Red Star Belgrade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Red Star Belgrade

Full name	Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda (Red Star Football Club)
Nickname(s)	Звезда / Zvezda (The Star) Црвено-бели / Crveno-beli (The Red-Whites)
Short name	CZV, ZVE
Founded	4 March 1945; 80 years ago (4 March 1945)
Ground	Rajko Mitić Stadium
Ground Capacity	53,000
President	Svetozar Mijailović
Head coach	Vladan Milojević
League	Serbian SuperLiga
2023–24	Serbian SuperLiga, 1st of 16 (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda, also known as Red Star Belgrade, is a professional football club from Belgrade, Serbia. It is a big part of the Red Star multi-sport society.

Red Star is the most successful club from the Balkans and Southeast Europe. They are the only club from this region to have won both the European Cup and Intercontinental Cup. They achieved this amazing feat in 1991. They were also only the second team from Eastern Europe to win the European Cup.

The club has won many titles in Serbia and former Yugoslavia. This includes 35 national championships and 28 national cups. Red Star was the most successful club in Yugoslavia. They are also the most successful club in Serbia today.

Many people in Serbia support Red Star Belgrade. About 48% of the population cheered for them in 2008. They also have fans in other countries that were once part of Yugoslavia. Their biggest rivals are Partizan, another club from Belgrade. Matches between these two teams are called the Eternal derby.

Red Star is ranked as the highest Serbian and Balkan club in European football history. They share the 27th position among the Top 200 European clubs of the 20th century. This ranking comes from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.

Club History: From Founding to Glory

How Red Star Belgrade Began

In February 1945, during World War II, a group of young people decided to create a sports club. This club became Red Star Belgrade on March 4, 1945. Before this, many older Serbian clubs were closed down. The new club was named "Red Star" after a long discussion. Other names like "People's Star" and "Blue Star" were also considered.

The name "Red Star" quickly became a symbol of Serbian pride. It grew into a very popular sports club in the country. On the day it was founded, Red Star played its first football match. They won 3-0 against a military team.

Early Successes and Challenges

In its first 15 years, Red Star started to gain recognition. They won one Serbian championship and six Yugoslav championships. They also won five Yugoslav Cups and one Danube Cup. In 1957, they reached the semi-finals of the 1956–57 European Cup.

Some of the club's first great players were Rajko Mitić, Vladimir Beara, and Dragoslav Šekularac. As champions, Red Star played in the 1957–58 European Cup. They faced Manchester United in the quarter-finals. Manchester United won 5-4 over two games. The second game, played on February 5, was the last for the "Busby Babes" team. Their plane crashed the next day on the way back to England. This sad event resulted in the deaths of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.

Red Star legend Rajko Mitić.

Winning European Titles

In the 1970s, Red Star continued to grow stronger. They won more Yugoslav championships and cups. They also reached the semi-finals of the 1970–71 European Cup. Famous players like Dragan Džajić led the team. Red Star beat strong teams like Liverpool and Real Madrid in European competitions.

In 1979, Red Star reached the UEFA Cup final for the first time. They played against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Red Star lost 2-1 over two games.

After 1986, the club's leaders, Dragan Džajić and Vladimir Cvetković, worked to build a team that could compete with the best in Europe. They brought in talented young players like Dragan Stojković. The club set a five-year plan to win the European Cup. This plan was achieved.

On May 29, 1991, Red Star played in the 1991 European Cup Final in Bari, Italy. They faced Marseille. Both teams played very defensively. After 120 minutes, the score was still 0-0. The game went to a penalty shootout. Red Star won 5-3 after Darko Pančev scored the winning penalty. This brought the European Cup to Yugoslavia for the first time. Red Star was unbeaten in the 1990–91 European Cup and later won the 1991 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.

Challenges and Recent Successes

After 1991, the club faced many difficulties. Many star players left for other teams. Also, due to the war in former Yugoslavia, Red Star could not play its home games in Belgrade. They had to play in other cities like Szeged and Budapest. This made it harder to defend their title.

In 1992, the United Nations placed sanctions on Yugoslavia. This stopped Yugoslav football clubs from playing in international competitions. This period was very tough for Red Star. Between 1992 and 2000, they only won one national championship. However, they did win five national cups.

Dejan Stanković was the youngest captain ever in Red Star's history.

In the early 2000s, Red Star started to return to European football. They played in the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds but were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen. After a six-year wait, Red Star won their 26th league title in the 2013–14 season.

Despite their success on the field, the club faced financial problems. In 2014, they were banned from the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League due to unpaid debts. Rivals Partizan took their place.

However, Red Star made a strong comeback. In 2017, they qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage. They became the first team to reach the knockout stage after starting in the first qualifying round. In 2018, Red Star qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in its new format. They even became the first Serbian team to win a match in the Champions League when they defeated Liverpool.

Red Star continued its success by reaching the Champions League group stage for a second year in a row. In the 2020–21 Serbian SuperLiga, Red Star set a world record by earning 108 points in a single season. They have won the Serbian SuperLiga title seven times in a row. They also completed their fourth consecutive "double" (winning both the league and cup) in the 2023–24 season.

Club Colors and Crest

Red Star adopted the iconic red and white vertical stripe jersey in 1950.

Red Star first wore yellow shirts with a red star. In 1946, they changed to red shirts with white shorts. In 1950, they adopted their famous red and white vertical striped shirts. These stripes are now a key part of Red Star's identity. They gave the club its popular nickname, Crveno-beli, which means "the red and white's" in Serbian.

The club's crest features a red five-pointed star with a white frame. This is set on a red and white background. The whole crest is framed in gold. There are three golden stars at the top of the emblem. These stars represent the 30 national titles the club has won.

Even though the club's name and symbol have a connection to communism, the Red Star symbol has become a strong sign of Serbian nationalism. It is now seen as a symbol of the club itself and Serbian identity.

Home Stadium: The Marakana

Red Star's home stadium is the Rajko Mitić Stadium. It was renamed in honor of Red Star legend Rajko Mitić on December 21, 2014. Before that, it was known as Red Star Stadium. It can seat 53,000 people, making it the largest stadium in Serbia.

The stadium opened in 1963. It used to hold about 110,000 fans. Because of its large size, it was unofficially called "Marakana." This name comes from the famous Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. Belgrade's Marakana became known as a very tough place for visiting teams to play.

Rajko Mitić Stadium viewed from the air.

Many big football events have been held here. These include the European Cup final in 1973 and the UEFA European Championship final in 1976. In the mid-1990s, standing areas were replaced with seats to meet UEFA safety rules. This reduced the stadium's capacity.

In 2008, the club improved the stadium's pitch. They installed under-soil grass heaters and better drainage systems. A new scoreboard was added in 2011. Today, the stadium has special VIP lounges and a press box. It also has official Red Star shops. The playing field is 110 by 73 meters and is brightly lit by 1,400 lux floodlights. The Rajko Mitić Stadium is considered one of the top football stadiums in Europe.

Youth Academy: Developing Future Stars

Red Star's youth academy is famous for producing many talented players. These players have gone on to achieve great success in football.

Famous Players from the Academy

Some of the most well-known players who came from Red Star's youth academy include:

• Dragan Džajić: He is considered the best Serbian player of all time. He was even ranked third for the European Footballer of the Year award in 1968.
• Dragoslav Šekularac: He was a runner-up with Yugoslavia at the 1960 European Nations' Cup.
• Vladimir Petrović: Known as the fourth "Star of Red Star."
• Vladimir Jugović: He won the European Cup twice, once with Red Star and once with Juventus.
• Dejan Stanković and Nemanja Vidić: Both became highly successful international players.

Many other notable players also started their careers in this academy. Even coaching legends like Miljan Miljanić were part of Red Star's youth school.

Passionate Supporters: The Delije

Red Star Belgrade is the most popular football club in Serbia. It has fans all over the country and among Serbs living abroad. This makes the club a symbol of Serbdom.

The organized fan groups of Red Star are known as Delije. This word roughly means "Heroes" or "Braves" in Serbian. The Delije support all parts of the Red Star multi-sport society. They are known worldwide for their passion and dedication.

Delije section at Rajko Mitić Stadium.

Hardcore fan groups started to form in the 1980s. The official group was created in 1989. Before this, Red Star fans were spread across different groups in the north stand of the Rajko Mitić Stadium. The Delije's style of support is influenced by Italian and English football fan culture. They use large displays, flares, flags, banners, and loud cheering. The word "Delije" is even written in Cyrillic on the north stand seats. This shows the strong bond between the club and its supporters.

The Delije have close friendships with other fan groups. They are known as "Orthodox Brothers" with Olympiacos ultras Gate 7 from Greece. This friendship is based on their shared Eastern Orthodox faith and cultural ties. They also have a bond with Spartak Moscow ultras Fratria from Russia, due to shared Slavic heritage.

The Eternal Derby: Red Star vs. Partizan

Graffiti of the Delije at Rajko Mitić Stadium.

Red Star's biggest rival is FK Partizan. This rivalry began right after both clubs were founded in 1945. Since then, both teams have been the strongest in Serbian football. Matches between them are famous for the intense passion of the fans. Red Star's supporters are the Delije, and Partizan's fans are the Grobari (meaning "Gravediggers").

During these matches, the stands are filled with fireworks, confetti, flags, and smoke. Fans sing passionate songs against their rivals. The stadiums are known to shake with the jumping of the fans. This intense atmosphere led to the slogan, "Welcome to Hellgrade."

This rivalry is considered one of the greatest football rivalries in the world. It is called the Eternal derby. It is often compared to other famous derbies like the Old Firm in Scotland and the Rome derby in Italy. The largest attendance for a Red Star – Partizan match was about 108,000 spectators at the Rajko Mitić Stadium.

Club Achievements and Records

Red Star has won 4 international and 68 domestic trophies. This makes them the most successful football club in Serbia and former Yugoslavia.

Domestic Trophies (68)

• National Championships – 35 (record)
  • People's Republic of Serbia League (1): 1946
  • Yugoslav First League (19): 1951, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92
  • First League of Serbia and Montenegro (5): 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06
  • Serbian SuperLiga (10): 2006–07, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24

• National Cups – 28 (record)
  • Yugoslav Cup (12): 1948, 1949, 1950, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1989–90
  • Serbia and Montenegro Cup (9): 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06
  • Serbian Cup (7): 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24

• National Super Cups – 2 (record)
  • Yugoslav Super Cup (2): 1969, 1971

• National League Cup – 1 (shared record)
  • Yugoslav League Cup (1): 1972–73

• National Champions League – 2 (record)
  • Yugoslav Summer Champions League (2): 1971, 1973

International Trophies (4)

Red Star is the most successful club from Serbia in European competitions. They are the only club from Eastern Europe to have won both the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

• European Cup / UEFA Champions League
  • Winners (1): 1990–91
• Intercontinental Cup
  • Winners (1): 1991
• UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League
  • Runners-up (1): 1978–79
• UEFA Super Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1991
• Mitropa Cup
  • Winners (2): 1958, 1967–68

Club Records

Dragan Džajić holds the record for most appearances for Red Star, with 389 matches. The top goal scorer is Bora Kostić, who scored 230 goals. Many Red Star players have also played for the Yugoslavia national team.

Red Star holds some impressive European records:

• They are one of only two foreign teams to beat Liverpool at Anfield. This was Liverpool's only home defeat in the European Cup in the entire 20th century.
• They were the first team to beat Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion in its UEFA competition history.
• Red Star is among only nine clubs that have won the European Cup without losing a single match.

The Romanian player Miodrag Belodedici was the first Red Star player to win the European Cup with two different teams. He won it with Steaua București and then with Red Star. Both team names mean "Star." Later, Dejan Savićević and Vladimir Jugović also won the European Cup with two different teams.

Top 10 Most Appearances

Rank.	Player	Period	Apps
1	Dragan Džajić	1963–75; 1977–78	389
2	Bora Kostić	1951–61; 1962–66	341
3	Vladimir Petrović	1972–82	332
4	Jovan Aćimović	1965–76	318
5	Boško Gjurovski	1978–89	299
6	Rajko Mitić	1945–58	294
7	Vladica Popović	1953–65	291
8	Milan Rodić	2017–	280
9	Miloš Šestić	1974–84	277
10	Milan Borjan	2017–23	275

Top 10 All-Time Scorers

Rank.	Player	Period	Goals
1	Bora Kostić	1951–61; 1962–66	230
2	Dragan Džajić	1963–75; 1977–78	155
3	Dušan Savić	1973–82	149
4	Zoran Filipović	1970–80	138
5	Kosta Tomašević	1945–54	137
6	Vojin Lazarević	1966–70; 1972–74	134
7	Aleksandar Katai	2014–16; 2020–	120
8	Darko Pančev	1988–92	116
9	Rajko Mitić	1945–58	109
10	Mihajlo Pjanović	1999–03	92

Club Legends: Stars of Red Star

Red Star has a special tradition of honoring players who have made a huge impact on the club. These players are given the title "Star of Red Star" (Zvezdina zvezda). So far, five players and the entire 1991 European Cup-winning team have received this honor.

• The 1st Star of Red Star: Rajko Mitić
• The 2nd Star of Red Star: Dragoslav Šekularac
• The 3rd Star of Red Star: Dragan Džajić
• The 4th Star of Red Star: Vladimir Petrović "Pižon"
• The 5th Star of Red Star: Dragan Stojković "Piksi"
• The 6th Star of Red Star: The 1991 European Cup Winner Generation

The 1991 European Cup Winner Generation

The entire team that won the European Cup in 1991 was honored as the 6th Star of Red Star. This included 21 players.

No. Position Player GK Stevan Stojanović GK Željko Kaluđerović GK Milić Jovanović DF Duško Radinović DF Slobodan Marović DF Refik Šabanadžović DF Miodrag Belodedici DF Ilija Najdoski DF Goran Vasilijević DF Goran Jurić DF Rade Tošić

No. Position Player MF Vladimir Jugović MF Robert Prosinečki MF Dejan Savićević MF Siniša Mihajlović MF Vlada Stošić MF Ivica Momčilović FW Darko Pančev FW Dragiša Binić FW Vladan Lukić FW Ljubiša Milojević

Retired Jersey Numbers

Red Star has retired certain jersey numbers to honor special players or groups.

• 11 – Dragan Džajić, a legendary winger. His number was retired starting from the 2023–24 season.
• 12 – This number is retired for the Delije, the club's passionate supporters. They are seen as the "12th Man" on the field.
• 26 – This number is retired in memory of Goran Gogić, a midfielder who sadly passed away in 2015.

Club Officials and Staff

The club has a team of people who manage its daily operations and guide its future.

Technical Staff

The technical staff works directly with the players.

• Head coach: Vladan Milojević
• Assistant coaches: Nebojša Milošević, Nikola Mikić, Zoran Rendulić, Vujadin Savić
• Goalkeeping coaches: Dušan Gašić, Nemanja Supić
• Head fitness coach: Ivan Vučetić
• Team manager: Goran Negić

Club Management

The club management oversees the entire organization.

• President: Svetozar Mijailović
• Honorary president: Dragan Džajić
• General director: Zvezdan Terzić
• Sporting director: Mitar Mrkela
• Technical director: Marko Marin

Kit Sponsors

Red Star has partnered with various companies for their kits and sponsorships over the years.

Since 2010, the main sponsor of Red Star has been Gazprom Neft. This company is a major investor in Serbia. With Gazprom Neft's support, Red Star has won many titles and competed regularly in European championships. This partnership also helps youth football, with players being exchanged and friendly matches held between youth teams.

Images for kids

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  Red Star legend Rajko Mitić.

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  Dejan Stanković was the youngest captain ever in Red Star's history.

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  Rajko Mitić Stadium viewed from the air.

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  Delije section at Rajko Mitić Stadium.

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  Graffiti of the Delije at Rajko Mitić Stadium.