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| Full name | Fudbalski Klub Čelik Nikšić Фудбалски клуб Челик Никшић | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Metalurzi | ||
| Founded | 1957; 68 years ago (1957) | ||
| Ground | Stadion Željezare, Nikšić,Montenegro | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Head Coach | Dražen Međedović[1] | ||
| League | Montenegrin Third League | ||
Fudbalski Klub Čelik Nikšić (Montenegrin: Фудбалски клуб Челик Никшић) is afootball club based inNikšić,Montenegro. Founded in september 1957, they currently compete in theMontenegrin Third League. The team once won theMontenegrin Cup trophy and played three seasons in theUEFA Europa League.
FK Čelik was established in 1957, following the bankruptcy of formerFK Javorak. The name "Čelik" was given in memory of Petar Saveljić, who had worked at the localsteel mill before playing football with Savo Pejović.[2]
First seasons of their existence, Čelik spent in the lowest-tier competition (Titogradski podsavez). First successes for Čelik came with the beginning of sixties. On 1961, as a member of Fourth League, the team won theMontenegrin Republic Cup. The same year, Čelik debuted in theMontenegrin Republic League (third level).[3] Significant success came on season 1967–68. As a runner-up of Republic League, Čelik gained its first-ever promotion to theYugoslav Second League. In that competition, Čelik played its first official games against Nikšić strongest-sideFK Sutjeska and notable Montenegrin teamFK Budućnost, but they were relegated, with scores of four wins, six draws and 20 defeats.
During the 1970s and 1980s, FK Čelik was a permanent member of Montenegrin Republic League, with two seasons finishing as a runner-up (1981–82, 1984–85).
On 1992, after the breakup ofSFR Yugoslavia, FK Čelik started to play in the football system of newly formedFR Yugoslavia. With the support of Nikšić steel mill, the team gained promotion to1996–97 Yugoslav Second League. In the Second League, Čelik played one of their best seasons – finishing as a third-placed team, only five points behind the First League promotion. Same season (1996–97), Čelik won their second Montenegrin Republic Cup.
From 1996 to 2004, FK Čelik spent eight consecutive seasons in Yugoslav / Serbia and Montenegro Second League. On season 1997/98, they were close to First League promotion, but failed to qualify, finished with only one point less than first-placedMogren.
Following theindependence of Montenegro, FK Čelik became a member of theMontenegrin Second League inaugural season (2006–07). Finishing in second place in the 2007–08 season, the team participated in theFirst League playoffs. Their rival in that stage was local sideFK Sutjeska. Two playoff games watched more than 17,000 spectators and Čelik didn't succeed to gain promotion (0:0, 0:1).
In the2011–12 season, FK Čelik won the Second League, making few all-time records – most points by single-season (80), highest number of wins (25), or longest unbeaten run (23 games) and longest winning streak (10 games).
During the same season, FK Čelik became the first-ever and only Montenegrin Second League member which won theMontenegrin Cup. On the road to the final, they eliminatedBlue Star (2:0),Lovćen (1:0, 1:0),Bokelj (1:1, 1:0) andJedinstvo (3:0, 0:1). In the finals, on 23 May 2012, FK Čelik defeated First-League sideRudar – 2:1 (2:0) and won their very first and, by now, the only national trophy.[4]
Winning the cup allowed the club to enter the2012–13 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase, where they beatBosnian powerhouseBorac Banja Luka on away goals (1:1, 2:2). FacingUkrainian clubMetalurh Donetsk in the second qualifying round, the team garnered even more attention from the local media as the players and staff traveled from Nikšić toDonetsk (2,143kilometers) bybus, which, after being denied entry toMoldova,[5] lasted approximately 70 hours on the road.[6] The team, having arrived in Donetsk on the same day of the match, lost the first leg 7–0, giving Metalurh its most historic win in UEFA competition.[7] While Čelik played with much more resistance in the second leg, the team was eliminated from theUEFA Europa League after the game ended 2–4 for Metalurh.[8]
Soon after their European debut, FK Čelik started theirfirst-ever season in Montenegrin First League. They won third-place, behind Montenegrin strongest teams Sutjeska and Budućnost, but also played in the final of2012–13 Montenegrin Cup. This time, FK Čelik was defeated by FK Budućnost (0–1).
With that results, team from Nikšić played another European season, in2013–14 UEFA Europa League. Their opponent wasHungarian sideBudapest Honvéd FC (1–4; 0–9).
Next year, FK Čelik again won third place in the First League, with another performance in2014–15 UEFA Europa League qualifying. This time, they facedKoper fromSlovenia (0–5; 0–4).
Before the start of the2014–15 season, the club informed theFootball Association of Montenegro that because of financial problems it would not be able to play the 2014–15 season in the top flight,[9] and re-emerged in theMontenegrin Third League.
After two seasons in the lowest-tier, FK Čelik gained promotion to the2016–17 Second League. In March 2018, the club was on the brink of collapse[10] and they were relegated from the Montenegrin Third League in 2019,[11] effectively ending the club's existence.
In 2022, the club was refounded by supporters and a former footballers and in the 2022–23 season competes in the lowest tier, theMontenegrin Third League.
For the first time, FK Čelik played in Montenegrin First League on season2012–13. Below is a list of FK Čelik scores in First League by every single season.
| Season | Pos | G | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | 3 | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 41 | 35 |
| 2013–14 | 3 | 33 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 28 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 2012-13 UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  Borac Banja Luka | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 (a) |
| 2QR |  Metalurh Donetsk | 2–4 | 0–7 | 2–11 | ||
| 2013-14 | 2013-14 UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  Honvéd | 1–4 | 0–9 | 1–13 |
| 2014-15 | 2014–15 UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  Koper | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–9 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For the list of former players with Wikipedia article, see:FK Čelik Nikšić players.
Below is the list of players which, during their career, played for Čelik and represented their countries at the full international level.
FAP Mašina is the popular name for the Čelikultras. They have been established in 2001 inNikšić. Their main rival isFK Sutjeska Nikšić, with whom they contest the Nikšić derby.[12]
FK Čelik plays their home games atStadion Željezare, which is located near theFK Sutjeska Stadium. There are two stands on Stadion Željezare with an overall capacity of 2,000 seats.
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