FK Zeta is a professional football club from Golubovci, a suburb of Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. It plays in the Montenegrin Second League. The club was the inaugural champion of the Montenegrin First League in 2006–07 season.

Zeta
Full nameFudbalski klub Zeta
Nickname(s)Vukovi (The Wolves)
Short nameZET
Founded1927; 97 years ago (1927)
GroundStadion Trešnjica
Capacity4,000
ChairmanRajko Ivanović
ManagerDragoljub Đuretić
LeagueMontenegrin Second League
2023–24Montenegrin Third League, 1st (promoted)
Websitefkzeta.net

History

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Period 1927-1997

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The club was formed in 1927 under the name FK Danica. During the first decades, they played only non-league matches. From 194g, the club played under the name FK Napredak, and since 1955, the team is playing under the name FK Zeta.[1]

Until the start of the 1970s, FK Zeta played at lowest-rank competitions. First significant success, team from Golubovci made at season 1971–72 with promotion to Montenegrin Republic League.[2] In that, third-level competition in SFR Yugoslavia, FK Zeta spent most of their seasons in following two decades, with greatest result as a second-places team at the end of seasons 1974–75, 1975–76, 1982–83 and 1983–84, but without success to gain a promotion to Yugoslav Second League. At season 1982–83, championship derby FK Berane – FK Zeta attended 10,000 spectators, which was a record attendance in Montenegrin Republic League until the 1999 game FK JezeroFK Gusinje.

Until the middle of the 1990s, except in Republic League, FK Zeta also played few seasons in Fourth League – Center.

Period 1997-2006

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Successful era in FK Zeta history started at season 1997–98. The team won their first champion title in Montenegrin Republic League and secured first promotion to Yugoslav Second League. On their debut in Second League, FK Zeta won fourth place, but historical success come one season later (1999–2000). After hard struggle with Mladost Lučani, team from Golubovci won the title and gained promotion to First Yugoslav League.

Historical first game in the First League, Zeta played at 12 August 2000 against Milicionar (4:0) in Golubovci. That game at Trešnica stadium was attended by 5,000 supporters. FK Zeta spent six consecutive seasons in Yugoslav First League, often placed at the upper-half of championship table. With FK Zeta promotion to First League, new local rivalry was born – against Budućnost from neighbouring Podgorica.

Zeta made many successful results in the First League, and among them were often victories against two strongest sides – Partizan and Red Star. Except that, FK Zeta became the strongest Montenegrin team in First League at most of the seasons in period 2000–2006.

Highest final placement in top-division of Serbia and Montenegro, Zeta made on season 2004–05. They finished third and qualified for first performance in European competitions.[3] On debut, Zeta was defeated at 2005–06 UEFA Cup second leg, against Bosnian side Široki Brijeg.[4]

Additionally, at the same time, Zeta started producing notable young talent like Miloš Marić who transferred to Greek club Olympiacos in the summer of 2004, as well as brothers Bojan and Nenad Brnović, and Branimir Petrović who were all signed by Partizan, and more recently Milanko Rašković and Nikola Trajković who transferred to Red Star Belgrade.

Period 2006-present

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Following Montenegrin independence, FK Zeta participated in the first Montenegrin First League season (2006–07) and became the league's first winners. The following season saw Montenegrin clubs allocated separate European qualifying berths - Zeta thus became the first Montenegrin club to participate in qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Zeta never reclaimed the Montenegrin First League since their 2006–07 triumph; participation in European competition since then was achieved on several occasions through top 4 league finishes.

The 2012–13 season saw Zeta make history by becoming the first Montenegrin club to navigate two rounds of European qualifying in one season; they also navigated past the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League by beating FK Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina, before losing in the play-off round to PSV Eindhoven. This remains the best performance by a Montenegrin club in a European competition.

First League Record

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For the first time, FK Zeta played in Yugoslav First League on season 2000–01. Below is a list of FK Zeta scores in First League by every single season.

Season Pos G W D L GF GA
2000–01 13 34 11 9 14 38 50
2001–02 5 34 15 7 12 48 50
2002–03 8 34 15 6 13 51 43
2003–04 11 30 10 6 14 38 41
2004–05 3 30 18 5 7 52 30
2005–06 5 30 14 5 11 42 36
2006–07 1 33 25 4 4 65 18
2007–08 2 33 19 9 5 56 28
2008–09 9 33 13 7 13 36 41
2009–10 4 33 17 6 10 43 33
2010–11 4 33 12 3 8 36 29
2011–12 3 33 17 9 7 55 40
2012–13 8 33 8 13 12 43 45
2013–14 8 33 12 4 17 39 57
2014–15 9 33 11 7 15 48 44
2015–16 8 33 10 8 15 37 42
2016–17 2 33 19 6 8 38 17
2017–18 6 36 12 13 11 40 35
2018–19 3 36 16 13 7 36 21
2019–20 4 31 9 14 8 29 30
2020–21 6 36 13 7 16 34 41
2021–22 10 36 8 10 18 36 52

Seasons with green background were played in the first league of Yugoslavia or Serbia and Montenegro, together with Serbian clubs.

FK Zeta in European competitions

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For the first time, FK Zeta played in European competitions on season 2005–06. Until now, they played ten seasons in European cups, their most successful campaign being in 2012–13, when Zeta reached the play-off round of Europa League.

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2005–06 UEFA Cup 2QR   Široki Brijeg 0–1 1–4 1–5
2006–07 Intertoto Cup 2QR   Maribor 1–2 0–2 1–4
2007–08 UEFA Champions League 1QR   FBK Kaunas 3–1 2–3 5–4
2QR   Rangers 0–1 0–2 0–3
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1QR   Interblock Ljubljana 1–1 0–1 1–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 1QR   Dacia Chişinău 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2011–12 UEFA Europa League 1QR   Spartak Trnava 2–1 0–3 2–4
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1QR   Pyunik 1–2 3–0 4–2
2QR   JJK Jyväskylä 1–0 2–3 3–3 (a)
3QR   FK Sarajevo 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
PO   PSV Eindhoven 0–5 0–9 0–14
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1QR   Željezničar Sarajevo 2–2 0–1 2–3
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1QR   Fehérvár 1–5 0–0 1–5
2020–21 UEFA Europa League PR   Engordany 3–1
1QR   Progrès Niederkorn 0–3

Honours and achievements

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Players

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Current squad

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As of 16 April 2022[5]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 MF   JPN Yu Horike
3 DF   MNE Ognjen Đinović
4 DF   MNE Stefan Radović
5 DF   MNE Zvonko Ceklić
6 MF   MNE Srđan Krstović (captain)
7 MF   JPN Shiden Nakazawa
8 DF   MNE Djordjije Vukčević
9 FW   MNE Balša Radusinović
10 MF   JPN Ryo Tachibana
11 MF   MNE Balša Goranović
12 GK   MNE Aleksandar Karadzic
15 MF   MNE Simo Popović
17 DF   MNE Stefan Krstović
18 MF   MNE Vojislav Šišević
19 DF   MNE Janko Simović
20 FW   MNE Igor Kukulicic
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 FW   MNE Alden Škrijelj
23 DF   MNE Amel Tuzović
25 MF   MNE Jovan Đukić
26 DF   MNE Andrej Pupovic
28 MF   JPN Masato Shimokawa
30 DF   MNE Nemanja Djurovic
32 GK   SRB Rajko Boljević
36 MF   MNE Đorđe Tripunović
39 DF   MNE Vaso Peličić
70 MF   MNE Nikola Matanović
90 FW   MNE Balša Rogošić
GK   MNE Vidoje Popovic
MF   MNE Danijel Bečić
FW   MNE Vasilije Klikovac
FW   MNE Mijat Lambulic

Notable players

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For the list of former and current players with Wikipedia article, please see Category:FK Zeta players.
Below is the list of FK Zeta players which made international careers or played for national teams of their countries.

Historical list of coaches

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Stadium

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FK Zeta home ground is Stadion Trešnjica, built during the 1996. Until now, stadium is renovated several times (last time 2016)[12] and near the main ground is built another pitch with artificial turf.
FK Zeta is playing First League games at Trešnjica stadium from 2000. Biggest crowd on games was 5,000 in numerous occasions, especially during the matches against Budućnost and, earlier, against Partizan and Red Star Belgrade.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FK Zeta » History Club". fkzeta.net. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. ^ 'Crnogorski klubovi u fudbalskim takmičenjima 1946-2016', Podgorica, 2016.
  3. ^ "Serbia and Montenegro 2004/05". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2005/06 - History - Zeta – UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  5. ^ Roster Archived 1 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine – FCSG
  6. ^ Miodrag Martać novi trener Zete Archived 7 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine – Vijesti (in Montenegrin)
  7. ^ Došao sam zbog Evrope Archived 8 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CDM (in Montenegrin)
  8. ^ Zeta dobila novog trenera Archived 8 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CDM (in Montenegrin)
  9. ^ Vlaisavljević trener Zete Archived 8 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CDM (in Montenegrin)
  10. ^ Preokret na Trešnjici, Đuretić ostao na klupi Zete Archived 8 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CDM (in Montenegrin)
  11. ^ Zeta dobila novog trenera Archived 2 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CDM (in Montenegrin)
  12. ^ "Prvoligaš rekonstruiše stadion – CdM". cdm.me. 25 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
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