NK Mura
Encyclopedia
Nogometni Klub Mura was a Slovenia
n 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 in the country. The club had its golden years in the 1990s when they managed to win the Slovenian Cup
. During this period they were also runners-up in the Slovenian first division twice and finalists in the Slovenian cup and Slovenian Supercup
on one occasion.
NK Mura was dissolved in 2004, after the club failed to obtain competition licences issued by the Football Association of Slovenia
. However, the football association had allowed the club to finish the 2004/05 season already in progress, and after finishing 8th in the national championship NK Mura effectively ceased all operations. A successor club which claims rights to Mura's honours and records was established in 2005 and they currently compete in the Slovenian first division bearing the name ND Mura 05
. In spite of inheriting old Mura's supporters and colours, they are not legally considered to be successors to the original NK Mura and the two clubs' track records and honours are kept separate by the Football Association of Slovenia
and the Slovenian First League Association.
, which ended with another loss for Mura (3-1).
The best period in the history of the club was after 1991 when Slovenia gained independence. The best results for the club in the Slovenian league came finishing as runners-up in seasons 1993-94 and 1997-98 and third place on two occasions. 1993-94 season was especially harsh for the club as they were runners-up in Slovenian cup as well. Things changed for the better as the club secured its first trophy only a season later. On May 1995 the club won the Slovenian cup with a 2-1 aggregate victory over NK Celje. With this title the club secured an invitation to play in the newly established Slovenian Supercup at the start of the next season. The match was played in Ljubljana
and was won by NK Olimpija
2-1. The decisive goal for Olimpija was scored by Branislav Kojičić in the 87th minute. NK Mura always had great support from their fans and during the nineties a long standing rivalry with NK Maribor
was established, which is considered one of the biggest in Slovenian football.
Mura had a string of mixed results for the remainder of their final seasons, despite acquiring top Slovenian players and highly regarded coaches such as Croatia
n legend Miroslav Blažević
. At the end the club became financially unstable. In their last season the club had struggled on the pitch and failed to obtain competition licences issued by the Football Association of Slovenia
, which led to its dissolution in 2004. The club finished the last competitive season (2004–05) on eight place in a league with 12 teams.
Cup
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...
n association football club based in 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:...
. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the 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...
region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases in the country. The club had its golden years in the 1990s when they managed to win the Slovenian Cup
Slovenian Cup
The Slovenian Football Cup , is the top knockout tournament of Slovenian football and the second most important football competition in Slovenia after the Slovenian PrvaLiga championship...
. During this period they were also runners-up in the Slovenian first division twice and finalists in the Slovenian cup and 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...
on one occasion.
NK Mura was dissolved in 2004, after the club failed to obtain competition licences issued 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...
. However, the football association had allowed the club to finish the 2004/05 season already in progress, and after finishing 8th in the national championship NK Mura effectively ceased all operations. A successor club which claims rights to Mura's honours and records was established in 2005 and they currently compete in the Slovenian first division bearing the name ND 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...
. In spite of inheriting old Mura's supporters and colours, they are not legally considered to be successors to the original NK Mura and the two clubs' track records and honours are kept separate 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 Slovenian First League Association.
History
NK Mura was founded in Murska Sobota on 16 August 1924 in the congress hall of Hotel Dobraj. Their first match came on 31 August 1924 at home against SK Maribor, which was won by the visiting team 9-6. In the first year of the club the team played one more match. This was against SK Mercur from MariborMaribor
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 ended with another loss for Mura (3-1).
The best period in the history of the club was after 1991 when Slovenia gained independence. The best results for the club in the Slovenian league came finishing as runners-up in seasons 1993-94 and 1997-98 and third place on two occasions. 1993-94 season was especially harsh for the club as they were runners-up in Slovenian cup as well. Things changed for the better as the club secured its first trophy only a season later. On May 1995 the club won the Slovenian cup with a 2-1 aggregate victory over NK Celje. With this title the club secured an invitation to play in the newly established Slovenian Supercup at the start of the next season. The match 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 was won by NK 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...
2-1. The decisive goal for Olimpija was scored by Branislav Kojičić in the 87th minute. NK Mura always had great support from their fans and during the nineties a long standing rivalry with NK Maribor
NK Maribor
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...
was established, which is considered one of the biggest in Slovenian football.
Mura had a string of mixed results for the remainder of their final seasons, despite acquiring top Slovenian players and highly regarded coaches such as 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 legend Miroslav Blažević
Miroslav Blaževic
Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević is a Bosnian Croat football manager. He is the current head coach of Mes Kerman in Iran Pro League....
. At the end the club became financially unstable. In their last season the club had struggled on the pitch and failed to obtain competition licences issued 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...
, which led to its dissolution in 2004. The club finished the last competitive season (2004–05) on eight place in a league with 12 teams.
Honours
League- Slovenian Championships:
-
- Winners (0):
- Runners-up (2): 1993/94Slovenian PrvaLiga 1993-94-Season 1993-1994:The season started on August 22, 1993 and ended on June 12, 1994.*Each team plays a total of 30 matches.-Final table:-External links:* '* '...
, 1997/98Slovenian PrvaLiga 1997-98-Season 1997-1998:The season started on August 3, 1997 and ended on June 7, 1998.*Each team plays a total of 36 matches.-Final table:-External links:* '* '...
Cup
- Slovenian Cup:
-
- Winners (1): 1994/95
- Runners-up (1): 1993/94
- 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...
:
-
- Winners (0):
- Runners-up (1) 1995Slovenian Supercup 1995The Slovenian Supercup 1995 was a football match that saw the 1994-95 PrvaLiga champions, SCT Olimpija, face off against Slovenian Cup champions, Mura. The match was held on July 26, 1995 at the Centralni stadion Bežigrad in Ljubljana.-Match details:...