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Stadion Grbavica

Grbavica Stadium
Valley of Cups
Panoramic view of Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo.jpg
Grbavica Stadium - UEFA Nuvola apps mozilla.pngNuvola apps mozilla.png
Location Ulica Zvornička 21, Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates 43°50′48″N 18°23′14″E / 43.84667°N 18.38722°E / 43.84667; 18.38722Coordinates: 43°50′48″N 18°23′14″E / 43.84667°N 18.38722°E / 43.84667; 18.38722
Owner FK Željezničar Sarajevo
Capacity 13,785 (League Matches)
Field size 105 x 66 m (114.8 x 72.2 yd)
Surface Grass
Construction
Built 1949–53
Opened 13 September 1953
Renovated 25 April 1976
Expanded 2017
Construction cost > 2 million
Tenants
FK Željezničar Sarajevo
(1953-1968, 1976-present)

Grbavica Stadium is located in Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The football stadium has terraces close to the pitch and it is the home of FK Željezničar. The stadium has a capacity to hold 13,785 seated spectators, with more room for standing spectators under South stands (capacity up to 16,000). Grbavica Stadium is also known as the Dolina Ćupova "Valley of Cups".

The building of the football ground in Grbavica started during the late 1940s by SD Željezničar. Although there were several football pitches with bleachers and stands in Sarajevo at the time (including the freshly built Koševo Stadium), it was decided by communist authorities that Željezničar should have its own playing facility. Many of the club's supporters, friends, and members, including a number Yugoslav People's Army personnel helped in the construction of the stadium. Unlike Koševo that was a large-scale project with generous state support through funds and manpower, Grbavica had a lot fewer people working on it and as a result took much longer to complete. A new pitch with a drainage system was built and the stands were built with concrete. The south and east side were made out of concrete, while wooden stands that were taken from the Marijin Dvor ground that was torn down, got placed on the west side. At first, Grbavica was a multi-use stadium. Competitions in cycling and athletics were organized, as well as football matches. Eventually its use became football only. It was officially opened on September 13, 1953 with the Yugoslav Second League western division match between Željezničar and Šibenik. Željezničar won 4–1.

In 1968 renovations on the stadium began and on April 25, 1976 Grbavica was re-opened. About 50,000 cubic meters of materials were used, and the floodlights were installed. Two training pitches and the "little sports stadium" were added, as well as new dressing rooms, showers and other important facilities. The Đurasović family were the first donors.

In 1986 a proper northern stand was finally built. There were plans for the whole stadium to be remodeled and encircled to look like the newly built north stand, but they got shelved for the time being. As a result of the renovations, in October 1987, Yugoslav national football team (coached at the time by Željo legend Ivica Osim) played its first ever match at the stadium. In a Euro 88 qualification clash versus Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia won 3–0.


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