View source for Stadion Grbavica

{{Short description|Football stadium}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name              = Grbavica Stadium
| nickname          = "Dolina ćupova"
| image             = [[File:Panoramic view of Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo.jpg|250px]]
| caption           = '''Grbavica Stadium''' - '''[[UEFA stadium categories|UEFA]]''' {{rating|3|4}}
| location          = Bulevar Ivice Osima 27, [[Grbavica (Sarajevo)|Grbavica]], [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|43|50|48|N|18|23|14|E|display=it}}
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| built             = 1949–53
| opened            = 13 September 1953
| renovated         = 25 April 1976, 18 July 2018, 8 March 2020
| expanded          = 2017
| closed            =
| demolished        =
| owner             = [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]]
| operator          = [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]]
| surface           = [[Hybrid grass]]
| scoreboard        = [[LED display|LED]]
| architect         =
| capacity          = 13,146 (League Matches) 
| dimensions        = 105 x 68&nbsp;m (114.8 x 74.3&nbsp;[[yard|yd]])
| tenants           = [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]] (1953–1968, 1976–present) <br> [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team]] (2017–present, selected matches)
| broke ground      = 
| construction_cost = > [[Euro|€]]2 million <br>
| former_names      =
}}
Grbavica Stadium or Stadion Grbavica is located in [[Grbavica (Sarajevo)|Grbavica]], [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. This [[football (soccer)|football]] stadium has terraces close to the pitch and it is the home stadium of [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]] and one of two stadiums of the [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. The stadium has a capacity to hold 13,146 seated spectators, with more room for standing spectators under South stands (capacity up to 16,000). Grbavica Stadium is also known as ''Dolina ćupova'' (en. ''Valley of Jars'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Kako je stadion Grbavica dobio nadimak "Dolina ćupova" |url=https://www.radiosarajevo.ba/sport/nogomet/kako-je-stadion-grbavica-dobio-nadimak-dolina-cupova/258402 |website=Radio Sarajevo}}</ref>

==Construction==
The construction of a sporting facility—that would eventually become football-only ground—in the Sarajevo neighbourhood of Grbavica started during the late 1940s. Although the city of Sarajevo had already had several football pitches with bleachers and stands (including the freshly built [[Koševo Stadium]]), it was decided by the Yugoslav communist authorities that resources are to be allocated towards construction of a new multi-sport facility for usage by various clubs under the umbrella of the [[SD Željezničar]] sports society. Many of the club's supporters, friends, and members, including a number of [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) personnel helped in the construction of the football ground. Unlike the construction of Koševo—a large-scale project with generous state support through funds and manpower—the construction of Grbavica had far fewer workers devoted to it and as a result took much longer to complete. A new pitch with a [[running track]] and drainage system was built along with rudimentary concrete stands. While the ground's southern and eastern end featured concrete-built stands, the western end had wooden stands that were taken from the recently-torn Marijin Dvor ground. 

Grbavica began as a multi-use facility: in addition to football matches, competitions in cycling and athletics were organized. Eventually, its use became football only. 

The ground was officially opened on September 13, 1953 with the [[Yugoslav Second League]] western division match between Željezničar and [[HNK Šibenik|RSD Šibenik]]. Željezničar won 4–1.

===1970s: eight-year closure for additions and renovations===
In late June 1968, major improvements, additions, and renovations to the ground began, forcing its closure for the following eight years. 

Ironically, during this time, its main tenant FK Željezničar achieved its greatest success—winning the [[1971–72 Yugoslav First League]] title—playing its home matches away from its home ground, at cross-town rival [[FK Sarajevo]]'s Koševo Stadium. Throughout this period, the only competitive footballing contests played at Grbavica were a handful of Željezničar's European home matches, such as the [[1968–69 Mitropa Cup]] [[1968–69 Mitropa Cup#Semi-finals|semifinal]] versus [[FK Teplice|Sklo Union Teplice]] in May 1969 as well as [[1971–72 UEFA Cup]] clashes against [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]], [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna FC]], and [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone FC]] during fall 1971.

On April 25, 1976, Grbavica was re-opened. With 50,000 cubic meters of materials used, the additions to the venue included installation of floodlights. Furthermore, two training pitches as well as new dressing rooms, showers, and other facilities were added. The Đurasović family were the first donors.

===1986: Northern stand added===
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In 1986, a proper northern stand was built. There were plans for the whole stadium to be remodeled and encircled to look like the newly built north stand, but they got shelved for the time being. As a result of the renovations, in October 1987, Yugoslavia national football team (coached at the time by Željo legend [[Ivica Osim]]) played its first ever match at the stadium. In a [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 4|Euro 88 qualification]] clash versus Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia won 3–0.

=== Bosnian war ===
The stadium suffered heavy structural damage during the [[Bosnian War]] that broke out in 1992. The stadium was located between the first front lines and endured heavy fighting. [[Bosnian Serbs]]' forces burned the West stand wooden terraces. It was not until 1996 that a football match would be played here again. Symbolically, the first match after the war was the [[Sarajevo derby|local derby]]. The capacity of North stands holds 5,377 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scsport.ba/vijesti/grbavica-povecava-svoj-kapacitet-/111561|title=SPORT CENTAR - Smiješ znati sve o sportu|first=Sport Centar -|last=www.scsport.ba}}</ref>

=== 2000s ===

[[File:Zeljeznicar Sarajevo stadion.JPG|thumb|left|Stadium in 2006]]

It was partly remodelled in following years. In 2004, 8898 seats were installed on the north and south stand and some small work was done to the terraces. The last major job done on the stadium was in 2008–09 when the floodlights were repaired. On 22 April 2009, after about 18 years, a game under floodlights was again played at Grbavica.

On Monday, 13 February 2012, a section of the roof above the west stand collapsed after 10 days of heavy [[snowfall]]. The main reason for the collapsing of the roof was the bad maintenance of the whole terrace and roof were the [[snow]] was not removed since the first snowfall, but also the war damage on the buildings.

In 2016, the West stands held 690 seats since, while south stands capacity was 3068 seats. An [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] display has been installed on the south stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fkzeljeznicar.ba/zapoceo-projekat-renoviranja-stadiona-grbavica/18327/|title=Započeo projekat renoviranja Stadiona Grbavica}}</ref>

===2017: Eastern stand added===
[[File:East stand -Stadium Grbavica 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Eastern stand built in 2017]]

East stand was rebuilt (an all seated stand replacing the entire East standing section) with works finishing in early April 2017. The capacity of east stands is 4650 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fkzeljeznicar.ba/foto-bageri-na-stadionu-grbavica/23013/|title=FOTO: Bageri na Stadionu Grbavica|newspaper=Fk Željezničar }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reprezentacija.ba/43287-foto-zeljo-pravi-novu-grabavicu-za-europske-i-utakmice-reprezentacije|title=FOTO \\ Željo pravi novu Grabavicu za europske i utakmice reprezentacije}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsport.ba/bh_fudbal/zapoceli-radovi-na-renoviranju-stadiona-fk-zeljeznicar/188935|title=Započeli radovi na renoviranju stadiona FK Željezničar|date=28 March 2016 }}</ref> The East stand was funded entirely by club supporters and local businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ba.n1info.com/a144488/Sport-Klub/Nogomet/FOTO-Niklo-plavo-cudo-usred-Sarajeva.html|title=FOTO- Niklo plavo čudo usred Sarajeva}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiosarajevo.ba/sport/nogomet/i-copa90-objavio-reportazu-o-zelji-manijacima-i-obnovi-grbavice/224512|title=I Copa90 objavio reportažu o Želji, Manijacima i obnovi Grbavice}}</ref> [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] [[midfielder]] [[Mix Diskerud]] donated funds to the project by buying 50 seats for the North stand as well as two ten year passes for East stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/reprezentativac-sad-a-mix-diskerud-kupio-dvije-10-godisnje-ulaznice-za-istocnu-tribinu-grbavice/170311019|title=Reprezentativac SAD-a Mix Diskerud kupio dvije 10-godišnje ulaznice za istočnu tribinu Grbavice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scsport.ba/americki-reprezentativac-mix-diskerud-ponovo-podrzao-izgradnju-grbavice/|title=Američki reprezentativac Mix Diskerud ponovo podržao izgradnju Grbavice – Sport Centar|first=Sport Centar -|last=www.scsport.ba|website=scsport.ba}}</ref> Former club managers and players the likes of [[Amar Osim]], [[Edin Džeko]], [[Ibrahim Šehić]] and [[Semir Štilić]] among others, also donated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nap.ba/new/vijest.php?id=22650|title=Evropska Grbavica: Džeko, Šehić, Štilić i Osim donirali sredstva za 120 stolica|website=Novinska agencija Patria}}</ref> Regional clubs also supported the project, with donations coming from [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/dinamo-zagreb-kupio-pet-zdravko-mamic-jednu-desetogodisnju-ulaznicu-za-grbavicu/161215135|title=Dinamo Zagreb kupio pet, Zdravko Mamić jednu desetogodišnju ulaznicu za Grbavicu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fkzeljeznicar.ba/gnk-dinamo-zagreb-podrzat-ce-izgradnju-istocne-tribine-stadiona-grbavica/23166/|title=GNK Dinamo Zagreb podržat će izgradnju istočne tribine Stadiona Grbavica}}</ref>

On 1 April 2017, [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo|Željezničar]] played host to [[FK Sloboda Tuzla|Sloboda Tuzla]] during the [[2016–17 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina#Championship round|Championship round]] of the 2016–17 [[Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Premier League]] season and on the day the newly built Eastern Stand opened to public.

===2018–2020: Pitch replacement and eastern stand roof built===
[[File:Željo-Velež 03.jpg|thumb|right|Roof above the eastern stand with turf grass replacement, September 2021]]

In May 2018, a new pitch with a drainage system was completed. The new pitch was replaced in July 2018.<ref>[https://www.klix.ba/sport/okoncani-radovi-na-zamjeni-terena-stadiona-grbavica/180714062 Okončani radovi na zamjeni terena stadiona Grbavica] at klix.ba, 14 July 2018</ref>

In December 2019, the construction of the new roof on the eastern stand of the stadium begun. In March 2020, the construction was finished, with [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo|Željezničar]] playing its first game with the new roof against [[FK Tuzla City|Tuzla City]] on 8 March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/grbavica-u-novom-ruhu-docekala-tuzla-city-navijaci-plavih-traze-titulu-iz-1946-godine/200308083|title=Grbavica u novom ruhu dočekala Tuzla City, navijači Plavih traže titulu iz 1946. godine|date=8 March 2020|access-date=8 March 2020|language=bs|publisher=Klix.ba}}</ref>

==Location==
The stadium is located in the [[Grbavica (Sarajevo)|Grbavica]] neighbourhood, under the Šanac Hill which was traversed by [[railway]] tracks. When the train was passing over the stadium, it would sound its horn to salute the crowd. Nowadays, the old railway is no longer in use. There are however [[trolleybuses]] that pass by the stadium and visitors are able to come to the stadium using other modes of public transportation as well. The [[tram]]way line is also very close near the Socijalno station, which is located 600 meters away from the stadium.

==Notable matches==
By far the most notable match played at the stadium was the [[1984–85 UEFA Cup]] [[1984–85 UEFA Cup#Second leg 5|semifinal return leg]] on Wednesday, 24 April 1985 between Željezničar and Hungarian visitors [[Videoton FC]] from [[Székesfehérvár]]. Videoton brought a 1–3 advantage from the first leg, however, the home side fought valiantly in front of the raucous home crowd of 27,000 fans<ref>[http://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/zeljeznicar-je-prije-60-godina-dobio-dom-svoju-grbavicu/130913054 Željezničar je prije 60 godina dobio dom, svoju Grbavicu];klix.ba, 13 September 2013</ref> and was 2–0 ahead on goals by [[Edin Bahtić]] in the 5th and [[Edin Ćurić]] in the 62nd minute. Just a few minutes from the end, Željo still had a result that would see it go through and take on mighty [[1984–85 Real Madrid CF season|Real Madrid]] in the UEFA Cup final. However, disaster struck in the 87th minute when Videoton right back [[József Csuhay]] was left unmarked and scored a goal for 2–1 that took his team to the final and saw Željezničar's hopes dashed in the cruelest of fashions.

===Anniversaries===
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*As part of the 50th birthday celebration on 16 June 1971, Željezničar played against [[Inter Milan]]. The final result was 3-3 (however location was [[Koševo Stadium]]).
*As part of the 55th birthday celebration of Željezničar (and 90th birthday celebration of [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]) played at Stadion Grbavica on August 15, 1976, Željezničar pulled out a friendly 1-1 draw with Arsenal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/10933 |website=woolwicharsenal.co.uk|author=woolwicharsenal.co.uk |title=Željezničar and Arsenal: 15 August 1976|date=20 August 2014|access-date=2015-08-15 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://zeljeznicarfk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/zeljeznicar-arsenal-1-1.html |website=zeljeznicarfk.blogspot.co.uk|author=zeljeznicarfk.blogspot.co.uk |title=Željezničar - Arsenal 1-1|access-date=2015-08-15 |language=en}}</ref>
*As part of the 60th birthday celebration of Željezničar, in 1981, [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia national team]] played against Željezničar at Grbavica Stadium.
*As part of the 80th birthday celebration of Željezničar, on October 2, 2001, the team welcomed [[Bundesliga]] side [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] with goals scored by [[Dželaludin Muharemović]] and Nermin Fatić ''Željo'' won 2-0.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://fkzeljeznicar.ba/plavi-vremeplov-zeljeznicar-wolfsburg/11113/ | title=Plavi vremeplov: Željezničar – Wolfsburg | publisher=fkzeljeznicar.ba | access-date=14 August 2015}}</ref>
*As part of the 90th birthday celebration of Željezničar, on November 8, 2011 the team welcomed a full strength [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina national team]] and played a friendly that finished 1-2 in favor of the visitors. The scorer for the national team was [[Vedad Ibišević]] with two goals, while the lone scorer for Željezničar was [[Mirsad Bešlija]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scsport.ba/v2/tekst.php?ID=27858 |website=scsport.ba|author=scsport.ba |title=Željo odlično sparingovao Zmajevima|date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=2011-11-08 |language=bs}}</ref>

===International matches===
<small>Senior teams only.</small>
{| class="wikitable"
! Date !!  !! Result !! !! Competition
|-
| 14 October 1987 || {{fb|YUG}} || [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 4#Yugoslavia v Northern Ireland|3&ndash;0]]|| {{fb|Northern Ireland}} || [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Euro 1988 Q]]
|-
| 15 August 2001 || {{fb|BIH}} || 2&ndash;0|| {{fb|MLT}} || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 27 March 2002 || {{fb|BIH}} || 4&ndash;4|| {{fb|Macedonia}} || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 10 August 2010 || {{fb|BIH}} || 1&ndash;1|| {{fb|Qatar}} || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 7 October 2017 || {{fb|BIH}} || [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H#Bosnia and Herzegovina v Belgium|3&ndash;4]]|| {{fb|Belgium}} || [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|2018 FIFA World Cup Q]]
|-
| 15 October 2018 || {{fb|BIH}} ||[[2018–19 UEFA Nations League B#Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland|2–0]]
|{{fb|NIR}} || [[2018–19 UEFA Nations League B]]
|-
| 23 March 2019 || {{fb|BIH}} ||[[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group J#Bosnia and Herzegovina v Armenia|2–1]]
|{{fb|ARM}} || [[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group J|UEFA Euro 2020 Q]]
|-
| 8 October 2020 || {{fb|BIH}} ||[[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs#Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland|1–1]] {{aet}} {{pso|3–4}}
|{{fb|NIR}} || [[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs#Path B |UEFA Euro 2020 Q playoffs]]
|-
|}

==Concerts==
Due to its smaller size (compared to Sarajevo's other football venue, [[Koševo City Stadium|Stadium Koševo]]), the stadium has seen far less music concerts held at its location. Some concerts at Stadium Grbavica were:

*On 25 July 1999, [[The Kelly Family]] held a concert.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bhkoncerti.blogspot.ba/2012/09/kelly-family-30-01-1999-bht-sarajevo.html|title = Koncerti u Bosni i Hercegovini: The Kelly Family - 30. 01. 1999. / 25. 07. 1999. - BHT / Stadion Grbavica, Sarajevo}}</ref>
*On 6 July 2013, [[Mladen Vojičić Tifa]] held a concert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fkzeljeznicar.ba/tifa-na-nasoj-grbavici/5645/|title=Tifa na našoj Grbavici}}</ref>
*10 August 2006 – [[Ljuba Aličić]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balkaniyum.tv/srpski/vesti/4303.shtml|title=Bombom na Ljubu|publisher=BalkaniYUm|lang=sr|trans-title=A bomb on Ljubo|date=11 August 2006|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of football stadiums in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
*[[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Grbavica Stadium}}
*[http://fkzeljeznicar.ba/ Željezničar football club] – Official website

{{FK Željezničar Sarajevo}}
{{Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team}}
{{Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina venues}}
{{Sarajevo}}

[[Category:Architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Football venues in Bosnia and Herzegovina|g]]
[[Category:FK Željezničar Sarajevo]]
[[Category:Novo Sarajevo]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Sarajevo]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1953]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Yugoslav Bosnian and Herzegovinian architecture]]