Red Star Belgrade vs Partizan Belgrade - 'The Eternal Derby'

 This derby between the two greats of Serbian football is fierce, intense and rich in history. The rivalry between Red Star Belgrade and FC Partizan dates back to the early 20th century, rooted in their foundation and affiliations with military factions during the Second World War. Like most of the worlds Derbys, this derby reflects deep cultural and political divides. Red star is associated with Serbian nationalism, whilst Partizan represents a more diverse Yugoslav identity. Red star represents a more traditional, Serbian identity, placing significance on typical Serbian culture and heritage, FC Partizan however, historically has been more inclusive, representing a diverse Yugoslav identity, meaning emphasis on unity amongst various ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia. With the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the rivalry took on a new dimensions as the war that followed, the sides interlined with the values of those fans of either club just feeling the hatred for one another. 

The rivalry extends beyond football, with the derby significantly influencing life in Belgrade with the city being pretty much a 50/50 split in who supports who, similar to Glasgow. The matches themselves are notorious for their passionate and intense atmosphere, when viewing, fans of either club show off elaborate tifo's and pyro displays, some of the most impressive displays in Europe. This intensity often leads to many crowd disturbances and violence with heavy security measures typically in place. Both clubs are immensely successful domestically with Red Star edging all domestic trophies but most notably, Red Star won the Champions league in 1991 as massive underdogs.

A couple of notable players who have played for either club include Nemanja Vidic, former Manchester United defender, as well as perhaps a lesser known star being Predrag Mijatovic who is famous for scoring the winning goal in the 1998 Champions League final for Real Madrid vs Juventus.

Despite its intensity and significance, the Red star Belgrade vs FC Partizan rivalry is less recognised on the global stage compared to more renowned European rivalries when it most definitely doesn't deserve to be. My next blog will be the most famous derby in Turkey...




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