History

The history off success, collection off trophies, years off ups and downs, great number off aces that learned the “great game” under the walls off Mali Kalemegdan, fanatical loyalty off the fans… It all comes down to two words – Red Star.

The foundations off Serbian basketball institution were set by Nebojsa Popovic, a man who is considered as the “father off Serbian basketball”, alongside with Borislav Stanković, Alexander Nikolić and Radomir Saper. Popović created the basketball section off Red Star sport club, founded on the 5 th off March 1945. Belgrade was still hounted by the “ghosts off war” in those days. Making a basketball club needed a lot off sacrifice, enthusiasm and vision. Popović had it all. Together with the other players off the first generation, he was involved in building the now famous basketball temple on Mali Kalemegdan, which was a tennis court back then.

In the first season off the competition Red Star won the championship. Red&whites remaind champions for the next 10 seasons. Nebojša Popović was the coach in the whole 'decade off dominance' and the key player from 1946 till 1951. Virtuosity off Gec, Andrijaševic`s inovations, scoring off Demšar and persistance off Kalember (won 9 off 10 titles) will be remembered forever. Popović than continued his work on the bench off the Yugoslavia national team.

Red Star wasn`t the champion anymore, but remained in the top. Army off the fans grew every day, red&white colours became a cult for Delije, the famous supporter group that is now an important 6th player, ask anyone who played in Pioneer hall recently and he will tell you. On the year 1960, when Vladimir Cvetković played his first game for Red Star, it was clear pretty soon that the club got it`s new leader.

He was the team`s best scorer for 8 seasons, at the highlight off his career also the captain off the famous team with such stars as Zoran Moka Slavnić, Dragan Kapičić, Ljubodrag Simonović and Dragiša Vučinić, all members off the national team off Yugoslavia. They won two titles in 1969 and 1972, Slavnić and Kapičić also two national Cups in 1973 and 1975 and the only european trophy in the club`s collection – Cup Winers Cup of Europe in 1974. A lot off experts think that those guys were able to conquer the continent and much more. They didn`t do som, but did a lot for the club`s image and were also remembered for the beautifull game they played.

As in every club, ther were good times and there were bad times. The 80`s were the times off frustration at Mali Kalemegdan. Red Star had a respectable team with good quality, but there would always be somebody better: first Sibenka, than Bosna, Zadar, Cibona, Partizan and finally the unforgetable team off Jugoplastika. Falldown off Socialist Federal Republic off Yugoslavia and the sport sanctions against Serbia made that the Europe didnt`t see the 1993 and 1994 generation that won titles both years. Leader was Saša Obradović, alongside Nebojša Ilić and Aleksandar Trifunović, both important club officials in the present days. Last title was wone in 1998 when Igor Rakočević, the greatest star off Red Star today was the youngest guy on the team. Radivoj Korač Cup was almost won that year, but red&whites were beaten by Mash Verona in the exciting final.

After the years off falldowns and financial struggle, in which many players left Red Star to become great players elsewhere, in 2001 came the new club Government and project off reorganization full off fresh ideas. Project off recovering was in the hands off the Slovenian coach Zmago Sagadin. In 2003 Red Star won the national Cup, now called Radivoj Korač Cup.

It`s the second consecutive year that Red Star plays the Goodyear league final-four. Just by being a top 4 team, club secured playing the ULEB cup next year, but form 16 th to 18 th off April Red Star will be looking for much more. The red&white jersey carries a commitment for every individual to charge for trophies and titles, just like Delije always sing “We want to see your hearts on the pitch” when their club is not playing well. Nebojša Popović would want it that way.