FK Sloboda Užice

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For other uses, see FK Sloboda (disambiguation).

Sloboda Užice
Full nameGradski fudbalski klub Sloboda Užice
Founded1925; 99 years ago (1925)
GroundRadomir Antić Stadium
Capacity15,000
ChairmanDragan Marjanović
Head coachLjubiša Stamenković
LeagueSerbian First League
2022–23Serbian First League, 9th
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Gradski fudbalski klub Sloboda Užice (Serbian Cyrillic: Градски фудбалски клуб Слобода Ужице) is a Serbian professional football club from Užice. They are currently playing in the Serbian First League, the second tier of Serbian football.

History

Early years (1920s and 1930s)

The club was founded through the initiative of Užice's workers in 1925, as part of the sports society named URSK Sloboda (Užički radnički sportski klub Sloboda, English: Užice's worker's sport klub Sloboda). The founders were communist activists Miloš Marković (who was two years earlier the founder of

Axis forces, the club did not have any activity, and most of its players participated in fighting to liberate the country. Many of them perished during the war.[1]

Post World War II (1945–1991)

On 5 May 1945, the club was reestablished under its original name Sloboda, which means freedom (or liberty) in Serbian, and was now named FK Sloboda Titovo Užice (City of Užice was renamed to Titovo Užice). Next year the club won the local league and played for several years in the regional Serbian League. After the restructure of the football association, it became a member of the Kragujevac sub-division of the football federation. Until 1947, the club played its matches on the field in Krčagovo, but from then on began playing in a new stadium in Begluk, where under floodlights played its first night match against

JNA stadium
, where it failed to win.

It was finally in its fourth attempt, in 1965, that the club managed to qualify to the Yugoslav Second League as second-place team in the Serbian League group South. In the qualifications it managed to overcome Belgrade's Železnik and Tetovo's Teteks. One of the club's most memorable nights during this period came on 19 February 1967, when the club held Yugoslavia's most successful club, Red Star Belgrade to a 1–1 draw in the Yugoslav Cup before losing 1–2 in extra time in front of 14,000 spectators. The following two seasons are remembered by the fans as the most successful until then. The club managed to conclude the first half of the championship in first place in both seasons, but on both occasions failed to reach the First League qualifications at the end.

Following this period, the league was restructured and some poor results saw the club drop down to the Serbian League (Yugoslav 3rd tier) where they remained until 1980, when it was promoted to the Yugoslav Second League East (the Second League was back then divided into two groups, East and West). Promotion was achieved with a crushing win over FK Topličanin by 5–0. In this period the club achieved stability, and in the 1987–88 season by finishing in the top half of the league table achieved qualification to the newly formed unified Second League. In this period, the late 1980s, the level of football played in Yugoslavia is by many considered the best ever.[1]

First League of Yugoslavia and stagnation (1991–2010)

In the 1991–92 season, the club was at the top of the Second League for a long period, but at the end failed to gain promotion to the top league, achieving that in the following season, 1992–93 and qualified to play in the

First League of FR Yugoslavia for the 1993–94 time. Despite wins in Čačak against Borac by 4–1, and in Pljevlja
against Rudar by 1–0, because of the restructuring of the league it only played in 1995 against the best teams of the First League.

Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidić played with Sloboda Užice youth team between 1994 and 1996 before transferring to Red Star

In June 1995, it managed to stay in the First League by winning in the promotion/relegation matches the Second League FK Novi Pazar in Novi Pazar in a penalty shoot-out. The following season, 1995–96 it ended in 4th place in the B First League, qualifying to play in the A First League in the second part of the championship. But, at the end, it finished last, despite wins against Proleter Zrenjanin and Mladost Lučani.

In the following seasons the club suffered a series of relegations, and despite few participations in the Second League, the club ended up mostly playing in the Serbian League (third national tier) during the 2000s.[1]

Merging with Sevojno and Serbian SuperLiga (2010–present)

In 2010 the club announced it merged with

Europa League qualifications. The 2012–13 Sloboda Užice season was the same they finished fifth for the second year straight. Also the 12–13 season will be remembered as the negative tradition breaking season. They won against FK Rad at home after 30 years, they achieved their first ever win over Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade away at Marakana, they won against FK Radnički Niš on Čair for the first time and they also won against FK Radnički 1923 away after 47 years. The following season the club got relegated from the SuperLiga on the final matchday after a 1–0 loss to Voždovac at home.[4] Originally the club was meant to be playing in the Serbian League West in the 2016–17 season, with finishing 13th the previous season and getting relegated, but due to the exclusion of Sloga PM the club kept their First League status.[5][6][7][8]

In 2019, after five turbulent seasons in the First League, Sloboda got relegated to the Morava Zone League, fourth tier of Serbian football[9] and was renamed in GFK Sloboda.[10][11] In June 2020, the club signed a cooperation agreement with Canadian club Serbian White Eagles FC.[12] In 2022, the club got promoted back to the First League, by winning the Serbian League West.[13]

Stadium

Main article:
Užice City Stadium
Užice City Stadium at night

The Užice City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium and Sloboda's home ground. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.[14] In July 2013 it was announced that the stadium will have floodlights for the first time in club history.The first game under the floodlights was played against Partizan on 14 September 2013.[15][16][17]

Supporters

Fans of Sloboda

The organized supporters of Sloboda Užice are known as "Freedom Fighters" (Serbian: Borci za slobodu). The members of Freedom Fighters call themselves also "Slobodaši". They express their love for their city, club and region with many creative activities. The Slobodaši hold firmly to Serbian traditional values and are known as real supporters where sporting spirit is a priority. They are also well known for their fair behavior in the stands and their commitment to humanitarian aid. The basis of their support mainly includes chants, the use of flags, choreography and the display of banners. A well-known slogan of the Freedom Fighters is "Sloboda počinje" (lit. 'Freedom begins').[18][19][20]

Recent seasons (1996–present)

As of 29 May 2023
Season League Pld. W D L GF GA GD Pts. Position
1996–97
First League of FR Yugoslavia
 33 7 7 19 27 52 −25 28 11th
1997–98
Second League of FR Yugoslavia
 34 17 5 12 54 34 +20 56 5th
1998–99
Second League of FR Yugoslavia
 21 5 4 12 21 27 −6 19 16th
1999–00
Second League of FR Yugoslavia
 34 16 9 9 59 34 +25 57 5th
2000–01
Second League of FR Yugoslavia
 34 10 9 15 37 45 −8 39 14th
2001–02
Second League of FR Yugoslavia
 32 14 8 10 44 32 +12 50 9th
2002–03 Morava Zone League 32 20 7 5 69 29 +40 67 2nd
2003–04 Serbian League West 34 18 6 10 53 31 +22 60 3rd
2004–05 Serbian League West 34 17 7 10 43 23 +20 58 4th
2005–06 Serbian League West 34 15 7 12 36 42 −6 52 5th
2006–07 Serbian League West 34 14 7 13 50 43 +7 49 9th
2007–08 Serbian League West 30 9 8 13 26 30 −4 35 12th
2008–09 Serbian League West 30 14 4 12 35 34 +1 46 3rd
2009–10 Serbian League West 30 16 4 10 43 26 +17 52 3rd
2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga 30 12 7 11 34 35 −1 43 6th
2011–12 Serbian SuperLiga 30 15 6 9 42 35 +7 51 5th
2012–13 Serbian SuperLiga 30 11 12 7 39 37 +2 45 5th
2013–14 Serbian SuperLiga 30 7 7 16 21 38 −17 28 16th
2014–15 Serbian First League 30 8 12 10 24 28 −4 36 12th
2015–16 Serbian First League 30 8 11 11 35 34 +1 35 13th
2016–17 Serbian First League 30 15 9 6 43 28 +15 54 3rd
2017–18 Serbian First League 30 9 7 14 23 35 −12 34 12th
2018–19 Serbian First League 37 6 8 23 22 70 −48 16 16th
2019–20 West Morava Zone League 16 14 2 0 42 7 +35 44 1st
2020–21 Serbian League West 34 17 6 11 51 38 +13 57 4th
2021–22 Serbian League West 30 19 6 5 43 19 +24 63 1st
2022–23 Serbian First League 37 11 18 8 42 41 +1 51 9th

Current squad

As of 31 January 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Serbia SRB Đorđe Vukašinović
2 DF Serbia SRB Marko Janković
4 DF Serbia SRB Aleksandar Cvetić
5 MF Serbia SRB Semir Alić (on loan from Novi Pazar)
6 FW Nigeria NGA Victor Amos
7 FW Serbia SRB Todor Glišović
8 MF Serbia SRB Savo Rašković
9 FW Serbia SRB Bojan Gajić (captain)
10 FW Serbia SRB Vladimir Silađi
11 FW Serbia SRB Andrej Đukić
12 GK Serbia SRB Luka Savić (on loan from Mladost Lučani)
13 DF Serbia SRB Đorđe Glišović
14 FW Serbia SRB Ognjen Milanović (on loan from Mladost Lučani)
15 DF Serbia SRB Rade Glišović
16 FW South Africa RSA Kurt Abrahams (on loan from Novi Pazar)
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Serbia SRB Milan Srbijanac
18 MF Serbia SRB Ognjen Starčević
19 FW Serbia SRB Nemanja Lazić
20 FW Nigeria NGA Shedrack Charles (on loan from Red Star Belgrade)
21 MF Serbia SRB Nikola Eskić
22 DF Serbia SRB Petar Jovanović
24 FW Montenegro MNE Dragoljub Radoman
25 GK Russia RUS Arkadiy Zhelnin
26 DF Serbia SRB Aleksa Petrović
27 MF Serbia SRB Marko Stanojević
28 DF Serbia SRB Mihailo Jovanović
29 MF South Korea KOR Se-jin Myeong
30 FW Serbia SRB Dejan Tumbas
98 GK Serbia SRB Andrija Vujaković

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Serbia SRB Stefan Đoković (at Zlatibor Čajetina)
— DF Serbia SRB Luka Milovanović (at FAP)
— MF Serbia SRB Nebojša Vujičić (at Zlatibor Čajetina)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Serbia SRB Nikola Krsmanović (at Zlatibor Čajetina)
— FW Serbia SRB Ivan Lučić (at FAP)
— FW Serbia SRB Zehrudin Mehmedović (at FAP)

Technical staff

Updated 31 January 2024

Current technical staff
  • Head coach: Serbia Ljubiša Stamenković
  • Assistant coach: Serbia Filip Arsenijević
  • Goalkeeping coach: Serbia Milojko Lojanica
  • Doctor: Serbia Bojan Terzić
  • Physiotherapist: Serbia Darko Pantelić

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Notable former players

To appear in this section a player must have either:
  • Played at least 100 games in Serbian top league.
  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club.
  • Played at least one international match for their national team at any time.

For the list of current and former players with Wikipedia article, please see: Category:FK Sloboda Užice players.

Coaching history

List of coaches.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c Istorija Archived 9 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine at official site.
  2. ^ Novi Superligaš Sloboda Sevojno Point at sport.blic.rs (in Serbian)
  3. ^ Samo za Slobodu... -October 13, 2011. Fksloboda.org (13 October 2011). Retrieved on 2012-08-21.
  4. ^ "Спортски Журнал".
  5. ^ "Слога одустала од такмичења у лиги".
  6. ^ "Слобода из Ужица остаје у Првој лиги".
  7. ^ "Sloboda menja Slogu u Prvoj ligi Srbije".
  8. ^ "PROMENA U FUDBALU Sloga odustala, Sloboda prvoligaš".
  9. ^ "KRAJ JEDNE ERE: Sloboda iz Užica porazom u Čačku ispala iz Prve lige Srbije! (VIDEO)".
  10. ^ Za GFK Sloboda Užice će igrati samo Užičani | Radio Luna- 9. Juni 2019
  11. ^ "ZONSKA LIGA POD REFLEKTORIMA Sloboda uzimala bodove velikanima i bila nadomak Evrope, a sad je čekaju rivali iz Sjenice, Arilja, Bajine Bašte".
  12. ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (21 September 2022). "Serbian White Eagles and Sloboda Uzice sign cooperation agreement". serbianwhiteeagles.ca. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Sloboda se digla iz pepela: Užičani se posle tri godine vratili u PLS, proslavili uz pirotehniku i pun stadion".
  14. ^ [1] Archived 30 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Спортски Журнал". Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Спортски Журнал".
  17. ^ "JSL: Partizan pokvario užički dan za istoriju (VIDEO) – Srpski fudbal – Sportal.rs". Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  18. ^ Sjajan gest navijača Slobode | Mondo. Mondo.rs (10 June 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-21.
  19. ^ Užice: I navijači pomažu u čišćenju snega | Mondo. Mondo.rs (10 June 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-21.
  20. ^ Navijači Slobode dočekali Novu godinu na stadionu (FOTO i VIDEO). Mozzart Sport. Retrieved on 2012-08-21.
  21. ^ Season-by-season results at fksloboda.org

External links

Other:

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