Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium

Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium
The stadium in September 2003
Location Betanija, Centar, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates 43°52′26″N 18°24′31″E / 43.87389°N 18.40861°E / 43.87389; 18.40861Coordinates: 43°52′26″N 18°24′31″E / 43.87389°N 18.40861°E / 43.87389; 18.40861
Owner Sarajevo City Council
Operator Sarajevo City Council
Capacity 34,500[1]
Field size 105 x 68 m (114.8 x 74.4 yd)
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 1946
Opened 1947
Renovated 1984
1996
Expanded 1984
Tenants
FK Sarajevo
Bosnia and H. national under-21 football team

Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, also known as City Stadium Koševo, Olympic Stadium Koševo and Asim Ferhatović - Hase[2][3] Bosnian: Градски стадион Кошево, translit. Gradski stadion Koševo / Bosnian: Олимпијски стадион Кошево, translit. Olimpijski stadion Koševo / Bosnian: Асим Ферхатовић - Хасе, translit. Asim Ferhatović - Hase) is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Koševo neighborhood of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Koševo Stadium (Bosnian: Кошево) or Olympic Stadium is owned by the city, and leased on longterm basis by FK Sarajevo.[4] The club proposed the new name for its sporting and football events, in honor to its former footballer and club's legend, Asim Ferhatović - Hase. It hosted the opening ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Currently, it is home to football club FK Sarajevo and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.

Construction

The stadium was opened in the year 1947. In 1984, it was reconstructed for the 1984 Winter Olympics, and is therefore often called Olympic Stadium (Olimpijski stadion / Олимпијски стадион). Since July 2004, FK Sarajevo proposed the new name for sporting and football events, in honor to its former player and club's legend from the 1960s, Asim Ferhatović - Hase.

Today, total capacity of Stadium Koševo is 37,500 seat, and up to 70,000 for musical and various public events, such as U2's PopMart Tour in 1997 and Dino Merlin's Burek tour in 2004 and Hotel Nacional in 2015, or hosting of papal pastoral visitations by Pope John Paul II two days visit between 12–13 April 1997 and Pope Francis in 6 June 2015. It is also the home stadium of the national football side of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

Construction works started in 1947. The stadium was literally buried into a local hill thus merging with its natural surroundings. In 1950 a pitch and a tartan track were also added. The first international football match, between Yugoslavia and Turkey, was played in 1954.

In 1966, the stadium hosted an athletic championship for the Balkans. It was renovated for that occasion. New administration building was built, so were the new locker rooms and a restaurant. A modern scoreboard and new lighting were also provided.

The stadium was renovated for the third time after the Bosnian War, in 1998. By adding the chairs on every stand the seating capacity of the stadium was reduced to 37,500.

Throughout its football history, the stadium was usually a home ground for FK Sarajevo's and FK Zeljeznicar's international matches. Sarajevo audience witnessed many great matches against Europe's finest clubs such as Manchester United, Dynamo Kyiv, Derby County, FC Basel, Hamburger SV, Newcastle United etc.

The stadium's largest attendance was recorded in 1981–82 league match between FK Sarajevo and FK Željezničar. Allegedly, up to 60,000 people attended the game, though exact number was never officially published.

1984 Winter Olympics

On 7 February 1984, Asim Ferhatović Hase stadium hosted the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics for which it was thoroughly renovated and expanded. About 50,000 people attended the ceremonies. The west stand held 18,500 seating places at that time.[5]

Panoramic view of Koševo Stadium during the 1984 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Notable events

International Football Matches

Notable Club Friendlies

Concerts

Other events

Pope Francis celebrating a mass at the stadium in June 2015.
  • Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass in the stadium in front of 50,000 people - 13 April 1997
  • Pope Francis celebrated a mass in the stadium in front of 67,000 people - 6 June 2015

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fksarajevo.ba/bs/stadion
  2. ↑ "45 search results for "stadion Koševo"". sarajevo.ba (in BHS & Eng). Grad Sarajevo - City of Sarajevo (stadium owner). Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "25 search results for "stadion Asim Ferhatović Hase"". sarajevo.ba (in BHS & Eng). Grad Sarajevo - City of Sarajevo (stadium owner). Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. ↑ http://www.fksarajevo.ba/bs/stadion
  5. ↑ 1984 Winter Olympics official report. pp. 10-14, 90.
  6. ↑ Znate li da je slavni Pele postigao gol na Koševu?;klix.ba, 14 May 2011
  7. ↑ Željezničar igrao protiv milanskog Intera 3:3;klix.ba, 16 June 2012
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