Football Club Koper, commonly referred to as FC Koper or simply Koper, is a Slovenian football club based in Koper that competes in the Slovenian First League, the top flight of Slovenian football. The club was founded in 1920.[1] They won the Slovenian First League once, in the 2009–10 season, and the Slovenian Cup four times, most recently in 2021–22.

Koper
Full nameFootball Club Koper
Nickname(s)Kanarčki (The Canaries)
Rumeno-modri (The Yellow and Blues)
Founded1920; 104 years ago (1920)[1]
(as Circolo sportivo Capodistriano)
GroundBonifika
Capacity4,047
PresidentAnte Guberac
Head coachOliver Bogatinov
LeagueSlovenian PrvaLiga
2023–24Slovenian PrvaLiga, 5th of 10
Websitehttps://fckoper.si/

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

History

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The club was formed as Circolo sportivo Capodistriano 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

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  • 1920: Formed as Circolo sportivo Capodistriano
  • 1928: Renamed as Unione sportiva Capodistriana
  • 1946: Renamed as Aurora Koper
  • 1955: Merger of Aurora Koper and Meduza Koper to form NK Koper
  • 1990: Renamed as FC Koper Capodistria
  • 2001: Renamed as Sport Line Koper (sponsorship)
  • 2005: Renamed as FC Anet Koper (sponsorship)[8]
  • 2008: Renamed as FC Luka Koper (sponsorship)[9]
  • 2017: Renamed as FC Koper

Stadium

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Bonifika Stadium

Bonifika Stadium is the team's home ground, named after the area where it is situated in the town of Koper. The stadium was built in 1948.[10] In 2010, the stadium underwent extensive reconstruction[11] and its current capacity is 4,047 seats.[10]

Current squad

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As of 17 October 2024[12]

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   SVN Jan Koprivec
2 DF   LBR Mark Pabai
3 DF   BRA Felipe Curcio
5 MF   FRA Ilan Bacha
6 MF   GHA Abdul Samed Mukadas
9 FW   AUS Tomi Jurić
10 MF   FRA Omar El Manssouri
11 FW   AUS Deni Jurić
15 DF   SVN Maj Mittendorfer
16 MF   NGA Emmanuel Adinnu
17 MF   CRO Petar Petriško
18 MF   SVN Aljaž Zalaznik
20 FW   NGA Wisdom Sule
21 MF   SVN Nik Omladič
22 MF   SVN Denis Popović
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF   SVN Sandro Jovanović
24 MF   CRO Dominik Simčić (on loan from Rijeka)
26 MF   CRO Gabriel Groznica
28 DF   SVN Dominik Ivkič
29 MF   CRO Nikola Krajinović
30 FW   CRO Nikola Burić
31 GK   SVN Metod Jurhar
32 DF   SRB Veljko Mijailović
33 MF   CRO Fran Tomek
35 MF   CRO Di Mateo Lovrić
39 MF   SVN Damjan Bohar
45 FW   FRA Isaac Matondo
48 DF   FRA Ahmed Sidibé
73 GK   SVN Luka Baš

Honours

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Yugoslavia

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League

Cup

Slovenia

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League

Cup

Domestic league and cup results

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In Yugoslavia

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  • 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[13] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)
  • 1989–90: 14th[14] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)
  • 1990–91: 12th[15] (Yugoslav Inter-Republic League)

In Slovenia

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Season League Position Pts P 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 qualify
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 qualify
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 qualify
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[a] 1. SNL 6↓ 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[b] 2. SNL 1↑ 44 20 13 5 2 42 13 Quarter-finals
2020–21 1. SNL 9 42 36 11 9 16 41 56 Semi-finals
2021–22 1. SNL 2 67 36 19 10 7 54 38 Winners
2022–23 1. SNL 6 50 36 14 8 14 46 40 Quarter-finals
2023–24 1. SNL 5 48 36 12 12 12 51 49 Quarter-finals
  1. ^ Relegated to the fourth division after failing to obtain a licence.[16]
  2. ^ The season was not completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the competition winner was not declared.[17]
Key
Winners Runners-up Promoted Relegated

Koper in UEFA competitions

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All results (home and away) list Koper's goal tally first.

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg.
2002 Intertoto Cup 1R   Helsingborgs IF 0–0 0–1 0–1
2003 Intertoto Cup 1R   Zagreb 1–0 2–2 3–2
2R   Dubnica 1–0 2–3 3–3 (a)
3R   Egaleo 2–2 3–2 5–4
SF   Heerenveen 1–0 0–2 1–2
2006–07 UEFA Cup 1Q   Litex Lovech 0–1 0–5 0–6
2007–08 UEFA Cup 1Q   Široki Brijeg 2–3 1–3 3–6
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q   Vllaznia 1–2 0–0 1–2
2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Dinamo Zagreb 3–0 1–5 4–5
2011–12 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Shakhter Karagandy 1–1 1–2 2–3
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Čelik Nikšić 4–0 5–0 9–0
2Q   Neftchi Baku 0–2 2–1 2–3
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Víkingur Reykjavík 2–2 1–0 3–2
2Q   Hajduk Split 3–2 1–4 4–6
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q   Vaduz 0–1 1–1 (a.e.t.) 1–2
Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 1R: First round
  • 2R: Second round
  • 3R: Third round
  • SF: Semi-final

References

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  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. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Slovenia – List of Champions". RSSSF. 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. ^ "Koprski nogometaši dobili novega pokrovitelja". sta.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 28 July 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ "FC Koper odslej FC Luka Koper". sta.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Stadion" [Stadium] (in Slovenian). FC Koper. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Ekipe – FC Koper" (in Slovenian). FC Koper. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  13. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1988/89)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  14. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1989/90)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  15. ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1990/91)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  16. ^ Uredništvo (14 July 2017). "Koper poražen na CAS" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  17. ^ "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.
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  NODES
Association 9
INTERN 1
Note 3