FK Zeta
Encyclopedia
FK Zeta is a football club from Montenegro
. It is based in Golubovci
, a suburb of Podgorica
.
From the end of World War II
until 1962 Zeta competed in the local Titograd municipal area league. That year they finally gained promotion to the provincial league of Montenegro where they played until 1996 when they qualified for competition at federal level in Second Federal League. Year 1996 was also significant because club was taken over by controversial businessman and former JSO
paramilitary Radojica "Rajo" Božović who is still at Zeta's helm. In 2000, the club made its long-awaited final step forward, gaining promotion to the Yugoslav First Federal League.
Though still playing in the dilapidated Trešnjica Stadium
, the club has made enormous strides from the days when it was basically a semi-professional side. Zeta finished the 2004/2005 season in third place in the First League of Serbia and Montenegro, just behind Belgrade
powerhouses Partizan
and Red Star
. That success allowed the club to compete in UEFA Cup
where it put in a decent showing.
Additionally, Zeta started producing notable young talent like Miloš Marić
who transferred to Greek
giants Olympiacos in the Summer of 2004, as well as brothers Bojan
and Nenad Brnović
, and Branimir Petrović
who were all signed by Partizan
, and most recently Milanko Rašković
and Nikola Trajković
who transferred to Red Star Belgrade
.
Following Montenegro's independence the club won the inaugrual Montenegrin First League
in 2006–07 and were the country's first representatives in the UEFA Champions League
for 2007–08. After beating FBK Kaunas
in the First Qualifying Round they lost against Rangers
in the Second Qualifying Round.
Their fans are known as the 'Vukovi Zeta
'.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. It is based in Golubovci
Golubovci
Golubovci is a small town in the Podgorica municipality of Montenegro. It is the seat of the Golubovci urban municipality, a subdivision of the Podgorica municipality. The town is located some 15 km south of the city of Podgorica, in the fertile Zeta valley...
, a suburb of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
.
History
The club was formed in 1927 as FK Danica. In 1945 it was renamed to FK Napredak. In 1955 it was renamed to FK Zeta.From the end of 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...
until 1962 Zeta competed in the local Titograd municipal area league. That year they finally gained promotion to the provincial league of Montenegro where they played until 1996 when they qualified for competition at federal level in Second Federal League. Year 1996 was also significant because club was taken over by controversial businessman and former JSO
Jedinica za Specijalne Operacije
Special Operations Unit , or the Frenkies , or the Red Berets , was an elite special unit of the Serbian Service of State Security....
paramilitary Radojica "Rajo" Božović who is still at Zeta's helm. In 2000, the club made its long-awaited final step forward, gaining promotion to the Yugoslav First Federal League.
Though still playing in the dilapidated Trešnjica Stadium
Trešnjica Stadium
Trešnjica Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Golubovci, Montenegro . It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FK Zeta. The stadium holds 7,000 people....
, the club has made enormous strides from the days when it was basically a semi-professional side. Zeta finished the 2004/2005 season in third place in the First League of Serbia and Montenegro, just behind Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
powerhouses Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
and Red Star
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
. That success allowed the club to compete in 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...
where it put in a decent showing.
Additionally, Zeta started producing notable young talent like Miloš Marić
Miloš Maric
Miloš Marić is a Serbian football midfielder, currently playing for Lierse S.K. in Belgium.-Career:...
who transferred to Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
giants Olympiacos in the Summer of 2004, as well as brothers Bojan
Bojan Brnovic
Bojan Brnović is a Montenegrin footballer who plays for Diósgyőri VTK as a striker, on loan from Győri ETO FC.He is the older brother of Nenad Brnović.-External links:* at national-football-teams.com...
and Nenad Brnović
Nenad Brnovic
Nenad Brnović is a Montenegrin footballer playing for Mes Sarcheshmeh FC....
, and Branimir Petrović
Branimir Petrovic
Branimir Petrović is a Serbian football midfielder who plays for FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast....
who were all signed by Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
, and most recently Milanko Rašković
Milanko Raškovic
Milanko Rašković is a Serbian football player currently playing for FC Shakhter Karagandy in the Kazakhstan Premier League as a forward.-External sources:...
and Nikola Trajković
Nikola Trajkovic
Nikola Trajković is a Serbian footballer currently playing for the Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Győri ETO FC as a winger....
who transferred to Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
.
Following Montenegro's independence the club won the inaugrual Montenegrin First League
Montenegrin First League
The First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round...
in 2006–07 and were the country's first representatives in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
for 2007–08. After beating FBK Kaunas
FBK Kaunas
Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas, that currently plays in the A Lyga, the top level of Lithuanian football.- History :...
in the First Qualifying Round they lost against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the Second Qualifying Round.
Their fans are known as the 'Vukovi Zeta
Zeta
-Science:* Zeta functions, in mathematics** Riemann zeta function* Zeta potential, the electrokinetic potential of a colloidal system* Tropical Storm Zeta , formed in December 2005 and lasting through January 2006* Z-pinch, in fusion power...
'.
UEFA Champions League qualification
| Season | Competition | Round | Country | Club | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 | UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League The 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... |
First round |  |
FBK Kaunas FBK Kaunas Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas, that currently plays in the A Lyga, the top level of Lithuanian football.- History :... |
3–1, 2–3 |
| Second round |  |
Rangers Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses... |
0–2, 0–1 |
UEFA Europa League qualification
| Season | Competition | Round | Country | Club | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/09 | 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... |
First round |  |
Interblock Ljubljana | 1–1, 0–1 |
| 2010/11 | UEFA Europa League | First round |  |
FC Dacia Chişinău FC Dacia Chisinau FC Dacia Chişinău is a Moldovan football club, playing in the city of Chişinău, the capital of Moldova. They play in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football.- History :1999... |
1–1, 0–0 |
| 2011/12 | UEFA Europa League | First round |  |
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... |
2–1, 0–3 |