FK Sloboda Tuzla

Foundation

FK Sloboda Tuzla was founded in 1919, as a part of the Labour Sport Society Gorki, named after the great socialist Russian poet Maxim Gorky. The football club and the labour society was popular in a wide part of the sporting public in Tuzla and beyond. The club was formed on the initiative of the Tuzla branch of the newly formed Communist party of Yugoslavia, under the influence of the ideas of the October revolution of 1917 and revolutionary movements in Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as its integral part.

After the initial congress of unification and the creation of the Socialist Labour Party (Communists) in Yugoslavia that took place in Vukovar, Croatia in 1919, the first conference of the Tuzla municipal organisation of the SWPY(c) took place on 17 October 1919 in Tuzla. The elected party council decided on the same day to start with the formation of a worker's sporting society. The official founding of the club took place in the end of October 1919, and gathering was led by Jovo Sretenović, Mato Vidović, Safet Hadžiefendić, Ljubko Simić, Niko Trifković and Petar Dugonjić.^[1]

The men elected into the first Board of directors of the club were: Leonard Bancher, Mato Vidović, Niko Trifković, Stjepan Brkljačić and Alfred Puhta, Mijo Cuvaj and Ahmed Mandžić, Franto Bauzek (locksmith), Emil Kranjčec, Jakov Čurić and Petar Dugonjić, Franjo Miškovski, Safet Hadžiefendić, August Mot and Karlo Schwartz. The origin of the original name of the sporting society, Gorki, was explained by Petar Dugonjić:

When the final preparations for the organising meeting were being dealt with, it was suggested that the club be named Sokolović, after Mićo Sokolović, a known worker's rights activist. Then Mitar Trifunović noticed: "People, few will know that we named the Club after our Mića. Most will think of Mehmed-paša Sokolović". The practical Franjo Rezač insisted we go to the meeting with a concrete name suggestion. Mitar Trifunović then said: "If no one objects, I would suggest the club bears the name of Maxim Gorky". I remember it well. Afterwards the name was accepted with enthusiasm at the meeting.^[1]

The first headquarters of the club was in Rudarska Street in Tuzla, not far from Skver is today. Afterwards the headquarters moved to the building of the Jewish Bank, then to the Grand Hotel and then back to Rudarska Street. The games were played on two fields – the first one was called the Communist playground between what today are the Chemical and Mechanical high-schools and the second one was the field where the Braća Ribar primary schools stands.

All the players were workers, and the Gorki first team had the following players: Mirko Veseli, Peri Mot, Karlo Krejči, Santo Altarac, Ivica Šifer, Franto Bauzek, Mijo Josić, Lorenc Ajhberger, Vili Zaboš, Slavko Zafani, Ahmed Mandžić, Alfred Puhta, Jozo Vikić, Malaga Mustačević, Dragoslav Stakić and several others. The coach was Brato Gamberger, former player of HŠK Zrinjski.^[1]

The club mostly played against other Tuzla football clubs. Namely, at the time of the formation of FK Gorki there were three other football clubs in Tuzla, Zrinjski, Obilić and Makabi, based around the Croatian, Serbian and Jewish population of Tuzla. In 1921 the Bosniak club Bura was also formed. Unlike these confessional clubs, FK Gorki was multinational and accepted members of all faiths and ethnicities.

It is important to note that the official ground of Tuzla in this period was the field of HŠK Zrinjski built in 1928 on the road to Solina from Brčanska Malta with the help of Kalman Liska, a wood merchant and president of HŠK Zrinjski.

Panoramic view of the stadium

FK Sloboda

In 1924, because of the country-wide ban of communist activities, FK Gorki was banned by the government of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes under the orders of the infamous Obznana. There was an attempt to form another worker's club, called Hajduk, but this was also banned in 1924.

Bosnian First League 1993-2000

In 1991 Sloboda was to be relegated from 1st Yugoslav league, but after Croatian and Slovenian teams left Yugoslav 1st league Sloboda was there for season 1992 but left leaugue with Željezničar, Sarajevo and Velež after breakout of war. Until 2000 Sloboda played First League of NFSBiH, after 2000 Sloboda played Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Season 1994-1995 was first season of Bosnian First League, Sloboda won Tuzla Group but lost in First Play Off Round from Bosna Visoko,and reached finals of National Cup, but lost to Čelik Zenica.

Next season saw Sloboda wining third place in League, top scorer was Nedim Omerović with 17 goals, same thing happens again in Cup, losing to Čelik.

In season 1996-1997 Sloboda declined and ended up tenth in First League. In Season 1997-1998 Sloboda missed Championship Playoff with Croat teams by 3 points.

Season 1998-1999 was turbulent one, by the end of first half of championship Sloboda was in relegation zone, on winter Mustafa Hukić took club over and made great success by reaching fifth place.

Season 1999-2000 started with huge expectations, fans expected great things, but on August 7th manager of Sloboda Mustafa Hukić died in car crash, and Sloboda ended up in 7th place and runner up in 3 team finals of National Cup.

Number of great players played for team during these years such as Vedin Musić, Muhamed Konjić, Sakib Malkočević, Nedim Omerović.

Federal league, back in top flight 2012-

After 42 years Sloboda was relegated to Federal league in 2011-12 season. They came back after their 2nd season of being relegated. They were the leaders of the first part of the 2015–16 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of March 7, 2016 the team are on an 18-game unbeaten run in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina dating back to November 18, 2014.

National

Active competitions

• Bosnian Premier League: (1st tier)
  • Runners-up (1): 2015–16
• First League of FBiH: (2nd tier)
  • Winners (1): 2013–14
• Bosnian Cup:
  • Runners-up (6): 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2015–16

Defunct competitions

• Yugoslav First League: (1st tier)
  • Third Place (1): 1976–77
• Yugoslav Second League: (2nd tier)
  • Winners (1):: 1958–59
• Yugoslav Cup:
  • Runners-up (1): 1970–71

European

• UEFA Intertoto Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1983

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player TBD DF Edin Salkić (at Bratstvo)