Sport in Montenegro
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Montenegro |
---|
People |
Languages |
Mythology |
Cuisine |
Festivals |
Religion |
Literature |
Music |
Sport |
Sport in
Football is the second most popular sport in Montenegro.[1] Notable football players from Montenegro are Dejan Savićević, Predrag Mijatović, Mirko Vučinić, Stefan Savić and Stevan Jovetić. Montenegro national football team, founded in 2006, played in playoffs for UEFA Euro 2012, which is the biggest success in the history of the national team.
The
Among women's sports, the national handball team is the most successful, having won the 2012 European Championship and finishing as runners-up at the 2012 Summer Olympics. ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica won two times EHF Champions League.
National competitions
Leagues and Cups
Out of all the leagues and other national competitions in Montenegro, the most popular are football, basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo. Before independence, Montenegrin clubs played in the competitions of
At the end of every season, champions and Cup winners from the Montenegro national competitions play in European competitions. Many of them have performed well in European cups, particularly in basketball, women's handball, water polo and volleyball. Before independence, Montenegrin clubs won titles in Yugoslavian competitions, and especially successful clubs included
.Below is a list of all leagues and cups in Montenegro.
Football
Men
The most successful clubs in domestic Montenegrin football competitions are FK Budućnost Podgorica and FK Sutjeska Nikšić, each with four Montenegrin First League titles, however Budućnost have won more Montenegrin Cups. (See: List of Montenegrin First League champions and List of Montenegrin Cup winners)
Women
Women's football is the newest of all team sports in Montenegro. The first national competition was held in 2008, and the most successful club is ŽFK Ekonomist Nikšić with five league titles and one cup.(See: List of Montenegrin Women's League champions and Montenegrin Women's Cup winners)
Water polo
During the era of SFR Yugoslavia, the first national titles won by Montenegrin clubs were in water polo. There are three extremely successful water polo clubs from Montenegro - PVK Jadran Herceg Novi, VK Primorac Kotor and VK Budva. All of those clubs are holders of both national trophies - from Yugoslavian and from Montenegrin competitions. As well as that, VK Primorac have been a champion of Europe. (See: List of Montenegrin First League of Water Polo champions and List of Montenegrin Water Polo Cup winners)
Handball
Men
Women
The most successful Montenegrin club is ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica. It's one of two clubs from Montenegro that have won European competitions in team sports (twice), and the only club to have won Montenegrin women's handball league titles. ŽRK Budućnost is the all-time most successful club in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Montenegro. (See: List of Montenegrin Women's Handball League champions and List of Montenegrin Women's Handball Cup winners)
Basketball
Men
Among Montenegrin basketball clubs, the most successful is
Women
The most successful women's basketball club is ŽKK Budućnost Podgorica, who are the only Montenegrin team with titles from the Yugoslav League. As well as Budućnost, other successful teams are ŽKK Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje. (See: List of Montenegrin Women's Basketball League champions and List of Montenegrin Women's Basketball Cup winners)
Volleyball
Men
Women
Among Montenegrin women's volleyball clubs, four have won at least one national trophy. The most successful club is ŽOK Luka Bar, who was the only Montenegrin club that participated in Yugoslav elite competitions, too. (See: List of Montenegrin Women's Volleyball League champions and List of Montenegrin Women's Volleyball Cup winners)
Main rivalries and derbies
In every sport, there is one big rivalry in Montenegro. The biggest rivalry across any sport is the football rivalry between FK Budućnost Podgorica and FK Sutjeska Nikšić, known as the Montenegrin Derby. Other traditional football rivalries are between FK Budućnost and FK Lovćen Cetinje, because the two clubs have been playing games against each other since the 1920s. Between 2000 and 2009, there was a huge interest for the Podgorica rivalry between FK Budućnost and FK Zeta, and between 2008 and 2014 there was another important local derby in the Montenegrin First League, between two teams from Nikšić - FK Sutjeska and FK Čelik Nikšić. Since independence in 2006, one of the most important games are matches between FK Budućnost and FK Rudar Pljevlja.
The main derby in basketball is between
The main handball derby in Montenegro is between RK Lovćen Cetinje and RK Berane. There is also a rivalry between RK Lovćen and RK Budućnost Podgorica.
Since the 90's, OK Budućnost Podgorica and OK Budvanska Rivijera Budva have been playing the Montenegrin volleyball derby. Around the turn of the century in 2001, a derby game in Podgorica recorded the highest all-time attendance in the Yugoslav volleyball league (7,500).
The main Montenegrin water polo derby is between VK Primorac Kotor and PVK Jadran Herceg Novi.
Montenegrin clubs in European and ragional competitions
During the every season, Montenegrin clubs in every team-sport are participating in European competitions. Most successful were teams in women's handball and men's water polo, who won the titles of Champion of Europe. Except that sports, Montenegrin teams are playing in European competitions in football (men, women), handball, basketball (men, women), volleyball (men, women) and similar sports.
At the beginning of the 21st century, on the territory of former Yugoslavia started process of founding regional sport leagues. Montenegrin clubs were among the founders of all regional competitions, and today they are participating in
Notable results
Among the notable results and successes of Montenegrin clubs in European competitions are following seasons;
Season | Sport | Competition | Montenegrin team | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984–85 |
Handball | Cup Winners' Cup |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
1985–86 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
1986–87 |
Water polo | LEN Champions League | VK Primorac Kotor | Semifinals
|
1986–87 |
Handball | EHF Cup |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
1996–97 |
Water polo | LEN Cup Winners' Cup | VK Budva | Semifinals
|
1997–98 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
1998–99 |
Basketball | FIBA Saporta Cup | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Semifinals
|
1998–99 |
Handball | Cities Cup |
RK Lovćen Cetinje | Quarterfinals
|
1998–99 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
1999–00 |
Basketball | EuroLeague | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Round of 16
|
1999–00 |
Handball | EHF Cup |
RK Lovćen Cetinje | Quarterfinals
|
1999–00 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2000–01 |
Basketball | EuroLeague | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Round of 16
|
2000–01 |
Handball | EHF Champions League | RK Lovćen Cetinje | Quarterfinals
|
2000–01 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2001–02 |
Water polo | LEN Cup Winners' Cup | PVK Jadran Herceg Novi | Semifinals
|
2001–02 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2003–04 |
Water polo | LEN Champions League | PVK Jadran Herceg Novi | FINAL
|
2005–06 |
Handball | Cup Winners' Cup |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
2006–07 |
Handball | Challenge Cup |
RK Lovćen Cetinje | Quarterfinals
|
2006–07 |
Water polo | LEN Euro Cup | VK Budva | Semifinals
|
2007–08 |
Volleyball | CEV Cup | OK Budvanska Rivijera Budva |
Semifinals
|
2007–08 |
Water polo | LEN Euro Cup | VK Budva | Semifinals
|
2008–09 |
Water polo | LEN Champions League | VK Primorac Kotor | WINNERS
|
2008–09 |
Handball | Challenge Cup |
RK Budućnost Podgorica | Quarterfinals
|
2009–10 |
Water polo | LEN Champions League | VK Primorac Kotor | FINAL
|
2009–10 |
Water polo | LEN Euro Cup | VA Cattaro Kotor | WINNERS
|
2009–10 |
Handball | Cup Winners' Cup |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
2010–11 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2010–11 |
Water polo | LEN Champions League | VK Budva | Semifinals
|
2010–11 |
Volleyball | CEV Champions League | OK Budvanska Rivijera Budva |
Quarterfinals
|
2011–12 |
Basketball | EuroCup | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Quarterfinals
|
2011–12 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
2012–13 |
Football | UEFA Europa League | FK Zeta Golubovci | Playoff round
|
2012–13 |
Basketball | EuroCup | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Quarterfinals
|
2013–14 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | FINAL
|
2013–14 |
Volleyball | CEV Champions League | OK Budvanska Rivijera Budva |
Quarterfinals
|
2014–15 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | WINNERS
|
2015–16 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2016–17 |
Handball | EHF Champions League |
ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | Semifinals
|
2017–18 |
Basketball | EuroCup | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
Quarterfinals
|
2018–19 |
Basketball | Euroleague | KK Budućnost Podgorica |
15th
|
Football
Men's competitions
During the history, Montenegrin football clubs played in three different
Balkans Cup is a former regional football competition (1960–1994) in which Montenegrin clubs participated as a representatives of SFR Yugoslavia. Teams from Montenegro that played in Balkans Cup were FK Budućnost Podgorica and FK Sutjeska Nikšić. Biggest success made FK Budućnost, who played in the final 1991, after eliminated Galatasaray SK.
Women's competitions
Since the season 2012–13, champion of Montenegrin Women's League is playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League. In the period 2012–2015, the only Montenegrin representative was ŽFK Ekonomist. On season 2016–17, for the first time, Montenegro was represented in UEFA Champions League by ŽFK Breznica.
Water polo
Montenegrin water polo clubs are participating in the LEN competitions since the season 1986–97. First team that ever competed at the European cups was VK Primorac Kotor. Except them, in LEN competitions played also PVK Jadran Herceg Novi, VK Budva, VA Cattaro Kotor and PVK Val Prčanj. Biggest success in the history of Montenegrin waterpolo made VK Primorac, who won the title in LEN Champions League 2009. Except them, another Montenegrin holder of European trophy is VA Cattaro.
Clubs from Montenegro were among the founders of
Handball
Men's competitions
Montenegrin men's handball clubs are participating in the
Southeastern European Handball Association League, or SEHA League is founded at 2011, and Montenegrin clubs were part of it since first season. Most successful Montenegrin representative in regional league was RK Lovćen.
Women's competitions
Montenegrin women's handball clubs are participating in the EHF competitions since the season 1984/85. Montenegrin side ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica was extremely successful in the European Cups and today is among the best and most-trophied European and global women's handball teams. They are most successful Montenegrin sports team in European Cups, too. ŽRK Budućnost won six European titles. Except ŽRK Budućnost, until today, representatives of Montenegro in women's EHF competitions were ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja, ŽRK Danilovgrad, ŽRK Nikšić and ŽRK Petrol Bonus Podgorica.
Women Regional Handball League (WRHL) is founded in 2009, and Montenegrin clubs are participating from its inaugural season. As one of strongest European clubs, ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica dominated in the history of competition, often playing seasons without any defeat. So, ŽRK Budućnost won five titles during the six seasons of WRHL.
Basketball
Men's competitions
Clubs from Montenegro have been playing in European basketball competitions since the 1980s. Until 2006, they represented SFR Yugoslavia and FR Yugoslavia. Almost all European seasons by Montenegrin clubs are played by KK Budućnost. Exceptions are a single-season parcitipations of
Today, Adriatic Basketball League is one of strongest in Europe. At 2001, one of founders was Montenegrin side
Women's competitions
Women's basketball clubs from Montenegro participated in FIBA competitions since the start of century. Clubs that played in European Cups until today are ŽKK Budućnost Podgorica and ŽKK Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje. ŽKK Budućnost played in EuroLeague Women during the one season, but finished it after the group phase.
Women Adriatic Basketball League, or
Volleyball
Men's competitions
Montenegrin volleyball clubs are participating in the
Women's competitions
Montenegrin women's volleyball clubs are participating in the CEV competitions since the season 1998–99. First team that ever competed at the European cups was ŽOK Luka Bar. Except them, in CEV competitions played also ŽOK Galeb Bar. Montenegrin women's volleyball teams played in Women's CEV Cup and CEV Women's Challenge Cup, and from the season 2016–17 in the qualifiers for CEV Women's Champions League.
National sports teams
From 2006, following
Notable results
Among the notable results and successes of the Montenegro national teams at the main competitions includes:
Year | Sport | Team | Competition | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | European Championship | Champion
|
2008
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | Summer Olympics | 4th
|
2011
|
Basketball | Basketball (Women's) | European Championship | 6th
|
2012
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | European Championship | Finalist
|
2012
|
Handball | Handball (Women's) | European Championship | Champion
|
2012
|
Handball | Handball (Women's) | Summer Olympics | Finalist
|
2012
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | Summer Olympics | 4th
|
2013
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | World Championship | Finalist
|
2014
|
Handball | Handball (Women's) | European Championship | 4th
|
2015
|
Basketball | Basketball (Women's) | European Championship | 7th
|
2016
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | European Championship | Finalist
|
2016
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | Summer Olympics | 4th
|
2017
|
Basketball | Basketball (Men's) | European Championship | 13th
|
2019
|
Handball | Handball (Women's) | World Championship | 4th
|
2020
|
Water Polo | Water Polo (Men's) | European Championship | 3rd
|
Montenegro national football team
Men
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Fudbalski Savez Crne Gore (FSCG), the governing body for football in Montenegro. In October 2006, Montenegro was granted provisional membership of UEFA, with a full membership scheduled at a in January 2007.[2] The team played its official friendly match against Hungary on 24 March 2007 in Podgorica, and won 2:1. Until now, best success of Montenegro was participation in the play-off round for UEFA Euro 2012. Montenegro played against the Czech Republic, but failing to qualify.
Women
Montenegro women's national football team was founded in 2012. It is organised and headed by Football Association of Montenegro. Montenegro played first official match on 13 March 2012 in Bar, against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2:3). Best competitive result, Montenegro made at 2013–14, when they qualified for the final round of 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA).
Montenegro national basketball team
Men
In 2006, the
Women
The women's national basketball team is the representative for Montenegro in international women's basketball competitions and it is organized and run by the Basketball Federation of Montenegro. The Montenegro women's national team entered international competition in 2008, playing its first official match on 27 August, against Republic of Ireland in Bijelo Polje (68–56). Montenegrin women's team participated on EuroBasket Women three times - 2011, 2013 and 2015, playing two times in quarterfinals.
Montenegro national handball team
Men
The national handball team was formed in 2006, recently after independence. Montenegro is a full member of IHF and EHF since 2006. Montenegro played their first official match at 3 January 2007 in Vantaa and won against Finland (28:26). Since then, Montenegro successfully qualified for four big competitions – once for the World Cup (2013) and for the European Championship 2008, 2014 and 2016.
Women
Montenegro national volleyball team
Men
The
Women
Soon after the
Montenegro national water polo team
See also
References
- ^ a b "Water Polo Is The Most Popular Sport in Montenegro". total-waterpolo.com. Total Waterpolo. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- FIFA rankingsin June 2007.