Before the independence of Montenegro, football clubs from that country played in different competitions. From 1945 to 2006, Montenegrin club played in the leagues of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Federation of Serbia and Montenegro.
Upon the independence referendum, Montenegrin Football Association established their own competitions, with the Montenegrin First League as a top tier.
History As a part of the football system in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, Montenegrin clubs played in different leagues. Below is the table with chronology of competition system and leagues in which played Montenegrin teams during the each period from 1945 to 2006.
CountryPeriodTiersSFR Yugoslavia 1946 Montenegrin Republic League (I) SFR Yugoslavia 1946-1947 Yugoslav First League (I) Montenegrin Republic League (II)SFR Yugoslavia 1947-1949 Yugoslav First League (I) Yugoslav Second League (II)Montenegrin Republic League (III)SFR Yugoslavia 1950 Yugoslav First League (I) Yugoslav Second League (II)Yugoslav Third League (III)Montenegrin Republic League (IV)SFR Yugoslavia 1951-1968 Yugoslav First League (I) Yugoslav Second League (II)Montenegrin Republic League (III)SFR Yugoslavia 1969-1988 Yugoslav First League (I) Yugoslav Second League (II)Montenegrin Republic League (III)Montenegrin regional league system (IV)SFR Yugoslavia 1988-1992 Yugoslav First League (I) Yugoslav Second League (II)Yugoslav Third League (III)Montenegrin Republic League (IV)Montenegrin regional league system (V)FR Yugoslavia 1992-2001 First League of FR Yugoslavia (I) Second League of FR Yugoslavia (II)Montenegrin Republic League (III)Montenegrin regional league system (IV)Serbia and Montenegro 2001-2006 First League of Serbia and Montenegro (I) Second League of Serbia and Montenegro (II)Montenegrin Republic League (III)Montenegrin regional league system (IV)
Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League Participants and seasons (1946-1992) During the existence of SFR Yugoslavia, Montenegrin clubs which participated in the First League were FK Budućnost and FK Sutjeska. Budućnost was among the clubs which participated in the first season of Yugoslav First League (1946-47).
ClubSeasonsFirst seasonLast seasonMatchesWDLGDFK Budućnost261946-471991-92789261188335889:1114FK Sutjeska91964-651991-922959065135346:454
Participants and seasons (1992-2006) Due to fact that in new state union of FR Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro) were two republics, Montenegrin clubs find easier way to qualify for the First League. Among the clubs which played one or more seasons in the First League of FR Yugoslavia and, later, Serbia and Montenegro, were FK Budućnost, FK Sutjeska, FK Rudar, FK Mogren, FK Zeta, FK Kom and FK Jedinstvo.
ClubSeasonsFirst seasonLast seasonMatchesWDLGDFK Budućnost111992-932005-0636812578165385:512FK Sutjeska111992-932004-0531010759144353:474FK Zeta62000-012005-06192833871269:250FK Mogren51992-932002-03170443591171:289FK Rudar61993-942002-03140393368129:187FK Kom12003-042003-0430422421:67FK Jedinstvo12005-062005-0630322518:72
Republic League of Montenegro (3rd tier) 1945 - FK Budućnost 1946 - 1947 - 1948 - 1949 - 1950 - 1951 - 1952 - 1952/53 - 1953/54 - 1954/55 - 1955/56 -1956/57 - 1957/58 - 1958/59 - 1959/60 - FK Lovćen 1960/61 - 1961/62 - 1962/63 - FK Lovćen 1963/64 - FK Sutjeska 1964/65 - FK Lovćen 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 - FK Lovćen1980/81 - 1981/82 - FK Lovćen 1982/83 - 1984/85 - FK Lovćen 1985/86 - 1986/87 - 1987/88 - 1988/89 - 1989/90 - FK Lovćen 1990/91 - 1991/92 - 1992/93 - FK Lovćen1993/94 - FK Jedinstvo 1994/95 - OFK Igalo 1995/96 - FK Mladost 1996/97 - FK Čelik 1997/98 - FK Zeta 1998/99 - FK Mladost 1999/00 - FK Iskra (13 other teams in higher division)
FR Yugoslavia Second League - South Region 2000/01 - FK Rudar Pljevlja (3 other teams in higher division) 2001/02 - FK Mogren (3 other teams in higher division) 2002-03 - FK Kom (4 other teams in higher division) 2003-04 - FK Budućnost (3 other teams in higher division)
Montenegrin First League 2004-05 - FK Jedinstvo (3 other teams in higher division) 2005-06 - FK Rudar Pljevlja (3 other teams in higher division)