NK Maribor
Encyclopedia
Nogometni Klub Maribor commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor
, Slovenia
. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from Slovenian top flight 1. SNL since its establishment in 1991. They are regarded as a symbol of Slovenian football
, particularly in their home region of Styria
in northeastern Slovenia.
Maribor is the most successful club in the country, having won nine Slovenian League titles, six Slovenian Cups and one Slovenian Supercup
. The club's most successful period was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they overwhelmingly dominated domestic football and won seven consecutive league titles and three national cups. Prior to Slovenia's independence in 1991 they played in the Yugoslav football system. Maribor is one of only three Slovenian clubs who had stints in the Yugoslav First League
, the country's top level between 1946 and 1991. They are also the only Slovenian club to date to have participated in the UEFA Champions League
, having appeared in group stages in the 1999–2000 season under the guidance of head coach Bojan Prašnikar
. In addition, they are one of only four clubs from the former Yugoslavia who participated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League since the breakup of the country in 1991.
They maintain a fierce rivalry with Olimpija from the capital Ljubljana
, with whom they contest the Eternal Derby
. Their other major rivalry is against Mura 05
from Murska Sobota
and matches between the two are dubbed as the Northeastern Derby
. Maribor also have a loyal and passionate fan base and the club has the highest average all-time attendance in Slovenia.
The club's home ground is the Ljudski vrt stadium which has a capacity of 12,994. It was originally built in 1962 and later underwent a series of major reconstructions in the 1990s and 2000s. The club's Academy, which is hailed as the best in the country, is responsible for youth development at the club and has enjoyed a fair amount of success in producing promising young players. Maribor's nicknames are The Purples and The Violets , both referring to their primary colour purple. The club's motto is One club, one honour .
2–1 (0–0), with Stefan Tolič scoring both goals. Although the team colours, purple and white, were chosen from the beginning, the team played its first match in a green and blue combination, as their violet jerseys were not available in time for the first match. The team won the Slovenian Republic League
(third tier of Yugoslav football) in their first season and therefore won the right to contest the qualifications for the Yugoslav Second League
. Andrija Pflander was the head coach of the team that won the Republic league. However, he had to step down from the position right before the start of the promotion play-off due to illness. His successor was Vladimir Šimunić, the man who eventually guided the team to their promotion to the Yugoslav First League
six years later. Maribor won the first two rounds of the qualifying play-off and eventually defeated Croatia
n side Uljanik from Pula
in the final qualifying phase with the score 2–1 on aggregate, therefore securing the right to play in the second Yugoslav division.
In 1962 the club received a new stadium named Ljudski vrt
. On 2 September of that year football fans across Slovenia
witnessed the birth of a new rivalry between Maribor and Olimpija
. The first match between the two clubs was played in Ljubljana
and ended in a 1–1 draw. Matches between these two clubs later became known in Slovenia as the Eternal derby
. After five seasons, the average attendance of home matches was around 8,000 spectators, and under the guidance of coach Simunič, the club won the second division title and managed to reach the Yugoslav first league, becoming one of only three Slovenian clubs in history who played in the top flight of Yugoslav football.
side Vardar
in Skopje
(1–1); Maras scored the only goal for Maribor. The first top level home match was played on 27 August 1967 against Proleter Zrenjanin
in front of 8,000 spectators and Maribor won with the score 3–0. The goals were scored by Krajnc, Arnejčič and Binkovski. During the same season, football fans across Slovenia witnessed the first ever match in the Yugoslav top flight involving two clubs from Slovenia, when Maribor hosted a match against their rivals Olimpija
in front of 13,000 spectators (0–0). Every match between the two clubs during this period would be sold out, with crowd attendance sometimes as high as 20,000. The team finished their first season in Yugoslav top flight in 12th place.
During their five years in the top division, Maribor played a total of 166 matches and achieved 40 wins, 57 draws and 69 defeats, with a goal difference of 166–270. Maribor's highest league position was in the 1969–70 season when the club finished in 10th place in an 18-club league. The average league placement of the club in Yugoslav top flight was 13.8. The 1971–72 season was their last season in top division as the team finished last with 20 points. Mladen Krajnc, one of the best players in history of the club, was the best goalscorer for the team in each of its five seasons spent in the Yugoslav top division, having scored a total of 54 league goals, which eventually led to his transfer to one of the top Yugoslav clubs, Dinamo Zagreb.
Next season Maribor played in the second Yugoslav division and finished runners-up, which meant that they qualified for the Yugoslav first division promotion play-off. In the first qualifying round against Montenegrin
side Budućnost
, Maribor won on penalties and qualified for the decisive round against Proleter
. The first leg was played in Maribor
on 8 July, 1973, and is acknowledged as one of the most historic matches in history of the club as it still holds the club's attendance record. There were 20,000 spectators, 15,000 of whom were already present in the stands almost three hours before kick off, eventually helping Maribor win the game 3–1. However, the two-goal advantage proved to be insufficient as Proleter won the second leg in Zrenjanin
3–0 and earned promotion with the score 4–3 on aggregate. In the second leg match when the score was 1–0 for the home team, Maribor had scored an equaliser in the 23rd minute, but the goal was disallowed. The later TV replay showed that the ball had actually crossed the goal line and that the goal should have stood.
After the dramatic play-off against Proleter, the club entered a period of stagnation. During this period Maribor were again close to promotion to top division in the 1978–79 season when they finished in second place, six points behind Bosnian
side Čelik
.
disciplinary committee. The club had a secret fund that was used for bribing officials and opponents. Some club officials were keeping track of the bribery expenses in their black book, which was later confiscated by the authorities. From the book it is clear that Maribor had bribed a total of 31 people. After the scandal and the subsequent relegation to third division, Maribor spent the following years bouncing between the second and third Yugoslav leagues until the independence of Slovenia in 1991.
In 1988 Maribor merged with another local football club Branik, to form Maribor Branik. Although the club uses only the name Maribor in domestic and international competitions it is still officially registered as NK Maribor Branik to this day. The two clubs always had close ties as Branik had been dissolved only a couple of months before Maribor was established and, many fans who had supported Branik simply switched to supporting Maribor as they viewed the club as the successor of Branik. Branik was later re-established and legally the two clubs had nothing in common until the merger in 1988. In October that year Mladen Krajnc was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident in Dolnja Počehova
. Considered to be one of the best goalscorers in the history of the club, he died at the age of 43.
, Slovenia's best clubs joined the newly formed Slovenian League. Maribor were one of the league's founding members, and are one of only three clubs, along with Gorica
and Celje, who have never been relegated from the Slovenian top division. In the first couple of seasons, Maribor's rivals Olimpija
from Ljubljana, who have had a long tradition of playing in the Yugoslav first league and at the time still had their squad composed of players from that era, dominated the league. Although Olimpija
dominated the league, Maribor still managed to win the first edition of the Slovenian Cup in 1992. The final match was played in Ljubljana at Bežigrad Stadium versus Olimpija. It ended in a goalless draw after regular time and was won by Maribor after a penalty shoot-out (4–3). This was the first major success for Maribor. During the next season the team had their European début, appearing in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
. They played their first European match on 19 August, 1992, when they hosted Ħamrun Spartans of Malta
and won with the score 4–0. Ante Šimundža
scored the first historic goal of the match and still holds the record for most goals (9) in European club competitions for the club. Olimpija
went on to win the first four domestic championships, until their streak was interrupted by Gorica who won it in the 1995–96 season. Maribor were runners-up in the 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1994–95 seasons, before finishing third in 1993–94 and then fourth in the 1995–96 season. During this period the club managed to win another Slovenian cup in 1993–94, defeating Mura
from Murska Sobota
in the final with 3–2 on aggregate.
The 1996–97 season proved to be the turning point in the history of Maribor. The club stormed the Slovenian league and became national champions for the first time in their history. During this season average home attendance was 5,289 spectators, which is still a record in the Slovenian League. The final match of the season was played on 1 June 1997, against Beltinci
and attracted a crowd of 14,000, which is also a record of the Slovenian top league. In that season Maribor also won the 1996–97 Slovenian Cup, thus winning the domestic Double
, a feat also repeated in the 1998–99 season. After their first title in 1996–97 Maribor went on to win six more titles, bringing their total number to seven consecutive titles by 2003. During this period the team also won three Slovenian cups and in the 1999–2000 season, the club, led by head coach Bojan Prašnikar
, managed to defeated Genk of Belgium (5–1, 0–3) and French powerhouse Lyon (1–0, 2–0) and qualify for the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions league. Maribor were drawn into the same group with Dynamo Kiev
, Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio
. To date, Maribor is one of only four clubs (along with Dinamo Zagreb, Partizan
and Hajduk Split
) from the former SFR Yugoslavia who participated in UEFA Champions League group stages since the breakup of the country in 1991.
and Mura
on that path.
Due to their large debts, which at one point amounted to 4 million euros, the club could not afford to buy new players. As a consequence, the first team at the time consisted mostly of youth players mixed with a couple of foreign players brought to the club on free transfers. In the autumn of 2006, the leadership of the club changed, with the debt still amounting to over 3 million euros, and it was not until January 2011 that the club announced that the debt had been paid in full. During this period, Maribor never finished above third place in the Slovenian league, and were runners-up in the Slovenian Cup twice. They were, however, one of the eleven winners of the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup, in which they defeated Spanish side Villarreal
in the final round, only a couple of months after Villareal had played in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.
as sport director, and soon afterwards, Darko Milanič
as head coach, and club legend Ante Šimundža
as assistant coach, were appointed to head the club's sports department. On 10 May 2008, the club re-opened the renovated Ljudski vrt Stadium, which had undergone a major reconstruction that lasted almost 20 months. The first match played in the newly refurbished stadium was a league match against Nafta and was won 3–1 in front of 12,435 spectators. At the start of 2008–09 season, Maribor entered history books as the first club who won 1,000 points in the Slovenian top division, after a 2–1 away win against Rudar Velenje on 26 July 2008. Under the guidance of head coach Darko Milanič, Maribor won all three domestic trophies available to them (the Slovenian League, Cup, and Super Cup
) in only two seasons with the club, thus becoming the first coach with all three domestic trophies won in Slovenian football. On 12 December 2010, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. With the 2–1 away victory over Primorje
, on 21 May 2011, Maribor secured its ninth Slovenian league title. Four days later the team played the Slovenian cup final at Stožice
stadium and lost to Domžale
4–3.
At the start of the 2011–12 season Maribor played in the 2011 Slovenian Supercup
against Domžale
and lost with the score 2–1 after regulation. This was the second consecutive loss for Maribor against Domžale in domestic cup finals in five weeks, after losing the Slovenian cup in May 2011.
. At the beginning of the club some officials were favouring the red and white colours, while the traditional colours of Branik were black and white. Because of the fact that many football teams in SFR Yugoslavia wore red-white or black-white jerseys, most notably FK Crvena Zvezda and FK Partizan
, Maribor officials decided for a new and fresh combination. They decided to follow the example of ACF Fiorentina
, which at the time was one of the most successful clubs in Europe, and their purple and white combination. Oto Blaznik, the first captain in history of the club, was the one who proposed the combination after seeing the Italian side play. Eventually they changed the secondary colour to yellow. Today Maribor play their home matches in purple and away matches in yellow kits. The team is nicknamed The Purples ; another common nickname is The Violets , both referring to their primary colour purple, present on players' jerseys and in the club crest. The club's current kit manufacturer is Adidas
.
. It is based on the official emblem of the city of Maribor
which is turn based on a 14th-century seal, with minor differences. The badge is formed in a shape of a shield, and shows the former Piramida Castle with open doors that used to stand on top of the Pyramid Hill
before it was demolished at the end of the 18th century. A violet blossom forms the backdrop. Unlike the coat of arms
of the city of Maribor, the current badge of the club does not represent a white dove facing downwards to the castle but an athlete. At the top of the shield the name of the club and the year of its foundation is inscribed. The entire badge uses only two colours, purple and yellow. Previous versions of the crest included the colour white, a traditional third colour of the club, in the form of a white castle in the centre and a white ball that was on top of the shield.
Stadium
The Ljudski vrt
stadium is the only stadium in Maribor that lies on the left bank of the river Drava
. The stadium is a natural, cultural, architectural and sports landmark of the city and is considered one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. The stadium is named after a public park previously located in the area. A cemetery
was also located on the same area before the stadium was built. The first football pitch in the area was built in 1952, while the stadium itself was not built until 1962. The club first started to compete in Ljudski vrt in 1961, when the current main stand was still under construction. The stand is notable for its 129.8 metres long and 18.4 m high concrete arch and is still the main stand of the stadium. In 1994 floodlights were installed and the stadium hosted its first evening match. Since then the stadium went through several renovations. The most notable was the one in 2008 when the stadium was completely refurbished. Presently, it has a capacity of 12,994 seats.
Beside being the home ground of Maribor, the stadium also hosts matches of the Slovenia national football team
and was their main venue used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifying matches. It was one of two stadiums in the country which hosted the national team in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. The record attendance in the Yugoslav era was 20,000 spectators, while the record for a Slovenian League match is 14,000 spectators, achieved on the last match of the 1996–97 season. This match is still the record holder for attendance at a football match in Slovenian League.
Supporters
Since their inception in 1960, Maribor have developed a loyal, passionate and dedicated fanbase and Maribor's fans are considered the best in the country. After Slovenia declared independence in 1991, most of the town's industry perished and over 25% of the population was unemployed. Still, the people remained loyal to the club. The club is by far the most popular football team in the country and is, in number of football supporters, second only to the Slovenia national football team
. Besides the city of Maribor and the surrounding area, the club also has a large fan base in the regions of Styria
and Carinthia , from which a number of fan groups emerged from places such as Ptuj
, Ljutomer
, Pragersko
, and Šentilj
. The club also draws a significant number of supporters from northern Upper Carniola
, with supporters located between Rateče
and Kranj
, and northeastern Lower Carniola
, in the area around Krško
and Kočevje
,, as well as the capital city of Ljubljana
itself. This is due to a large number of students and workers from eastern part of the country. A small number of supporters are also present in Ilirska Bistrica
in the Slovenian Littoral
. Soon after the foundation of Maribor, the club was branded as the citizens club, while their city rivals Železničar
has always been branded as the club of the working class. This was mainly because Maribor was seen, by the fans, as the successor of Branik, a club that folded in 1960. Many fans of Branik then started to cheer for Maribor, a club that was founded only couple of months later. Branik was later reestablished as a new club, and in 1988, merged with Maribor under the name NK Maribor Branik.
Since the establishment of the Slovenian league, 1. SNL, Maribor had the highest average attendance in almost every season to date (17 out of 20), and, overall, had more spectators on its home matches than the second and third most viewed clubs in the league combined. The highest attendance was in season 1996–97 when on average 5,289 people attended Maribor's matches, which is still a record in Slovenian club football. To date, Maribor is the only team in Slovenian league that gathered over 10,000 people during their league matches, achieving that number on several occasions. The highest attendance ever on a Slovenian league match was on 1 June 1997, when Maribor played against Beltinci (14,000). In addition, they are the only club that gathered over one million people on their matches in Slovenian league, since its foundation in 1991.
The club also has an ultras
group called Viole Maribor established in 1989 which is, by numbers and organization, considered the biggest in Slovenia. The core of Viole consists of around 250 fans, while the whole group has over 500 official members. They are located on the southern stand of the stadium which has a capacity of just over 2,000. The most Maribor fans gathered on an away match in domestic competitions was in 2001 when 3,000 fans gathered in Ljubljana
, while the most fans gathered on a away match abroad was in 1999 during the club's UEFA Champions League
campaign when 700 fans gathered in Rome
. Their biggest rivals are the Green Dragons
of Olimpija. Recently another fan group emerged to support Maribor at their matches. The group is called ESS (East Side Supporters) and consists mostly of former members of Viole Maribor, now season tickets holders. They are, as the name implies, located at the east stand of the stadium.
Famous fans
, against whom they contested the Eternal derby
. Olimpija folded and was dissolved in 2004. Today, the continuation of the rivalry is considered (by certain Ljubljana
based media and fans, mostly of the old Olimpija), as the matches between Maribor and the new NK Olimpija Ljubljana, established in 2005 as Bežigrad. The rivalry traced its roots back to the early 1960s, when the first match between the two clubs was played. The two teams represented the two largest cities in Slovenia, the capital city of Ljubljana
and the second largest city Maribor
, and both teams always had the largest fan bases in the country. Traditionally, Ljubljana represents the richer western part of the country, while Maribor is the center of the poorer eastern part. In addition, Ljubljana was always the cultural, educational, economic and political center of the country and Olimpija and its fans were considered as the representatives of the upper class
. Maribor, on the other hand, was one of the most industrialized cities in Yugoslavia, and the majority of its fans were the representatives of the working class
, which means that the rivalry usually political, social, and cultural tensions as well.
The old rivalry reached its peak in the final round of 2000–01 season when one of the most celebrated matches in Slovenian League
history was played, when Olimpija
met Maribor at their home stadium, Bežigrad. Both teams were competing for their fifth Slovenian League
title. The home team needed a win for the title, while a draw was enough for Maribor. The atmosphere was electric days before the kick-off, and the stadium with a capacity of 8,500 was completely sold out. At the end, the match ended with a draw (1–1) and Maribor started to celebrate their fifth consecutive title in front of 3,000 of their fans that gathered in Ljubljana
that day.
An additional intensity to the rivalry is the fact that both Maribor and Olimpija always had support on their matches from ultras
groups, called Viole Maribor supporting Maribor, and the Green Dragons
who support Olimpija. The two groups are the largest in the country, and it is not uncommon that the matches between the two clubs were sometimes interrupted by violent clashes between the two groups or with the police. On many occasions, before or after the matches, the fans of the two clubs would also meet up and fight on the streets. One of the worst incidents, in April 2010 after a match, resulted in a stabbing of a member of the Green Dragons who, with a group of friends, got into a fight with members of the Viole in Ljubljana's railway station. However, to date, there have not been any fatalities in the country related to football violence.
Because the new Olimpija is supported by most of the fans of the previous Olimpija, including their ultras group, the Green Dragons, who have a long-standing rivalry with Maribor's own ultras group Viole Maribor, many see the matches between Maribor and the new club as the continuation of the rivalry and refer to it by the same name. However, there are many fans, either the ones from Maribor or the ones from Ljubljana, that do not share the same view and do not share similar beliefs, including part of the media. The overall statistics of the old and the new Olimpija are tracked separately by the Football Association of Slovenia
and the Association of 1. SNL
. The first match between Maribor and the new Olimpija took place on 24 October 2007 on a Slovenian cup quarter-final match that was won by Maribor, 3–1. At the time Olimpija was still competing under the name Olimpija Bežigrad. Statistically, Maribor is the more successful club either in the case of matches only from the period from 1962 to 2005 or the whole period from 1962 to present day. Maribor is also much more successful in case of the matches against Olimpija, established in 2005 as Bežigrad.
from Murska Sobota
. Similar to Olimpija, Mura also folded and was dissolved in 2004 and today the continuation of the rivalry is considered as the matches between Maribor and Mura 05
, established in 2005, who consider themselves, together with the fans of the old Mura, as the spiritual continuation of the 2004 dissolved club. The match between the two clubs was first played in 1967 in the time of SFR Yugoslavia. Although the first match was played in the late 1960s it was not until the independence of Slovenia in 1991 when most of the matches were played. Before the establishment of the 1. SNL in 1991 both clubs had never played together in the top division and the rivalry became apparent only after the independence of Slovenia, when both clubs were among the top teams of the newly established national league. Mura comes from a small, rural town of Murska Sobota
in eastern Slovenia which is the center of the poorest region in the country, Prekmurje
. Prekmurje was, for about a thousand years, part of the Kingdom of Hungary
, unlike other Slovene Lands
. It therefore maintains certain specific linguistic, cultural and religious features that differentiate it from other traditional Slovenian regions. The Mura river, which runs on the border between Styria
, the capital of which is Maribor, and Prekmurje was therefore not just a natural barrier, but political as well. During the 1990s and early 2000s the two clubs were the most successful and popular teams in the eastern part of the country. The rivalry reached its peak in 2003–04 season when Mura hosted Maribor at home in the final round of the season. Before the match Maribor was leading the table and was close in winning their eighth consecutive title while the mid table position of Mura was predetermined before the final round. However, Mura won the match 2–1 and Maribor eventually finished the season on third place, losing the title by two points.
Mura also has support during their matches from their ultras group, named the Black Gringos. Statistically, both teams always enjoyed one of the biggest attendances on their matches and, in term of numbers, both teams had one of the largest fan bases in the country. The fact that Prekmurje is one of the smallest and least populated regions in Slovenia has made Mura's fans labeled, by the general public, as one of the most loyal in the country. Currently, Mura 05 plays in the lower tier of Slovenian football and still has higher average attendances than most of the first division clubs. Statistically, Maribor is the more successful club, considering either the case of matches from the period from 1967 to 2005, or the whole period from 1967 to present day.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia
League
Cup
League
Cup
Other
Maribor's tally of nine Slovenian Championships and the total of six Slovenian Cup titles is the highest in Slovenian football. Maribor holds the record for most consecutive league titles (7), ahead of Olimpija (4) and ND Gorica
(3). They are also the only team in the country that has achieved Slovenian Championship and Slovenian Cup 'Doubles
' on more than one occasion (2). In addition, they have won the Slovenian Supercup once. On their official website, UEFA
states that Maribor has won one international cup, as Maribor was one of the winners of UEFA Intertoto Cup
in 2006. However, the trophy itself was awarded to Newcastle United
, the team that advanced farthest in UEFA competitions that season. Maribor have the best top-flight record in history, having finished bellow fourth place only once. Maribor also have the highest average league finishing position for the Slovenian league, with an average league placing of 2,25. In addition, they were the first team to win 1,000 points in Slovenian top flight, achieving that with a 2–1 away victory against Rudar Velenje on 26 July, 2008.
Youth Academy
Maribor's Academy is responsible for youth development at the club, with the goal of developing young players for the future. The academy is hailed as the best in Slovenia and has been enjoying a fair amount of success in producing promising young players. The academy is composed of ten youth selections, ranging from U–18 to U–7, with over 220 youth players in the system who are trained by professional staff within the club. The vision of the club and its youth system is not only to produce new players but also to prepare young children for the future and life without football. Therefore, each child who wants to be a member of the academy must also be successful not only on the football field but also in the field of education. During the last few years the club has also spread the football school activities to primary schools in the city of Maribor
and the surrounding area, in the form of circles, where as part of the Children's Football School around 300 of the youngest footballers train.
Since the independence of Slovenia in 1991 and the establishment of Maribor's youth system in its present form, the academy has been the most successful in the country. U–18 team holds the record for most titles then any other team, having won six times. The same team has also won two U–18 Cups and is therefore the most triumphant team in their category. Other teams are equally successful as U–16 holds the record for most titles (4), the same as U–14 team in their own category. Even younger selections of the club also play in top-flight of their respective age categories and share similar success. In addition, Maribor's youth squads are the only ones in the country that were able to achieve league victories in the four highest youth levels (U–18, U–16, U–14 and U–12) during the course of one season. Maribor's youth selections give, on average, at least 15 players per season to the Slovenia national football team
selections and players from the academy are continuously tracked by top European clubs.
in history of Maribor. It was retired in honour of Stipe Balajić
, who was with the club for eight seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, during the club's most successful period. He is considered as one of the best players to ever play for the club and played, both, as a defender
and midfielder. In his last couple of seasons he was also team captain. Balajić earned a total of 229 official appearances for the club, scoring 37 goals in the process. He played his last match with the club on 7 July 2005, in a friendly match against his former club Hajduk Split
. He started the match and was then substituted after 19 minutes of play in a symbolic gesture.
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
was selected as the first ever trophy winner. Defender Elvedin Džinić
was the first domestic player that won the award.
Winners
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Footnotes
External links
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from Slovenian top flight 1. SNL since its establishment in 1991. They are regarded as a symbol of Slovenian football
Football in Slovenia
Football in Slovenia is governed by the Football Association of Slovenia . Slovenia has participated in international football as an independent nation ever since 1991 when the country separated from SFR Yugoslavia...
, particularly in their home region of Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
in northeastern Slovenia.
Maribor is the most successful club in the country, having won nine Slovenian League titles, six Slovenian Cups and one Slovenian Supercup
Slovenian Supercup
The Slovenian Supercup is an annually contested football match between the football club that has won the Slovenian PrvaLiga and the club that has won the Slovenian Cup. Until 2008 the match was held only occasionally, however, in recent years it has become an annual event usually held in July and...
. The club's most successful period was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they overwhelmingly dominated domestic football and won seven consecutive league titles and three national cups. Prior to Slovenia's independence in 1991 they played in the Yugoslav football system. Maribor is one of only three Slovenian clubs who had stints in the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
, the country's top level between 1946 and 1991. They are also the only Slovenian club to date to have participated 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...
, having appeared in group stages in the 1999–2000 season under the guidance of head coach Bojan Prašnikar
Bojan Prašnikar
Bojan Prašnikar is a Slovenian football manager and former player, who currently works as Head Coach of NK Rudar Velenje.- Playing career :...
. In addition, they are one of only four clubs from the former Yugoslavia who participated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League since the breakup of the country in 1991.
They maintain a fierce rivalry with Olimpija from the capital Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, with whom they contest the Eternal Derby
Eternal derby (Slovenia)
The Eternal derby of Slovenian football, simply known as the Eternal derby or Slovenian derby was a major football rivalry between NK Maribor and NK Olimpija, which was dissolved in 2004...
. Their other major rivalry is against Mura 05
ND Mura 05
Nogometno Društvo Mura 05, commonly referred to as ND Mura 05 or simply Mura is a Slovenian football team, playing in the town of Murska Sobota. Founded on 16 June, 2005, the team currently plays in the Slovenian first division, 1. SNL. The club's home ground is Fazanerija stadium with a capacity...
from Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
and matches between the two are dubbed as the Northeastern Derby
Northeastern derby (Slovenia)
The Northeastern derby is a major football rivalry between NK Maribor and NK Mura. Today the continuation of the rivalry is considered by many as the matches between NK Maribor and ND Mura 05, established in 2005, who consider themselves, together with the fans of the old Mura, as the spiritual...
. Maribor also have a loyal and passionate fan base and the club has the highest average all-time attendance in Slovenia.
The club's home ground is the Ljudski vrt stadium which has a capacity of 12,994. It was originally built in 1962 and later underwent a series of major reconstructions in the 1990s and 2000s. The club's Academy, which is hailed as the best in the country, is responsible for youth development at the club and has enjoyed a fair amount of success in producing promising young players. Maribor's nicknames are The Purples and The Violets , both referring to their primary colour purple. The club's motto is One club, one honour .
Founding
Maribor football club was founded on 12 December 1960. The board of the newly established club then organized the presidential elections and Dr. Srečko Koren was appointed as the first club president, while Andrija Pflander was appointed as the first head coach and Oto Blaznik as the first team captain. The club played their first match on 5 February, 1961, when they defeated city rivals KovinarNK Tezno Maribor
NK Tezno is a Slovenian football club from Maribor, which plays in the Slovenian Regional League, the fourth level in the Slovenian football system....
2–1 (0–0), with Stefan Tolič scoring both goals. Although the team colours, purple and white, were chosen from the beginning, the team played its first match in a green and blue combination, as their violet jerseys were not available in time for the first match. The team won the Slovenian Republic League
Slovenian Republic Football League
Slovenian Republic Football League was the highest football league in Slovenia within the yugoslav football system. During the time of SFR Yugoslavia, it was third level league for most of the time, but became fourth level in 1988. Before that, the winner was promoted to Yugoslav Second League,...
(third tier of Yugoslav football) in their first season and therefore won the right to contest the qualifications for the Yugoslav Second League
Yugoslav Second League
Yugoslav Second League was the second tier football league of SFR Yugoslavia. The top clubs were promoted to the top tier, the Yugoslav First League....
. Andrija Pflander was the head coach of the team that won the Republic league. However, he had to step down from the position right before the start of the promotion play-off due to illness. His successor was Vladimir Šimunić, the man who eventually guided the team to their promotion to the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
six years later. Maribor won the first two rounds of the qualifying play-off and eventually defeated Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n side Uljanik from Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
in the final qualifying phase with the score 2–1 on aggregate, therefore securing the right to play in the second Yugoslav division.
In 1962 the club received a new stadium named Ljudski vrt
Stadion Ljudski Vrt
The Ljudski vrt stadium also known by the abbreviation LV, is a multi-purpose stadium located on the left bank of the river Drava in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. The stadium is a landmark of the city of Maribor and is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadium in the world...
. On 2 September of that year football fans across Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
witnessed the birth of a new rivalry between Maribor and Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
. The first match between the two clubs was played in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
and ended in a 1–1 draw. Matches between these two clubs later became known in Slovenia as the Eternal derby
Eternal derby (Slovenia)
The Eternal derby of Slovenian football, simply known as the Eternal derby or Slovenian derby was a major football rivalry between NK Maribor and NK Olimpija, which was dissolved in 2004...
. After five seasons, the average attendance of home matches was around 8,000 spectators, and under the guidance of coach Simunič, the club won the second division title and managed to reach the Yugoslav first league, becoming one of only three Slovenian clubs in history who played in the top flight of Yugoslav football.
Yugoslav top division
The club's first match in the Yugoslav top division was played in 1967 against MacedonianRepublic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
side Vardar
FK Vardar
FK Vardar Skopje is a Macedonian football club based in the capital city of Skopje. FK Vardar is currently a member of the 1-MFL. FK Vardar is the most popular and renowned Macedonian football club both domestically and abroad, having won 6 national championships and 6 national cups...
in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
(1–1); Maras scored the only goal for Maribor. The first top level home match was played on 27 August 1967 against Proleter Zrenjanin
FK Proleter Zrenjanin
FK Proleter Zrenjanin was a football club from the city of Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Serbia.-Early period:...
in front of 8,000 spectators and Maribor won with the score 3–0. The goals were scored by Krajnc, Arnejčič and Binkovski. During the same season, football fans across Slovenia witnessed the first ever match in the Yugoslav top flight involving two clubs from Slovenia, when Maribor hosted a match against their rivals Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
in front of 13,000 spectators (0–0). Every match between the two clubs during this period would be sold out, with crowd attendance sometimes as high as 20,000. The team finished their first season in Yugoslav top flight in 12th place.
During their five years in the top division, Maribor played a total of 166 matches and achieved 40 wins, 57 draws and 69 defeats, with a goal difference of 166–270. Maribor's highest league position was in the 1969–70 season when the club finished in 10th place in an 18-club league. The average league placement of the club in Yugoslav top flight was 13.8. The 1971–72 season was their last season in top division as the team finished last with 20 points. Mladen Krajnc, one of the best players in history of the club, was the best goalscorer for the team in each of its five seasons spent in the Yugoslav top division, having scored a total of 54 league goals, which eventually led to his transfer to one of the top Yugoslav clubs, Dinamo Zagreb.
Next season Maribor played in the second Yugoslav division and finished runners-up, which meant that they qualified for the Yugoslav first division promotion play-off. In the first qualifying round against Montenegrin
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...
side Budućnost
FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:...
, Maribor won on penalties and qualified for the decisive round against Proleter
FK Proleter Zrenjanin
FK Proleter Zrenjanin was a football club from the city of Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Serbia.-Early period:...
. The first leg was played in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
on 8 July, 1973, and is acknowledged as one of the most historic matches in history of the club as it still holds the club's attendance record. There were 20,000 spectators, 15,000 of whom were already present in the stands almost three hours before kick off, eventually helping Maribor win the game 3–1. However, the two-goal advantage proved to be insufficient as Proleter won the second leg in Zrenjanin
Zrenjanin
Zrenjanin is a city and municipality located in the eastern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina. It is the administrative centre of the Central Banat District of Serbia...
3–0 and earned promotion with the score 4–3 on aggregate. In the second leg match when the score was 1–0 for the home team, Maribor had scored an equaliser in the 23rd minute, but the goal was disallowed. The later TV replay showed that the ball had actually crossed the goal line and that the goal should have stood.
After the dramatic play-off against Proleter, the club entered a period of stagnation. During this period Maribor were again close to promotion to top division in the 1978–79 season when they finished in second place, six points behind Bosnian
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
side Čelik
NK Celik Zenica
NK Čelik is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing in the city of Zenica.The name Čelik means "Steel" in Bosnian - it is derived from Turkish çelik...
.
Bribery scandal and aftermath
At the end of 1980–1981 season Maribor were celebrating as the club managed to avoid relegation, when the "" bribery scandal emerged, and caused the club to be relegated from second tier to third by the decision of the Football Association of YugoslaviaFootball Association of Yugoslavia
The Football Association of Yugoslavia was the governing body of football in Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, with a major administrative branch in Zagreb....
disciplinary committee. The club had a secret fund that was used for bribing officials and opponents. Some club officials were keeping track of the bribery expenses in their black book, which was later confiscated by the authorities. From the book it is clear that Maribor had bribed a total of 31 people. After the scandal and the subsequent relegation to third division, Maribor spent the following years bouncing between the second and third Yugoslav leagues until the independence of Slovenia in 1991.
In 1988 Maribor merged with another local football club Branik, to form Maribor Branik. Although the club uses only the name Maribor in domestic and international competitions it is still officially registered as NK Maribor Branik to this day. The two clubs always had close ties as Branik had been dissolved only a couple of months before Maribor was established and, many fans who had supported Branik simply switched to supporting Maribor as they viewed the club as the successor of Branik. Branik was later re-established and legally the two clubs had nothing in common until the merger in 1988. In October that year Mladen Krajnc was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident in Dolnja Počehova
Dolnja Počehova
Dolnja Počehova is a settlement in the Pesnica municipality in northeastern Slovenia. It lies in the upper valley of the river Pesnica. The area was part of the traditional region of Lower Styria. It is now included in the Drava statistical region....
. Considered to be one of the best goalscorers in the history of the club, he died at the age of 43.
After independence
Following the 1991 independence of SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, Slovenia's best clubs joined the newly formed Slovenian League. Maribor were one of the league's founding members, and are one of only three clubs, along with Gorica
ND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
and Celje, who have never been relegated from the Slovenian top division. In the first couple of seasons, Maribor's rivals Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
from Ljubljana, who have had a long tradition of playing in the Yugoslav first league and at the time still had their squad composed of players from that era, dominated the league. Although Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
dominated the league, Maribor still managed to win the first edition of the Slovenian Cup in 1992. The final match was played in Ljubljana at Bežigrad Stadium versus Olimpija. It ended in a goalless draw after regular time and was won by Maribor after a penalty shoot-out (4–3). This was the first major success for Maribor. During the next season the team had their European début, appearing in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
. They played their first European match on 19 August, 1992, when they hosted Ħamrun Spartans of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and won with the score 4–0. Ante Šimundža
Ante Šimundža
Ante Šimundža is a retired Slovenian football striker. Šimundža was capped 3 times for the Slovenian national team.As of 24 August 2011, he is the manager of ND Mura 05....
scored the first historic goal of the match and still holds the record for most goals (9) in European club competitions for the club. Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
went on to win the first four domestic championships, until their streak was interrupted by Gorica who won it in the 1995–96 season. Maribor were runners-up in the 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1994–95 seasons, before finishing third in 1993–94 and then fourth in the 1995–96 season. During this period the club managed to win another Slovenian cup in 1993–94, defeating Mura
NK Mura
Nogometni Klub Mura was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases...
from Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
in the final with 3–2 on aggregate.
| }} |
| The UEFA Champions League lineup that beat Dynamo Kiev FC Dynamo Kyiv FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football... 1–0 in Kiev Kiev Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.... |
The 1996–97 season proved to be the turning point in the history of Maribor. The club stormed the Slovenian league and became national champions for the first time in their history. During this season average home attendance was 5,289 spectators, which is still a record in the Slovenian League. The final match of the season was played on 1 June 1997, against Beltinci
ND Beltinci
ND Beltinci is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Beltinci. The club was formed in 2007, following the closure of former club NK Beltinci. This year they start playing in the 6. division ....
and attracted a crowd of 14,000, which is also a record of the Slovenian top league. In that season Maribor also won the 1996–97 Slovenian Cup, thus winning the domestic Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, a feat also repeated in the 1998–99 season. After their first title in 1996–97 Maribor went on to win six more titles, bringing their total number to seven consecutive titles by 2003. During this period the team also won three Slovenian cups and in the 1999–2000 season, the club, led by head coach Bojan Prašnikar
Bojan Prašnikar
Bojan Prašnikar is a Slovenian football manager and former player, who currently works as Head Coach of NK Rudar Velenje.- Playing career :...
, managed to defeated Genk of Belgium (5–1, 0–3) and French powerhouse Lyon (1–0, 2–0) and qualify for the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions league. Maribor were drawn into the same group with Dynamo Kiev
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
, Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
. To date, Maribor is one of only four clubs (along with Dinamo Zagreb, 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 Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
) from the former SFR Yugoslavia who participated in UEFA Champions League group stages since the breakup of the country in 1991.
Financial difficulties
The 2003–04 Slovenian Cup was the last trophy won by Maribor before the darkest era of the club began. Between 2004 and 2008, the club was plagued by financial difficulties, and Maribor even came close to being disbanded at one point. However, the club did not follow their rivals OlimpijaNK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
and Mura
NK Mura
Nogometni Klub Mura was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases...
on that path.
Due to their large debts, which at one point amounted to 4 million euros, the club could not afford to buy new players. As a consequence, the first team at the time consisted mostly of youth players mixed with a couple of foreign players brought to the club on free transfers. In the autumn of 2006, the leadership of the club changed, with the debt still amounting to over 3 million euros, and it was not until January 2011 that the club announced that the debt had been paid in full. During this period, Maribor never finished above third place in the Slovenian league, and were runners-up in the Slovenian Cup twice. They were, however, one of the eleven winners of the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup, in which they defeated Spanish side Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
in the final round, only a couple of months after Villareal had played in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.
Current status
From the season 2007–08 onwards, Slovenian football legends Zlatko ZahovičZlatko Zahovic
Zlatko Zahovič is a retired Slovenian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.After making a name for himself in Europe in Portugal, most notably with Porto and Benfica, he went on to have unassuming spells in Spain and Greece...
as sport director, and soon afterwards, Darko Milanič
Darko Milanic
Darko Milanič is a former Slovenian footballer and current NK Maribor coach.-Club career:Born in Izola, Milanič began his football career with local side NK Izola. At 17 he was signed by FK Partizan, where he became a notable defender. After 1992-93 season he moved to Austrian side Sturm Graz...
as head coach, and club legend Ante Šimundža
Ante Šimundža
Ante Šimundža is a retired Slovenian football striker. Šimundža was capped 3 times for the Slovenian national team.As of 24 August 2011, he is the manager of ND Mura 05....
as assistant coach, were appointed to head the club's sports department. On 10 May 2008, the club re-opened the renovated Ljudski vrt Stadium, which had undergone a major reconstruction that lasted almost 20 months. The first match played in the newly refurbished stadium was a league match against Nafta and was won 3–1 in front of 12,435 spectators. At the start of 2008–09 season, Maribor entered history books as the first club who won 1,000 points in the Slovenian top division, after a 2–1 away win against Rudar Velenje on 26 July 2008. Under the guidance of head coach Darko Milanič, Maribor won all three domestic trophies available to them (the Slovenian League, Cup, and Super Cup
Slovenian Supercup
The Slovenian Supercup is an annually contested football match between the football club that has won the Slovenian PrvaLiga and the club that has won the Slovenian Cup. Until 2008 the match was held only occasionally, however, in recent years it has become an annual event usually held in July and...
) in only two seasons with the club, thus becoming the first coach with all three domestic trophies won in Slovenian football. On 12 December 2010, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. With the 2–1 away victory over Primorje
NK Primorje
NK Primorje is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Ajdovščina.-Honours:League* Slovenian Championships:'Cup* Slovenian Cup:- Current squad :As of 31 July 2011- External links :...
, on 21 May 2011, Maribor secured its ninth Slovenian league title. Four days later the team played the Slovenian cup final at Stožice
Stožice Stadium
Stožice Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It was designed by Slovenian Sadar Vuga d.o.o. architects and is the biggest football stadium in the country. It is one of two main stadiums in the city and lies in the Bežigrad district, north of the city centre...
stadium and lost to Domžale
NK Domžale
NK Domžale is a Slovenian football club that plays in the town of Domžale. They have won the Slovenian League two times and both Slovenian Cup and Slovenian Supercup once.-History:...
4–3.
At the start of the 2011–12 season Maribor played in the 2011 Slovenian Supercup
2011 Slovenian Supercup
The 2011 Slovenian Supercup was the seventh edition of Slovenian Supercup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Slovenian PrvaLiga and Slovenian Cup competitions. The match was played on 8 July, 2011, in Ljudski vrt stadium between 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga...
against Domžale
NK Domžale
NK Domžale is a Slovenian football club that plays in the town of Domžale. They have won the Slovenian League two times and both Slovenian Cup and Slovenian Supercup once.-History:...
and lost with the score 2–1 after regulation. This was the second consecutive loss for Maribor against Domžale in domestic cup finals in five weeks, after losing the Slovenian cup in May 2011.
Social identity
Kit and colours
Throughout the entire history of Maribor the club's main colour was purplePurple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
. At the beginning of the club some officials were favouring the red and white colours, while the traditional colours of Branik were black and white. Because of the fact that many football teams in SFR Yugoslavia wore red-white or black-white jerseys, most notably FK Crvena Zvezda and FK 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...
, Maribor officials decided for a new and fresh combination. They decided to follow the example of ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
, which at the time was one of the most successful clubs in Europe, and their purple and white combination. Oto Blaznik, the first captain in history of the club, was the one who proposed the combination after seeing the Italian side play. Eventually they changed the secondary colour to yellow. Today Maribor play their home matches in purple and away matches in yellow kits. The team is nicknamed The Purples ; another common nickname is The Violets , both referring to their primary colour purple, present on players' jerseys and in the club crest. The club's current kit manufacturer is Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
.
Crest
The badge of the club is one of the most recognizable sport symbols in SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It is based on the official emblem of the city of Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
which is turn based on a 14th-century seal, with minor differences. The badge is formed in a shape of a shield, and shows the former Piramida Castle with open doors that used to stand on top of the Pyramid Hill
Pyramid, Maribor
The Pyramid is a low hill in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. It is a popular excursion spot, affording a good view of the city. An ascent takes 15-30 minutes.-History:...
before it was demolished at the end of the 18th century. A violet blossom forms the backdrop. Unlike the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the city of Maribor, the current badge of the club does not represent a white dove facing downwards to the castle but an athlete. At the top of the shield the name of the club and the year of its foundation is inscribed. The entire badge uses only two colours, purple and yellow. Previous versions of the crest included the colour white, a traditional third colour of the club, in the form of a white castle in the centre and a white ball that was on top of the shield.
Stadium
The Ljudski vrt
Stadion Ljudski Vrt
The Ljudski vrt stadium also known by the abbreviation LV, is a multi-purpose stadium located on the left bank of the river Drava in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. The stadium is a landmark of the city of Maribor and is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadium in the world...
stadium is the only stadium in Maribor that lies on the left bank of the river Drava
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
. The stadium is a natural, cultural, architectural and sports landmark of the city and is considered one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. The stadium is named after a public park previously located in the area. A cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
was also located on the same area before the stadium was built. The first football pitch in the area was built in 1952, while the stadium itself was not built until 1962. The club first started to compete in Ljudski vrt in 1961, when the current main stand was still under construction. The stand is notable for its 129.8 metres long and 18.4 m high concrete arch and is still the main stand of the stadium. In 1994 floodlights were installed and the stadium hosted its first evening match. Since then the stadium went through several renovations. The most notable was the one in 2008 when the stadium was completely refurbished. Presently, it has a capacity of 12,994 seats.
Beside being the home ground of Maribor, the stadium also hosts matches of the Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
and was their main venue used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifying matches. It was one of two stadiums in the country which hosted the national team in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. The record attendance in the Yugoslav era was 20,000 spectators, while the record for a Slovenian League match is 14,000 spectators, achieved on the last match of the 1996–97 season. This match is still the record holder for attendance at a football match in Slovenian League.
Supporters
Since their inception in 1960, Maribor have developed a loyal, passionate and dedicated fanbase and Maribor's fans are considered the best in the country. After Slovenia declared independence in 1991, most of the town's industry perished and over 25% of the population was unemployed. Still, the people remained loyal to the club. The club is by far the most popular football team in the country and is, in number of football supporters, second only to the Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. Besides the city of Maribor and the surrounding area, the club also has a large fan base in the regions of Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
and Carinthia , from which a number of fan groups emerged from places such as Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
, Ljutomer
Ljutomer
Ljutomer is a municipality in northeastern Slovenia, some 40 km east of Maribor. Traditionally it was part of the region of Styria. It is now included in the Pomurska statistical region....
, Pragersko
Pragersko
Pragersko is a small town in the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica in northeastern Slovenia. The Ljubljana-to-Maribor railway line runs through the settlement. It was in fact only after the building of the Southern Railway in the mid-19th century that the town developed to its current size. The...
, and Šentilj
Šentilj
Šentilj is a municipality in Slovenia. The seat of the municipality is the town of Šentilj v Slovenskih goricah . This town was an Austria-Slovenia border crossing checkpoint until December 21, 2007, when all immigration and customs checks ended after Slovenia joined the Schengen Area...
. The club also draws a significant number of supporters from northern Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
, with supporters located between Rateče
Ratece
-External links:** *...
and Kranj
Kranj
' is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 . It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana...
, and northeastern Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
, in the area around Krško
Krško
Krško is a town and municipality in eastern Slovenia. The town lies on the Sava River. The area is traditionally divided between Lower Styria and Lower Carniola...
and Kočevje
Kocevje
Kočevje is a city and a municipality in southern Slovenia. In terms of area it is the largest municipality in Slovenia. It is located between the rivers Krka and Kolpa and is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola. It is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region...
,, as well as the capital city of Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
itself. This is due to a large number of students and workers from eastern part of the country. A small number of supporters are also present in Ilirska Bistrica
Ilirska Bistrica
Ilirska Bistrica is a town and a municipality in Slovenia. It belongs to the traditional region of Primorska.The town of Ilirska Bistrica is the major economic centre of the district of the same name...
in the Slovenian Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
. Soon after the foundation of Maribor, the club was branded as the citizens club, while their city rivals Železničar
NK Železnicar Maribor
NK Železničar is a Slovenian football club from Maribor, which plays in the 1.MNZ Maribor league, fourth level of Slovenian football system.-History:...
has always been branded as the club of the working class. This was mainly because Maribor was seen, by the fans, as the successor of Branik, a club that folded in 1960. Many fans of Branik then started to cheer for Maribor, a club that was founded only couple of months later. Branik was later reestablished as a new club, and in 1988, merged with Maribor under the name NK Maribor Branik.
Since the establishment of the Slovenian league, 1. SNL, Maribor had the highest average attendance in almost every season to date (17 out of 20), and, overall, had more spectators on its home matches than the second and third most viewed clubs in the league combined. The highest attendance was in season 1996–97 when on average 5,289 people attended Maribor's matches, which is still a record in Slovenian club football. To date, Maribor is the only team in Slovenian league that gathered over 10,000 people during their league matches, achieving that number on several occasions. The highest attendance ever on a Slovenian league match was on 1 June 1997, when Maribor played against Beltinci (14,000). In addition, they are the only club that gathered over one million people on their matches in Slovenian league, since its foundation in 1991.
The club also has an 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...
group called Viole Maribor established in 1989 which is, by numbers and organization, considered the biggest in Slovenia. The core of Viole consists of around 250 fans, while the whole group has over 500 official members. They are located on the southern stand of the stadium which has a capacity of just over 2,000. The most Maribor fans gathered on an away match in domestic competitions was in 2001 when 3,000 fans gathered in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, while the most fans gathered on a away match abroad was in 1999 during the club's 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...
campaign when 700 fans gathered in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Their biggest rivals are the Green Dragons
Green Dragons
Green Dragons, also known as simply "Dragonsi", are supporters of the Olimpija branch of sport clubs in Ljubljana and considered the largest of such Slovenian groups. The most prominent roles amongst these belong to NK Olimpija and KK Union Olimpija...
of Olimpija. Recently another fan group emerged to support Maribor at their matches. The group is called ESS (East Side Supporters) and consists mostly of former members of Viole Maribor, now season tickets holders. They are, as the name implies, located at the east stand of the stadium.
Famous fans
- Famous, non football related, supporters with verifiable citations confirming their support for NK Maribor are listed on this list alphabetically.
- Franc KanglerFranc KanglerFranc Kangler is a Slovenian politician, member of the centre right Slovenian People's Party. He currently serves as the mayor of Maribor, the second largest town in the country....
– Politician and current mayor of MariborMariborMaribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor.... - Anže KopitarAnže KopitarAnže Kopitar is a Slovene professional ice hockey player and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice and led his native country before he moved to Sweden...
– Professional ice hockey player and current member of the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... - Primož KozmusPrimož KozmusPrimož Kozmus is a Slovenian hammer thrower and the current Olympic champion. His gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2009 World Championships in Berlin made him the first ever Slovenian athlete to win both titles.His personal best throw and Slovenian record is 82.58 metres,...
– Current Olympic2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
and former World2009 World Championships in AthleticsThe 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
champion in hammer throwHammer throwThe modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown... - Tone PartljičTone PartljičTone Partljič is a Slovene writer, playwright and politician. Betwen 1990 and 2004 he was a member of the Slovenian National Assembly, form 1994 as a member of the LDS party. He was also president of the Slovene Writers' Association between 1983 and 1987.Partljič was born in Maribor and grew up in...
– Writer, author, playwright, former politician (lifetime honorary season ticket holder) - Sašo Peče – Politician
- Lojze PeterleLojze PeterleAlojz "Lojze" Peterle is a Slovenian politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and...
– Politician and current Member of the European ParliamentMember of the European ParliamentA Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,... - Zoran PredinZoran PredinZoran Predin is a Slovenian singer-songwriter from Maribor. In the 1980s, he was the front man of the folk-rock band Lačni Franz. He also writes music for film, television and theatre....
– Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer - Saša Vujačić – Professional basketball player and current member of the Anadolu Efes S.K.
Eternal derby
Maribor's biggest rivalry was with OlimpijaNK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
, against whom they contested the Eternal derby
Eternal derby (Slovenia)
The Eternal derby of Slovenian football, simply known as the Eternal derby or Slovenian derby was a major football rivalry between NK Maribor and NK Olimpija, which was dissolved in 2004...
. Olimpija folded and was dissolved in 2004. Today, the continuation of the rivalry is considered (by certain Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
based media and fans, mostly of the old Olimpija), as the matches between Maribor and the new NK Olimpija Ljubljana, established in 2005 as Bežigrad. The rivalry traced its roots back to the early 1960s, when the first match between the two clubs was played. The two teams represented the two largest cities in Slovenia, the capital city of Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
and the second largest city Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, and both teams always had the largest fan bases in the country. Traditionally, Ljubljana represents the richer western part of the country, while Maribor is the center of the poorer eastern part. In addition, Ljubljana was always the cultural, educational, economic and political center of the country and Olimpija and its fans were considered as the representatives of the upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
. Maribor, on the other hand, was one of the most industrialized cities in Yugoslavia, and the majority of its fans were the representatives of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
, which means that the rivalry usually political, social, and cultural tensions as well.
The old rivalry reached its peak in the final round of 2000–01 season when one of the most celebrated matches in Slovenian League
PrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije
Slovenian First Football League also known by the abbreviation 1. SNL, is the main football league in Slovenia, and was formed in 1991 after Slovenia became an independent country. From 1920 until the end of the 1990–91 season, the Slovenian Republic League was a lower division of the Yugoslavian...
history was played, when Olimpija
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
met Maribor at their home stadium, Bežigrad. Both teams were competing for their fifth Slovenian League
PrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije
Slovenian First Football League also known by the abbreviation 1. SNL, is the main football league in Slovenia, and was formed in 1991 after Slovenia became an independent country. From 1920 until the end of the 1990–91 season, the Slovenian Republic League was a lower division of the Yugoslavian...
title. The home team needed a win for the title, while a draw was enough for Maribor. The atmosphere was electric days before the kick-off, and the stadium with a capacity of 8,500 was completely sold out. At the end, the match ended with a draw (1–1) and Maribor started to celebrate their fifth consecutive title in front of 3,000 of their fans that gathered in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
that day.
An additional intensity to the rivalry is the fact that both Maribor and Olimpija always had support on their matches from 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...
groups, called Viole Maribor supporting Maribor, and the Green Dragons
Green Dragons
Green Dragons, also known as simply "Dragonsi", are supporters of the Olimpija branch of sport clubs in Ljubljana and considered the largest of such Slovenian groups. The most prominent roles amongst these belong to NK Olimpija and KK Union Olimpija...
who support Olimpija. The two groups are the largest in the country, and it is not uncommon that the matches between the two clubs were sometimes interrupted by violent clashes between the two groups or with the police. On many occasions, before or after the matches, the fans of the two clubs would also meet up and fight on the streets. One of the worst incidents, in April 2010 after a match, resulted in a stabbing of a member of the Green Dragons who, with a group of friends, got into a fight with members of the Viole in Ljubljana's railway station. However, to date, there have not been any fatalities in the country related to football violence.
Because the new Olimpija is supported by most of the fans of the previous Olimpija, including their ultras group, the Green Dragons, who have a long-standing rivalry with Maribor's own ultras group Viole Maribor, many see the matches between Maribor and the new club as the continuation of the rivalry and refer to it by the same name. However, there are many fans, either the ones from Maribor or the ones from Ljubljana, that do not share the same view and do not share similar beliefs, including part of the media. The overall statistics of the old and the new Olimpija are tracked separately by the Football Association of Slovenia
Football Association of Slovenia
The Football Association of Slovenia is the governing body of football in Slovenia. It organizes the following football leagues and cups: 1st division , 2nd division , 3rd division East, 3rd division West, Slovenian Cup - Hervis, Slovenian Women's National League, etc. It is also responsible for...
and the Association of 1. SNL
Association of 1. SNL
Združenje nogometnih klubov 1. SNL , commonly referred to as Združenje 1. SNL , is the governing body of Slovenian highest level of football, 1. SNL. Their members are professional football clubs that are participating in the Slovenian first division and each club has one representative. Branko...
. The first match between Maribor and the new Olimpija took place on 24 October 2007 on a Slovenian cup quarter-final match that was won by Maribor, 3–1. At the time Olimpija was still competing under the name Olimpija Bežigrad. Statistically, Maribor is the more successful club either in the case of matches only from the period from 1962 to 2005 or the whole period from 1962 to present day. Maribor is also much more successful in case of the matches against Olimpija, established in 2005 as Bežigrad.
Northeastern derby
The other major rivalry of the club was that against MuraNK Mura
Nogometni Klub Mura was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases...
from Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
. Similar to Olimpija, Mura also folded and was dissolved in 2004 and today the continuation of the rivalry is considered as the matches between Maribor and Mura 05
ND Mura 05
Nogometno Društvo Mura 05, commonly referred to as ND Mura 05 or simply Mura is a Slovenian football team, playing in the town of Murska Sobota. Founded on 16 June, 2005, the team currently plays in the Slovenian first division, 1. SNL. The club's home ground is Fazanerija stadium with a capacity...
, established in 2005, who consider themselves, together with the fans of the old Mura, as the spiritual continuation of the 2004 dissolved club. The match between the two clubs was first played in 1967 in the time of SFR Yugoslavia. Although the first match was played in the late 1960s it was not until the independence of Slovenia in 1991 when most of the matches were played. Before the establishment of the 1. SNL in 1991 both clubs had never played together in the top division and the rivalry became apparent only after the independence of Slovenia, when both clubs were among the top teams of the newly established national league. Mura comes from a small, rural town of Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
in eastern Slovenia which is the center of the poorest region in the country, Prekmurje
Prekmurje
Prekmurje is a geographically, linguistically, culturally and ethnically defined region settled by Slovenes and lying between the Mur River in Slovenia and the Rába Valley in the most western part of Hungary...
. Prekmurje was, for about a thousand years, part of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, unlike other Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands or Slovenian Lands is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovene-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovenia and the adjacent territories in Italy, Austria and Hungary in which autochthonous Slovene minorities live.-...
. It therefore maintains certain specific linguistic, cultural and religious features that differentiate it from other traditional Slovenian regions. The Mura river, which runs on the border between Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
, the capital of which is Maribor, and Prekmurje was therefore not just a natural barrier, but political as well. During the 1990s and early 2000s the two clubs were the most successful and popular teams in the eastern part of the country. The rivalry reached its peak in 2003–04 season when Mura hosted Maribor at home in the final round of the season. Before the match Maribor was leading the table and was close in winning their eighth consecutive title while the mid table position of Mura was predetermined before the final round. However, Mura won the match 2–1 and Maribor eventually finished the season on third place, losing the title by two points.
Mura also has support during their matches from their ultras group, named the Black Gringos. Statistically, both teams always enjoyed one of the biggest attendances on their matches and, in term of numbers, both teams had one of the largest fan bases in the country. The fact that Prekmurje is one of the smallest and least populated regions in Slovenia has made Mura's fans labeled, by the general public, as one of the most loyal in the country. Currently, Mura 05 plays in the lower tier of Slovenian football and still has higher average attendances than most of the first division clubs. Statistically, Maribor is the more successful club, considering either the case of matches from the period from 1967 to 2005, or the whole period from 1967 to present day.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia YugoslaviaLeague
- Yugoslav Second LeagueYugoslav Second LeagueYugoslav Second League was the second tier football league of SFR Yugoslavia. The top clubs were promoted to the top tier, the Yugoslav First League....
:
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- Winners (1): 1966–67
- Runners-up (3): 1963–64, 1972–73, 1978–79
- Yugoslav Third LeagueSlovenian Republic Football LeagueSlovenian Republic Football League was the highest football league in Slovenia within the yugoslav football system. During the time of SFR Yugoslavia, it was third level league for most of the time, but became fourth level in 1988. Before that, the winner was promoted to Yugoslav Second League,...
:
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- Winners (5): 1960–61Slovenian Republic League 1960-61-Final Table:-External links:* '* '...
, 1975–76Slovenian Republic League 1975-76-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
, 1981–82Slovenian Republic League 1981-82-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
, 1983–84Slovenian Republic League 1983-84-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
, 1985–86Slovenian Republic League 1985-86-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '... - Runners-up (1): 1987–88Slovenian Republic League 1987-88-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
- Winners (5): 1960–61
Cup
- Yugoslav CupYugoslav CupThe Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
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- Semi-final (1): 1967–68
Slovenia SloveniaSloveniaSlovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
League
- Slovenian ChampionshipsPrvaLiga Telekom SlovenijeSlovenian First Football League also known by the abbreviation 1. SNL, is the main football league in Slovenia, and was formed in 1991 after Slovenia became an independent country. From 1920 until the end of the 1990–91 season, the Slovenian Republic League was a lower division of the Yugoslavian...
:
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- Winners (9): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09, 2010–112010–11 Slovenian PrvaLigaThe 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga was the 20th season of top-tier football in Slovenia. The season began in July 2010 and ended in May 2011...
- Runners-up (4): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 2009–102009–10 Slovenian PrvaLigaThe 2009–10 Slovenian PrvaLiga was the 19th season of top-tier football in Slovenia. The season began on 18 July 2009 and finished in May 2010...
- Winners (9): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09, 2010–11
Cup
- Slovenian Cup:
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- Winners (6): 1991–92, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–102009–10 Slovenian CupThe Slovenian Cup 2009–10 was the nineteenth season of Slovenia's football knockout competition.-From PrvaLiga:Maribor, Celje, Rudar Velenje, Domžale, Gorica, Nafta Lendava, Interblock, Koper, Primorje, Drava-From Regional Cups:...
- Runners-up (3): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–112010–11 Slovenian CupThe Slovenian Cup 2010–11 was the twentieth season of Slovenia's football knockout competition. Maribor were the defending champions, having won their sixth Slovenian Cup last season.-From PrvaLiga:...
- Winners (6): 1991–92, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–10
- Slovenian SupercupSlovenian SupercupThe Slovenian Supercup is an annually contested football match between the football club that has won the Slovenian PrvaLiga and the club that has won the Slovenian Cup. Until 2008 the match was held only occasionally, however, in recent years it has become an annual event usually held in July and...
:
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- Winners (1): 2009
- Runners-up (2): 20102010 Slovenian SupercupThe Slovenian Supercup 2010 was a football match between 2009-10 PrvaLiga champions Koper and Slovenian Cup winners Maribor. The match was played on July 9, 2010 at the Stadion Ljudski vrt in Maribor.-Match details:-See also:*PrvaLiga 2009-10...
, 20112011 Slovenian SupercupThe 2011 Slovenian Supercup was the seventh edition of Slovenian Supercup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Slovenian PrvaLiga and Slovenian Cup competitions. The match was played on 8 July, 2011, in Ljudski vrt stadium between 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga...
Other
- The double (League and Cup):
-
- Winners (2): 1996–97, 1998–99
Maribor's tally of nine Slovenian Championships and the total of six Slovenian Cup titles is the highest in Slovenian football. Maribor holds the record for most consecutive league titles (7), ahead of Olimpija (4) and ND Gorica
ND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
(3). They are also the only team in the country that has achieved Slovenian Championship and Slovenian Cup 'Doubles
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
' on more than one occasion (2). In addition, they have won the Slovenian Supercup once. On their official website, UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
states that Maribor has won one international cup, as Maribor was one of the winners of UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
in 2006. However, the trophy itself was awarded to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, the team that advanced farthest in UEFA competitions that season. Maribor have the best top-flight record in history, having finished bellow fourth place only once. Maribor also have the highest average league finishing position for the Slovenian league, with an average league placing of 2,25. In addition, they were the first team to win 1,000 points in Slovenian top flight, achieving that with a 2–1 away victory against Rudar Velenje on 26 July, 2008.
Youth Academy
Maribor's Academy is responsible for youth development at the club, with the goal of developing young players for the future. The academy is hailed as the best in Slovenia and has been enjoying a fair amount of success in producing promising young players. The academy is composed of ten youth selections, ranging from U–18 to U–7, with over 220 youth players in the system who are trained by professional staff within the club. The vision of the club and its youth system is not only to produce new players but also to prepare young children for the future and life without football. Therefore, each child who wants to be a member of the academy must also be successful not only on the football field but also in the field of education. During the last few years the club has also spread the football school activities to primary schools in the city of Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
and the surrounding area, in the form of circles, where as part of the Children's Football School around 300 of the youngest footballers train.
Since the independence of Slovenia in 1991 and the establishment of Maribor's youth system in its present form, the academy has been the most successful in the country. U–18 team holds the record for most titles then any other team, having won six times. The same team has also won two U–18 Cups and is therefore the most triumphant team in their category. Other teams are equally successful as U–16 holds the record for most titles (4), the same as U–14 team in their own category. Even younger selections of the club also play in top-flight of their respective age categories and share similar success. In addition, Maribor's youth squads are the only ones in the country that were able to achieve league victories in the four highest youth levels (U–18, U–16, U–14 and U–12) during the course of one season. Maribor's youth selections give, on average, at least 15 players per season to the Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
selections and players from the academy are continuously tracked by top European clubs.
Current squad
- The following list of players is current as of the date shown in the update status at the foot of the listing and player inclusion, team positions, nationalities and squad numbers depicted for the players is based solely on the first team squad information that is published and regularly maintained under the "Players" tab of the NK Maribor official web site.
| }} |
| The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League 2011–12 UEFA Europa League The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League is the third season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. It began on 30 June 2011 with the first legs of the first qualifying round, and will end on 9 May 2012 with the final to be held at Stadionul Național in Bucharest, Romania... lineup that beat 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... 2–1 in Maribor Maribor Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor.... . |
- Information in the above player listing is current as of 22 October 2011.
Out on loan
(double registration)Retired numbers
Number 19 is the only retired numberRetired numbers in football (soccer)
Association football clubs around the world sometimes retire squad numbers to recognise players' loyal service, sometimes as a memorial after their death.-Background:...
in history of Maribor. It was retired in honour of Stipe Balajić
Stipe Balajić
Stipe Balajić is a former Croatian football midfielder, who also played as a defender, and current RNK Split assistant coach.-Club career:...
, who was with the club for eight seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, during the club's most successful period. He is considered as one of the best players to ever play for the club and played, both, as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and midfielder. In his last couple of seasons he was also team captain. Balajić earned a total of 229 official appearances for the club, scoring 37 goals in the process. He played his last match with the club on 7 July 2005, in a friendly match against his former club Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
. He started the match and was then substituted after 19 minutes of play in a symbolic gesture.
Notable former players
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
- Bellow is the list of notable players that were acknowledged, in a special tribute, by the club on its 50th anniversary. The list consists of six players with the most appearances for the club during each of the first five decades. Vojislav Simeunović, also a former player, was honoured as a man with the most seasons spent as head coach of the club during the first 50 years of existence.
| Name | Nat. | Position | Period | Caps | Goals | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomislav Prosen | |
MF | 1960–1970 (228) | 375 | 74 | Most caps for the club |
| Branko Horjak | |
FW | 1971–1980 (259) | 268 | 117 | Most goals for the club |
| Milan Žurman | |
MF | 1981–1990 (240) | 276 | 82 | |
| Gregor Židan Gregor Židan Gregor Židan is a retired Slovenian football midfielder who also played as a defender.Židan was capped 19 times for Slovenia between 1993 and 1996.... |
|
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... /MF |
1991–2000 (294) | 306 | 35 | Most caps for the club after independence of Slovenia |
| Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža is a retired Slovenian football striker. Šimundža was capped 3 times for the Slovenian national team.As of 24 August 2011, he is the manager of ND Mura 05.... |
|
FW | 1991–2000 (294) | 294 | 103 | Most goals for the club in UEFA competitions |
| Dragan Jelić Dragan Jelič Dragan Jelič is a Slovenian footballer who plays a forward for NK Maribor.-Club career:Jelič started his career in the youth teams of NK Maribor where he signed his first professional contract. For a short period of time he also played for Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig before he... |
|
FW | 2001–2010 (196) | 200 | 51 | Active |
Purple warrior
Purple warrior ( or ), is a trophy awarded to the most distinguished player in the past season. The winner of the trophy is decided among the season ticket holders and by a poll on the official website of the club, where everybody can participate. The voting starts at the end of the season and is usually finished in a month. The trophy itself is awarded to a player before the first match of the next season by a random selected fan (usually a season ticket holder). To be eligible to participate in a poll, a player must appear in at least 10 league matches of the season. The voting was first introduced at the end of 2007–08 season. Czech defender Lubomir KubicaLubomír Kubica
Lubomír Kubica is a Czech association footballer who plays for FC Tescoma Zlín in the Czech 2. Liga.-Club career:Kubica previously played for FC Baník Ostrava, FK Drnovice in the Czech Gambrinus liga, FC Irtysh Pavlodar in Kazakhstan, FK AS Trenčín in Slovakia, for NK Maribor in the Slovenian Prva...
was selected as the first ever trophy winner. Defender Elvedin Džinić
Elvedin Džinič
Elvedin Džinič is a Slovenian football defender currently playing for Charleroi and Slovenia national football team.- Club career :...
was the first domestic player that won the award.
Winners
| Name | Nat. | Position | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lubomir Kubica Lubomír Kubica Lubomír Kubica is a Czech association footballer who plays for FC Tescoma Zlín in the Czech 2. Liga.-Club career:Kubica previously played for FC Baník Ostrava, FK Drnovice in the Czech Gambrinus liga, FC Irtysh Pavlodar in Kazakhstan, FK AS Trenčín in Slovakia, for NK Maribor in the Slovenian Prva... |
 |
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
2007–08 |
| Dejan Mezga Dejan Mezga Dejan Mezga is a Croatian footballer who is a midfielder of club NK Maribor. His previous clubs were Varteks Varaždin and NK Čakovec. He is a midfilder,also playing as a winger. He has scored some important goals and is known for his "killer pass".-External links:* at NK Maribor official website *... |
 |
MF | 2008–09 |
| Elvedin Džinić Elvedin Džinič Elvedin Džinič is a Slovenian football defender currently playing for Charleroi and Slovenia national football team.- Club career :... |
|
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
2009–10 |
| Marcos Tavares |  |
FW | 2010–11 |
Internationals
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
- Bellow is the list of present/former NK Maribor players who were capped on full international level for their respective countries. Players in bold represented their countries while being part of the club. Some players went through Maribor Youth Academy and left the club before making an appearance for the senior team.
Most appearances
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Name | Nat. | Position | Caps | Goals | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomislav Prosen | |
MF | 375 | 74 | Most caps for the club |
| Aleš Križan Aleš Križan Aleš Križan is a retired Slovenian football defender.Križan most notably played in England for Barnsley from 1997-2000 They were relegated after just one season and he left the team in 2000 after losing in the playoff final to Ipswich Town.Križan was capped 25 times for the Slovenian national team... |
|
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
363 | 7 | Most minutes played for the club in 1. SNL |
| Herbert Vabič | |
GK Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
315 | 0 | |
| Mladen Krajnc | |
FW | 311 | 104 | Most goals for the club in Yugoslav top division |
| Gregor Židan Gregor Židan Gregor Židan is a retired Slovenian football midfielder who also played as a defender.Židan was capped 19 times for Slovenia between 1993 and 1996.... |
|
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... /MF |
306 | 35 | Most caps for the club after independence of Slovenia |
| Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža is a retired Slovenian football striker. Šimundža was capped 3 times for the Slovenian national team.As of 24 August 2011, he is the manager of ND Mura 05.... |
|
FW | 294 | 103 | Most goals for the club in UEFA competitions |
| Milan Arnejčič | |
FW | 281 | 73 | |
| Matjaž Kek Matjaž Kek Matjaž Kek is a former Slovenian footballer and former manager of the Slovenia national team.-Club career:Kek started his professional football career at his home club Maribor in 1979, before moving to the Austrian club Spittal/Drau in 1985, where he spent 3 seasons... |
|
DF Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
277 | 59 | 1. SNL Champion with the club as player and coach |
| Milan Žurman | |
FW | 276 | 82 | |
| Branko Horjak | |
FW | 268 | 117 | Most goals for the club |
Most goals
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Name | Nat. | Position | Caps | Goals | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branko Horjak | |
FW | 268 | 117 | Most goals for the club |
| Kliton Bozgo Kliton Bozgo Kliton Bozgo is a Albanian professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Austrian football club FC Gamlitz.-Club career:... |
 |
FW | 177 | 109 | Most goals for the club after independence of Slovenia |
| Mladen Krajnc | |
FW | 311 | 104 | Most goals for the club in Yugoslav top division |
| Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža Ante Šimundža is a retired Slovenian football striker. Šimundža was capped 3 times for the Slovenian national team.As of 24 August 2011, he is the manager of ND Mura 05.... |
|
FW | 294 | 103 | Most goals for the club in UEFA competitions |
| Igor Poznič | |
FW | 256 | 89 | |
| Milan Žurman | |
FW | 276 | 82 | |
| Damir Pekič Damir Pekic Damir Pekič is a Slovenian football player who plays as a forward for NK Domžale.-Club career:Pekič started his career in NK Maribor. Before he was given a real chance in the club he was sent to NK Celje on loan for a season... |
|
FW | 177 | 78 | Active |
| Tomislav Prosen | |
MF | 375 | 74 | Most caps for the club |
| Bojan Krempl | |
MF | 220 | 74 | |
| Milan Arnejčič | |
FW | 281 | 73 | |
Sports
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Darko Milanič Darko Milanic Darko Milanič is a former Slovenian footballer and current NK Maribor coach.-Club career:Born in Izola, Milanič began his football career with local side NK Izola. At 17 he was signed by FK Partizan, where he became a notable defender. After 1992-93 season he moved to Austrian side Sturm Graz... |
|
| Assistant Coach | Saša Gajser Saša Gajser Saša Gajser is a former Slovenian football player.-Career:Gajser started his professional career playing at NK Maribor in 1991. He stayed there three seasons, appearing in 17 matches and scoring one goal. Later he had season spells at second division sides NK Drava and NK Železničar Ljubljana.... |
|
| GK Coach | Drago Kondič | |
| U–18 Coach | Zvonko Breber | |
| U–16 Coach | Marko Lešnik | |
| U–14 Coach | Radovan Karanović | |
| U–13 Coach | Saša Gajser Saša Gajser Saša Gajser is a former Slovenian football player.-Career:Gajser started his professional career playing at NK Maribor in 1991. He stayed there three seasons, appearing in 17 matches and scoring one goal. Later he had season spells at second division sides NK Drava and NK Železničar Ljubljana.... |
|
| U–12 Coach | Zvonko Breber | |
| U–11 Coach | Muamer Vugdalič Muamer Vugdalic Muamer Vugdalić is a retired Slovenian football player.-Club career:Born to Sabahudin Vugdalić, former handball goalie and current sports commentator on Televizija OBN, Muamer's early years of his career were associated with Olimpija Ljubljana. He made his first team debut in May 1995 against... |
|
| U–10 Coach | Saša Gajser Saša Gajser Saša Gajser is a former Slovenian football player.-Career:Gajser started his professional career playing at NK Maribor in 1991. He stayed there three seasons, appearing in 17 matches and scoring one goal. Later he had season spells at second division sides NK Drava and NK Železničar Ljubljana.... |
|
| U–9 Coach | Anže Brumen | |
| U–8 Coach | Muamer Vugdalič Muamer Vugdalic Muamer Vugdalić is a retired Slovenian football player.-Club career:Born to Sabahudin Vugdalić, former handball goalie and current sports commentator on Televizija OBN, Muamer's early years of his career were associated with Olimpija Ljubljana. He made his first team debut in May 1995 against... |
|
| U–7 Coach | Žikica Vuksanovič | |
Medical
| Position | Name | Nationality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | Dr. Matjaž Vogrin | |
|
| Physiotherapist | Zlatko Milišić | |
|
| Physiotherapist | Mirzet Sprečo | |
Management
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| President | Drago Cotar | |
| Director of Football | Zlatko Zahovič Zlatko Zahovic Zlatko Zahovič is a retired Slovenian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.After making a name for himself in Europe in Portugal, most notably with Porto and Benfica, he went on to have unassuming spells in Spain and Greece... |
|
| Business Chairman | Bojan Ban | |
| Secretary (PR) | Uroš Jurišič | |
| Public Relations | Željko Latin | |
| Public Relations | Stipe Jerič | |
Footnotes