In the subsequent two seasons, Baník finished second in the league table. After the 1982-1983 season, coach Hadamczik resigned, thus symbolically ending the Golden Era of the club.
by beating Spartak Trnava
6:1 in the final match. It was the last success of the club for long years to come.
in the country. In the 1990s, Baník achieved various results. The best was third place in the 1993-1994 season. The club however struggled for the league survival in the 2000-2001 season, and finished 14th in the table, just four points short of relegation.
The greatest success of the club in long years came in the 2003-2004 season. Baník was leading the table for most of the time and won the league for the first time in history of the independent Czech Republic. Marek Heinz
became league's top goalscorer with 19 goals. In the same season, Baník finished as the runner-up in the Czech Football Cup. After the victorious season, the squad underwent dramatic change. Manager František Komňacký
left and most of the crucial players were sold, including Bolf
, Heinz
, Laštůvka
and Matušovič
. This affected team performance in the next season. Baník finished on mediocre seventh place, but managed to win the domestic cup for the first time since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Since then, Baník appears regularly in the upper part of the league table, and finished twice on the third place.
is one of the more highly attended stadiums within the Gambrinus liga
where a club song "Baníčku, my jsme s tebou!" (literally 'Banik, we are with you!') and a sea of flares is not unusual. Fans pride themselves on their displays of devotion to Baník, which include numerous banners and demonstrations of both their love for the club and detest of the opposition.
Ultras
supporters of Baník call themselves Chachaři, which means "bad boys" in regional dialect. Some of the ultras' songs contain lyrics proudly demonstrating willingness to not only sing, but also fight for their club. Baník's ultras
have made friendships over the years, and in 2006 celebrated 10 years of partnership with 2nd division Poland
club, GKS Katowice
. The celebration took the form of a game between the two teams, organised by the clubs directors. The fixture took place at GKS' stadium, where throughout the 90 minutes the opposing sets of fans sung one another's songs. At the end of the game, both sets of fans climbed over metal fences in order to race onto the pitch come the final whistle to embrace and exchange scarves. Another club to have had links with Baník is Slovak
football
club FC Spartak Trnava
. Banik's supporters are well known in the Czech Republic and especially in the 1990s clashed frequently with supporters of other clubs. In Europe they clashed with Dutch, German and British police whilst following Baník during UEFA Cup
ties.
Baník have produced numerous players who have gone on to represent the Czech national football team. Over the last 15 years there has been a steady increase of young players leaving Baník after a few years of first team football and moving on to play football in leagues of a higher standard, with the Belgian First Division, Italy's Serie A
and also the German Bundesliga
being popular destinations. Young Czech footballers tend to fit into two catergories - highly skilled, technically sound attacking players, or strong, athletic and somewhat uncompromising defenders. Baník, as with all Czech clubs, are unable to demand huge sums of money for the signature of their youngsters. Top transfers include Václav Svěrkoš
recent transfer to FC Sochaux for an undisclosed fee (believed to be in the region of £1.8 million) is a highlight of recent seasons. It isn't the first time Baník have allowed Svěrkoš to move on, with a previous transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach
during the 2003/2004 season for £1.2 million. This still pales in comparison to the Milan Baroš
transfer of 2001/2002 season of £4.5 million.
As with all football fans, supporters of Baník are disappointed when a loved member of the team decides that it is time to move on. Especially when the player signs for a bitter rival, just as Zdeněk Pospěch
and Miroslav Matušovič
did in 2005. Both players were highly regarded by both the coaching staff and fans at Bazaly
, but decided to move on to rivals Sparta Prague. Other players who moved from Baník to Sparta, include Tomáš Řepka
and Libor Sionko
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club from the Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n part of the city of Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It is based in Slezská Ostrava
Slezská Ostrava
Slezská Ostrava , till 1919 Polnisch Ostrau is a district of the city of Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia, not counting Koblov and Antošovice lying north-west from the Oder river in the Hlučín Region.It comprises...
district of the city.
Founded in 1922 as SK Slezská Ostrava, Baník is one of the most traditional clubs in the country - it has won numerous national and international trophies. Their home stadium is Bazaly
Bazaly
The Bazaly stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lies in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the city, next to the Ostravice River. It is the home stadium of FC Baník Ostrava. The first match was played there on 19 April 1959....
, and club colours are blue and white. Baník's greatest rivals are Sparta Prague; with a regional "Silesian derby" taking place with SFC Opava
SFC Opava
Slezský FC Opava is a football club from Opava, Czech Republic. Currently the club plays in the third-level Moravian-Silesian Football League. They were in the Gambrinus Liga at the top tier of Czech football from 1995 to 2000, getting relegated in 2000 but returning to the top flight the following...
. In 2005 however SFC Opava
SFC Opava
Slezský FC Opava is a football club from Opava, Czech Republic. Currently the club plays in the third-level Moravian-Silesian Football League. They were in the Gambrinus Liga at the top tier of Czech football from 1995 to 2000, getting relegated in 2000 but returning to the top flight the following...
was relegated from the Gambrinus liga
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
. Currently, there is a friendship between the supporters of Baník and GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club currently plays in the Polish First League.-History:In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of city into one large club which...
from the Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n region of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Formation and history to 1937
The club was founded on 8 September 1922 as SK Slezská Ostrava, when 20 activists signed the establishment treaty in the U Dubu restaurant. The signatories were mostly poor coal miners from the Kamenec coal mining settlement in Ostrava. The organizers of the founding were Karel Aniol, Arnošt Haberkiewicz, Petr Křižák, František Mruzek and Jaroslav Horák. The club was officially registered on 14 October 1922. Karel Aniol became the club's first president. First jerseys of SK Slezská Ostrava were red-white striped. Since April 1923, however the club played with white jerseys and blue shorts. These colours were used since then. The first match ever occurred on 4 March 1923, when SK Slezská Ostrava faced reserve team of famous local side Slovan Ostrava.SK Slezská Ostrava was a poor club, raising money for functioning of the club was a common concern. It had no own playing field and was forced to loan fields from wealthier clubs. The first own field was built in autumn of 1925 at Kamenec. It was however stony and did not meet requirements of the football officials. In 1934 club activists succeeded in renting the land at Stará střelnice from regional wealthy industrialist Count Wilczek. During the summer of 1934 a new field was built there. Many workers volunteered to help with the construction for free. Workers and coal miners often came directly from shifts to build the field.
SK Slezská Ostrava began to compete with other teams in the league system in spring of 1923. It started in the lowest division (III. třída župy) and was promoted to higher division the same year. It took however some time for the club the appear in the highest divisions of football in Czechoslovakia. In 1934 the club won the promotion to the Moravian-Silesian Division, one of the highest leagues in the country. The promotion made SK Slezská Ostrava a popular team in the city and the public interest was rising. The 1935 derby against Slovan Ostrava was watched at Stará střelnice by 5,400 spectators.
Since 1934 the club began also to pay money to footballers, which was made legal by the Czechoslovak Football Association the same year. In the Moravian-Silesian Division, the club played in the safe mid-table position, and faced regional sides like SK Baťa Zlín or Polonia Karwina
Polonia Karwina
Polski Klub Sportowy Polonia Karwina was a Polish multi-sport club, located in the town of Karviná , Zaolzie, Czechoslovakia. It affiliated nine sport clubs and an amateur theatre group. Most successful and most popular was a football club.Founded in 1919, as Polski Klub Sportowy Polonia, it was...
. In the 1936-1937 season, SK Slezská Ostrava won the Moravian-Silesian Division and advanced to the qualification tournament for the First League. The team faced several noted sides, including the DFC Prague and Čechie Karlín, and finally won the tournament to be promoted to the First League for the first time in history.
From 1937 to 1952
The First LeagueCzechoslovak First League
The Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993, with the exception of World War II. Czechoslovakia was occupied by German forces who formed Gauliga Sudetenland and Gauliga Böhmen und Mähren leagues on occupied territories...
in Czechoslovakia was dominated by Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
teams at that time, which were advanced in all aspects. Promotion to the First League was therefore a big success for SK Slezská Ostrava. In 15 years the team advanced from the obscure minnows to the highest level of football in the country. The first league match at Stará střelnice was played on 22 August 1937 against 1. ČsŠK Bratislava. In the second match, the newcomer team faced famous Sparta Prague in Prague. Though Sparta's roster was full of national team
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
players, Baník won 3-2 and caused immediate sensation. SK Slezská Ostrava survived three seasons in the First League before being relegated back to Division in 1940.
SK Slezská Ostrava played in the Division until 1943, when it was again promoted to the First League. Promotion to the highest league sparked even stronger interest in football of local people. Later famed opera singer Rudolf Asmus even sang the new anthem for the club. In the 1943-1944 season the home attendances of SK Slezská Ostrava reached the highest level so far. The match against Slavia Prague was attended by 33,000 people. The club was relegated back to the second-tier division (now named Second League) in 1949, but won the league in 1950 and returned to the First League. The club changed its name after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and again in 1948 after the communist coup d'état
Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
The Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 – in Communist historiography known as "Victorious February" – was an event late that February in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, ushering in over four decades...
.
From 1952 to 1967
In 1952 the club adopted the name DSO Baník Ostrava. Since then the name went only through slight changes. In the 1954 seasonCzechoslovak First League 1954
-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and Spartak Praha Sokolovo won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, Baník achieved its biggest league success so far, ending second in the league after Sparta. In 1959 Baník played for the last time at the old Stará střelnice stadium. Stará střelnice did not meet requirements made by the football association. The pitch was not grassy, but covered with slag
Slag
Slag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separate the metal fraction from the unwanted fraction. It can usually be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides and silicon dioxide. However, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
, which was also a reason to close down the stadium. New Bazaly
Bazaly
The Bazaly stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lies in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the city, next to the Ostravice River. It is the home stadium of FC Baník Ostrava. The first match was played there on 19 April 1959....
stadium was constructed in 1959 in Slezská Ostrava
Slezská Ostrava
Slezská Ostrava , till 1919 Polnisch Ostrau is a district of the city of Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia, not counting Koblov and Antošovice lying north-west from the Oder river in the Hlučín Region.It comprises...
, and was opened on 19 April 1959.
In the 1965-1966 season Baník was weakened by the generation change. It ended 13th in the league table and was relegated to the Second League. A year later Baník was again promoted to the top division. Since then Baník plays exclusively in the top flight of football in the country.
The Golden Era
In the 1972-1973 season Baník won the Czechoslovak CupCzechoslovak Cup
The Czechoslovak Cup was a football cup competition held in Czechoslovakia. It was officially created in 1960 and folded in 1993 with the split between Czech Republic and Slovakia.The cup was played between the winners of Czech Cup and Slovak Cup...
. It was club's first domestic trophy. As a winner of domestic cup, Baník advanced to the Cup Winners' Cup. It was a first European cup appearance in club's history. Baník eliminated Irish Cork Hibernians F.C.
Cork Hibernians F.C.
Cork Hibernians F.C. were an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1957 and 1976 and played their home games at Flower Lodge. In 1971, they were League of Ireland champions.-History:...
in the first round, but was eliminated in second round by East German 1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg is a German association football club playing in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:Football has been played in Magdeburg since the end of the 19th century. On 15 June 1896 SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg was founded, a club that had its best days before World War II, when it participated...
, who later won the cup. In the 1974-1975 season of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
Baník eliminated Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, FC Nantes and S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
, only to be eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual Cup winners Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
.
In the 1974-1975 season Baník finished 13th in the First League. No one expected the team to make a good result in the forthcoming season. Jiří Rubáš
Jiří Rubáš
Jiří Rubáš was a Czech football manager and former player.As a player, Rubáš played mostly for Bohemians Prague. He also played for the Czechoslovakia national team, for which he appeared in six matches between 1949 and 1952.In 1954 he ended his active career and immediately began working as a...
was appointed as a new manager of Baník in the half of the 1975-1976 season. Baník managed to improve in the second half of the season and became Czechoslovak champions for the first time in history. Before the last match at Škoda Plzeň, Baník was second in the league table, trailing one point after Slavia Prague. Baník however won 1-0 in Plzeň, while Slavia lost 0-1 to Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Corgoň liga. Founded as 1. ČsŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953...
in Bratislava. These results granted Baník the first title.
The true Golden Era in history of the club however started when Evžen Hadamczik
Evžen Hadamczik
Evžen Hadamczik was a Czech football manager and former player. He was responsible for the Golden Era of Baník Ostrava football club, winning the Czechoslovak First League in 1980 and 1981 with them...
took over as manager of Baník on 1 January 1978. Hadamczik was a young coach, without previous league experience. In 1978, the club won the Czechoslovak Cup for the second time in history. In the 1978-1979 season Baník finished second, with only worse score than champions Dukla Prague. In this season Hadamczik started also team's home stadium invincibility. On 20 August 1978 Baník lost at Bazaly
Bazaly
The Bazaly stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lies in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the city, next to the Ostravice River. It is the home stadium of FC Baník Ostrava. The first match was played there on 19 April 1959....
to Dukla Prague. Since then Baník did not lose 74 home matches in a row, thus being almost five years undefeated at their home ground. In the same season of the Cup Winners' Cup, Baník made it to the semi-finals knocking out Sporting Lisbon, Shamrock Rovers and 1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg is a German association football club playing in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:Football has been played in Magdeburg since the end of the 19th century. On 15 June 1896 SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg was founded, a club that had its best days before World War II, when it participated...
on their way. Baník was eliminated in the semi-finals by Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
.
Team squad was stable in the Golden Era years. The best players like Lička and Vojáček
Rostislav Vojácek
Rostislav Vojáček is a Czech football defender. He played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 40 matches and scored one goal....
were regularly playing for the national team. Others like Radimec
Libor Radimec
Libor Radimec is a Czech football defender.He played for Czechoslovakia, and was a participant in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He also competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1980 Summer Olympics, where the team won the gold medals....
, Rygel
Zdenek Rygel
Zdeněk Rygel is a former football player from Czechoslovakia. He was a member of the national team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
, Němec
Petr Nemec
Petr Němec is a former football midfielder from Czechoslovakia.-Club:Němec played mostly for Baník Ostrava from his native city of Ostrava. He contributed to the best period in the history of the club. During his years as a player of the club, Baník won the Czechoslovak First League in 1980 and 1981...
and Šreiner played also for the Olympic team. In the 1979-1980 season Baník won its second Czechoslovak title, finishing five points ahead of Zbrojovka Brno. In the 1980-1981 season of the UEFA European Cup Baník reached the quarter-finals, where it was knocked out by Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. In the same season, Baník also won the First League again. In the subsequent two seasons, Baník finished second in the league table. After the 1982-1983 season, coach Hadamczik resigned, thus symbolically ending the Golden Era of the club.
From 1983 to 1991
In the following years Baník withdrew from the highest league positions. The team was undergoing another generation change and young players did not maintain their performance for the whole season. Baník however regularly appeared in the upper part of the league table. In the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 seasons it finished second in the league. In 1991, Baník won the Czechoslovak CupCzechoslovak Cup
The Czechoslovak Cup was a football cup competition held in Czechoslovakia. It was officially created in 1960 and folded in 1993 with the split between Czech Republic and Slovakia.The cup was played between the winners of Czech Cup and Slovak Cup...
by beating Spartak Trnava
FC Spartak Trnava
FC Spartak Trnava is a Slovak football club based in Trnava, Slovakia. Historically it is one of the most successful clubs in Slovakia, having won the Czechoslovak First League and the Czechoslovak Cup five times, and reaching semifinal of European Cup once and quarterfinal twice. The club plays...
6:1 in the final match. It was the last success of the club for long years to come.
Recent years
Since 1991 the club constantly underachieved. Financial problems soon joined as major sponsors were undergoing restructuralization following the collapse of communismVelvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in the country. In the 1990s, Baník achieved various results. The best was third place in the 1993-1994 season. The club however struggled for the league survival in the 2000-2001 season, and finished 14th in the table, just four points short of relegation.
The greatest success of the club in long years came in the 2003-2004 season. Baník was leading the table for most of the time and won the league for the first time in history of the independent Czech Republic. Marek Heinz
Marek Heinz
Marek Heinz is a Czech football striker who plays for SK Sigma Olomouc in Czech Gambrinus liga....
became league's top goalscorer with 19 goals. In the same season, Baník finished as the runner-up in the Czech Football Cup. After the victorious season, the squad underwent dramatic change. Manager František Komňacký
František Komnacký
František Komňacký is a Czech football coach who is currently coaching Czech club FK Jablonec.As a player, Komňacký played for regional clubs from South Moravia, his native region. In 1970 he went to Russia to study pedagogy and played four years until his graduation for Neftyanik Volgograd...
left and most of the crucial players were sold, including Bolf
René Bolf
René Bolf is a Czech football defender. He currently plays for MFK Karviná, where he started his professional football career. His former clubs include Sparta Prague, French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre and FC Baník Ostrava.He spent most of his Gambrinus liga career at FC Baník Ostrava, for which he...
, Heinz
Marek Heinz
Marek Heinz is a Czech football striker who plays for SK Sigma Olomouc in Czech Gambrinus liga....
, Laštůvka
Jan Laštuvka
Jan Laštůvka is a Czech football goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.- Career :Laštůvka started his career at Czech side FC Karviná and moved in summer 2000 to FC Baník Ostrava for four years. In 2003 he won the Talent of the Year award at the Czech Footballer of the Year...
and Matušovič
Miroslav Matušovic
Miroslav Matušovič is a Czech footballer. He is an attacking midfielder, left winger or second striker, who currently plays for Apollon Limassol. His strengths are his dangerous left-foot, dribbling skills and pace....
. This affected team performance in the next season. Baník finished on mediocre seventh place, but managed to win the domestic cup for the first time since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Since then, Baník appears regularly in the upper part of the league table, and finished twice on the third place.
Historical names
- 1922 — SK Slezská Ostrava (Sportovní klub Slezská Ostrava)
- 1945 — SK Ostrava (Sportovní klub Ostrava)
- 1948 — Sokol Trojice Ostrava
- 1951 — Sokol OKD Ostrava (Sokol Ostravsko-karvinské doly Ostrava)
- 1952 — DSO Baník Ostrava (Dobrovolná sportovní organizace Baník Ostrava)
- 1961 — TJ Baník Ostrava (Tělovýchovná jednota Baník Ostrava)
- 1970 — TJ Baník Ostrava OKD (Tělovýchovná jednota Baník Ostrava Ostravsko-karvinské doly)
- 1990 — FC Baník Ostrava (Football Club Baník Ostrava, a.s.)
- 1994 — FC Baník Ostrava Tango (Football Club Baník Ostrava Tango, a.s.)
- 1995 — FC Baník Ostrava (Football Club Baník Ostrava, a.s.)
International
- Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
Winner: 1989 - Intertoto Cup Winner: 1970, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
quarterfinal: 1981 - Cup Winners' Cup semifinal: 1979
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
quarterfinal: 1975
Domestic
- Czechoslovak ChampionCzechoslovak First LeagueThe Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993, with the exception of World War II. Czechoslovakia was occupied by German forces who formed Gauliga Sudetenland and Gauliga Böhmen und Mähren leagues on occupied territories...
(3 times): 1976, 1980, 1981 - Czechoslovak First LeagueCzechoslovak First LeagueThe Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993, with the exception of World War II. Czechoslovakia was occupied by German forces who formed Gauliga Sudetenland and Gauliga Böhmen und Mähren leagues on occupied territories...
Runner-up (6 times): 1954, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1990 - Czech ChampionGambrinus LigaThe Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
(once): 2004 - Czechoslovak CupCzechoslovak CupThe Czechoslovak Cup was a football cup competition held in Czechoslovakia. It was officially created in 1960 and folded in 1993 with the split between Czech Republic and Slovakia.The cup was played between the winners of Czech Cup and Slovak Cup...
Winner (3 times): 1973, 1978, 1991 - Czechoslovak CupCzechoslovak CupThe Czechoslovak Cup was a football cup competition held in Czechoslovakia. It was officially created in 1960 and folded in 1993 with the split between Czech Republic and Slovakia.The cup was played between the winners of Czech Cup and Slovak Cup...
Runner-up (once): 1979 - Czech FA Cup Winner (once): 2005
- Czech FA Cup Runner-up (twice): 2004, 2006
- Biggest win 10-1 versus Hradec KrálovéSK Hradec KrálovéFC Hradec Králové is a football club from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic which plays in the Gambrinus liga. It was founded in 1905.Hradec played in the European Cup 1960–61 and was eliminated by FC Barcelona in quarterfinals, who ended the season as eventual runners-up. In the 1959/1960 season...
in the 1956 season - Biggest loss 0-9 versus Dukla Prague also during 1956 season
Standing within the Czech Republic and beyond
Banik are known throughout the Czech Republic as having one of, if not the, most loyal and vociferous groups of supporters in the country. The BazalyBazaly
The Bazaly stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lies in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the city, next to the Ostravice River. It is the home stadium of FC Baník Ostrava. The first match was played there on 19 April 1959....
is one of the more highly attended stadiums within the Gambrinus liga
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
where a club song "Baníčku, my jsme s tebou!" (literally 'Banik, we are with you!') and a sea of flares is not unusual. Fans pride themselves on their displays of devotion to Baník, which include numerous banners and demonstrations of both their love for the club and detest of the opposition.
Ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
supporters of Baník call themselves Chachaři, which means "bad boys" in regional dialect. Some of the ultras' songs contain lyrics proudly demonstrating willingness to not only sing, but also fight for their club. Baník's ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
have made friendships over the years, and in 2006 celebrated 10 years of partnership with 2nd division Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
club, GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club currently plays in the Polish First League.-History:In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of city into one large club which...
. The celebration took the form of a game between the two teams, organised by the clubs directors. The fixture took place at GKS' stadium, where throughout the 90 minutes the opposing sets of fans sung one another's songs. At the end of the game, both sets of fans climbed over metal fences in order to race onto the pitch come the final whistle to embrace and exchange scarves. Another club to have had links with Baník is Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club FC Spartak Trnava
FC Spartak Trnava
FC Spartak Trnava is a Slovak football club based in Trnava, Slovakia. Historically it is one of the most successful clubs in Slovakia, having won the Czechoslovak First League and the Czechoslovak Cup five times, and reaching semifinal of European Cup once and quarterfinal twice. The club plays...
. Banik's supporters are well known in the Czech Republic and especially in the 1990s clashed frequently with supporters of other clubs. In Europe they clashed with Dutch, German and British police whilst following Baník during UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
ties.
Transfers
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
and also the German Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
being popular destinations. Young Czech footballers tend to fit into two catergories - highly skilled, technically sound attacking players, or strong, athletic and somewhat uncompromising defenders. Baník, as with all Czech clubs, are unable to demand huge sums of money for the signature of their youngsters. Top transfers include Václav Svěrkoš
Václav Sverkoš
Václav Svěrkoš is a Czech footballer who is currently playing for FC Baník Ostrava in Czech Gambrinus liga. He was the opening scorer in the Euro 2008 tournament.- Gambrinus liga :...
recent transfer to FC Sochaux for an undisclosed fee (believed to be in the region of £1.8 million) is a highlight of recent seasons. It isn't the first time Baník have allowed Svěrkoš to move on, with a previous transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
during the 2003/2004 season for £1.2 million. This still pales in comparison to the Milan Baroš
Milan Baroš
Milan Baroš is a Czech footballer who plays as a striker for Galatasaray and the Czech national football team.In the 2008–09 season, Baroš scored 20 goals in Turkish Süper Lig, the highest total in the league...
transfer of 2001/2002 season of £4.5 million.
As with all football fans, supporters of Baník are disappointed when a loved member of the team decides that it is time to move on. Especially when the player signs for a bitter rival, just as Zdeněk Pospěch
Zdenek Pospech
Zdeněk Pospěch is a Czech footballer who plays for Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield....
and Miroslav Matušovič
Miroslav Matušovic
Miroslav Matušovič is a Czech footballer. He is an attacking midfielder, left winger or second striker, who currently plays for Apollon Limassol. His strengths are his dangerous left-foot, dribbling skills and pace....
did in 2005. Both players were highly regarded by both the coaching staff and fans at Bazaly
Bazaly
The Bazaly stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lies in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the city, next to the Ostravice River. It is the home stadium of FC Baník Ostrava. The first match was played there on 19 April 1959....
, but decided to move on to rivals Sparta Prague. Other players who moved from Baník to Sparta, include Tomáš Řepka
Tomáš Repka
Tomáš Řepka is a professional Czech football defender who is currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Career :Řepka started his career at Banik Ostrava, where he played from 1990 to 1995. He then joined Sparta Prague, where he spent almost three years, before moving to Fiorentina in Italy...
and Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko is a Czech footballer currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Early career :He previously played for Austria Vienna, Grazer AK, Sparta Prague, Banik Ostrava and Rangers. Playing successfully for Sparta in the Czech League and UEFA Champions League, where Sparta in two occasions , got...
.