NK Celje

Slovenian football club

Football club

Celje

Full name| Nogometni klub Celje
Nickname(s)| Grofje (The Counts)
Rumeno-modri
(The Yellow and Blues)
Founded| 28 December 1919; 104 years ago (28 December 1919)[1][2] (as SK Celje)
Ground| Stadion Z'dežele
Capacity| 13,059
President| Valeriy Kolotilo
Manager| Damir Krznar
League| Slovenian PrvaLiga
2023–24| Slovenian PrvaLiga, 1st of 10 (champions)
Website| Club website

Home colours

Away colours

|

Nogometni klub Celje (English: Celje Football Club), commonly referred to as NK Celje or simply Celje ([ˈtsɛ̀ːljɛ]), is a professional football club from Celje, Slovenia. They play in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top tier of Slovenian football. Together with Maribor, they are the only club that have participated in every season of the Slovenian PrvaLiga since its formation in 1991.[3] Celje won their first league title in the 2019–20 season. They have also won the 2004–05 edition of the Slovenian Cup.

## History

[edit]

The club was formed in 1919 as SK Celje.[1][2] Soon after World War II, in 1946, the club changed its name to NK Kladivar (expressionistic term in Slovene for a blacksmith).[2] In 1964 they qualified for the Yugoslav Second League, where they played for one year.[2]

In 1992, one year after Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia, the club was renamed as Publikum due to sponsorship reasons.[2] They reached the finals of Slovenian Cup in 1993 and 1995, but lost on both occasions, having been beaten by Olimpija and Mura, respectively.[4] In 2003, Celje was in a title race with Maribor until the last two rounds, but in the end finished second and also lost the Slovenian cup final against Olimpija during the same season.[5] Two years later, in 2005, the club reached the final for the fourth time and this time they finally lifted their first trophy, defeating Gorica 1–0 in front of their own fans at the Arena Petrol.[6] Celje were also in the finals the next year, but lost to Koper after the penalty shoot-out.[7] In early 2007 they dropped Publikum from their name.[8]

In 2020, Celje won its first Slovenian league title after winning the 2019–20 Slovenian PrvaLiga season.[9]

## Stadium

[edit]

For most of its early years, the club played at the Glazija Stadium, but obtained the Skalna Klet after merging with ŽŠD Celje in 1967. Glazija was demolished in 1983 and the club moved permanently to Skalna Klet. Since the stadium was in poor condition and could not meet UEFA stadium regulations, the club officials decided to build a new stadium and in 2003 the main stand of the new Arena Petrol stadium was built. The capacity at the time was 3,600 covered seats. After 2003, three new separate stands were built and when the last one opened in 2008, the stadium was completed. The current capacity of the stadium is 13,059 seats, of which around 50% are covered.[10] In July 2017, the stadium was renamed to Stadion Z'dežele.[11]

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 11 July 2024[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

3  | DF |  SVN | Damjan Vuklišević
4  | MF |  ROU | Marco Dulca
6  | DF |  SVN | David Zec
7  | FW |  SVN | Aljoša Matko
8  | MF |  CRO | Luka Bobičanec
9  | FW |  SVN | Gregor Bajde
10  | MF |  SVN | Nino Kouter
11  | MF |  SVN | Denis Popović
13  | MF |  SVN | Matic Vrbanec
16  | MF |  BIH | Mario Kvesić
17  | FW |  JAM | Rolando Aarons
19  | MF |  SVN | Mark Zabukovnik
21  | DF |  SVN | Nejc Ajhmajer
22  | GK |  SVN | Matjaž Rozman
23  | DF |  SVN | Žan Karničnik
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

24  | FW |  NED | Jahnoah Markelo
25  | DF |  SVN | Matija Kavčič
28  | DF |  CRO | Slavko Bralić
30  | FW |  BRA | Edmilson
31  | MF |  SVN | Jošt Pišek
34  | FW |  CRO | Karlo Špeljak
43  | DF |  SVN | Aljaž Krefl
47  | FW |  LTU | Armandas Kučys
69  | GK |  CRO | Matko Obradović
70  | FW |  BIH | Luka Menalo (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb)
77  | FW |  CRO | Ivan Brnić (on loan from Olympiacos)
81  | DF |  SVN | Klemen Nemanič
88  | MF |  SVN | Tamar Svetlin
98  | GK |  SVN | Lovro Štubljar (on loan from Empoli)
-- | FW |  CRO | Tin Matić

## Honours

[edit]

League

* Slovenian First League (since 1991)
* Winners (2): 2019–20, 2023–24
* Runners-up (3): 2002–03, 2014–15, 2022–23
* Slovenian Republic League (prior 1991)
* Winners (1): 1963–64
* Runners-up (6): 1936–37, 1950, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1970–71, 1973–74

Cup

* Slovenian Cup (since 1991)
* Winners (1): 2004–05
* Runners-up (9): 1992–93, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21
* Slovenian Republic Cup (prior 1991)
* Winners (1): 1964
* MNZ Celje Cup
* Runners-up: 1991–92

## Domestic league and cup results

[edit]

Season  | League  | Position  | Pts  | P  | W  | D  | L  | GF  | GA  | Cup

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1991–92  | 1\. SNL | 9  | 41  | 40  | 14  | 13  | 13  | 43  | 51  | Round of 16
1992–93  | 1\. SNL | 10  | 32  | 34  | 12  | 8  | 14  | 37  | 47  | Runners-up
1993–94  | 1\. SNL | 4  | 38  | 30  | 14  | 10  | 6  | 50  | 34  | Round of 16
1994–95  | 1\. SNL | 6  | 38  | 30  | 16  | 6  | 8  | 50  | 27  | Runners-up
1995–96  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 51  | 36  | 13  | 12  | 11  | 62  | 47  | Semi-finals
1996–97  | 1\. SNL | 4  | 47  | 36  | 12  | 11  | 13  | 55  | 61  | Quarter-finals
1997–98  | 1\. SNL | 6  | 49  | 36  | 14  | 7  | 15  | 57  | 57  | Quarter-finals
1998–99  | 1\. SNL | 7  | 42  | 33  | 10  | 12  | 11  | 30  | 35  | Round of 16
1999–00  | 1\. SNL | 6  | 47  | 33  | 11  | 14  | 8  | 53  | 45  | Quarter-finals
2000–01  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 50  | 33  | 15  | 5  | 13  | 59  | 52  | First round
2001–02  | 1\. SNL | 6  | 48  | 33  | 14  | 6  | 13  | 50  | 39  | Round of 16
2002–03  | 1\. SNL | 2  | 55  | 31  | 15  | 10  | 6  | 57  | 38  | Runners-up
2003–04  | 1\. SNL | 10  | 39  | 32  | 11  | 6  | 15  | 61  | 52  | Quarter-finals
2004–05  | 1\. SNL | 3  | 52  | 32  | 16  | 4  | 12  | 47  | 28  | Winners
2005–06  | 1\. SNL | 6  | 49  | 36  | 15  | 4  | 17  | 48  | 59  | Runners-up
2006–07  | 1\. SNL | 7  | 45  | 36  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 54  | 51  | Semi-finals
2007–08  | 1\. SNL | 8  | 45  | 36  | 13  | 6  | 17  | 42  | 51  | Quarter-finals
2008–09  | 1\. SNL | 4  | 53  | 36  | 15  | 8  | 13  | 48  | 39  | Round of 16
2009–10  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 51  | 36  | 14  | 9  | 13  | 53  | 56  | Semi-finals
2010–11  | 1\. SNL | 8  | 37  | 36  | 9  | 10  | 17  | 41  | 55  | Round of 16
2011–12  | 1\. SNL | 8  | 37  | 36  | 9  | 10  | 17  | 44  | 56  | Runners-up
2012–13  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 49  | 36  | 12  | 13  | 11  | 39  | 39  | Runners-up
2013–14  | 1\. SNL | 8  | 37  | 36  | 10  | 7  | 19  | 30  | 58  | Quarter-finals
2014–15  | 1\. SNL | 2  | 70  | 36  | 20  | 10  | 6  | 58  | 31  | Runners-up
2015–16 | 1\. SNL | 5  | 45  | 36  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 32  | 46  | Runners-up
2016–17 | 1\. SNL | 5  | 55  | 36  | 15  | 10  | 11  | 48  | 39  | Round of 16
2017–18  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 50  | 36  | 14  | 8  | 14  | 56  | 51  | Semi-finals
2018–19  | 1\. SNL | 5  | 49  | 36  | 12  | 13  | 11  | 45  | 51  | Round of 16
2019–20  | 1\. SNL | 1  | 69  | 36  | 19  | 12  | 5  | 74  | 36  | Quarter-finals
2020–21  | 1\. SNL | 7  | 43  | 36  | 12  | 7  | 17  | 36  | 41  | Runners-up
2021–22  | 1\. SNL | 8  | 42  | 36  | 12  | 6  | 18  | 46  | 50  | Semi-finals
2022–23  | 1\. SNL | 2  | 67  | 36  | 19  | 10  | 7  | 53  | 34  | Quarter-finals
2023–24  | 1\. SNL | 1  | 79  | 36  | 24  | 7  | 5  | 75  | 34  | Round of 32

Key

* P – Matches played
* W – Matches won
* D – Matches drawn
* L – Matches lost
* GF – Goals for
* GA – Goals against
* Pts – Points

## European record

[edit]

All results (home and away) list Celje's goal tally first.

Season  | Competition  | Round  | Club  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate

|
|
|
|
|
|

1993–94  | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Qualifying round |  Odense BK | 0–1  | 0–0  | 0–1
1997  | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage |  Antalyaspor | 1–1  | —  | 2nd
Maccabi Haifa | —  | 1–0
Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod | 1–2  | —
Proleter Zrenjanin | —  | 0–0
2001  | UEFA Intertoto Cup  | First round |  Aarhus | 7–1  | 0–1  | 7–2
Second round |  Petržalka | 5–0  | 1–1  | 6–1
Third round |  Lausanne-Sport | 1–1  | 0–0  | 1–1 (a)
2003–04  | UEFA Cup | Qualifying round |  Belasica | 7–2  | 5–0  | 12–2
First round |  Maccabi Haifa | 2–2  | 1–2  | 3–4
2004  | UEFA Intertoto Cup  | First round |  Sloboda Tuzla | 2–1  | 0–1  | 2–2 (a)
2005–06  | UEFA Cup  | Second qualifying round |  Levski Sofia | 1–0  | 0–3  | 1–3
2012–13  | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Dacia Chișinău | 0–1  | 0–1  | 0–2
2013–14  | UEFA Europa League  | First qualifying round |  Tromsø | 0–2  | 2–1  | 2–3
2015–16  | UEFA Europa League  | First qualifying round |  Śląsk Wrocław | 0–1  | 1–3  | 1–4
2020–21[a] | UEFA Champions League | First qualifying round |  Dundalk | 3–0[b] | —
Second qualifying round |  Molde | 1–2 | —
UEFA Europa League  | Third qualifying round |  Ararat-Armenia | —  | 0–1[c] | —
2023–24  | UEFA Europa Conference League | Second qualifying round |  Vitória de Guimarães | 3–4  | 1–0[c] | 4–4 (4–2 p)
Third qualifying round |  Neman Grodno | 1–0  | 4–1  | 5–1
Play-off round |  Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1–1  | 1–4  | 2–5
2024–25  | UEFA Champions League  | First qualifying round |  Flora | 2–1  | 5–0  | 7–1
Second qualifying round |  Slovan Bratislava | 1–1  |  |

1. ^ Only one match per qualifying round was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. ^ Celje played their home match at Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Budapest (Hungary) due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. ^ a b After extra time.

## List of managers

[edit]

* Bojan Prašnikar (1989–1991)
* Stanko Božičevič (1992)
* Janko Benčina (1992)
* Janez Zavrl (1993–1994)
* Ivan Marković (1994)
* Filip Mendaš (1994)
* Borut Jarc (1994–1996)
* Milovan Tarbuk (1996–1997)
* Stanko Poklepović (1997–1998)
* Edin Osmanović (1998–1999)
* Nikola Ilievski (1999–2000)
* Marijan Pušnik (2000–2004)
* Ivica Matković (2004–2005)
* Marko Pocrnjič (2005)
* Nikola Ilievski (2005–2006)
* Janez Žilnik (2006)
* Pavel Pinni (2007–2008)
* Slaviša Stojanovič (2008–2009)
* Milan Đuričić (2009–2010)
* Damijan Romih (2010)
* Stane Bevc (2010–2011)
* Damijan Romih (2011–2012)
* Marijan Pušnik (2012)
* Miloš Rus (2013–2014)
* Simon Rožman (2014–2015)
* Iztok Kapušin (2015–2016)
* Robert Pevnik (2016)
* Igor Jovićević (2016–2017)
* Tomaž Petrovič (2017)
* Dušan Kosič (2017–2020)
* Jiří Jarošík (2020–2021)
* Agron Šalja (2021)
* Simon Sešlar (2021)
* Simon Rožman (2022)
* Roman Pylypchuk (2022–2023)
* Albert Riera (2023)
* Damir Krznar (2023–present)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Klubi" [Clubs] (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
2. ^ a b c d e "Zgodovina" [History] (in Slovenian). NK Celje. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
3. ^ Gordana Possnig (10 September 2019). "V Celju že sto let organizirano igrajo nogomet". Večer (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
4. ^ "Slovenia – List of Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
5. ^ "Slovenia 2002/03". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
6. ^ "Publikum dočakal prvo lovoriko" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
7. ^ "Slovenia 2005/06". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
8. ^ "Celjani z novim imenom po državni naslov". sta.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 20 February 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
9. ^ A. V. (22 July 2020). "Celjani prvič slovenski nogometni prvaki" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
10. ^ "Stadion" [Stadium] (in Slovenian). NK Celje. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
11. ^ "Celjski stadion z novim imenom, odslej bo Arena Z'dežele". Ekipa24 (in Slovenian). 4 July 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
12. ^ "Seznam igralcev" [List of players] (in Slovenian). NK Celje. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to NK Celje.

* Official website (in Slovene)
* PrvaLiga profile (in Slovene)
* UEFA profile

* v
* t
* e

Nogometni klub Celje

* Managers
* Honours
* Season-by-season records

History|

* History
* Honours
* Europe

Stadiums|

* Skalna Klet (1983–2003)
* Stadion Z'dežele (2003–present)

Related clubs|

* ŽŠD Celje

Slovenian Cup finals|

* 2012
* 2013
* 2015
* 2016

Categories|

* Players
* Managers
* Seasons

* v
* t
* e

Slovenian PrvaLiga

Seasons|

* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

2024–25 teams|

* Bravo
* Celje
* Domžale
* Koper
* Maribor
* NŠ Mura
* Nafta 1903
* Olimpija Ljubljana
* ND Primorje
* Radomlje

Former teams|

* Aluminij
* Ankaran
* Bela Krajina
* Beltinci
* Drava Ptuj
* Dravograd
* Gorica
* Interblock
* Izola
* Jadran Dekani
* Kočevje
* Korotan Prevalje
* Krka
* Krško
* Livar
* Ljubljana
* Medvode
* NK Mura
* ND Mura 05
* Nafta Lendava
* Naklo
* Olimpija
* Pohorje
* NK Primorje
* Rogaška
* Rudar Trbovlje
* Rudar Velenje
* Slavija Vevče
* Slovan
* Steklar
* Svoboda
* Šmartno
* Tabor Sežana
* Triglav Kranj
* Zagorje
* Zavrč
* Železničar Maribor

Associated competitions|

* Slovenian Cup
* Second League
* Third League
* UEFA Champions League
* UEFA Europa League
* UEFA Conference League

* v
* t
* e

Slovenian Republic Football League

Ljubljana Subassociation League seasons|

* 1920
* 1920–21
* 1921–22
* 1922–23
* 1923–24
* 1924–25
* 1925–26
* 1926–27
* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30
* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1940–41

Teams (1920–1941)|

* I. SSK Maribor
* Amater
* Athletik
* Bratstvo
* Celje
* Čakovec
* Disk
* Građanski
* Grafika
* Hermes
* Hertha
* Hrastnik
* Ilirija
* Jadran
* Jugoslavija
* Korotan
* Kovinar
* Kranj
* SK Ljubljana
* Mars
* Merkur
* Mura
* Olimp
* Primorje
* Ptuj
* Rapid
* Red Star
* Reka
* Rote Elf
* Slavija Ljubljana
* Slavija Maribor
* Slovan
* Sparta
* Svoboda Celje
* Svoboda Ljubljana
* Svoboda Maribor
* Šoštanj
* Železničar Maribor

Slovenian Republic League seasons|

* 1946
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91

Teams (1946–1991)|

* Aluminij
* Branik Maribor
* Branik Solkan
* Brežice
* Domžale
* Drava
* Dravinja
* Elan
* Elkroj
* Grafičar
* Hrastnik
* Ilirija
* Izola
* Jadran Dekani
* Jesenice
* Kamnik
* Kladivar
* Koper
* Kovinar Maribor
* Kovinar Štore
* Krim
* Litija
* Ljubljana
* Maribor
* Medvode
* Mura
* Nafta
* Naklo
* Olimp
* Olimpija
* Partizan Žalec
* Piran
* Pohorje
* Postojna
* Primorje
* Proletarec
* Rudar Trbovlje
* Rudar Velenje
* Slavija
* Slivnica
* Sloga
* Slovan
* Steklar
* Stol
* Svoboda
* Šmartno
* Tabor
* Triglav Kranj
* Triglav Ljubljana
* Vozila
* Železničar Maribor
* ŽŠD Celje

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template