Quite unusual season in Yugoslavia – the next generation was supposed to be firmly in charge, but somehow it was not so, judging by the alarming performance of some clubs. But Yugoslavian players maintained their great reputation in Europe and a new height was reached in January 1980, when Manchester United paid 300 000 pounds to Crvena zvezda to get 28-years old defender Nikola Jovanovic. Thus, Jovanovic became not only the most expensive Yugoslavian player to that date, but also the first non-British player to appear for Manchester United (Carlo Sartori was Italian-born, but grew up in England and was a product of Manchester United youth system).
Nikola Jovanovic, a new Manchester United player – and one of the 10 biggest flops in the history of the club.
There were a whole bunch of exciting players, coming to their best age, but curiously their teams underperformed. Of course, they were not playing in the second division, which, divided into two leagues, to a point supported the strangeness of this season. One league was closely contested, but the other was not at all.
The East Second Division – II Savezna Liga Istok – practically had more than half the league eying the promotional spot: 9 out of 16 teams. Eventually, some teams lost steam, but at the end Galenika (Zemun) was 4th with 36 points and ahead of them were three clubs with 37 points. Goal-difference decided the winner – the margin was a single goal! Radnicki (Kragujevac) had +23 and finished 2nd. The winners were really lucky.
OFK Beograd, familiar name, indeed. They were relegated the previous season and came back to their usual habitat immediately, but apart from that there was little reason for joy: the team was just lucky to clinch first place, not actually having been stronger than most of their opponents. The decline set after 1975, leading them to relegation and the lucky promotion did not suggest the crisis was over.
The West Second Division – II Savezna Liga Zapad – was entirely different story. Only Spartak (Subotica) and Dinamo (Vinkovci) came near the dominant leader – and finished 6 points behind. There was really only one club determined to be promoted and much stronger than the rest of the league. They were also relegated along with OFK Beograd the previous season.
This may not be a picture of the actual season, but is from the period in question – NK Zagreb, confident winners of the West Second Division. Going back to top flight was perhaps more of a problem for other clubs – NK Zagreb were never very strong, but usually gave headaches to the strongest teams, particularly Partizan (Belgrade). Like OFK Beograd, their concern was going to be mere survival, but at least they were dominant winners of their league and had reason to be more optimistic of the future.
As a whole, the season in the second division suggested no change – those, coming from the top division were stronger than the other second division teams. That is, not new team was rising – talented Yugoslavian football was, but still talent was concentrated in the best clubs and seemingly nobody else had a chance. Also, the traditional stronger clubs belonged to Serbia and Croatia – even the second division maintained the status quo: not only the winners represented Serbia and Croatia, but the teams immediately below them: OFK Beograd, Radnicki (Kragujevac), Bor (Bor), Galenika (Zemun) were the first 4 teams in the East; NK Zagreb first, and Dinamo (Vinkovci) third in the West.