Eternal derby (Serbia)


The Eternal derby, also called the Derby of Southeast Europe and Belgrade derby, is the local derby in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, between fierce city rivals Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade, two of the most popular and most successful clubs in Serbia, although the derby has caused division throughout the whole of Serbia. It has been described as "one of European football's most bitter rivalries".
The rivalry is present in a number of different sports but the most intense matches are in football and basketball sections of both clubs. It started immediately after the creation of the two clubs in 1945 and the two clubs have been dominant in domestic football since then.
According to a 2008 survey, Red Star is the most popular club in Serbia with 48% of the population supporting them. The second most popular is Partizan. They also have many supporters in the Republika Srpska, Montenegro and among the Serbian diaspora.
The football rivalry is highly regarded worldwide being as among the fiercest ones. The highest attendance for a Red Star–Partizan match was on the 7th of November 1976. Red Star sold 90,142 tickets, but it is estimated that there were around 100,000 spectators at the Red Star Stadium.

History

Origins of both Red Star and Partizan are found in political institutions of the post-World War II Communist Yugoslavia. Red Star was formed on 4 March 1945 by the United Alliance of Anti-Fascist Youth, part of the new civil authority in Yugoslavia. A few months later, on 4 October 1945, Partizan was founded as the sports association of the Yugoslav People's Army. The first match between the two football teams was played on 5 January 1947. Red Star won 4–3 and an intense rivalry has developed since. Partizan got its first win, 1-0, in the very next derby on 27 April 1947.
However, the fierce Belgrade derby tradition originates from the pre-World War II rivalry between BSK Belgrade and SK Jugoslavija in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. SK Jugoslavija was disbanded in 1945 by the new Communist authorities with its property nationalized and most of it signed over to the newly-formed Red Star. On the other hand, BSK was allowed to continue its existence by the new authorities; after successive name changes, the club came to be known as OFK Beograd since 1957, losing its relevance to the newly-founded Partizan in the process. Although OFK Beograd became successful in its own right, both Red Star and Partizan quickly overtook it in popularity.
Over time, the on-pitch rivalry between Red Star and Partizan in the Yugoslavian Championship reflected the power struggle between the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Defence. The two clubs were dominant in the post-1945 Yugoslav First League, with Red Star having won 19, and Partizan having won 11 Yugoslav championships. The clashes of these two against Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb, the third and fourth respectively in number of national titles, were similarly intense. The four clubs were known as the big 4. After the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992, the Belgrade derby further intensified, the two clubs having since then won all national titles except one, with both Red Star and Partizan winning 16 titles apiece by 2025.

Honours

International

Red Star has won 2 international, 2 regional and 67 domestic trophies, making them the most successful football club in Serbia and the former Yugoslavia. Partizan participated in one European final, won 44 domestic trophies and also 1 regional trophy.
Red Star:
International titles – 4European Cup / UEFA Champions League
Partizan:
International titles – 1European Cup / UEFA Champions League

Supporters

An important aspect of the Belgrade derby are the fans. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.

Delije

Supporters of the various Red Star sports teams are known as Delije. The word Delije is plural of delija, a word of Turkish origin ' that entered the Serbian language during the Ottoman period, meaning brave, strong or handsome young man. The name Delije first began to be used by hardcore Red Star supporters during the late 1980s, with official inauguration taking place on 7 January 1989. Up to that point, the die-hard Red Star fans were scattered amongst 7–8 fan groups that shared the north stand at the Red Star Stadium, most prominent of which were Red Devils, Zulu Warriors, and Ultras. As a sign of appreciation the club direction allowed the word Delije in block letters to be written across their stadium's north stand – the gathering point of the club's most loyal and passionate fans. They are also called Cigani by their arch rivals Grobari, fans of Partizan. Although Delije generally consider the name Cigani to be insulting, they occasionally use this name in their own songs and chants. By 2010, Delije consist of four larger groups: Belgrade Boys, Ultra Boys, Heroes, and Brigate'''.

Grobari

Partizan's supporters, known as Grobari, were formed in 1970. The origin of the nickname itself is uncertain, but an accepted theory is that it was given by their biggest rivals, the Red Star fans, referring to club's mostly black colours which were similar to the uniforms of cemetery undertakers. The other theory says that the name arrives from the Partizan's stadium street name, Humska, in actuality named after medieval land of Hum. The first groups of organized Partizan supporters began to visit the JNA stadium in the late 1950s. Partizan's participation in the 1966 European Cup Final attracted much more fans to the stadium and it is considered to be the point when the organized fans moved to the south stand of the stadium, where they gather to this day. During the 1970s the Grobari started bringing fan equipment to the stadiums such as supporting scarves, signs, banners and flares. By the 1980s the Grobari were one of the four main fan groups in SFR Yugoslavia and began touring all Partizan's matches across the country and Europe. Because of their expressed hooliganism toward other clubs' supporters in those times, fans who represented the core of the Grobari firm were often called among themselves "Riot Squad". They were best known for their English style of supporting, which was mainly based on loud and continuous singing. By 2010, the Grobari consisted of three large groups: Grobari 1970, Zabranjeni and Južni Front.

Stadiums

When Red Star Belgrade is the host, the derby is played at Rajko Mitić Stadium. Colloquially known as "Marakana" after the famous Brazilian stadium, it was opened in 1963. Its capacity is 51,755 spectators, the highest in the country. Red Star Stadium was the host of 1973 European Cup Final, UEFA Euro 1976 Final and 1979 UEFA Cup Final.
When the host is Partizan, the derby is played at Partizan Stadium, formerly known as JNA Stadium which is still its common name. It was opened in 1949. Its capacity is 29,775 spectators. Partizan fans call it Fudbalski Hram.
Both stadiums are located 1 kilometre away from each other in the Autokomanda neighborhood of Belgrade.

Records

Players
Clubs
Season
Attendance
  • Highest single game attendance: 100 000 spectators on 7 November 1976.

Player records

No.NameAppearancesTeam
1Saša Ilić31Partizan
2Momčilo Vukotić25Partizan
3Bora Kostić23Red Star
4Dragan Džajić21Red Star

Head-to-head ranking in Yugoslav First League (1947–1992)

P.47484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
1st111111111111111111111111111111
2nd222222222222222222
3rd333333333333333
4th44444444444
5th55555555
6th66666
7th7
8th8
11th11
13th13
15th15

Head-to-head ranking in First League of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbian SuperLiga (1992–present)

• Total: Red Star with 46 higher finishes, Partizan with 33 higher finishes

Statistics

Head to head results

As of 20 September 2025, a total of 177 derby games have been played in the domestic league.
Before the 1963–64 season all derby matches were played at Partizan Stadium.
Red Star
wins		DrawsPartizan
wins		Goal
difference
at Red Star Stadium453016144:99
at Partizan Stadium262832106:110
Total715848250:209

CompetitionPlayedRed Star winsDrawsPartizan winsRed Star goalsPartizan goals
League177715848250209
Cup41225146150
Other542592010388
Total2721187282414347

All statistics correct as of 12 April 2025.

Players who have played for both clubs (senior career)

Transfers between two clubs (players)

Transfers between two clubs (coaches)

Players who played for one club in youth career and for rival club in senior career

Played for one club and coached the rival club

Players who have played for both clubs (youth career)

Players who have played in Eternal derby for both clubs (league and cup matches)

Players who have scored in Eternal derby for both clubs (championship and cup matches)

Coaches who worked at both clubs

List of the Eternal derby cup matches

  • Partizan participated with two teams.