Yugoslav First League

For the First League of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, see First League of Serbia and Montenegro.

Football league

Yugoslav First LeagueFounded| 1923; 102 years ago (1923)

|

Folded| 1992
Country| Yugoslavia
Confederation| UEFA
Level on pyramid| 1
Relegation to| Yugoslav Second League
Domestic cup(s)| Yugoslav Cup
International cup(s)| European Cup
UEFA Cup
Last champions| Red Star Belgrade
(1991–92)
Most championships| Red Star Belgrade (19 titles)
Most appearances| Enver Marić (439)
Top goalscorer| Slobodan Santrač (218)

The Yugoslav First League (Bosnian: Prva savezna liga u fudbalu, Serbian: Прва савезна лига у фудбалу, Prva savezna liga u fudbalu, Croatian: Prva savezna nogometna liga, Slovene: Prva zvezna nogometna liga, Macedonian: Прва сојузна фудбалска лига, romanized: Prva sojuzna fudbalska liga, Albanian: Liga e parë federale e futbollit, Hungarian: Első szövetségi labdarúgó-bajnokság) was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941) and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992).

The First League Championship was one of two national competitions held annually in Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Cup being the other.

The league became fully professional in 1967.[1]

## Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1923–1940)

[edit]

This was the first club competition on a national level for clubs from Kingdom of Yugoslavia (named the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes until 1929). The league was started in 1923 and the first four seasons had a cup tournament format, while the first round-robin league competition was held in 1927. In the period from 1927 to 1940 seventeen seasons were completed, with all the titles won by clubs from Croatia (Građanski Zagreb, Concordia Zagreb, HAŠK Zagreb and Hajduk Split) or Serbia (BSK and SK Jugoslavija).

It was governed at first by the Croatian-named Nogometni Savez Jugoslavije (Football Association of Yugoslavia), founded in April 1919 in Zagreb,[2] until in late 1929 disagreements arose between the Zagreb and Belgrade branches of the association. This resulted in the association headquarters being moved to Belgrade in May 1930 where it adopted the Serbian name Fudbalski Savez Jugoslavije and continued operating the league until it was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II.[3] Consequently, with the moving of headquarters, Croatian players and coaches boycotted Yugoslavia national team. With the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, separate Croatian and Serbian leagues were established, which operated during the World War II.

### Champions and top scorers

[edit]

Season  | Format  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Top scorer(s)[4] | Goals

|
|
|
|
|

1923 | Cup tournament
(One-legged knockout; 6 clubs)  | Građanski Zagreb (1)  | SAŠK Sarajevo | Dragan Jovanović
(SK Jugoslavija) | 4
1924 | Cup tournament
(One-legged knockout; 7 clubs)  | SK Jugoslavija (1)  | Hajduk Split | Dragan Jovanović
(SK Jugoslavija) | 6
1925 | Cup tournament
(One-legged knockout; 7 clubs)  |   SK Jugoslavija   (2)  | Građanski Zagreb | Dragan Jovanović
(SK Jugoslavija) | 4
1926 | Cup tournament
(One-legged knockout; 7 clubs)  | Građanski Zagreb (2)  | SK Jugoslavija | Dušan Petković
(SK Jugoslavija) | 4
1927 | League
(Single round-robin; 6 clubs)  | Hajduk Split (1)  | BSK | Kuzman Sotirović
(BSK) | 6
1928 | League
(Single round-robin; 6 clubs)  | Građanski Zagreb (3)  | Hajduk Split | Ljubo Benčić
(Hajduk Split) | 8
1929 | League
(Double round-robin; 5 clubs)  | Hajduk Split (2)  | BSK | Đorđe Vujadinović
(BSK) | 10
1930 | League
(Double round-robin; 6 clubs)  | Concordia Zagreb (1)  |   SK Jugoslavija   | Blagoje Marjanović
(BSK) | 10
1931 | League
(Double round-robin; 6 clubs)  | BSK (1)  | Concordia Zagreb | Đorđe Vujadinović
(BSK) | 12
1932 | Cup tournament
(Two-legged knockout; 8 clubs)  | Concordia Zagreb (2)  | Hajduk Split | Svetislav Valjarević
(Concordia Zagreb) | 10
1933 | League
(Double round-robin; 11 clubs)  | BSK (2)  | Hajduk Split | Vladimir Kragić
(Hajduk Split) | 21
1934  | National championship was not played.
1935 | League
(Double round-robin; 10 clubs)  | BSK (3)  | SK Jugoslavija | Leo Lemešić
(Hajduk Split) | 18
1936 | Cup tournament
(Two-legged knockout; 14 clubs)  | BSK (4)  | Slavija Sarajevo | Blagoje Marjanović
(BSK) | 5
1936–37 | League
(Double round-robin; 10 clubs)  | Građanski Zagreb (4)  | Hajduk Split | Blagoje Marjanović
(BSK) | 21
1937–38 | League
(Double round-robin; 10 clubs)  | HAŠK Zagreb (1)  | BSK | August Lešnik
(Građanski Zagreb) | 17
1938–39 | League
(Double round-robin; 12 clubs)  | BSK (5)  | Građanski Zagreb | August Lešnik
(Građanski Zagreb) | 22
1939–40 | League[5]
(Double round-robin; 6 clubs)  | Građanski Zagreb (5)  | BSK | Svetislav Glišović
(BSK) | 10

### Performance by clubs

[edit]

#  | Club  | Champions  | Runners-up

|
|
|

1   |  BSK  | 5  | 4
2  | Građanski Zagreb | 5  | 2
3  | Hajduk Split | 2  | 5
4  | SK Jugoslavija | 2  | 3
5  | Concordia Zagreb | 2  | 1
6  | HAŠK | 1  | 0
7  | Slavija Sarajevo | 0  | 1
8  | SAŠK Sarajevo | 0  | 1

## World War II competitions

[edit]

* Serbian Football League (1940–44), in Serbia (Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia)

## SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1992)

[edit]

### Champions and top scorers

[edit]

Season  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Third place  | Top scorer(s)  | Goals

|
|
|
|
|

1945[a] | SR Serbia (1)  | JNA | SR Croatia | Stjepan Bobek (JNA) | 8
1946–47 | Partizan (1)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Red Star | Franjo Wölfl (Dinamo Zagreb) | 28
1947–48 | Dinamo Zagreb (1)  | Hajduk Split | Partizan | Franjo Wölfl (Dinamo Zagreb) | 22
1948–49 | Partizan (2)  | Red Star | Hajduk Split | Frane Matošić (Hajduk Split) | 17
1950 | Hajduk Split (1)  | Red Star | Partizan | Marko Valok (Partizan) | 17
1951 | Red Star (1)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Hajduk Split | Kosta Tomašević (Red Star) | 16
1952 | Hajduk Split (2)  | Red Star | Lokomotiva | Stanoje Jocić (BSK) | 13
1952–53 | Red Star (2)  | Hajduk Split | Partizan | Todor Živanović (Red Star) | 17
1953–54 | Dinamo Zagreb (2)  | Partizan | Red Star | Stjepan Bobek (Partizan) | 21
1954–55 | Hajduk Split (3)  | BSK | Dinamo Zagreb | Predrag Marković (BSK)
Kosta Tomašević (Spartak Subotica)
Bernard Vukas (Hajduk Split) | 20
1955–56 | Red Star (3)  | Partizan | Radnički Belgrade | Muhamed Mujić (Velež Mostar)
Tihomir Ognjanov (Spartak Subotica)
Todor Veselinović (Vojvodina) | 21
1956–57 | Red Star (4)  | Vojvodina | Hajduk Split | Todor Veselinović (Vojvodina) | 28
1957–58 | Dinamo Zagreb (3)  | Partizan | Radnički Belgrade | Todor Veselinović (Vojvodina) | 19
1958–59 | Red Star (5)  | Partizan | Vojvodina | Bora Kostić (Red Star) | 25
1959–60 | Red Star (6)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Partizan | Bora Kostić (Red Star) | 19
1960–61 | Partizan (3)  | Red Star | Hajduk Split | Zoran Prljinčević (Radnički Belgrade)
Todor Veselinović (Vojvodina) | 16
1961–62 | Partizan (4)  | Vojvodina | Dinamo Zagreb | Dražan Jerković (Dinamo Zagreb) | 16
1962–63 | Partizan (5)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Željezničar | Mišo Smajlović (Željezničar) | 18
1963–64 | Red Star (7)  | OFK Belgrade | Dinamo Zagreb | Asim Ferhatović (FK Sarajevo) | 19
1964–65 | Partizan (6)  | FK Sarajevo | Red Star | Zlatko Dračić (NK Zagreb) | 23
1965–66 | Vojvodina (1)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Velež Mostar | Petar Nadoveza (Hajduk Split) | 21
1966–67 | FK Sarajevo (1)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Partizan | Mustafa Hasanagić (Partizan) | 18
1967–68 | Red Star (8)  | Partizan | Dinamo Zagreb | Slobodan Santrač (OFK Belgrade) | 22
1968–69 | Red Star (9)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Partizan | Vojin Lazarević (Red Star) | 22
1969–70 | Red Star (10)  | Partizan | Velež Mostar | Slobodan Santrač (OFK Belgrade)
Dušan Bajević (Velež Mostar) | 20
1970–71 | Hajduk Split (4)  | Željezničar | Dinamo Zagreb | Petar Nadoveza (Hajduk Split)
Božo Janković (Željezničar) | 20
1971–72 | Željezničar (1)  | Red Star | OFK Belgrade | Slobodan Santrač (OFK Belgrade) | 33
1972–73 | Red Star (11)  | Velež Mostar | OFK Belgrade | Slobodan Santrač (OFK Belgrade)
Vojin Lazarević (Red Star) | 25
1973–74 | Hajduk Split (5)  | Velež Mostar | Red Star | Danilo Popivoda (Olimpija Ljubljana) | 17
1974–75 | Hajduk Split (6)  | Vojvodina | Red Star | Dušan Savić (Red Star)
Boško Đorđević (Partizan) | 20
1975–76 | Partizan (7)  | Hajduk Split | Dinamo Zagreb | Nenad Bjeković (Partizan) | 24
1976–77 | Red Star (12)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Sloboda Tuzla | Zoran Filipović (Red Star) | 21
1977–78 | Partizan (8)  | Red Star | Hajduk Split | Radomir Savić (Sarajevo) | 21
1978–79 | Hajduk Split (7)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Red Star | Dušan Savić (Red Star) | 24
1979–80 | Red Star (13)  | FK Sarajevo | Radnički Niš | Safet Sušić (Sarajevo)
Dragoljub Kostić (Napredak Kruševac) | 17
1980–81 | Red Star (14)  | Hajduk Split | Radnički Niš | Milan Radović (Rijeka) | 26
1981–82 | Dinamo Zagreb (4)  | Red Star | Hajduk Split | Snješko Cerin (Dinamo Zagreb) | 19
1982–83 | Partizan (9)  | Hajduk Split | Dinamo Zagreb | Sulejman Halilović (Dinamo Vinkovci) | 18
1983–84 | Red Star (15)  | Partizan | Željezničar | Darko Pančev (Vardar) | 19
1984–85 | FK Sarajevo (2)  | Hajduk Split | Partizan | Zlatko Vujović (Hajduk Split) | 25
1985–86 | Partizan[6] (10)  | Red Star | Velež Mostar | Davor Čop (Dinamo Vinkovci) | 20
1986–87 | Partizan[7] (11)  | Velež Mostar | Red Star | Radmilo Mihajlović (Željezničar) | 23
1987–88 | Red Star (16)  | Partizan | Velež Mostar | Duško Milinković (Rad) | 16
1988–89 | Vojvodina (2)  | Red Star | Hajduk Split | Davor Šuker (Osijek) | 18
1989–90 | Red Star (17)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Hajduk Split | Darko Pančev (Red Star) | 25
1990–91 | Red Star (18)  | Dinamo Zagreb | Partizan | Darko Pančev (Red Star) | 34
1991–92[b] | Red Star (19)  | Partizan | Vojvodina | Darko Pančev (Red Star) | 25

### Titles by club

[edit]

Club  | Titles  | Winning seasons

|
|

Red Star | 19[b] | 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
Partizan | 11  | 1946–47, 1948–49, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87
Hajduk Split | 7  | 1950, 1952, 1954–55, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1978–79
Dinamo Zagreb | 4  | 1947–48, 1953–54, 1957–58, 1981–82
Vojvodina | 2  | 1965–66, 1988–89
Sarajevo | 2  | 1966–67, 1984–85
Željezničar | 1  | 1971–72

### Titles by republic

[edit]

Republic  | Titles  | Clubs

|
|

SR Serbia | 32[b] | Red Star, Partizan, Vojvodina
SR Croatia | 11  | Hajduk Split, Dinamo Zagreb
SR Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3  | Sarajevo, Željezničar
SR Macedonia | 0  | –
SR Montenegro | 0  | –
SR Slovenia | 0  | –

### Performance by club

[edit]

Club  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Third place  | Total top three finishes

|
|
|
|

Red Star Belgrade | 19[b] | 9  | 7  | 35
Partizan | 11  | 9  | 8  | 28
Hajduk Split | 7  | 6  | 8  | 21
Dinamo Zagreb | 4  | 11  | 7  | 22
Vojvodina | 2  | 3  | 2  | 7
Sarajevo | 2  | 2  | 0  | 4
Željezničar | 1  | 1  | 2  | 4
Velež Mostar | 0  | 3  | 4  | 7
OFK Belgrade*  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 4
Radnički Belgrade | 0  | 0  | 2  | 2
Radnički Niš | 0  | 0  | 2  | 2
Lokomotiva Zagreb | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1
Sloboda Tuzla | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1

*Known as BSK before 1957

### All-Time First Yugoslav League table

[edit]

Top 12 only:[8][b]

Rank  | Club  | MP  | W  | D  | L  | GF  | GA  | GD  | P

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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Red Star | 1335  | 719  | 328  | 288  | 2560  | 1415  | +1145  | 1766
2  | Partizan | 1335  | 657  | 354  | 324  | 2285  | 1428  | +857  | 1668
3  | Dinamo Zagreb | 1302  | 597  | 366  | 339  | 2151  | 1495  | +656  | 1560
4  | Hajduk Split | 1302  | 587  | 346  | 369  | 2088  | 1486  | +602  | 1520
5  | Vojvodina | 1221  | 465  | 311  | 445  | 1670  | 1595  | +75  | 1241
6  | Sarajevo | 1228  | 447  | 311  | 470  | 1674  | 1773  | -99  | 1205
7  | Velež Mostar | 1174  | 435  | 309  | 430  | 1668  | 1615  | +53  | 1179
8  | Željezničar | 1063  | 403  | 274  | 386  | 1456  | 1424  | +32  | 1080
9  | OFK Beograd | 977  | 343  | 281  | 353  | 1355  | 1355  | 0  | 967
10  | Radnički Niš | 979  | 339  | 250  | 390  | 1088  | 1244  | -156  | 928
11  | Vardar | 1005  | 328  | 251  | 426  | 1195  | 1459  | -264  | 907
12  | Rijeka | 898  | 310  | 252  | 336  | 1083  | 1163  | -80  | 857

### Best finish in Europe by club

[edit]

Table only shows best-finish achievements in major European/Intercontinental competitions during the SFR Yugoslavia period (1945–1992).
No minor European tournaments (like Mitropa Cup) included.
Table sorted by success at European Cup / UEFA Champions League first and foremost.

Club  | European Cup /
UEFA Champions League | UEFA Cup /
Europa League | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | UEFA Super Cup | Intercontinental Cup | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | UEFA Intertoto Cup

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Red Star Belgrade | Winner
1990–91 | Runners-up
1978–79 | Semi-finals
1974–75 | Runners-up
1991 | Winner
1991 | Semi-finals
1961–62 | –
Partizan | Runners-up
1965–66 | Third Round (3)
1974–75; 1984–85; 1990–91 | Quarter-finals
1989–90 | –  | –  | Second Round
1967–68 | –
Hajduk Split | Quarter-finals (3)
1975–76; 1979–80; 1994-1995 | Semi-finals
1983–84 | Semi-finals
1972–73 | –  | –  | Second Round
1970–71 | –
Vojvodina | Quarter-finals
1966–67 | –  | –  | –  | –  | Quarter-finals
1961–62 as Novi Sad XI | Group Winner
1976
Sarajevo | Second Round
1967–68 | Third Round
1982–83 | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Stage (2)
1962–63; 1964–65
Željezničar | First Round
1972–73 | Semi-finals
1984–85 | –  | –  | –  | First Round
1970–71 | Group Stage
1965–66
Dinamo Zagreb | First Round
1982–83 | Second Round (3)
1971–72; 1976–77; 1988–89 | Semi-finals
1960–61 | –  | –  | Winner
1966–67 | –
Vardar | First Round
1987–88 | Second Round
1985–86 | First Round
1961–62 | –  | –  | –  | –
Radnički Niš | –  | Semi-finals
1981–82 | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Stage (2)
1964–65; 1965–66
OFK Beograd | –  | Quarter-finals
1972–73 | Semi-finals
1962–63 | –  | –  | Semi-finals
1958–60 as Belgrade XI | –
Velež Mostar | –  | Quarter-finals
1974–75 | Second Round (2)
1981–82; 1986–87 | –  | –  | –  | Group Stage (2)
1962–63; 1963–64
Rijeka | –  | Second Round
1984–85 | Quarter-finals
1979–80 | –  | –  | –  | Quarter-finals
1962–63
Sloboda Tuzla | –  | First Round
1977–78 | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Winner
1983
Rad | –  | First Round
1989–90 | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Runners-up
1988
Borac Banja Luka | –  | –  | Second Round
1975–76 | –  | –  | –  | –
Olimpija Ljubljana | –  | \-  | First Round
1970–71 | –  | –  | First Round (2)
1966–67; 1968–69 | Group Runners-up
1990
Bor | –  | –  | First Round
1968–69 | –  | –  | –  | –
Budućnost | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Winner
1981
Čelik Zenica | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | Group Winner
1975

While the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup is recognised as the predecessor to the UEFA Cup, it was not organised by UEFA.[9] Consequently, UEFA do not consider clubs' records in the Fairs Cup to be part of their European record.[9][10] However, FIFA do view the competition as a major honour.[11]

### All time top goalscorers

[edit]

This table possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (October 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Complete list of players who scored 100 goals or more in the 1946-1992 SFR Yugoslavia period.
Source: RSSSF; Last updated 14 December 2007[4][b]

#  | Name  | Goals  | Matches  | Goal ratio  | Clubs  | Years

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|
|
|
|
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1  | Slobodan Santrač | 218  | 365  | 0.60  | OFK Beograd, Partizan, Galenika | 1965–1974, 1976–1980, 1982–1983
2  | Darko Pančev | 168  | 243  | 0.69  | Vardar, Red Star Belgrade | 1982–1992
3  | Dušan Bajević | 166  | 322  | 0.51  | Velež Mostar | 1966–1977, 1981–1983
4  | Bora Kostić | 158  | 257  | 0.61  | Crvena Zvezda | 1951–1961, 1962–1966
5  | Frane Matošić | 149  |  |  | Hajduk Split | 1946–1953
6  | Toza Veselinović | 145  | 227  | 0.64  | Vojvodina, Partizan, Proleter Zrenjanin | 1948–1949, 1951–1961, 1967–1968
7  | Stjepan Bobek | 129  | 201  | 0.64  | Partizan | 1945–1956
=7  | Zoran Prljinčević | 129  |  |  | FK Radnički Beograd, Crvena Zvezda |
9  | Dušan Savić | 120  | 202  | 0.59  | Red Star Belgrade | 1973–1982
10  | Dragan Džajić | 113  | 306  | 0.37  | Red Star Belgrade | 1963–1975, 1977–1978
11  | Vojin Lazarević | 112  | 188  | 0.60  | Sutjeska Nikšić, Red Star Belgrade | 1964–1965, 1966–1970, 1972–1974
12  | Josip Bukal | 111  | 258  | 0.43  | Željezničar | 1963–1973, 1977–1978
13  | Petar Nadoveza | 108  | 217  | 0.50  | Hajduk Split | 1963–1973
14  | Kosta Tomašević | 104  | 156  | 0.67  | Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Subotica | 1946–1956
15  | Vahid Halilhodžić | 103  | 207  | 0.50  | Velež Mostar | 1972–1981
16  | Snješko Cerin | 103  |  |  | Dinamo Zagreb | 1976–1986
17  | Petar Nikezić | 102  | 301  | 0.34  | Vojvodina, Osijek | 1967–1978, 1979–1982
18  | Zlatko Vujović | 101  | 240  | 0.42  | Hajduk Split | 1977–1986

### All time top appearances

[edit]

#  | Name  | Appearances  | Clubs  | Years

|
|
|
|

1  | Enver Marić | 429  | Velež Mostar | 1967–1976, 1978–1985
2  | Slavko Vlahović | 413  | Budućnost | 1977–1991
3  | Slobodan Janjuš | 403  | Željezničar, Vojvodina, Sarajevo, Olimpija Ljubljana, Dinamo Zagreb, Sutjeska Nikšić | 1970–1977, 1985–1988, 1977–1978, 1981–1982,, 1982–1983, 1983–1984, 1984–1985
4  | Nedžad Verlašević | 397  | Sloboda Tuzla, Željezničar | 1975–1983, 1983–1985, 1987–1990, 1985–1986
5  | Momčilo Vukotić | 395  | Partizan | 1968–1978, 1979–1984
6  | Vili Ameršek | 392  | Olimpija Ljubljana | 1966–1976, 1979–1984
7  | Slobodan Santrač | 365  | OFK Beograd, Partizan, Galenika | 1965–1974, 1976–1977, 1977–1980, 1980–1983
8  | Franjo Vladić | 361  | Velež Mostar | 1968–1979, 1981–1985
9  | Tone Rožič  | 360  | Olimpija Ljubljana | 1970–1984
10  | Ilija Petković | 354  | OFK Beograd | 1964–1973, 1976–1983
11  | Kočo Dimitrovski | 336  | Vardar Skopje | 1968–1985
12  | Mustafa Hukić | 332  | Sloboda Tuzla | 1968–1978, 1983–1985
13  | Ivica Miljković | 327  | Dinamo Zagreb, Osijek | 1969–1977, 1977–1980
14  | Dušan Bajević | 322  | Velež Mostar | 1966–1977, 1981–1983
15  | Ibrahim Biogradlić | 318  | FK Sarajevo | 1951–1967
16  | Milovan Obradović | 312  | Radnički Niš, Vojvodina | 1974–1985, 1985–1986
17  | Ivica Hlevnjak | 312  | Hajduk Split | 1962–1973
18  | Dragan Holcer | 310  | Radnički Niš, Hajduk Split | 1963–1967, 1967–1975
19  | Ratomir Dujković | 308  | Red Star Belgrade, Osijek, Galenika | 1962–1974, 1977–1980, 1980–1983
20  | Dragan Džajić | 306  | Red Star Belgrade | 1963–1975, 1977–1978

### Notable clubs (at least 10 top-flight seasons or at least one title)

[edit]

Over the years the Yugoslav First League featured many different teams, but there were always a number of teams that stood out, typically from the bigger cities. Among these were:

SR Bosnia and Herzegovina

* FK Sarajevo, Sarajevo (43 seasons, 2 titles)
* Velež, Mostar (38 seasons)
* Željezničar, Sarajevo (34 seasons, 1 title)
* Sloboda, Tuzla (25 seasons)
* Čelik, Zenica (17 seasons)
* Borac, Banja Luka (14 seasons)
* Slavija, Sarajevo (11 seasons)

SR Croatia

* Hajduk, Split (62 seasons, 9 titles)
* Dinamo, Zagreb (45 seasons, 4 titles)
* NK Rijeka, Rijeka (29 seasons)
* NK Zagreb, Zagreb (18 seasons)
* Građanski, Zagreb (14 seasons, 5 titles)
* NK Osijek, Osijek (13 seasons)
* Concordia, Zagreb (9 seasons, 2 titles)
* HAŠK, Zagreb (8 seasons, 1 title)

SR Macedonia

* Vardar, Skopje (33 seasons)

SR Montenegro

* Budućnost, Podgorica (26 seasons)

SR Serbia

* OFK Beograd, Belgrade (50 seasons)
* Red Star Belgrade, Belgrade (46 seasons, 19 titles[b])
* Partizan, Belgrade (46 seasons, 11 titles)
* Vojvodina, Novi Sad (44 seasons, 2 titles)
* Radnički, Niš (29 seasons)
* Jugoslavija, Belgrade (14 seasons, 2 titles)
* Spartak, Subotica (16 seasons)

SR Slovenia

* Olimpija, Ljubljana (22 seasons)

|

### UEFA coefficients

[edit]

See also: UEFA coefficient

The following data indicates historical Yugoslav coefficient rankings among European football leagues.[12]

This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension.

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## Successor leagues

[edit]

Timeline chart showing Yugoslav First League successors

The 1990–91 season was the last season held in its usual format, with clubs from all federative units participating in the championship. The breakup of the country also broke up its top-flight league into several smaller ones.

The UEFA recognised the First League of FR Yugoslavia as its successor league.

### Slovenia and Croatia depart

[edit]

In June 1991 Slovenia declared independence and Croatia followed suit in October of the same year. This meant that their football associations separated from the Football Association of Yugoslavia so they both started their own football leagues. The Slovenian PrvaLiga was launched in late 1991, while the Croatian Prva HNL saw its first edition in 1992. Affected by the ongoing war in Croatia, the season was held over the course of a single calendar year, from February to June 1992. Both leagues have been going on ever since.

### 1991–92 season

[edit]

The 1991–92 season was the last season held officially under the name of SFR Yugoslavia, even though Slovenian and Croatian clubs have already abandoned the competition to play in their own leagues. Clubs from the remaining four federative units all took part in the competition, but since the Bosnian War broke out towards the end of the season, Bosnian clubs never finished it, with Željezničar of Sarajevo only managed to play 17 out of 33 scheduled fixtures, while Sloboda Tuzla and Velež Mostar ended the season with a few games short of completing the season. Still, since most of the games were played as planned, Crvena Zvezda of Belgrade is credited with winning the last Yugoslav First League championship.

### Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia

[edit]

Macedonian clubs abandoned the competition after the 1991–92 season because the new Macedonian First League was launched the following season. For the 1992–93 season Bosnian clubs were all on hiatus due to full blown fighting that developed there, with the sole exception of Borac of Banja Luka (the strongest Bosnian Serb side at the time) which temporarily moved to Belgrade and joined the newly formed league featuring clubs from Serbia and Montenegro, this time restyled as the First League of FR Yugoslavia. (Serbia and Montenegro, the only ones left after other four member republics declared independence, renamed their country Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.) The league lasted under that name until the 2002–03 season, when the country changed its name so the league was renamed First League of Serbia and Montenegro. Finally, in June 2006 Montenegro declared independence and peacefully departed the union, so from the 2006–07 season onwards Montenegro started operating separate top-flight football league supervised by its football association. On the other hand, as the legal successor of Serbia-Montenegro state union, Serbia also got the continuity of the country's league that was formed as Prva liga (First League) in 1992, and renamed and rebranded as Superliga in summer 2005.

### Bosnia and Herzegovina

[edit]

Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaimed independence in late winter 1992, and already in April same year N/FSBiH applied for membership with FIFA and UEFA.[13] Meanwhile, due to the outbreak of Bosnian War in April 1992 no games were played in the 1992–93 season. In late 1993 some parts of the country re-launched football competitions with reduced scope. But just as the country was divided along ethnic lines, so was football.

In 1993 Bosnian Croats launched the First League of Herzeg-Bosnia in which only Croatian clubs competed on parochial scale within the limits of West Herzegovina and few other enclaves. In the same year Bosnian Serbs also organized their own First League of the Republika Srpska, on a territory held by Republika Srpska regime at the time. Only football on a territory under the control of then Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions and auspices of N/FSBiH, at the time consequently with Bosniak majority, apart from a brief competition for the season 1994–95 (won by Čelik Zenica), came to a standstill. Competition under auspices of N/FSBiH did not resume until 1995–96 season when the First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched.[13]

These three separate football leagues were operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1998, and 2000. Since FIFA and UEFA showed support only for the association operating under patronage of the official and internationally recognized state institutions, during the war and prior to Dayton Peace Agreement as well as after its signage, they endorsed unification of all three organizations as N/FSBiH. This also came as a consequence of FIFA decision to recognize N/FSBiH already in July 1996, while in the same year UEFA admitted N/FSBiH as an adjacent member until 1998 when they recognized its full membership. This meant that only N/FSBiH clubs and its national team could compete at the international and official level.[13]

Final unification has been preceded by several stages. At first was created a playoff where clubs were playing for the champion under N/FSBiH auspices. Idea was that playoff under unified N/FSBiH auspices should bring together clubs competing under three separate organizations for the first time but was rejected by Serb association, leaving clubs from Croat football association and N/FSBiH participating playoff for the seasons 1997–98 and 1999–00, while 1998–99 playoff was canceled due to Croat's association hesitation on the decision on which stadiums games should be played. Next season playoff was resumed for the last time prior to full and final agreement on unified N/FSBiH and its competition, Premier League BiH (Premijer Liga), in the fall 2000. However, the first 2000–01 season seen clubs from Federation of BiH only, while clubs from Republic of Srpska entity continue to compete in their own separate league as their entity association still refused to join agreed unified N/FSBiH and its new competition. However, UEFA and FIFA never intended to recognize this separate organization nor its competition, which meant clubs couldn't compete outside territory of the entity and wouldn't see any international football. This situation forced clubs to insist that their organization also join N/FSBiH, and two years later they became part of the competition for the season 2002–03. Ever since the year 2000 Premier League is the top tier of Bosnia and Herzegovina football, with two entity-based leagues, First League of Republika Srpska and First League of the Federation of BiH, being pushed to the second tier of the football pyramid and serve as feeder leagues to Premier League.[13]

### Today's top flight successors

[edit]

*  Bosnia and Herzegovina → Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000–present; from 1994 to 2000 had a First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
*  Croatia → HNL (1992–present)
*  Kosovo → Football Superleague of Kosovo (2016–present)[14][c]
*  North Macedonia → Macedonian First League (1992–present)
*  Montenegro → Montenegrin First League (2006–present; from 1992 to 2006 had a joint league with Serbia)
*  Serbia → Serbian SuperLiga (2006–present, from 1992 to 2006 had a joint league with Montenegro)
*  Slovenia → Slovenian PrvaLiga (1991–present)

UEFA recognised FR Yugoslavia and subsequently Serbia as the only official successor of Yugoslavia[15][16][17] and consequently the clubs from FR Yugoslavia kept the ranking and ponctuation within UEFA.

## See also

[edit]

* Yugoslav Cup
* Serbian Football League (1940–44)
* Football Association of Yugoslavia
* Yugoslavia national football team

## Notes and references

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A special format tournament was held to re-affirm the newly found Yugoslav unity. The tournament consisted of eight teams: six representing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia respectively, one representing Vojvodina, an autonomous region within Serbia and finally the Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija team, a selection of Yugoslav People's Army football players.
2. ^ a b c d e f g The last championship started without clubs from newly independent Slovenia and Croatia, while clubs from Bosnia, with exception of FK Borac Banja Luka, too abandoned competition on a winter break with imminent country's independence, leaving only Serbian, Montenegrin and Macedonian clubs competing in the second half of the season. (See subsection on 1991–92.)
3. ^ From 1991 until 1999 unrecognized competition in Kosovo parallel to Serbian league system was organized, while one which was recognized compete in the 5th level of the Yugoslav league system. The champion would gain promotion to Serbian Republic League, one of Yugoslav 4th tiers. Since 1999-2000 season the Superleague ran outside FIFA and UEFA until Kosovo was admitted to both organizations, on 3 May 2016.

### References

[edit]

1. ^ Moving with the ball: the migration of professional footballers Archived 24 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine by Pierre Lanfranchi and Matthew Taylor, p. 119.
2. ^ "Povijest – počeci" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
3. ^ "Fudbalski savez Srbije – History". Football Association of Serbia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
4. ^ a b "Yugoslavia - list of topscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
5. ^ The league had a contracted season. In 1939, Croatian and Slovenian clubs began leaving the Yugoslav Football Association and joining the newly found Croatian Football Federation, in protest of the alleged centralization of sport around Belgrade. A new Croatian-Slovenian Football League was started, while the Yugoslavian First League continued on, soon to be renamed the Serbian First League. The split was eventually rectified with the promise of an increase in the number of Croatian and Slovenian clubs in the league. In the end, a short ten-round season was held.
6. ^ The Yugoslav FA decided that the last round of fixtures had to be replayed, after accusations that certain results had been fixed. Partizan, who had won the title with a 4-0 over Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, refused, after which the game was awarded 3-0 to Zeljeznicar, which gave Crvena zvezda the title. Crvena zvezda played in the 1986/87 European Champions Cup. However, after a sequence of legal processes, the original final table, with Partizan as champions, was officially recognized, in 1987.
"Yugoslavia list of champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
7. ^ Ten clubs had started the 1986/87 season with a deduction of 6 points, among them Partizan and Red Star Belgrade, because of the events in the previous season. Vardar, who had not been deducted 6 points, won the title, and participated in the 1987/88 Champions Cup, but the points deduction was later annulled after more legal proceedings, and the title was given to Partizan, who headed the table with the deduction.
"Yugoslavia list of champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
8. ^ "All-Time Yugoslav First League Standings". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
9. ^ a b "UEFA Cup: All-time finals". UEFA. 30 June 2005. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
10. ^ "UEFA Europa League: History: New format provides fresh impetus". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
11. ^ "Classic Football: Clubs: FC Barcelona". FIFA. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
"Classic Football: Clubs: AS Roma". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
12. ^ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
13. ^ a b c d "N/FSBiH History". nfsbih.ba. N/FSBiH. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
14. ^ "Kosovo relishing the future | Inside UEFA". UEFA. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
15. ^ History Archived 27 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine at FSS official website, Retrieved 4 October 2012 (in Serbian)
16. ^ Serbia at FIFA official website
17. ^ News: Serbia Archived 25 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine at UEFA official website, published 1 January 2011, Retrieved 4 October 2012

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Yugoslav First League (1923–1992)

1923–1940 — SHS / Yugoslavia

Seasons|

* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40

Clubs|

* Bačka
* BASK
* BSK
* Concordia
* Crnogorac
* Građanski Niš
* Građanski Skoplje
* Građanski Zagreb
* Hajduk Split
* HAŠK
* Ilirija
* Jedinstvo Beograd
* SK Jugoslavija
* Krajišnik Banja Luka
* SK Ljubljana
* Mačva
* NAK Novi Sad
* Pobeda Skoplje
* Primorje
* Radnički Kragujevac
* SAŠK
* SAND Subotica
* Slavija Osijek
* Slavija Sarajevo
* Slavija Varaždin
* Somborski SK
* Sparta Zemun
* Viktorija Zagreb
* Vojvodina
* ŽAK Subotica
* ŽAK Velika Kikinda

1945–1992 — FPR / SFR Yugoslavia

Seasons|

* 1945
* 1945–46
* 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
* 1991–92

Clubs|

* 14\. Oktobar Niš
* Bor
* Borac Banja Luka
* Budućnost Titograd
* Crvenka
* Čelik Zenica
* Dinamo Vinkovci
* Dinamo Zagreb
* Hajduk Split
* Iskra Bugojno
* Lokomotiva
* Mačva
* Maribor
* Nafta
* Napredak
* Naša Krila
* Novi Sad
* OFK Belgrade
* Olimpija
* Osijek
* Partizan
* Pelister
* Ponziana
* Priština
* Proleter Zrenjanin
* Rabotnički
* Rad
* Radnički Belgrade
* Radnički Kragujevac
* Radnički Niš
* Red Star Belgrade
* Rijeka
* Sarajevo
* Sloboda Tuzla
* Spartak
* RNK Split
* Sutjeska
* Teteks
* Trepča
* Trešnjevka
* Vardar
* Velež
* Vojvodina
* NK Zagreb
* Zemun
* Željezničar

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Football in Yugoslavia

Football Association of Yugoslavia

National teams|

* National team
* Olympic
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-17
* Women's National team

League system|

* First League
* Second League
* Third League
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Croatia
* Macedonia
* Montenegro
* Serbia
* North
* South
* Vojvodina
* Slovenia

Domestic cups|

* Yugoslav Cup
* Yugoslav Super Cup

Subassociations|

* Banja Luka
* Belgrade
* Cetinje
* Kragujevac
* Ljubljana
* Niš
* Novi Sad
* Osijek
* Sarajevo
* Skoplje
* Split
* Subotica
* Veliki Bečkerek
* Zagreb

* National league system
* Clubs
* List of footballers
* Foreign players

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Top-level men's football leagues of Europe (UEFA)

Current|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
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* Republic of Ireland
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Scotland
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
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* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Wales

Defunct|

* Austria
* Tagblatt Pokal
* Gauliga Ostmark
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Republic
* State
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark
* East Germany
* England
* Finland
* Germany
* Bezirksliga Bayern
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* Württemberg
* Nordkreis-Liga
* Oberliga Berlin
* Oberliga Nord
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* Oberliga Südwest
* Oberliga West
* Südkreis-Liga
* Westkreis-Liga
* Gibraltar
* Herzeg-Bosnia
* Mandatory Palestine
* Scotland
* Premier Division
* Premier League
* Saarland
* Serbia and Montenegro
* Soviet Union
* Turkey
* Turkish Championship
* National Division
* Yugoslavia

Liechtenstein is the only UEFA member association without a national league.

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National sports leagues of Yugoslavia

* Basketball
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* Handball
* Ice Hockey
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* Water Polo

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