# NK Celje

Nogometni klub Celje (English: Celje Football Club), commonly referred to as NK Celje or simply Celje, is a professional football club from Celje, Slovenia. They play in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top tier of Slovenian football. Together with Maribor, they are the only club that have participated in every season of the Slovenian PrvaLiga since its formation in 1991. Celje won their first league title in the 2019–20 season, a feat they have repeated four years later. They have also won the 2004–05 edition of the Slovenian Cup.

## History

The club was formed in 1919 as SK Celje. Soon after World War II, in 1946, the club changed its name to NK Kladivar (expressionistic term in Slovene for a blacksmith). In 1964 they qualified for the Yugoslav Second League, where they played for one year.
In 1992, one year after Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia, the club was renamed as Publikum due to sponsorship reasons. They reached the finals of Slovenian Cup in 1993 and 1995, but lost on both occasions, having been beaten by Olimpija and Mura, respectively. In 2003, Celje was in a title race with Maribor until the last two rounds, but in the end finished second and also lost the Slovenian cup final against Olimpija during the same season. Two years later, in 2005, the club reached the final for the fourth time and this time they finally lifted their first trophy, defeating Gorica 1–0 in front of their own fans at the Arena Petrol. Celje were also in the finals the next year, but lost to Koper after a penalty shoot-out. In early 2007, they dropped Publikum from their name.
In 2020, Celje won its first Slovenian league title after winning the 2019–20 Slovenian PrvaLiga season.

## Stadium

For most of its early years, the club played at the Glazija Stadium, and also acquired the Skalna Klet after merging with ŽŠD Celje in 1967. As the Glazija Stadium was demolished in the early 1980s, the club permanently moved to the Skalna Klet. However, the stadium was in poor condition and could not meet UEFA stadium regulations, so the club's officials decided to build a new stadium. In 2003, the main stand of the new Arena Petrol was built. The capacity at the time was 3,600 covered seats. After 2003, three new separate stands were built, and when the last one opened in 2008, the stadium was completed. The current capacity of the stadium is 13,059 seats, of which around 50% are covered. In July 2017, the stadium was renamed to Stadion Z'dežele.

## Current squad

    As of 16 February 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Juanjo Nieto |
| 3 | DF | SVN | Damjan Vuklišević |
| 4 | MF | ROU | Marco Dulca |
| 5 | MF | FRA | Clément Lhernault |
| 6 | DF | LTU | Artemijus Tutyškinas |
| 7 | FW | SVN | Aljoša Matko |
| 9 | FW | NED | Nino Noordanus |
| 10 | MF | SVN | Nino Kouter |
| 11 | MF | SVN | Svit Sešlar (on loan from Eyüpspor) |
| 12 | GK | SVN | Luka Kolar |
| 14 | FW | SWE | Anomnachi Chinasa Chidi |
| 16 | MF | BIH | Mario Kvesić |
| 19 | MF | SVN | Mark Zabukovnik |
| 20 | FW | RUS | Nikita Iosifov |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | DF | SVN | Nejc Ajhmajer |
| 22 | GK | SVN | Matjaž Rozman |
| 23 | DF | SVN | Žan Karničnik |
| 25 | DF | SVN | Matija Kavčič |
| 30 | FW | BRA | Edmilson |
| 35 | FW | FRA | Logan Delaurier-Chaubet (on loan from Almere City) |
| 41 | GK | POR | Ricardo Silva |
| 44 | DF | POL | Łukasz Bejger |
| 47 | FW | LTU | Armandas Kučys |
| 70 | DF | FRO | Hanus Sørensen |
| 73 | MF | RUS | Yegor Prutsev (on loan from Red Star Belgrade) |
| 81 | DF | SVN | Klemen Nemanič |
| 88 | MF | SVN | Tamar Svetlin |
| 99 | MF | ESP | Íñigo Eguaras |

## Honours

League
* Slovenian First League (since 1991)
** Winners (2): 2019–20, 2023–24
** Runners-up (3): 2002–03, 2014–15, 2022–23
* Slovenian Republic League (prior 1991)
** Winners (1): 1963–64
** Runners-up (6): 1936–37, 1950, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1970–71, 1973–74
Cup
* Slovenian Cup (since 1991)
** Winners (1): 2004–05
** Runners-up (9): 1992–93, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21
* Slovenian Republic Cup (prior 1991)
** Winners (1): 1964
* MNZ Celje Cup
** Runners-up: 1991–92

## Domestic league and cup results

| Season | League | Position | Pts | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Cup |
| 1991–92 | 1. SNL | 9 | 41 | 40 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 43 | 51 | Round of 16 |
| 1992–93 | 1. SNL | 10 | 32 | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 37 | 47 | Runners-up |
| 1993–94 | 1. SNL | 4 | 38 | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 50 | 34 | Round of 16 |
| 1994–95 | 1. SNL | 6 | 38 | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 27 | Runners-up |
| 1995–96 | 1. SNL | 5 | 51 | 36 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 47 | Semi-finals |
| 1996–97 | 1. SNL | 4 | 47 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 55 | 61 | Quarter-finals |
| 1997–98 | 1. SNL | 6 | 49 | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 57 | 57 | Quarter-finals |
| 1998–99 | 1. SNL | 7 | 42 | 33 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 30 | 35 | Round of 16 |
| 1999–00 | 1. SNL | 6 | 47 | 33 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 53 | 45 | Quarter-finals |
| 2000–01 | 1. SNL | 5 | 50 | 33 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 59 | 52 | First round |
| 2001–02 | 1. SNL | 6 | 48 | 33 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 50 | 39 | Round of 16 |
| 2002–03 | 1. SNL | 2 | 55 | 31 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 57 | 38 | Runners-up |
| 2003–04 | 1. SNL | 10 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 61 | 52 | Quarter-finals |
| 2004–05 | 1. SNL | 3 | 52 | 32 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 47 | 28 | Winners |
| 2005–06 | 1. SNL | 6 | 49 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 48 | 59 | Runners-up |
| 2006–07 | 1. SNL | 7 | 45 | 36 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 54 | 51 | Semi-finals |
| 2007–08 | 1. SNL | 8 | 45 | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 42 | 51 | Quarter-finals |
| 2008–09 | 1. SNL | 4 | 53 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 39 | Round of 16 |
| 2009–10 | 1. SNL | 5 | 51 | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 53 | 56 | Semi-finals |
| 2010–11 | 1. SNL | 8 | 37 | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 41 | 55 | Round of 16 |
| 2011–12 | 1. SNL | 8 | 37 | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 44 | 56 | Runners-up |
| 2012–13 | 1. SNL | 5 | 49 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 39 | 39 | Runners-up |
| 2013–14 | 1. SNL | 8 | 37 | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 30 | 58 | Quarter-finals |
| 2014–15 | 1. SNL | 2 | 70 | 36 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 58 | 31 | Runners-up |
| 2015–16 | 1. SNL | 5 | 45 | 36 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 32 | 46 | Runners-up |
| 2016–17 | 1. SNL | 5 | 55 | 36 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 48 | 39 | Round of 16 |
| 2017–18 | 1. SNL | 5 | 50 | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 56 | 51 | Semi-finals |
| 2018–19 | 1. SNL | 5 | 49 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 45 | 51 | Round of 16 |
| 2019–20 | 1. SNL | 1 | 69 | 36 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 74 | 36 | Quarter-finals |
| 2020–21 | 1. SNL | 7 | 43 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 36 | 41 | Runners-up |
| 2021–22 | 1. SNL | 8 | 42 | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 46 | 50 | Semi-finals |
| 2022–23 | 1. SNL | 2 | 67 | 36 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 53 | 34 | Quarter-finals |
| 2023–24 | 1. SNL | 1 | 79 | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 75 | 34 | Round of 32 |

### Key
## European record

All results (home and away) list Celje's goal tally first.
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 1993–94 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Qualifying round | Odense BK | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| 1997 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage | Antalyaspor | 1–1 | — | 2nd |
| 1997 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage | Maccabi Haifa | — | 1–0 | 2nd |
| 1997 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage | Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod | 1–2 | — | 2nd |
| 1997 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage | Proleter Zrenjanin | — | 0–0 | 2nd |
| 2001 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | First round | Aarhus | 7–1 | 0–1 | 7–2 |
| 2001 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Second round | Petržalka | 5–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 |
| 2001 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Third round | Lausanne-Sport | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 (a) |
| 2003–04 | UEFA Cup | Qualifying round | Belasica | 7–2 | 5–0 | 12–2 |
| 2003–04 | UEFA Cup | First round | Maccabi Haifa | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 |
| 2004 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | First round | Sloboda Tuzla | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) |
| 2005–06 | UEFA Cup | Second qualifying round | Levski Sofia | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Dacia Chișinău | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Tromsø | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 |
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Śląsk Wrocław | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | First qualifying round | Dundalk | 3–0 | — | — |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round | Molde | 1–2 | — | — |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round | Ararat-Armenia | — | 0–1 | — |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | Second qualifying round | Vitória de Guimarães | 3–4 | 1–0 | 4–4 (4–2 p) |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | Third qualifying round | Neman Grodno | 1–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | Play-off round | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–5 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | First qualifying round | Flora | 2–1 | 5–0 | 7–1 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round | Slovan Bratislava | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–6 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round | Shamrock Rovers | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | Play-off round | Pyunik | 4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | Vitória de Guimarães | — | 1–3 | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | İstanbul Başakşehir | 5–1 | — | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | Real Betis | — | 1–2 | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | Jagiellonia Białystok | 3–3 | — | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | Pafos | — | 0–2 | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | League phase | The New Saints | 3–2 | — | 21st out of 36 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | Knockout phase play-offs | APOEL | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | Round of 16 | Lugano | 1–0 | 4–5 | 5–5 (3–1 p) |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | Quarter-finals | Fiorentina | | | |
* ↑ Only one match per qualifying round was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* ↑ Celje played their home match at Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Budapest (Hungary) due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* 1 2 3 After extra time.

## List of managers

* Bojan Prašnikar (1989–1991)
* Stanko Božičevič (1992)
* Janko Benčina (1992)
* Janez Zavrl (1993–1994)
* Ivan Marković (1994)
* Filip Mendaš (1994)
* Borut Jarc (1994–1996)
* Milovan Tarbuk (1996–1997)
* Stanko Poklepović (1997–1998)
* Edin Osmanović (1998–1999)
* Nikola Ilievski (1999–2000)
* Marijan Pušnik (2000–2004)
* Ivica Matković (2004–2005)
* Marko Pocrnjič (2005)
* Nikola Ilievski (2005–2006)
* Janez Žilnik (2006)
* Pavel Pinni (2007–2008)
* Slaviša Stojanovič (2008–2009)
* Milan Đuričić (2009–2010)
* Damijan Romih (2010)
* Stane Bevc (2010–2011)
* Damijan Romih (2011–2012)
* Marijan Pušnik (2012)
* Miloš Rus (2013–2014)
* Simon Rožman (2014–2015)
* Iztok Kapušin (2015–2016)
* Robert Pevnik (2016)
* Igor Jovićević (2016–2017)
* Tomaž Petrovič (2017)
* Dušan Kosič (2017–2020)
* Jiří Jarošík (2020–2021)
* Agron Šalja (2021)
* Simon Sešlar (2021)
* Simon Rožman (2022)
* Roman Pylypchuk (2022–2023)
* Albert Riera (2023)
* Damir Krznar (2023–2024)
* Albert Riera (2024–present)