First idea about formation a new club in Sarajevo came in autumn of 1920, when Dimitrije Dimitrijević, railway worker, youngest and fastest amongst his friends, suggested the idea to Ludvig Leple who at the time was train driver in charge. They talked also to Stjepan Katalinić and others, and everbody liked the idea. Soon the money was raised and a first ball was bought.
Soon the winter arrived, so they had to wait until the July of 1921 when the club applied to be full-time member of Sub-alliance. Club had to play two games before it could be a member. First game was played on 17 of September 1921 againt SAŠK, and another day after against Sarajevski. Željo lost both games, 5:1 and 2:1.
On September 19 of 1921 Željezničar was full time meber, where he had been placed in II grade with SK Sparta, Troja and Barkohmb.
In season 1925/1926 Željezničar powerfully entered the I grade Sarajevo Sub-division, but never make it to National level since that place was mostly reserved for SAŠK.
By the beginning of the WWII, club stopped operating, to be restored after. The club secured first Yugoslavian competition in season 1946/1947, but after the city authorities have formed the new club “Torpedo” which was about to represent the best from Bosnia and Herzegovina, majority of Željezničar players were ordered to move to “Torpedo”. So they did, everyone but Joško Domorocki. Such a turnover was death sentence for Željo, which was relegated and came back again in season 1953/1954.
Years that followed were quite OK, when the major success hit the club. Yugoslavian champion title came in season 1971/1972, where Željezničar under the coaching control of Milan Ribar took the biggest reward, first in 51 years of existence.
FK Željezničar Sarajevo Champions in season 1971/1972
Again, years that followed where different, mostly the middle of table, and one year spent away from National Yugoslav level, in season 1976/1977.
The major European succcess, UEFA cup seminfinals, arrived in season 1984/1985, where Željezničar tragically lost the finals qualification in Sarajevo, after away lost to 3:1, Željo at Grbavica during the whola game had 2:0, but in 87 minute goal demolished all the dreams.
After the recent aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina during which club managed somehow to survive, the major success came in 1998, when Željo in playoffs final won the title against its major rival FK Sarajevo, and others in 2001, 2002 and 2010.
The major European success came in season 2002/2003, where Željo played third and the last round of qualifications for European Champions league, and lost to English Newcastle United.
Today FK Željezničar is one of the most famous and popular clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FK ŽELJEZNIČAR ID CARD
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