Zrinjski
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar is a professional Croatian football club based in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 1905. The club plays at Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom and competes in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With nine Premier League championships, Zrinjski is one of the most decorated football clubs in the country and holds the record for most titles won. In 2023, they became the first club from independent Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the group stage of a European club competition, reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.
History
Overview
General information about the club
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar is the oldest football club in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded by Croat youth in 1905 during the Austria-Hungary period. The club's name honors the historic Croatian noble family Zrinski. After being banned from 1945 to 1992 for participating in the wartime Croatian league, Zrinjski was reformed following Bosnia and Herzegovina's independence. The club initially played in the First League of Herzeg-Bosnia until 2000 when it joined the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2022-23 season, Zrinjski won both the Premier League title and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup, achieving their first-ever double. The club successfully retained its league title in the 2023-24 campaign, finishing four rounds before the end of the season. Their historic European achievement came in 2023 when they became the first Bosnian club to reach a European competition group stage, participating in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
History
Early years
In 1896, several distinguished Herzegovinians from Mostar conceived the idea of forming a youth sports society named Hrvatski sokol (Croatian Falcon). This was initially not permitted, but in 1905, Croat youth led by Professor Kuštreb succeeded with help from the cultural society Hrvoje, forming Đački športski klub (Student Sports Club). In 1912, it evolved into Gimnazijski nogometni klub Zrinjski.
Some of the first players included Rudolf Brozović, Bruno and Edo Novak, Marko Suton, Željko and Ante Merdžo, Abid Pehlivanović, Slavko Jukić, Ivan Bošnjak and Karlo Šmit. In 1914, at the outset of World War I, the club was banned until 1917 when it merged with another Croatian sports club to form "Hercegovac."
In 1922, the original name Zrinjski was restored. In 1923, Zrinjski won the Mostar Championship with a 1–0 victory over JŠK. Throughout the 1930s, the club played matches across the region, including Zagreb, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Montenegro.
Successful period
Following the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941, the Independent State of Croatia was proclaimed, and a football league was formed. Zrinjski joined this league and played historic games against Građanski Zagreb. In 1943, Zrinjski played against Jedinstvo, winning 2–1, which was likely their last match before being banned.
After the club's restoration in 1992, Zrinjski was reestablished in Međugorje. The new era began before the 2003–04 season when new board members brought better sponsors. The club took four players on loan from Dinamo Zagreb: Luka Modrić, Marko Janjetović, Ivica Džidić and Davor Landeka.
In 2004, Zrinjski signed top players including Zoran Rajović, Dušan Kerkez, Velimir Vidić, and Sulejman Smajić. Led by manager Franjo Džidić, the team won their first Premier League title in 2005 with a significant point advantage over runner-up Željezničar.
Crisis and recovery
The period from 2010 to 2013 marked a difficult time for the club. In the 2010–11 season, despite beating FC Tobol and Tre Penne in European competition, Zrinjski fell to seventh place in the league. The 2012–13 season was particularly challenging, with the club finishing ninth, their worst performance in almost ten years.
The 2013–14 season marked a remarkable recovery. After a season-long three-way battle with NK Široki Brijeg and FK Sarajevo, Zrinjski won their third Premier League title, their first since 2004–05.
Current period
From 2015 to 2018, Zrinjski dominated the Premier League, winning three consecutive titles under managers Blaž Slišković and Vinko Marinović. The club improved in European competitions, reaching the third qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League multiple times.
In 2021–22, under manager Sergej Jakirović, Zrinjski won their record seventh league title. The following season, they achieved their first double by winning both the league and the Bosnian Cup. In August 2023, they made history by becoming the first Bosnian club to reach a European competition group stage.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina: - Winners (9): 2004–05, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 (record) - Runners-up (3): 2006–07, 2018–19, 2023–24
First League of Herzeg-Bosnia: - Runners-up (2): 1993–94, 1997–98
Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup: - Winners (3): 2007–08, 2022–23, 2023–24
Supercup of Bosnia and Herzegovina: - Winners (1): 2024
Doubles: - Premier League and National Cup (1): 2022–23
Continental and global competitions
Zrinjski's most significant continental achievement came in 2023 when they became the first club from independent Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the group stage of a European club competition. They reached the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, where they were drawn into Group E alongside Aston Villa, AZ and Legia Warsaw. On matchday one, Zrinjski achieved a historic 4–3 comeback victory against AZ after trailing 3–0 at halftime, becoming the first Bosnian side to win a group stage match in UEFA club competition.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club takes its name from the historic Croatian noble family Zrinski, reflecting its Croatian heritage and identity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Zrinjski's traditional colors are reflected in their supporters' displays, with the Ultras Mostar using black, white and red colors on transparencies and boards during matches.
Traditional club anthem
The official song of the Ultras Mostar, the main supporter group of HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, is "Gori brate."
Traditional Rivals
Velež
Zrinjski Mostar's main rival is Velež Mostar, the other main football team in Mostar. The highly contested match between both teams is called the Mostar derby. Zrinjski first played against Velež in the 1920s and 1930s, but when Zrinjski was banned from 1945 to 1992, no games between the rival teams were played.
The rivalry has ethnic dimensions, as Zrinjski is mainly supported by Croats while Velež is mostly supported by local Bosniaks. The fan groups are Ultras Mostar for Zrinjski and Red Army Mostar for Velež. The first official game after Zrinjski's restoration was played on 13 August 2000 at Bijeli Brijeg Stadium, won by Zrinjski 2–0.
Sarajevo
Zrinjski has notable rivalries with Sarajevo clubs Sarajevo and Željezničar. These clubs, with their famous histories, are favorites for the top of the table almost every season alongside Zrinjski. The rivalry stems partly from Mostar being the center of Herzegovina while Sarajevo is the center of Bosnia and the capital of the entire country.
Široki Brijeg
There is also a rivalry with Široki Brijeg, the other top team from Herzegovina. This rivalry started during the Herzeg-Bosnia League (1994–2000) and continued in the Premier League. Matches between the two clubs are called the Herzegovina derby.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Before the 2003–04 season, new board members entered the club, bringing better sponsors with the primary goal of making Zrinjski one of the top clubs in the country by its 100th anniversary in 2005.
Nicknames
The club is colloquially referred to as Zrinjski Mostar or simply Zrinjski.
Ownership and finances
Today the football team is part of the Zrinjski Mostar sport society, operating as a multi-sport organization.
Traditions and culture
Zrinjski's fans are called Ultras Mostar, and the fan club was officially founded in March 1998, though it existed as an unregistered support group since 1994. They promote all sections of the sports club but mostly follow the football department. The Ultras support their team from the grandstand called "Stajanje."
Stadium
Zrinjski plays its games at Stadion HŠK Zrinjski, also known as Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom. The stadium was built in 1958 and was used by city rivals Velež until 1991. The current capacity is 9,000 seats (formerly 25,000 standing), but in the 1970s and 1980s, some games attracted over 35,000 spectators. It was the second largest stadium in Bosnia and Herzegovina before plastic seats were added, after Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium in Sarajevo.