NK Mura
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| Full name | Nogometni Klub Mura Murska Sobota |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
Muraši Črno-beli (The Black and Whites) |
| Founded | 16 August 1924 |
| Dissolved | 2004 |
| Ground |
Fazanerija, Murska Sobota |
| Capacity | 3,782 |
Nogometni Klub Mura (English: Mura Football Club), commonly referred to as NK Mura or simply Mura, was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases in the country. The club had its golden years in the 1990s when they managed to win the Slovenian Cup. During this period they were also runners-up in the Slovenian first division twice and finalists in the Slovenian cup and Slovenian Supercup on one occasion.
NK Mura was dissolved in 2004, after the club failed to obtain competition licences issued by the Football Association of Slovenia. However, the football association had allowed the club to finish the 2004–05 season, which was already in progress, and after finishing 8th in the national championship NK Mura effectively ceased all operations. A successor club, which claims rights to Mura's honours and records was established in 2005 under the name ND Mura 05. In spite of inheriting old Mura's supporters and colours, they are not legally considered to be successors to the original NK Mura and the two clubs' track records and honours are kept separate by the Football Association of Slovenia and the Slovenian First League Association.
NK Mura was founded in Murska Sobota on 16 August 1924 in the congress hall of Hotel Dobraj. Their first match came on 31 August 1924 at home against SK Maribor, which was won by the visiting team 9–6. In the first year of the club the team played one more match. This was against SK Mercur from Maribor, which ended with another loss for Mura (3–1).
The best period in the history of the club was after 1991 when Slovenia gained independence. The best results for the club in the Slovenian league came finishing as runners-up in seasons 1993–94 and 1997–98 and third place on two occasions. The 1993–94 season was especially harsh for the club as they were runners-up in Slovenian cup as well. Things changed for the better as the club secured its first trophy only a season later. On May 1995 the club won the Slovenian cup with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Celje. With this title the club secured an invitation to play in the newly established Slovenian Supercup at the start of the next season. The match was played in Ljubljana and was won by Olimpija 2–1. The decisive goal for Olimpija was scored by Branislav Kojičić in the 87th minute. NK Mura always had great support from their fans, and during the 1990s a long-standing rivalry with Maribor was established, which is considered one of the biggest in Slovenian football.
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