The following is a history of Serbian football club Partizan Belgrade.
Club history Formation (1945)
Partizan was founded on 4 October 1945 in Belgrade, as a football section of the Central House of the Yugoslav Army "Partizan", and was named in honour of the Partisans, the communist military formation who fought against fascism during World War II in Yugoslavia. The club was formed and initially managed by the group of young high officers of the Yugoslav People's Army. Among them were Svetozar Vukmanović, Koča Popović and Ratko Vujović.
In an interview marking the 50th anniversary of the club, Koča Popović stated, "Most of us, young generals who played and loved football, we gathered and agreed to start a football club. We did not argue over what the name would be. We were Partisans, it was most natural to call our club Partizan."
Two days after its establishment, Partizan made its first step on the football scene, with the friendly match against selection of Zemun that ended 4–2. Florijan Matekalo entered the record books as the first goal scorer in the history of Partizan, while Franjo Glazer was the first manager. Just three weeks later, Partizan went on the first of many international tours, travelling to Czechoslovakia where they beat the selection of Slovak Army with 3–1. At the time, just months after the World War II in Yugoslavia ended, no organized football competition was yet restored, so Partizan played only friendly games and tournaments both home and abroad. The club's first European engagement was a meeting against another army side, CSKA Moscow from what was then Soviet Union, in 1945.
Early years (1946–1958)
Finally, in late August, 1946, the new Yugoslav league started, so Partizan played its first official match, beating Pobeda Skoplje with 1–0. Since the club had the highest ambitions from the very beginning, it attracted some of the best players from all over the country: Stjepan Bobek, Miroslav Brozović, Zlatko Čajkovski, Kiril Simonovski, Bela Palfi, Franjo Rupnik, Prvoslav Mihajlović, Aleksandar Atanacković, Miodrag Jovanović, Vladimir Firm, Ratko Čolić and Franjo Šoštarić. Prominent football expert Illés Spitz became the manager, and spent next 14 years on various positions in the club. His implementation of top European training methods and playing tactics, combined with technically gifted squad, proved essential in winning the first championship in debut season, along with the first cup title, thus the first Double winner in the country. The second championship title was won in 1948–49 season. Partizan played its home games on the old BSK stadium until 1949, when its own stadium was built on the same site and named JNA Stadium (Stadium of Yugoslav People's Army). In 1950, the club evolved from a football section of the Army into independent club under the umbrella organization JSD Partizan (Yugoslav Sports Association Partizan). The first club's president became Ratko Vujović. In 1953, the remaining formal connections between the club and the Army ceased. Although during the 1950s Partizan had a very strong squad, led by national team players like Bobek, Čajkovski, Miloš Milutinović, Marko Valok, Bruno Belin, Tomislav Kaloperović and Branko Zebec, the club had a long break without winning a championship, only winning cup titles in 1952, 1954 and 1957. Despite the absence of domestic titles, Partizan's great performances on high quality tournaments throughout Europe gained them significant continental reputation. On 4 September 1955, Partizan participated in the first ever European Cup match, in Lisbon against Sporting. The final result was 3–3, with Milutinović becoming the first scorer in a most prestigious club competition in Europe.
Partizan's babies - the first European final (1958–1966)
1966 European Cup Final starting lineup (coach: Abdulah Gegić) By the mid-1950s, the first big Partizan generation was well over its peak. Only two titles and four cups in first 15 years of existence were not enough for a club of Partizan's stature, ambition and popularity. In 1958, club left way behind 13 years of playing in blue-red kits and adopted the now famous black and white colors. The change in a club's image and appearance was followed by radical changes in the playing squad. The number of young players, offsprings of Partizan's own youth ranks known as Partizanove bebe (The Partizan's babies), soon emerged into one of the best generations Europe's ever seen. The rise of the generation began with Milutin Šoškić, Fahrudin Jusufi, Jovan Miladinović, Velibor Vasović, Milan Galić, Ilija Mitić, Zvezdan Čebinac and Vladica Kovačević. Very soon, they were joined by Lazar Radović, Velimir Sombolac, Ljubomir Mihajlović and Mustafa Hasanagić, and finally Ivan Ćurković, Josip Pirmajer, Branko Rašović and Radoslav Bečejac. Managers Spitz, Matekalo and Bobek monitored and guided their development. The decision to rely mostly on talented youngsters scouted throughout the country quickly gave results – Partizan took three consecutive championship titles, in 1961, 1962 and 1963, the first title hat-trick in the Yugoslav First League. Efficient and attractive performances earned the club its popular nickname Parni valjak (The Steamroller). In 1964–65 season, the team added the fourth title in five years (interrupted by city rival Red Star during the 1963–64 season). As early as the 60s, a fierce and intense rivalry grew up between Partizan and Red Star.
The 1965–66 European Cup campaign was the crown of this generation's career. After eliminating French FC 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 quarterfinals. 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 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 in a first leg on JNA Stadium with 2–0, and resisted the heavy pressure on Old Trafford, conceding only once, so with 2–1 on aggregate they eliminated English giants.Partizan Belgrade - Manchester United 2-0 (1966) Partizan's babies achieved the greatest success in history of Partizan, a place in 1966 European Cup final against the famous Real Madrid. The final game was played on 11 May, at Heysel Stadium, Brussels. Until 70th minute Partizan was 1–0 up (goal by Velibor Vasović), but lost to the Spaniards 2–1 at the end. 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.
Crisis (1966–1976)
The sudden increase in the reputation of Partizan team was not followed by increase in the organizational structure. After the defeat in the finals, club administration failed to operate on a higher level, and Partizan entered a long organizational crisis. All main players signed contracts with biggest western clubs, and the promising generation was scattered. Milutin Šoškić went to 1. FC Köln, Milan Galić to Standard Liège, Vladica Kovačević to FC Nantes, Fahrudin Jusufi to Eintracht Frankfurt and Velibor Vasović, who had scored in the final, was transferred to Ajax Amsterdam where he would come to feature again in the story of the European Cup. This was a period of mediocre results, and for a decade not a single trophy was won. Few players remained from the previous generation – Milan Damjanović, Blagoje Paunović and Borivoje Đorđević. In a short period of time, numerous managers were in position. The arrival of the talented young players Momčilo Vukotić, who came through Partizan's youth ranks, and Nenad Bjeković from Proleter Zrenjanin, announced better days for the Black & Whites.
The brief return - the first European trophy (1976–1982) On 11 July 1976, in Ljubljana, Partizan played the last game of the season against Olimpija and needed a win to clinch the title ahead of rivals Hajduk Split. In the last second before the final whistle Bjeković scored the winning goal and Partizan won 0–1. The 7th championship trophy was finally won, after full decade of waiting, by the new generation of players, such as Momčilo Vukotić, Nenad Bjeković, Rešad Kunovac, Ilija Zavišić, Refik Kozić, Ivan Golac, Radmilo Ivančević, Boško Đorđević, Nenad Stojković. Partizan won its 8th title in 1977–78 season, enforced with Nikica Klinčarski, Petar Borota, Slobodan Santrač, Aco Trifunović, Dževad Prekazi, Pavle Grubješić. The same year Partizan won its first European trophy, the Mitropa Cup. The Black & Whites finished first in Group A, ahead of Perugia and Zbrojovka Brno and defeated Hungarian side Honvéd in the finals by 1–0. The manager was Ante Mladinić. Unexpectedly, the next 1978–79 season turned out to be the worst in Partizan history. They finished 15th in the league, barely avoiding relegation with a 4–2 victory against Budućnost in the last fixture. The new crisis was serious, which reflected in the results next season, when Partizan finished 13th. It took a two more seasons, but Partizan eventually recovered.
Memorable years (1982–1991)
When Momčilo Vukotić, Nenad Stojković, Nikica Klinčarski were joined by Ljubomir Radanović, Zvonko Živković, Zoran Dimitrijević and Dragan Mance, another great generation was formed. Partizan became champion for 1982/83 season, in large part due to extraordinary performances of young Dragan Mance. He helped Partizan win the league by scoring 15 goals, and immediately became a fan favourite. He also led the club in their 1984–85 UEFA Cup second round tie against Queens Park Rangers, one of the most memorable matches in the club's history. QPR won the first leg 6–2, but Partizan advanced after a 4–0 return victory. A goal which Mance scored against the English side is considered as one of the most remarkable goals in the history of Partizan. That match was voted on the 70th position among Top 100 greatest matches in the history of football, in a poll organized by Eurosport in September 2009. On 3 September 1985, the players tragically lost their teammate and the fans lost their idol – Mance died in a car crash on Novi Sad-Belgrade highway. He was only 22 years old, and at the peak of his popularity. Even today, Dragan Mance is considered to be the greatest club legend by the fans of Partizan. In his honour, the street next to the club's stadium in Belgrade carries his name since 2011.