Fudbalski Klub Partizan (Partizan Football Club). It is the most successful club in Serbia and forms a major part of the Partizan Sports Association.The club plays in the Serbian SuperLiga and has spent its entire history in the top tier of Yugoslav and Serbian football competition. 45 Trophies
27 x National Champion | 16 x National Cup Winner | 1 x Mitropa Cup | 1 x European Vice-Champion
The purpose of this page is to celebrate Partizan's resourcefulness and more importantly modest success given challenging circumstances that have hampered the club.
For enthusiasts of the European football and for its relevance to this story of FK Partizan output, it is critical to reference recent past. This region, Balkan and specifically Serbia has a record of producing talent and results. In pre Yugoslav civil wars (1990s), Yugoslav football as a national team was a powerhouse on the world stage commonly referred to as European Brazilians.
The highlight would include 1987 World Junior Champions and 1991 European and World Club Champions (Red Star Belgrade, Partizan's rival) and more recently:
- Serbian U-20 World Champions 2015 - Serbian U-19 1st at Euro 2013 - Serbian U-21 2nd Euro 2004, 2007. Most of the aforementioned recent successful national Youth teams were loaded with Partizan Academy players.
The Yugoslav civil wars 1991-2000 had devastating effects on all the clubs in former Yugoslavia and Partizan was no exception. The economic sanctions amplified the downfall of domestic and regional economy...the loss is estimated at over 30 years of GDP not including missed investment and failing managerial infrastructure.
Given the aforementioned 1990s regional climate, Partizan much like other giants from the region (Red Star, Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk) missed out on the European football re-organizational expansion (Champions league, UEFA Cup, NET Boom) These directly affected prosperity of the European football clubs. For the ravaged domestic infrastructure and economy and for regional detachment from continental economic evolution, for the past decade a half, Partizan could not keep up with the open competitive European football marker. Nonetheless, what isimpressive is its relatively modest showcase in European competition considering its dismal budget and bureaucratic "sport-association" management (same mechanism that failed to secure a sponsor in 2014-15 Champions League campaign). Even more stellar is the productivity of FK Partizan's football school, its continued reputation and the value still being placed on FK Partizan young prospects. Selling young prospects to the European giants is Partizan's major source of income that has aided other Partizan clubs' operations i.e. KK Partizan (Basketball Club).
The fascinating part is the production model that became routine practise at the club in recent years, to offset Partizan's financial inability to compete at a continental level. It is a returning the aforementioned young talents in the twilight of their careers following successful stings in top European leagues. The club has named this: "Moja Kuca" - "My Home"campaign. It is a strategy designed to provide necessary mentorship to, at times 16-18 year olds, prospects featuring in the 1st squad in hopes of squeezing the last bit of "magic" with a "loyalty" salary discount. Some of such veterans even forfeit their bonuses (last example Danko Lazovic 2014-2015 season). The players willingly initiate the transfers themselves which further underlines overall puzzling intangible. It is this abstract support to it's "home-brewed" and the culture of devotion from Grobari that has kept the gates of the FK Partizan stadium open even when the heat (actual central furnace) of the stadium and the salaries of its many staff could not be afforded.
RECENT SUCCESS IN EUROPE:
Data pulled from transfermarkt and is used for non-profit purposes.
2012-13* Europa League Group Stage 2003-04* Champions League Group Stage (Real Madrid, Porto, Marseille, Partizan) *FK Partizan was undefeated at home. All others had player salaries of over $100 Million. Porto was the eventual champion coached by José Mourinho and filled with superstars. Real Madrid's squad had: Raul, Zidane, R. Carlos, Figo, Beckham, Cambiasso in their primes. Marseille had: D. Drogba in his prime.
*Europa League is former UEFA Cup but with more competitors
"MY HOME" - Campaign scarf proudly showcased by many Partizan football starts, upon return to their beloved club.