Bosnia and Herzegovina football clubs in European competitions explained

Clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina have played in European competitions since the 1967–68 season, when Yugoslav champions Sarajevo took part in the European Cup. They defeated Cypriot team Olympiakos Nicosia in the first round and then lost to Manchester United in the second round.

Beside FK Sarajevo, four more teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina played in European competitions during country being part of Yugoslavia with FK Željezničar Sarajevo being the best of them, reaching 1984–85 UEFA Cup semi-finals where they lost to Hungarian side Videoton 4–3 on aggregate. In the post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, ten more clubs played in European competitions with none making the group stages.

Qualification to European competitions

Four teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify to European competitions.

Premier League champions qualify to UEFA Champions League, while three other teams (one being the national Cup winner) qualify to UEFA Europa League. Champions League teams start in the second qualifying round while teams in Europa League start in first or second qualifying round. As of 2018–19, no teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina played in group stage of both European competitions.

UEFA country coefficient

At the end of the 2021–22 season, Bosnia and Herzegovina was placed 35th. The list below shows coefficients of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its predecessor and successor and countries from former Yugoslavia.

RankMember association2017–182018–192019–202020–212021–22Coeff.
11Ex-Yu6.3756.0006.0005.5009.50033.375
19Ex-Yu5.1255.7504.3755.9006.00027.150
31Ex-Yu4.6253.1252.0002.5003.00015.000
342.3752.6251.6251.6251.75010.000
351.3752.0001.5002.6251.6259.125
361.2500.8751.6251.3753.7508.875
39Ex-Yu0.0002.5001.5001.8332.3338.166
48Ex-Yu1.2503.1251.0000.5001.7507.625
53Ex-Yu0.8751.1250.3751.0001.6255.000

Ranking records

Pre-war period

Total of five teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina played in three major European competitions - then Champions Cup, then Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup and abolished Cup Winners Cup.

European Cup

Two teams took part in premier European competition. Sarajevo was the only team to win and qualify to next round - it was in their debut season that ended in second round against Manchester United. Next and their last participation was disastrous loss to Finnish champion Kuusysi Lahti. Sarajevo's fierce city rival, Željezničar lost to English team Derby County in their only participation in this competition.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Sarajevo 2 1 6 1 2 3 8 9
FK Željezničar Sarajevo 1 0 2 0 0 2 1 4
TOTAL 3 1 8 1 2 5 9 13

Cup Winners' Cup

This competition, abolished in 1999, saw two teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina taking part. Both Velež Mostar and Borac Banja Luka appeared on two occasions.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Velež Mostar 2 2 8 3 4 1 18 13
FK Borac Banja Luka 2 1 6 4 0 2 17 8
TOTAL 4 3 14 7 4 3 35 21

Inter-cities Fairs Cup

Željezničar was the only club from Bosnia and Herzegovina to appear in this competition. It was in its last season (1970–71) before competition got sanctioned by UEFA and changed name to UEFA Cup. Željezničar lost in first round against Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht.

TOTAL 1 0 2 0 0 2 2 7

UEFA Cup

In 1971–72 season UEFA Cup was introduced. Teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina played much more games in Europe than before, and most notable campaign was Željezničar's run to semifinal in 1984–85 season. They lost to Hungarian side Videoton. Velež played in four seasons, Sarajevo and Željezničar in two and Sloboda Tuzla in one season.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Velež Mostar 4 6 20 9 5 6 30 28
FK Željezničar Sarajevo 2 7 18 8 4 6 33 23
FK Sarajevo 2 2 8 3 3 2 21 21
FK Sloboda Tuzla 1 0 2 1 0 1 4 8
TOTAL 9 15 48 21 13 14 88 80

Statistics

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Velež Mostar 6 8 28 12 9 7 48 41
FK Željezničar 5 7 22 8 4 10 41 36
FK Sarajevo 4 3 14 4 5 5 29 30
FK Borac Banja Luka 2 1 6 4 0 2 17 8
FK Sloboda Tuzla 1 0 2 1 0 1 4 8
TOTAL 18 19 72 29 18 25 139 123

Records

Biggest win
1975-76 Cup Winners' Cup
Borac Banja Luka - Rumelange 9-0

Biggest aggregate win
1975-76 Cup Winners' Cup
Borac Banja Luka - Rumelange 14-1 (9-0 H, 5-1 A)

Biggest loss
1982-83 UEFA Cup
Anderlecht - Sarajevo 6-1

Biggest aggregate loss
1982-83 UEFA Cup
Sarajevo - Anderlecht 2-6 (1-6 A, 1-0 H)

Furthest in a competition
1984-85 UEFA Cup
Željezničar Sarajevo in semifinal

Post-war period

After break up of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, like other new countries, started its own football league. But, inclusion in UEFA competitions came in 1999, when Jedinstvo Bihać took part in (now abolished) UEFA Intertoto Cup. First Champions League appearance came in 2000, when Brotnjo Čitluk took part after winning Bosniak-Croatian playoff. Two years earlier two teams from Sarajevo played in UEFA Cup, while there were no teams in European competitions in 1999–00 season.

Champions League

Eight teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina played in Champions League since 2000–01 season. No teams managed to qualify to group stage, while two teams managed to qualify to last qualifying round where they suffered heavy defeats.

In 2002–03 season Željezničar defeated Icelandic and Norwegian champions and faced English side Newcastle in third qualifying round. Guests won 0–1 in Sarajevo while in England Newcastle won 4–0. In 2007–08 season Sarajevo, after trashing Maltese champion, shocked Belgian vice-champion Genk and earned third qualifying round match against Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv. Ukrainians won in both games.

Other teams that played in Champions League were Brotnjo (once), Zrinjski Mostar and Široki Brijeg twice, Borac Banja Luka, Modriča and Leotar Trebinje once.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Željezničar Sarajevo 5 2 14 4 1 9 12 27
NK Široki Brijeg 2 1 6 3 1 2 4 5
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar 3 0 6 2 1 3 2 10
FK Sarajevo1 2 6 3 0 3 11 7
FK Modriča 1 1 4 2 0 2 5 8
FK Leotar Trebinje 1 1 4 1 1 2 3 4
HNK Brotnjo Čitluk 1 0 2 1 0 1 3 4
FK Borac Banja Luka 1 0 2 1 0 1 4 7
TOTAL 15 7 43 17 4 22 44 70

UEFA Cup / Europa League

Just like in Champions League, no teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina reached group stage. Best results were qualification to first round, which was achieved twice from both Sarajevo clubs and Široki Brijeg. No other team played in Europe in September or later. Sarajevo came closest to group stage qualification, losing to Romanian side Cluj in play-off round (fourth qualifying round) in 2009–10 season.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Sarajevo 11 8 36 11 8 17 41 51
NK Široki Brijeg 10 9 38 14 5 19 48 61
FK Željezničar Sarajevo 7 4 22 6 8 8 22 29
HŠK Zrinjski 4 5 18 8 3 7 33 31
FK Borac Banja Luka 2 0 4 0 3 1 4 5
FK Modriča 1 1 4 2 0 2 4 8
FK Slavija Istočno Sarajevo 1 1 4 1 1 2 4 6
HNK Brotnjo Čitluk 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 2
NK Žepče 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 4
FK Budućnost Banovići 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 4
HNK Orašje 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 7
TOTAL 40 27 131 41 29 61 151 201

UEFA Intertoto Cup

In third level European competition, active from 1995 to 2008, six teams represented Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1999, Jedinstvo Bihać was the first team from post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina to play in European competition, first team to win and first team to progress to next round of competition. No team progressed further than second round, meaning no team played more than four games in a single season.

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
FK Sloboda Tuzla 2 2 8 2 2 4 7 12
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar 2 1 6 2 2 2 8 7
NK Čelik Zenica 1 1 4 3 0 1 7 5
FK Slavija Istočno Sarajevo 1 1 4 2 1 1 6 7
NK Jedinstvo Bihać 1 1 4 1 0 3 5 6
HNK Brotnjo Čitluk 1 0 2 1 0 1 2 8
TOTAL 8 6 28 11 5 12 35 45

Statistics

Team Participations Round winsGames Wins Draws Losses Goals for Goals against
NK Široki Brijeg 12 10 43 17 6 20 52 62
FK Sarajevo 12 9 41 13 8 20 4957
FK Željezničar Sarajevo 12 6 35 10 8 17 30 54
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar 8 6 28 12 5 11 43 46
HNK Brotnjo Čitluk 3 0 6 2 1 3 6 14
FK Borac Banja Luka 3 0 6 1 3 2 8 12
FK Modriča 2 2 8 4 0 4 9 16
FK Sloboda Tuzla 2 2 8 2 2 4 7 12
FK Slavija Istočno Sarajevo 2 2 8 3 2 3 10 13
NK Čelik Zenica 1 1 4 3 0 1 7 5
FK Leotar Trebinje 1 1 4 1 1 2 3 4
NK Jedinstvo Bihać 1 1 4 1 0 3 5 6
NK Žepče 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 4
FK Budućnost Banovići 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 4
HNK Orašje 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 7
TOTAL 60 38 197 66 36 95 221 319

Records

Biggest win
2010–11 UEFA Europa League
Tre Penne - Zrinjski Mostar 2-9

Biggest aggregate win
2010–11 UEFA Europa League
Zrinjski Mostar - Tre Penne 13-3 (9-2 A, 4-1 H)

Biggest loss
2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Sarajevo - Atalanta 0-8

Biggest aggregate loss
2007–08 UEFA CUP
Zrinjski Mostar - Partizan 1-11 (1-6 H, 0-5 A) (match declared void due to Serbian fans' riots, Zrinjski progressed to the next round.)

Results by competition

European Cup/Champions League

SFR Yugoslavia era (1955–1992)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
1967–68SarajevoR1 Olympiakos Nicosia3–12–25–3
R2 Manchester United0–01–21–2
ŽeljezničarR1 Derby County1–20–21–4
1985–86R1 1–2 1–2 2–4

Bosnia and Herzegovina era (1992–present)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
2000–01QR13–00–43–4
2001–02ŽeljezničarQR10–0 0–4 0–4
2002–03ŽeljezničarQR13–01–04–0
QR21–0 1–0 2–0
QR3 Newcastle United0–10–40–5
LeotarQR12–00–02–0
QR21–20–21–4
2004–05Široki BrijegQR1 Neftchi Baku2–10–12–2 (a)
2005–06Zrinjski MostarQR10–4 (aet)1–0 1–4
2006–07Široki BrijegQR11–01–02–0
QR20–00–30–3
2007–08QR1 Marsaxlokk3–16–09–1
QR2 Genk0–12–12–2 (a)
QR3 Dynamo Kyiv0–10–30–4
2008–09ModričaQR12–12–04–1
QR2 Aalborg1–20–51–7
2009–10Zrinjski MostarQR21–00–41–4
2010–11ŽeljezničarQR2 Hapoel Tel Aviv0–10–50–6
Borac Banja LukaQR23–21–54–7
2012–13ŽeljezničarQR21–21–42–6
2013–14ŽeljezničarQR21–23–44–6
2014–15Zrinjski MostarQR20–00–20–2
2015–16SarajevoQR2 Lech Poznań0–20–10–3
2016–17Zrinjski MostarQR2 Legia Warsaw1–10–21–3
2017–18Zrinjski MostarQR21–21–12–3
2018–19Zrinjski MostarQR1 Spartak Trnava1–10–11–2
2019–20SarajevoQR1 Celtic1–31–22–5
2020–21SarajevoQR1 Connah's Quay Nomads2–0
QR2 Dynamo Brest1–2
Borac Banja LukaQR1 Cluj2–1 (aet)1–33–4
2022–23Zrinjski MostarQR1 Sheriff Tiraspol0–00–10–1
2023–24Zrinjski MostarQR1 Urartu2–3 (aet)1–03–3
QR2 Slovan Bratislava0–12–22–3
Borac Banja LukaQR1 Egnatia1–01–2 (aet)2–2 (4–1 p)
QR2 PAOK2–30–12–4

UEFA Cup/Europa League

SFR Yugoslavia era (1971–1992)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
ŽeljezničarR1 3–0 1–3 4–3
R21–12–23–3 (a)
R35–10–15–2
QF1–22–13–3 (4–5 p)
1973–74Velež MostarR1 Tatran Prešov1–12–43–5
1974–75Velež MostarR1 2–01–33–3 (a)
R21–01–13–1
R3 Derby County4–11–35–4
QF1–00–21–2
1977–78Sloboda TuzlaR1 Las Palmas4–30–54–8
1980–81R13–3 2–4 5–7
R14–2 2–26–4
R2 Corvinul Hunedoara4–04-48-4
R31–01–62–6
1984–85ŽeljezničarR1 5–10–15–2
R22–11-13-2
R34–0 0–2 4–2
QF2–0 1–13–1
SF2–1 1–3 3–4
1987–88Velež MostarR1 5–0 0–35–3
R2 Borussia Dortmund2–1 0–2 2–3
1988–89Velež MostarR1 1–0 5–2 6–2
R20–0 0–00–0 (4–3 p)
R32–1 0–3 2–4

Bosnia and Herzegovina era (1992–present)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
1998–99SarajevoQR1 Germinal Ekeren0–01–41–4
ŽeljezničarQR11–10–11–2
2000–01Budućnost BanovićiQR0–10–30–4
ŽeljezničarQR0–01–31–3
2001–02BrotnjoQR1–10–11–2
SarajevoQR Marítimo0–10–10–2
2002–03SarajevoQR Sigma Olomouc2–11–23–3 (5–3 p)
R1 Beşiktaş0–52–22–7
Široki BrijegQR3–0 2–15–1
R10–10–30–4
ŽeljezničarR10–00–10–1
2003–04SarajevoQR Sartid1–1 0–31–4
ŽeljezničarQR Anorthosis Famagusta1–03–14–1
R1 Heart of Midlothian0–00–20–2
2004–05ModričaQR1 3–01–04–0
QR2 Levski Sofia0–30–50–8
ŽeljezničarQR1 Pennarossa4–05–19–1
QR2 Litex Lovech1–20–71–9
2005–06Široki BrijegQR13–01–34–3
QR24–21–05–2
R10–10–50–6
ŽepčeQR1 Bashkimi1–10–311–4
2006–07OrašjeQR1 0–20–50–7
SarajevoQR1 Rànger's3–02–05–0
QR2 Rapid București1–0 0–21–2
2007–08SarajevoR1 Basel1–2 0–61–8
QR13–13–26–3
QR2 Hapoel Tel Aviv0–30–30–6
Zrinjski MostarQR1 Partizan1–60–51–112
QR21–20–01–2
2008–09Široki BrijegQR10–03–13–1
QR2 Beşiktaş1–20–41–6
Zrinjski MostarQR13–12–15–2
QR2 Braga0–20–10–3
2009–10SarajevoQR2 Spartak Trnava1–01–12–1
QR3 Helsingborg2–11–23–3 (5–4 p)
PO Cluj1–1 1–22–3
Slavija SarajevoQR23–10–03–1
QR30–21–31–5
Široki BrijegQR10–12–02–1
QR2 Sturm Graz1–11–22–3
2010–11Borac Banja LukaQR21–10–11–2
QR13–02–05–0
QR2 Austria Wien0–12–22–3
QR1 Tobol2–12–14–2
QR24–1 9–2 13–3
QR30–03–53–5
2011–12SarajevoQR2 Örebro2–0 0–02–0
QR3 Sparta Prague0–20–50–7
Široki BrijegQR10–00–30–3
ŽeljezničarQR2 Sheriff Tiraspol1–00–01–0
QR3 Maccabi Tel Aviv0–20–60–8
Borac Banja LukaQR12–21–13–3 (a)
SarajevoQR1 Hibernians5–24–49–6
QR2 Levski Sofia3–10–13–2
QR3 Zeta2–10–12–2 (a)
Široki BrijegQR21–11–2 (aet)2–3
2013–14SarajevoQR1 Libertas1–02–13–1
QR2 Kukësi0–02–32–3
QR22–02–34–3
QR3 Udinese1–30–41–7
QR11–03–14–1
QR2 Botev Plovdiv1–10–21–3
2014–15SarajevoQR2 Haugesund0–13–13–2
QR3 Atromitos1–23–1 (aet)4–3
PO Borussia Mönchengladbach2–30–72–10
Široki BrijegQR1 Gabala3–02–05–0
QR2 Mladá Boleslav0–41–21–6
ŽeljezničarQR1 Lovćen Cetinje0–01–01–0
QR2 Metalurg Skopje2–20–02–2 (a)
2015–16OlimpicQR1 Spartak Trnava1–10–01–1 (a)
Zrinjski MostarQR1 Shirak2–10–22–3
ŽeljezničarQR1 Balzan1–02–03–0
QR2 Ferencváros2–01–03–0
QR3 Standard Liège0–11–21–3
2016–17Radnik BijeljinaQR1 Beroe Stara Zagora0–20–00–2
Sloboda TuzlaQR1 Beitar Jerusalem0–00–10–1
Široki BrijegQR1 Birkirkara1–10–21–3
2017–18SarajevoQR1 Zaria Bălți2–11–23–3 (5–6 p)
Široki BrijegQR1 Ordabasy2–00–02–0
QR2 Aberdeen0–21–11–3
ŽeljezničarQR1 Zeta1–02–23–2
QR2 AIK0–00–20–2
2018–19SarajevoQR1 Banants3–02–15–1
QR2 Atalanta0−82−22−10
Široki BrijegQR11–12–23–3 (a)
ŽeljezničarQR1 Narva Trans4–22–06–2
QR2 Apollon Limassol1−21−32−5
Zrinjski MostarQR2 Valletta1−12−13−2
QR3 Ludogorets Razgrad1–10–11–2
2019–20Radnik BijeljinaQR1 Spartak Trnava2–00–22–2 (2–3 p)
Široki BrijegQR11–21–22–4
SarajevoQR3 BATE Borisov1–20–01–2
Zrinjski MostarQR1 Akademija Pandev3−03−06−0
QR2 Utrecht2−1 (aet)1−13−2
QR3 Malmö1–00–31–3
2020–21Borac Banja LukaQR1 Sutjeska Nikšić1–0
QR2 Rio Ave0–2
SarajevoQR3 Budućnost Podgorica2–1
PO Celtic0–1
ŽeljezničarQR1 Maccabi Haifa1–3
Zrinjski MostarQR1 Differdange 033–0
QR2 Olimpija Ljubljana3–2
QR3 APOEL2–2 (aet)
2023–24Zrinjski MostarQR3 Breiðablik6–20–16–3
PO LASK1–11–22–3
2024–25Borac Banja LukaQR3 3–1 (aet)1–24–3
PO Ferencváros
1 Bashkimi were awarded a 3–0 win because was Žepče fielded an ineligible player.[1]
2 UEFA expelled Partizan from the 2007–08 UEFA Cup due to crowd trouble at their away tie in Mostar, which forced the match to be interrupted for 10 minutes. UEFA adjudged travelling Partizan fans to have been the culprits of the trouble,[2] but Partizan were allowed to play the return leg while the appeal was being processed.[3] However, Partizan's appeal was rejected so Zrinjski Mostar qualified.[4]

Conference League

Bosnia and Herzegovina era (2021–present)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
2021–22Borac Banja LukaQR2 Linfield0–00–40–4
SarajevoQR1 Milsami Orhei0–10–00–1
Široki BrijegQR13–10–33–4
Velež MostarQR12–12–14–2
QR22–10–1 (aet)2–2
QR31–41–12–5
2022–23Borac Banja LukaQR1 B36 Tórshavn2–01–3 (aet)3–3
Tuzla CityQR1 Tre Penne6–02–08–0
QR2 AZ Alkmaar0–40–10–5
Velež MostarQR2 Ħamrun Spartans0–10–10–1
Zrinjski MostarQR2 Tirana3–21–04–2
QR3 Tobol1–01–12–1
PO Slovan Bratislava1–01–2 (aet)2–2
2023–24Borac Banja LukaQR2 Austria Wien1-20–11-3
SarajevoQR1 Torpedo Kutaisi1–1 (aet)2–23–3
ŽeljezničarQR1 Dinamo Minsk2–22–13–2
QR2 Neftchi Baku2–20-22-4
Zrinjski MostarGS Aston Villa1–10–14th
Legia Warsaw1–20–2
AZ4–30–1
2024–25SarajevoQR1 Aktobe2–31–03–3 (4–3 p)
QR2 Spartak Trnava0–00–30–3
Velež MostarQR1 Inter Club d'Escaldes1–15–12–6
Zrinjski MostarQR2 Bravo0–13–13–2
QR3 Botev Plovdiv2–01–23–2
PO Vitória de Guimarães

Cup Winners' Cup

SFR Yugoslavia era (1960–1992)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
1975–76Borac Banja LukaR1 Rumelange9–05–114–1
R2 Anderlecht1–00–31–3
Velež MostarR1 Jeunesse Esch6–11–17–2
R2 Lokomotive Leipzig1–11–12–2 (1–4 p)
Velež MostarR1 Vasas3–22–25–4
R2 Vitosha Sofia4–30–24–5
1988–89Borac Banja LukaR1 2–0 0–4 2–4

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

SFR Yugoslavia era (1955–1971)

Intertoto Cup

Bosnia and Herzegovina era (1995–2008)

SeasonClubRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
1999Jedinstvo BihaćR13–00–13–1
R21–21–32–5
2000Zrinjski MostarR1 Västra Frölunda2–10–12–2 (a)
2001Čelik ZenicaR1 Denizlispor1–05–36–3
R2 Gent1–00–21–2
2002BrotnjoR1 Zürich2–10–72–8
2003Sloboda TuzlaR1 KA Akureyri1–11–11–1 (3–2 p)
R2 Lierse1–01–52–5
2004Sloboda TuzlaR1 Celje1–01–22–2
R2 Spartak Trnava0–11–21–3
2006Zrinjski MostarR1 Marsaxlokk3–01–14–1
R2 Maccabi Petah Tikva1–31–12–4
2007Slavija SarajevoR13–23–26–4
R2 Oțelul Galați0–00–30–3
2008Čelik ZenicaR1 Grbalj3–21–24–4 (a)

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ineligible player costs Zepce . UEFA.com . UEFA . 18 July 2005 . 2 February 2011.
  2. Web site: Partizan disqualified from UEFA Cup . 26 July 2007 . uefa.com . Union of European Football Associations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080526114735/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D512/newsid%3D564584.html . 26 May 2008 . dmy-all .
  3. Web site: Partizan decision deferred . 31 July 2007 . uefa.com . Union of European Football Associations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080519044404/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D512/newsid%3D566068.html . 19 May 2008 . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: Partizan disqualified from UEFA Cup . 8 August 2007 . 7 August 2007 . uefa.com . Union of European Football Associations .