FC Koper

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Koper
FC Koper.png
Full nameFootball Club Koper
Nickname(s)Kanarčki (The Canaries)
Founded1920; 102 years ago (1920)[1]
(as Circolo sportivo Capodistria)
GroundBonifika
Capacity4,047
PresidentAnte Guberac
Head CoachZoran Zeljković
LeagueSlovenian PrvaLiga
2020–21Slovenian PrvaLiga, 9th
WebsiteClub website
Away colours

Football Club Koper, commonly referred to as FC Koper or simply Koper, is a Slovenian football club based in Koper, that plays in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top flight of Slovenian football. The club was founded in 1920.[1] Koper is one of five football clubs in the country that managed to win all three of the domestic trophies (league, cup and supercup).

The club's home ground is Bonifika Stadium, which has a capacity of 4,047 seats.

History[]

The club was formed as Circolo sportivo Capodistria in 1920.[2] The team was made up of students, workers and fishermen. Its colours were black and white.[2] In 1928, the club was renamed as Unione sportiva Capodistriana. Six years later, the club was renamed as Libertas.[2]

After World War II, the club became part of a larger sports association and renamed as Aurora.[2] By 1948, there were five clubs operating in the Koper area: Aurora, Meduza, Partizan, Edilit, and Adria.[2] In 1955, Aurora and Meduza merged, creating NK Koper.[2] The club played under this name in different Yugoslav leagues until 1991 and was one of the most successful Slovenian clubs. After Slovenia's independence, the club played in the Slovenian PrvaLiga. At the beginning of the 1990s, the club was achieving mid-table success. By the end of the 1990s, the club had been relegated to the second division twice, had serious financial problems, and renamed as FC Koper. With the advent of the new millennium, Koper consistently achieved positions in the upper half of the table. In 2002, they competed in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup, their first international competition. Two years of mid-table anonymity and significant financial difficulties followed, in part because the former owner, Georg Suban, left substantial debts to the club and took half of the team with him when he moved to the other Slovenian PrvaLiga team, Mura.[citation needed]

The fans took control of the club and tried to improve its finances to save it from going bankrupt like three other major Slovenian clubs (Olimpija, Mura and Ljubljana), with reasonable success. In the 2005–06 season, Mladen Rudonja returned to the club and brought with him the Serbian-American businessman Milan Mandarić, who paid off all the remaining debts. After the first half of the season, before the arrival of the new patron, Koper was battling against relegation, but in the second part of the season, with a new coach, Milivoj Bračun, the club started an unbeaten run that led them to reach the third place in the Slovenian PrvaLiga and to win the Slovenian Cup for the first time.[3] This also qualified the team to play in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds in the 2006–07 season. The following seasons were more difficult, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation in 2009. In the 2009–10 season, the team was expanded and, under the leadership of veteran player Miran Pavlin, eventually won the Slovenian PrvaLiga championship for the first time,[4] securing a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where they were defeated by Dinamo Zagreb 5–4 on aggregate (1–5, 3–0).[5] In the aftermath, Pavlin left the club.

Following the 2016–17 season, Koper failed to obtain a competition licence and was excluded from the Slovenian top division.[6][7]

Name changes[]

  • 1920: Formed as Circolo sportivo Capodistria
  • 1928: Renamed as Unione sportiva Capodistriana
  • 1946: Renamed as Aurora Koper
  • 1955: Fusion from Aurora Koper and Meduza Koper to NK Koper
  • 1990: Renamed as NK Koper Capodistria
  • 2002: Renamed as FC Koper
  • 2003: Renamed as FC Anet Koper
  • 2008: Renamed as FC Luka Koper
  • 2017: Renamed as FC Koper

Stadium[]

Main article: Bonifika Stadium

Bonifika Stadium is the team's home ground, which is named after the area where it is situated in the town of Koper. The stadium was built in 1948.[8] In 2010 the stadium underwent a major reconstruction[9] and its current capacity is 4,047 seats.[8]

Current squad[]

As of 3 February 2022[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Slovenia SVN Adnan Golubović
3 DF Croatia CRO Karlo Bručić
6 MF Slovenia SVN Luka Vešner Tičić
7 MF Slovenia SVN Ivica Guberac
8 MF Croatia CRO Ivan Balta
9 FW The Gambia GAM Lamin Colley
10 MF Jamaica JAM Kaheem Parris
11 FW Nigeria NGA Bede Osuji
12 GK Slovenia SVN David Adam
13 FW Slovenia SVN Rai Rudonja
17 MF Slovenia SVN Žan Bešir
18 DF Slovenia SVN Matej Palčič
19 MF Slovenia SVN Tom Kerezovič
21 DF Slovenia SVN Žan Žužek
22 MF Slovenia SVN Maks Barišič
23 MF Slovenia SVN Luka Kambič
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF Croatia CRO Stjepan Oštrek (on loan from Nafta)
26 DF Slovenia SVN Aleksander Rajčević
28 DF Slovenia SVN Mitja Viler
29 MF Croatia CRO Nikola Krajinović
30 FW Slovenia SVN Renato Simič
33 DF Croatia CRO Ivan Novoselec (on loan from Varaždin)
38 MF Slovenia SVN Adam Vošnjak
93 GK Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Ermin Karajbić
— DF Slovenia SVN Maj Mittendorfer
— MF Jamaica JAM Cristojaye Daley (on loan from Harbour View)
— MF Croatia CRO Marko Đira (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb)
— MF Portugal POR Diogo Izata (on loan from Gaz Metan Mediaș)
— MF Slovenia SVN Andrej Kotnik
— MF Slovenia SVN Luka Šušnjara
— FW Slovenia SVN Anis Jašaragić

Honours[]

Yugoslavia[]

League

Cup

Slovenia[]

League

Cup

Domestic league and cup results[]

In Yugoslavia[]

  • 1947–48: 4th (STO League)
  • 1948–49: 1st (STO League)
  • 1949–50: 3rd (STO League)
  • 1950–51: 3rd (STO League)
  • 1951–52: 4th (STO League)
  • 1952–53: 1st (STO League)
  • 1953–54: 4th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1954–55: 6th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1955–56: 9th (Ljubljana-Littoral League)
  • 1956–57: 2nd (Littoral League)
  • 1957–58: 1st (Littoral League)
  • 1958–59: 5th (Littoral League)
  • 1959–60: 3rd (Littoral League)
  • 1960–61: 2nd (Koper Subassociation League)
  • 1961–62: 2nd (Koper Subassociation League)
  • 1962–63: 1st (Koper Subassociation League)
  • 1963–64: 1st (Koper Subassociation League)
  • 1964–65: 1st (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1965–66: 12th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1966–67: 1st (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1967–68: 6th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1968–69: 11th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1969–70: 3rd (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1970–71: 1st (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1971–72: 5th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1972–73: 10th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1973–74: 7th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1974–75: 14th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1975–76: 10th (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1976–77: 3rd (Koper Subassociation League)
  • 1977–78: no senior team in league system
  • 1978–79: no senior team in league system
  • 1979–80: 1st (Slovenian Regional League – West)
  • 1980–81: 9th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1981–82: 11th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1982–83: 4th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1983–84: 4th (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1984–85: 1st (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1985–86: 18th (Yugoslav Second League)
  • 1986–87: 2nd (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1987–88: 1st (Slovenian Republic League)
  • 1988–89: 5th[11] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)
  • 1989–90: 14th[12] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)
  • 1990–91: 12th[13] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)

In Slovenia[]

Season League Position Pts Played W D L GF GA Cup
1991–92 1. SNL 8 43 40 15 13 12 38 33 Round of 16
1992–93 1. SNL 8 35 34 11 13 10 41 45 Round of 16
1993–94 1. SNL 7 32 30 11 10 9 43 38 First round
1994–95 1. SNL 11 26 30 9 8 13 24 34 First round
1995–96 2. SNL 6 41 29 11 8 10 33 30 Round of 16
1996–97 1. SNL 10 31 36 8 7 21 28 61 Did not play
1997–98 2. SNL 2 68 30 20 8 2 75 20 First round
1998–99 1. SNL 11 32 33 8 8 17 34 61 Did not play
1999–2000 2. SNL 1 72 30 22 6 2 76 21 Round of 16
2000–01 1. SNL 6 46 33 12 10 11 43 43 Did not play
2001–02 1. SNL 3 56 33 15 11 7 45 26 Round of 16
2002–03 1. SNL 5 45 31 12 9 10 41 41 First round
2003–04 1. SNL 4 50 32 13 11 8 41 32 Round of 16
2004–05 1. SNL 11 36 32 9 9 14 38 41 Round of 16
2005–06 1. SNL 3 57 36 16 9 11 49 39 Winners
2006–07 1. SNL 6 45 36 10 15 11 51 46 Winners
2007–08 1. SNL 2 64 36 18 10 8 68 50 Semi-finals
2008–09 1. SNL 8 42 36 10 12 14 39 47 Runners-up
2009–10 1. SNL 1 73 36 21 10 5 59 35 Round of 16
2010–11 1. SNL 3 60 36 17 9 10 57 43 Semi-finals
2011–12 1. SNL 4 58 36 16 10 10 48 35 Quarter-finals
2012–13 1. SNL 4 55 36 14 13 9 52 42 Quarter-finals
2013–14 1. SNL 2 69 36 21 6 9 52 36 First round
2014–15 1. SNL 8 40 36 12 4 20 35 58 Winners
2015–16 1. SNL 8 40 36 11 7 18 40 54 Quarter-finals
2016–17 1. SNL 6[a] 50 36 12 14 10 43 40 Round of 16
2017–18 Littoral League 1 65 23 21 2 0 118 2 Round of 16
2018–19 3. SNL 1 71 28 23 2 3 111 15 Quarter-finals
2019–20 2. SNL 1[b] 44 20 13 5 2 42 13 Quarter-finals
  1. ^ Relegated to the fourth division after failing to obtain a licence.[14]
  2. ^ The season was not completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the competition winner was not declared.[15]
*Best results are highlighted.

Koper in UEFA competitions[]

Koper goals always listed first.

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg.
2002 Intertoto Cup 1R Sweden Helsingborgs IF 0–0 0–1 0–1
2003 Intertoto Cup 1R Croatia Zagreb 1–0 2–2 3–2
2R Slovakia Dubnica 1–0 2–3 3–3 (a)
3R Greece Egaleo 2–2 3–2 5–4
SF Netherlands Heerenveen 1–0 0–2 1–2
2006–07 UEFA Cup 1Q Bulgaria Litex Lovech 0–1 0–5 0–6
2007–08 UEFA Cup 1Q Bosnia and Herzegovina Široki Brijeg 2–3 1–3 3–6
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Albania Vllaznia 1–2 0–0 1–2
2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2Q Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 3–0 1–5 4–5
2011–12 UEFA Europa League 1Q Kazakhstan Shakhter Karagandy 1–1 1–2 2–3
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q Montenegro Čelik Nikšić 4–0 5–0 9–0
2Q Azerbaijan Neftchi Baku 0–2 2–1 2–3
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q Iceland Víkingur Reykjavík 2–2 1–0 3–2
2Q Croatia Hajduk Split 3–2 1–4 4–6
Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 1R: First round
  • 2R: Second round
  • 3R: Third round
  • SF: Semi-final

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Klubi" [Clubs] (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Zgodovina" [History] (in Slovenian). FC Koper. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Slovenia – List of Cup Finals". rsssf.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Slovenia – List of Champions". rsssf.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Koper–Dinamo Zagreb 2011 History | UEFA Champions League". UEFA. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Licenčna komisija za pritožbe sprejela odločitev o pritožbi FC Koper" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. ^ R. K. (1 June 2017). "Koper dokončno brez licence, v prvi ligi Aluminij in Ankaran" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Stadion" [Stadium] (in Slovenian). FC Koper. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  9. ^ Maver, Rok (28 July 2010). "Prenovljeni stadion bo v obliki črke L" [The renovated stadium will be in the shape of letter L]. Primorske novice (in Slovenian). Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Ekipe – FC Koper" (in Slovenian). FC Koper. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  11. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1988/89)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1989/90)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  13. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1990/91)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  14. ^ Uredništvo (14 July 2017). "Koper poražen na CAS" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Zadeva: Zaključek tekmovanja v 2. Slovenski nogometni ligi v sezoni 2019/2020" (PDF) (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

External links[]

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