FK Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Founded in 1945, they were the first Yugoslav and Serbian club ever to enter European competition, playing the European Cup in the 1955–56 season. They opened the competition in a match against Sporting CP on 4 September 1955. They also became the first club that was not from Western Europe to play in the European Cup final, losing by Real Madrid in 1966.
Including all European competitions, midfielder Saša Ilić holds the club record for the most appearances with 114, and is also the club's third-highest ever goalscorer with 15 goals, behind Brazilian striker Cléo, who scored 16 goals, and Ricardo Gomes, who scored 20.
Best results in European competitions Season Achievement Notes European Cup / UEFA Champions League 1955–56 Quarter Final eliminated by Real Madrid 0–4 in Madrid, 3–0 in Belgrade 1963–64 Quarter Final eliminated by Internazionale 0–2 in Belgrade, 1–2 in Milano 1965–66 Runners-up lost to Real Madrid 1–2 in Brussels Mitropa Cup 1977–78 Winner defeated Budapest Honvéd 1–0 in Belgrade UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1989–90 Quarter Final eliminated by Dinamo București 1–2 in Bucharest, 0–2 in Titograd* UEFA Cup / Europa League 1974–75 Round of 16 eliminated by 1. FC Köln 1–0 in Belgrade, 1–5 in Cologne 1984–85 Round of 16 eliminated by Videoton 0–5 in Székesfehérvár, 2–0 in Belgrade 1990–91 Round of 16 eliminated by Internazionale 0–3 in Milan, 1–1 in Belgrade 2004–05 Round of 16 eliminated by CSKA Moscow 1–1 in Belgrade, 0–2 in Krasnodar* UEFA Europa Conference League 2021–22 Round of 16 eliminated by Feyenoord 2–5 in Belgrade, 1–3 in Rotterdam
This match was played at Pod Goricom Stadium in Titograd instead of at Partizan's home ground in Belgrade since UEFA barred Partizan again from playing home matches within a 300 km radius of their home ground after more crowd trouble in the previous round's home tie against Groningen. This match was played at Krasnodar instead at Moscow due to poor weather conditions. Biggest win in UEFA competition:
Season Match Score UEFA Champions League 2009–10 Partizan – Rhyl 8–0 1999–00 Partizan – Flora 6–0 1965–66 Partizan – Sparta Prague 5–0 UEFA Europa League 2001–02 Partizan – Santa Coloma 7–1 1988–89 Partizan – Slavia Sofia 5–0 1974–75 Partizan – Portadown 5–0
By competition Fully up to date as of match played 27 August 2026 CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGDWin%European Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueCup Winners' CupUEFA Cup/UEFA Europa LeagueUEFA Europa Conference LeagueInter-Cities Fairs CupTotal
History Yugoslav period: (1955–1991)
1966 European Cup Final starting lineup (coach: Abdulah Gegić), on 11 May 1966
In Yugoslav period, Partizan made great success in European competitions. Certainly the greatest success was achieved in 1965–66 season, when Partizan's babies reached the 1966 European Cup final. During that period, Partizan played in European Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and UEFA Cup.
On 4 September 1955, Partizan participated in the first ever Champions Cup match, in Lisbon against Sporting CP. The final result was 3–3, with Miloš Milutinović becoming the first scorer in a most prestigious club competition in Europe. In return leg, Partizan defeated Sporting 5–2 and reached quarter-finals. Miloš Milutinović scored four goals on that match. In quarter-finals, Partizan played against Real Madrid (who later won the competition). In first match, Real Madrid defeated Partizan 4–0 in front of 105,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In return leg, Partizan won 3–0. Miloš Milutinović with eight goals was top scorer in European Cup.
The 1965–66 European Cup campaign was the crown of this generation's career. After eliminating French Nantes (2–0, 2–2) and German champion Werder Bremen (3–0, 1–0) in the first two rounds, Partizan were drawn against Sparta Prague in the quarter-finals. In the first leg, held in Prague, Partizan suffered a hard 4–1 defeat. Although they were not given any chances in the return leg in Belgrade, Partizan pulled off a convincing 5–0 win in front of 50,000 spectators,Partizan Belgrade – Sparta Prague 5-0 (1966) and with aggregate score 6–4 qualified for the semifinals. The semi-finals would see Partizan taking part in an emotional tie that would bring Manchester United, in their first season back in the European Cup after the Munich air disaster, returning to the scene of their final game, at the JNA Stadium, before embarking on that fateful journey home (on the way home from a European Cup quarter-final victory against Red Star, which was played at JNA Stadium, the aircraft carrying the Manchester United players, officials and journalists crashed while attempting to take off after refuelling in Munich).Manchester United, led by George Best and Bobby Charlton, awaited finally them on the last step to the finals. Partizan won the first leg at JNA Stadium 2–0, and resisted the heavy pressure on Old Trafford, conceding only once; with a 2–1 aggregate scoreline, they eliminated the English giants.Partizan Belgrade – Manchester United 2-0 (1966) Partizan's babies achieved the greatest success in history of Partizan, a place in the 1966 European Cup final against Real Madrid. The final game was played on 11 May at Heysel Stadium, Brussels. Until the 70th minute, Partizan was 1–0 up through a goal by Velibor Vasović, but ultimately lost to the Spaniards 2–1. Partizan may have come close to a famous victory, but they had now missed their chance as the side was immediately broken up with their star players heading west. Still, Partizan became the first club from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to have played in a European Cup final.
Partizan finished the season in Yugoslav League on 11th place and did not play in next season in European competitions. In 1967–68 season, Partizan played first time in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and eliminate Lokomotiv Plovdiv (5–1, 1–1) in first round, but they were stopped in second round by Leeds United (1–2, 1–1). Next season Partizan again not played in European competitions, but in next two season they were played in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and eliminated in first round by Újpest Dózsa by an aggregate score of 2–3 and Dynamo Dresden, with an aggregate score of 0–6.
In 1974–75 season, Partizan played first time in UEFA Cup and reached third round. In first and second round, Partizan beat 5–2 on aggregate Górnik Zabrze and Portadown 6–1. In third round, they were eliminated by 1. FC Köln 2–5 on aggregate.
Partizan finished the 1974–75 in Yugoslav League on 6th place and did not play in next season in European competitions. In 1976–77 season, Partizan after eleven years played in European Cup. The first match after more than one decade, Partizan played in Kiev, versus Soviet Union champion Dynamo Kyiv and lost 0–3. Two weeks later, in Belgrade, Partizan played on Red Star Belgrade stadium, Marakana. The match was played on this stadium because of great interest. Partizan lost 0–2 in front of 70,000 fans.
Partizan also skipped one season in European competitions, because has finished on 4th place in league. In 1978–79 season, Partizan played against champion of East Germany, Dynamo Dresden. Partizan won first match 2–0 at home, but lost in Dresden also 2–0. Dynamo eliminated Partizan after a penalty shootout, 5–4.
Partizan qualified for 1983–84 European Cup, as champion of Yugoslavia. Partizan eliminated Norway champion Viking 5–1 on aggregate (5–1 at home, 0–0 in Stavanger). In second round, Dynamo Berlin eliminate Partizan 1–2 on aggregate (0–2 in Berlin, 1–0 at home).
In next season, Partizan has reached the success like of exactly a decade earlier, third round (round of 16) of UEFA Cup. In the first round, they were eliminated Rabat Ajax 4–0 on aggregate (2–0 on Malta, 2–0 at home). That away victory is first Partizan's victory in European competitions after 21 year. In the second round, Partizan eliminated Queens Park Rangers on away goals rule (6–6 on aggregate). QPR won the first leg 6–2, but Partizan advanced after a 4–0 return victory in Belgrade. A goal which Dragan Mance scored against the English side is considered as one of the most remarkable goals in the history of Partizan. That match was voted 70th among the Top 100 greatest matches in the history of football in a poll organized by Eurosport in September 2009. In the third round, Videoton eliminate Partizan 2–5 on aggregate. Videoton won 5–0 first leg in Székesfehérvár. Partizan won 2–0 in Belgrade, but that's victory was not enough to pass in quarter-finals. Next season, Partizan reached the second round of UEFA Cup, were they eliminated by Nantes 1–5 on aggregate (1–1 at home, 0–4 in Nantes). In first round, Partizan eliminated Portimonense 4–1 on aggregate (0–1 in Portimão, 4–0 at home).
In next two seasons, Partizan is eliminated in first round of UEFA Cup: in 1986–87 by Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–4 on aggregate, and in 1987–88 by Flamurtari 2–3 on aggregate. In 1988–89 season, Partizan eliminated Slavia Sofia 10–0 on aggregate (5–0 at home, 5–0 in Sofia). In the second round, they were stopped by Roma. First leg Partizan won 4–2, but in the second leg, Roma won 2–0 and eliminated Partizan on away goals rule.
As the national cup winners, they qualified for the 1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round, they were eliminated Celtic 6–6 on aggregate, on away goals rule. First match Partizan won 2–1 in Mostar, but lost in 4–5 Glasgow. The return match with Celtic is one of the most famous and most exciting in history of Partizan and Yugoslav football. In the second round they met with Groningen. The first leg Groningen won 4–3, but in Belgrade Partizan won 3–1 and secured place in quarter-finals. Dinamo București eliminate Partizan in quarter-finals 1–4 on aggregate (1–2 in Bucharest 0–2 in Titograd). The return leg was played at Pod Goricom Stadium in Titograd instead of at Partizan's home ground in Belgrade since UEFA barred Partizan again from playing home matches within a 300 km radius of their home ground after more crowd trouble in the previous round's home tie against Groningen.
In 1990–91 season, Partizan reached the third round of UEFA Cup. In the first round, they were eliminated Hibernians 5–0 on aggregate (3–0 on Malta, 2–0 at home). In the second round, Partizan eliminated Real Sociedad after a penalty shoot-out. Real Sociedad won the first leg 1–0 in San Sebastián, but Partizan after a 1–0 return victory in Belgrade and after a penalty shoot-out reached third round. In the third round, Internazionale eliminate Partizan 1–4 on aggregate. Inter won 3–0 first leg in Milan. Partizan drew 1–1 in Belgrade in the return leg.
The 1991–92 season was last season before UEFA ban on clubs from FR Yugoslavia. Partizan was eliminated in the first round by Sporting de Gijón. Sporting won the first leg in Gijón 2–0, but Partizan won two weeks later in Istanbul by the same result. Sporting eliminated Partizan after a penalty shoot-out. The return leg was played in Istanbul because of sanctions.
In Yugoslav period, the biggest Partizan's success was of course 1966 European Cup Final. In UEFA Cup, they reached third round (round of 16) three times and played one in European Cup Winners' Cup (1989–90), where they reached the quarterfinals. In that period, Partizan won 29 of 39 matches at home and only won 4 in away.
Dark decade (1990s) In 1997, Partizan was reintroduced to European competitions following the lift of the UEFA ban on clubs from FR Yugoslavia, but while the national team continued where they had stopped in the spring of 1992, the clubs had all their results erased and were treated as the beginners in the European competitions.