At the bottom of the Yugoslavian first division some surprises occurred – dead last and the absolute outsider this season was OFK Beograd. It was not a sudden collapse, but one of the longest declines in the world – OFK Beograd lost its leading position by the end of the 1950s, along with its original name. Reduced to the third major club in Belgrade, it was no longer a match for Crvena zvezda and Partizan, but maintained relatively strong upper-mid-table position in the 1960s. The 1970s were steady downhill, ending with relegation at last. 20 years of going downhill… perhaps even the club’s fans were not very upset – they saw it coming and got used to bad news. 22 points were 6 points less than the 17th placed NK Zagreb.
The smaller club of Zagreb was in and out of first division, so their relegation was hardly surprising. It did reduce the strong Croatian presence in the league from 5 to 4 clubs, but nothing else – the Croatian rivalry was between Dinamo and Hajduk, the Zagreb derby was not all that important. NK Zagreb, unlike OFK Beograd, put a fight – they ended with 28 points: the teams all the way to 6th place were not very much ahead and five clubs finished with just a point more, but it was this single point difference plummeting NK Zagreb down to second division.
Seven points were the difference between 7th and 17th – between respectful mid-table and relegation. Radnicki (Nis) ended 7th. With 35 points, they were 3 points ahead of Sloboda (Tuzla) and at the top of vast group of teams closer to relegation zone than medals. Perhaps it was a good season for Radnicki – they were often near the bottom. Sloboda (Tuzla) and FK Sarajevo (Sarajevo) took the next two spots with equal points – 32.
Not a famous squad – rather typical for Sloboda. They edged Zeljeznicar (Sarajevo) on better goal-difference. Bellow were clubs normally dwelling there:
NK Rijeka was 10th.
Borac (Banja Luka) was 11th. And bellow them – the group of 5 clubs, barely escaping relegation with 29 points each. Here were the surprises of the season – two clubs were expected to appear in the lower half of the table, close to relegation zone, but the other three were not supposed to be in this region at all.
NK Osijek – 13th – was not a surprise. Nor Napredak (Krusevac) right under Osijek. Vojvodina (Novi Sad) was leading the group at 12th place, but this was not a club usually finishing that low.
Vojvodina is one of the better known Yugoslavian clubs, traditionally considered one of the favorites. But there was fading during the 1970s – slowly, almost unnoticed, Volvodina transformed into second-rate club. May be decline similar to the long convulsions of OFK Beograd was taking place. May be just temporary decline until better team was built – but 12th place and escaping relegation by a single point did not spell anything good.
Olimpija (Ljubljana) were only slightly similar to Vojvodina – they had ups and downs, but generally were solid mid-table club. Lesser rank than Vojvodina, but not exactly outsiders.
This season they finished 16th, just a place above relegation and with the worst record of the group of 5. Like Vojvodina, they seemingly suffered from inability to build decent team. Their resources were limited – perhaps not money, but quality players. They were more likely to be relegated than Vojvodina in the long run.
And the real big disaster – Partizan (Belgrade) was 15th. This is a season fans prefer not to remember – arguably, the worst season ever. Almost relegated, lucky to stay in the league. A bitter slap in the face – Partizan never finished so low. It was even worse, because the arch-enemy Crvena zvezda had remarkable European season. It was almost unthinkable: Partizan struggling to escape relegation. The only question, of course, was what about the next season? Was it some deep crisis, or it would be enough just to get a few new players and may be a new coach? Presently, it was only shame.
The upper part of the league divided in two distinct groups during the season – 4 teams fighting for third place and two for the title. 3 points were the difference between the 6th and the 3rd at the end. Surprisingly good season for Buducnost (Titograd) – 15 wins, 8 ties,and 11 losses.
Normally lower half dwellers, the boys from Montenegro suddenly went up. Yet, they were not better team than most of the clubs, and their rise was accidental. Just an unexpected stronger than usual year – close they came to medals, but at the end proved they really did not belong to the favorites: ending 6th, because of worse goal-difference. The worst among top six clubs – negative: 33-36. They also scored almost twice less goals than the other top clubs. In fact, 14 of the 18 first league clubs outscored them. Their defense was not good either – 5 teams had better record, including 10th placed Rijeka. As for their home – the city is Podgorica today, the capital of independent Montenegro.
Except Buducnost, the rest of the top group were no accident: Velez (Mostar) finished 5th , thanks to better goal-difference.
Velez were consistently strong during the 1970s. They never had a team able to run for the title, but maintained themselves among the best. They missed bronze medals by 2 points this year, but the future was looking bright: so far they managed to avoid decline – top players left, but talented newcomers took their place. Enver Maric returned from West Germany – he and Vladic were the formidable veterans from the team of the first half of the 1970s. Vukoje, Hadziabdic, Vukicevic, and Okuka were more than respectable players. But the future was guaranteed by two rapidly rising young stars: Sliskovic and Halilhodzic. Velez belonged to the top clubs and was to stay among them.
With a point more, FK Sarajevo finished 4th. Now, this was rising club. It is risky to say with certainty which club representing Sarajevo was the bigger one: the Bosnian rivalry was tricky – Zeljeznicar was more popular, it seems, but both clubs had spotty history: both were occasional champions, but also both clubs had mediocre periods. As a rule of thumb, when one of the rivals was strong, the other was quite weak. Zeljeznicar was better in the first half of the 1970s, now it was other way around.
Sarajevo did not have a team ready to claim the title, but they were going up – Musemic, Hadzic, Pasic, Hodzic, Hadzibegic were strong group. The key man was Safet Susic – rapidly rising major star, may be the best of his generation. The team still needed additional help, a bit of shaping, more experience, it was not yet at its peak. But clearly going up. Sarajevo was perhaps the most promising team at the moment and arguably the best news of the season. The team aimed at winning, their manner was a bit hazardous – depending on attack, and not caring much for defense. It was risky approach – Sarajevo received 53 goals (only three clubs had equal or worse defensive record), but scored only three goals more than received – 56. They needed to improve.
How good or bad Crvena zvezda was in 1978-79 is a matter of opinion. On one hand, this vintage is legendary – they reached the UEFA Cup final. On the other hand Crvena zvezda was not a contender – they were lucky to get bronze medals, besting Sarajevo by 2 points, but did not participate in the race for the title. And when Crvena zvezda is not a contender, it is bad season, even a disaster – only titles count for anything at ‘Mala Maracana’.
Standing, from left: Keri, Stojanovic, Jelikic, Muslin, Krmpotic, Jovin.
Crouching: V. Petrovic, Blagojevic, Borovnica, Sestic, Milosavljevic.
There were few more impressive players – Savic, Jurisic, Jovanovic, Milovanovic. Most of the team were also national team players, pretty much defining the Yugoslavian national team at the time. Crvena zvezda successfully changed generations – only Vladimir Petrovic remained from the strong squad of the early 1970s – and build their next formidable team. But… compared to this very early 70s team, lead by Dragan Dzajic (not to mention older formations), the new squad came short. Yet, they became legends this very season – for the first time in their history Crvena zvezda reached European club final. Swell, but they were not a factor in the championship – perhaps they concentrated on Europe, but finished the season empty-handed… Thus, this vintage became a legend as a team, not as individual players. Sure, Sestic and Savic rank high – but no as high as many other ‘zvezdasi’. Vladimir Petrovic – ‘Pizon’ – remains the greatest star, but he established himself already with the previous vintage. The ‘legends’ finished 9 points behind the top 2 teams this year.
Unlike many countries, Yugoslavia was blessed – or cursed – with various rivalries and derbies. Crvena zvezda vs Partizan is one thing, but there was another almost equal rivalry: Belgrade vs Croatia. And the internal Croatian derby was equal to the other two: Zagreb vs Split, the capital vs the provincials. Long history, no love, explosive atmosphere, yet, not as combustible and full of aggressive hatred as it was in the late 1980s. With Belgrade clubs out of the way, the battle for the title was all Croatian and it was incredibly exciting duel, lasting to the very end of the championship. Hajduk and Dinamo. Both teams finished with 50 points. Dinamo won most games – 21. Hajduk lost the least – 4. Dinamo scored most goals in the league – 67, but Hajduk allowed the least in their net – 28. Goal-difference decided the title – Dinamo lost on that.
Dinamo, the only Yugoslavian club with an European trophy, was in decline in the first half of the 1970s, when Hajduk was winning championships and cups. After 1975 Dinamo was finally coming back to the top of Yugoslavian football – lead by the respected coach Markovic, they had a strong group of players at last: experienced veterans like Mustedanagic and Senzen supported rapidly rising youngsters – Mlinaric, Ivkovic, Kuze, and particularly Zajec. Even younger talent was pushing forward – Krajncar. And a reliable player came from the arch-rivals: Dzoni, a former national team player, originally playing for Hajduk. Dinamo had young, but already experienced squad, ready for the title. They fought for it to the end and did not really lose it – they were equal to Hajduk on everything, except goal-difference. Devastated fans… losing the title on so little and to the hated provincials too. But Dinamo was not accident – they arrived, they were to stay, they were going to win. Soon.
Difficult, but sweet victory for Hajduk – edging the enemy from Zagreb at the very end. Still the best club in the country of the 1970s. One more title.
It was not an easy season, but it ended wonderfully. Hajduk were prime contenders anyway: Tomislav Ivic came back from successful spell with Ajax (Amsterdam) to coach them. One of the top ranking coaches in Europe already, he knew how to win. And he made his name with Hajduk anyway – most players started under him, they knew him well. The club continued its policy of selling players when they had reliable replacement at hand – the change of generations was smooth, Hajduk had a great mixture of established stars at their prime and young talent, rapidly becoming famous. Surjak, Muzinic, and Peruzovic were the prime movers and shakers, helped by two other reliable veterans of the team of the early 1970s – Rozic and Salov. Ivkovic, Cop, Zlatko and Zoran Vujovic were already included in the national team. Gudelj was perhaps the biggest talent, considered the next great star of Yugoslavian football. Those were also the base ensuring strong future of the club – it was clear that Surjak, Muzinic, and Peruzovic were to be sold abroad soon, but the new leaders were already present. Good enough, if not for the big scandal – Slavisa Zungul, technically belonging to the previous great squad, but only 24 old and one of the current top scorers of Yugoslavia, suddenly defected. Given his age, Zungul was not yet for sale. He was rarely called to play for the national team. He was unpaid for months and consequently his relations with the club’s president were bad. He asked to be released and was refused. He did not serve in the army yet and feared that an army call will be not opposed by his club just because they did not wish to pay his wages and once in the army, there will be new excuse, most likley permanent. That was his position. The club’s was growing irritation with his desire to play abroad – they needed him, his time was up yet, he had to follow established rules. Surjak waited patiently, why not Zungul, the lesser star? Zungul went to USA in December 1978 and did not return: he already signed contract not telling anybody. Since the move was illegal, it was not a club from NASL, but form indoor league outside FIFA. Because of the complication with his army service, Zungul had only one option – to defect, a very rare case for Yugoslavian footballers. There was no other way – FIFA rules prevented him from playing in a legal league anywhere. As a consequence, Zungul was lost to big football and did not become the star he was certainly to become if staying out of trouble in Split – he had enormous talent. Yes, he became a legend – but indoor football legend, ‘the Lord of indoors’, as he was called in USA, where he was no longer Slavisa, but Steve. A legend of rogue league of little known variety of football in North America. Lost the world’s game for ever. His defection was troublesome for Hajduk, of course – the club lost a key player in mid-season, and the scandal probably did not stay well in the dressing room, for others wanted to play abroad too and had to wait for years, may be even missing the best opportunities. Zungul showed interesting option… which the club had to stifle quickly… and keep the squad focused and competitive in the same time. Difficult moment, but Hajduk played well without Zungul and won the title at the end. Troubles over. Hajduk was unstoppable.
Exciting season with so close race for the title between two great rivals. A rare occasion.