NK Celje

History

Origins and early football in Celje (1919–1946)

Organised football in Celje predates the present club. A German athletic club, SK Cillier SV, was founded in the city in 1906, while the first Slovenian sports club in Celje, I. SSK Celje (I. slovenski športni klub Celje), was formally established in 1919. The new club established a ground at Glazija beside Ljubljanska cesta and played its first official match against Ilirija of Ljubljana. Other clubs active in the city between the world wars included Olimp, Svoboda and Jugoslavija Celje.

I. SSK Celje initially played friendly matches before entering regional competitions. A match against the professional side Rapid Vienna in 1920 was among the early high-profile fixtures in the city. Football in Celje was reorganised after the Second World War, during which the pre-war Slovenian clubs had been dissolved.

Kladivar and the Yugoslav period (1946–1991)

After the war, Fizkulturno društvo Celje and Športno društvo Olimp merged to form NK Kladivar. The combined team finished third in the Slovenian Republic League in its early post-war period. The club's first major sporting peak arrived in 1963–64, when Kladivar won both the Slovenian Republic League and the Republic Cup. They then defeated Karlovac in qualification to reach the Yugoslav Second League. Contemporary recollections describe the promotion as one of the major sporting events in Celje in the 1960s, with more than 7,000 spectators reported at Glazija for the decisive period of the campaign.

In 1967, Kladivar merged with Železničar Celje, a railway club founded in 1952. The combined club remained primarily in the Slovenian Republic League until relegation in 1978–79, after which it spent much of the following period in the regional competition. By 1990–91, competing under the sponsored name Ingrad-Kladivar Celje, the team had returned to the Republic League. When Slovenia became independent in 1991, Celje entered the newly established national top division and have remained there ever since.

Independence and the Publikum era (1991–2007)

The transition to independent Slovenian football brought major organisational and commercial changes. In 1992, the club adopted the name NK Publikum. Under Janez Zavrl, Celje reached the 1993 Slovenian Cup final. Although they lost to Olimpija, the run secured the club's first qualification for UEFA competition, and Celje made their European debut against Odense BK in the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup. A second cup final followed in 1995, while their first European victory came against Maccabi Haifa in the 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

After several quieter seasons, Celje challenged strongly on two fronts in 2002–03. They finished as PrvaLiga runners-up behind Maribor and also reached the Slovenian Cup final, where they again finished second. Their first major trophy since independence finally arrived in 2005. In the cup final at their new home ground, then called Arena Petrol, Celje defeated Gorica 1–0. They returned to the final the following year but lost to Koper on penalties. In February 2007, the club dropped the Publikum name and again became NK Celje.

NK Celje before the first title (2007–2019)

The first decade under the restored NK Celje name was characterised by regular cup runs but no league championship. Celje were cup runners-up in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, adding to a long sequence of near misses in the competition. The strongest league campaign of this period came in 2014–15, when a young side finished second with 70 points and also reached the cup final.

That season also produced one of the club's longest unbeaten runs of the PrvaLiga era. In November 2014, Celje extended their unbeaten sequence to 17 league matches and 21 matches in all competitions; Benjamin Verbič scored after 11 seconds in a 3–0 win over Zavrč, which the Football Association of Slovenia described as the fastest goal in PrvaLiga history at the time. In 2019 the club marked the centenary of organised Slovenian football in Celje, still waiting for its first national league championship.

First championship and transition (2019–2023)

The long wait ended in the 2019–20 season. The championship was decided on the final day at Stadion Z'dežele, where Celje faced direct title rivals Olimpija Ljubljana. A 2–2 draw was enough for Celje to finish first and become Slovenian champions for the first time. The achievement came just after the club's centenary and changed Celje's status from a perennial Cup contender into a national champion.

The title was followed by two more difficult league seasons, including a seventh-place finish in 2020–21. Celje nevertheless reached another Slovenian Cup final in 2021. By 2022–23, the club had returned to the top end of the table, finishing second and laying the foundations for the most successful period in its history.

Domestic and European breakthrough (2023–present)

Albert Riera was appointed head coach in July 2023 and won nine of his first twelve league matches before leaving for Bordeaux in October. Damir Krznar succeeded him and maintained the title challenge. On 28 April 2024, Yegor Prutsev scored the only goal in a 1–0 home victory against Olimpija that secured Celje's second championship with three rounds remaining. The attendance of 7,242 was then a club record at Stadion Z'dežele. Krznar left in July 2024 after 20 wins in 31 matches, having become the second coach to lead Celje to a Slovenian championship.

Riera returned for a second spell in July 2024. During 2024–25 Celje reached the league phase of a UEFA competition for the first time, advanced all the way to the Conference League quarter-finals and won their second Slovenian Cup by beating Koper 4–0 in the final. The following season brought another Conference League knockout campaign and a third league title. Riera departed for Eintracht Frankfurt in February 2026 after 110 matches across his two spells; Ivan Mayewski briefly succeeded him before Vítor Campelos was appointed in March. Celje mathematically secured the 2025–26 championship on 19 April with a 2–0 away win against Mura.

Colours, names and identity

Celje are traditionally associated with yellow and blue, reflected in the nickname Rumeno-modri (The Yellow and Blues). The club are also widely known as Grofje (The Counts). The city of Celje is historically associated with the Counts of Celje, and the club routinely uses Grofje in its communications and match coverage.

The name of the football organisation has changed several times. I. SSK Celje was established in 1919; after the post-war reorganisation, the club became NK Kladivar. By 1990–91 it competed as Ingrad-Kladivar Celje, and in 1992 adopted the sponsored name NK Publikum. The Publikum designation was dropped in February 2007, after which the club again competed as NK Celje.

Kit manufacturers

Source: Football Kit Archive.

Stadium

Celje's early home was the ground at Glazija. The club later also used Skalna Klet, which became its permanent home after the Glazija ground was demolished in the early 1980s. Skalna Klet eventually became unsuitable for UEFA competitions, leading to the construction of a new stadium in a former clay-pit area in the eastern part of the city.

Construction of the new ground began in 1999. The first completed stand, on the east side, provided approximately 3,600 seats. The first match at the new venue was played on 9 September 2003, when Slovenia's under-21 team drew 0–0 with France; the official club opening followed three days later, when Celje beat Ljubljana 3–1. Simon Sešlar scored Celje's first goal at the stadium. Further construction added the west, south and north stands, with the completed stadium reaching a capacity of 13,059 in 2008.

The ground was initially known as Arena Petrol and was renamed Stadion Z'dežele in 2017 under a sponsorship agreement. Its role in the club's recent rise has been especially visible in European competition. The 2025 Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina drew 12,512 spectators, while 11,500 attended the 2026 Champions League play-off against Slovan Bratislava.

Supporters and rivalries

Celjski Grofje

The club's organised supporters are known as Celjski Grofje 1992. The group traces its organised activity to 8 March 1992, when supporters began gathering at Skalna Klet. At Stadion Z'dežele, the group's active support is associated with the north stand.

Home support increased markedly during the club's second championship season. In 2023–24, Celje's league home matches drew 35,093 spectators in total, an average of 1,950, while the title-clinching match against Olimpija attracted 7,242 spectators and set a club attendance record at the time. The record was surpassed the following season when 12,512 attended the European quarter-final against Fiorentina.

Styrian derby

Matches between Celje and their Styrian rivals Maribor are commonly referred as the Štajerski derbi (Styrian derby). The fixture gained additional sporting significance as Celje became a regular championship contender in the 2020s.

European football

Early European campaigns

Celje qualified for UEFA competition for the first time through their appearance in the 1993 Slovenian Cup final. Their debut came in the qualifying round of the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup, where they lost 1–0 on aggregate to Odense BK. The club later appeared in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1997 and 2001. Their first European victory was an away win over Maccabi Haifa in 1997, while the 2001 campaign took them to the third round before elimination by Lausanne-Sport on away goals.

Celje returned to the UEFA Cup in 2003–04 after their league runners-up finish. They defeated Belasica 12–2 on aggregate in qualifying before losing a close first-round tie against Maccabi Haifa. Sporadic Europa League appearances followed in 2005–06, 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2015–16. Their first Slovenian league title brought a Champions League qualifying place in 2020–21; Celje beat Dundalk 3–0 before losing 2–1 to Molde and later exiting the Europa League against Ararat-Armenia.

Return to Europe and 2024–25 breakthrough

Celje's modern European rise began in 2023–24. Under Albert Riera, they eliminated Vitória S.C. on penalties and then Neman Grodno to reach the play-off round of the Conference League qualifiers for the first time, where Maccabi Tel Aviv ended the run.

As Slovenian champions in 2024, Celje entered Champions League qualifying. After beating Flora 7–1 on aggregate they were eliminated by Slovan Bratislava, then lost to Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League before overcoming Pyunik in the Conference League play-off. This secured the club's first appearance in the main phase of a UEFA competition. Celje finished 21st in the 36-team league phase. The campaign included a 5–1 home victory against İstanbul Başakşehir, a 3–3 draw with Jagiellonia Białystok and a 3–2 win over The New Saints.

In the knockout phase, Celje eliminated APOEL 4–2 on aggregate before one of the most dramatic ties in the club's history against Lugano. Celje won the first leg 1–0, lost the return 5–4 after extra time and advanced 3–1 on penalties after a 5–5 aggregate draw. That made Celje the first Slovenian club to reach the quarter-finals of a major UEFA competition. Against two-time Conference League finalists Fiorentina, Celje lost the first leg 2–1 in front of 12,512 spectators but drew 2–2 in Florence after briefly leading 2–1 in the second half. Fiorentina progressed 4–3 on aggregate.

2025–26 Conference League

The following season Celje again began in the Europa League qualifiers, overcoming Sabah before losing to AEK Larnaca. Dropping into the Conference League, they reversed a first-leg defeat against Lugano with a 5–0 away win and then beat Baník Ostrava 3–0 on aggregate to reach the league phase for a second consecutive season. Celje finished 13th in the league phase and qualified directly for the knockout phase play-offs.

Celje beat Drita 6–4 on aggregate in the knockout phase play-offs. Their second consecutive European spring ended in the round of 16 against AEK Athens: after a 4–0 home defeat, Celje won the second leg 2–0 in Athens but were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate.

2026–27 Champions League and Europa League

As 2025–26 Slovenian champions, Celje entered the 2026–27 Champions League in the second qualifying round. They advanced past Egnatia after a penalty shoot-out and then eliminated Ararat-Armenia 3–2 on aggregate, reaching the Champions League play-off round for the first time. In the play-off they drew 1–1 away to Slovan Bratislava before losing the return 2–1 after extra time in front of 11,500 spectators at Stadion Z'dežele, falling 3–2 on aggregate.

Elimination from the Champions League sent Celje into the Europa League league phase, their first appearance in that stage of the competition. The draw paired Celje with Bayer Leverkusen, Omonia, Red Bull Salzburg, Sturm Graz, Ferencváros, Olympiacos, Ararat-Armenia, and NEC Nijmegen.

Ownership and management

Ownership and organisation

The senior football operation is connected to NKCE d.o.o., a company registered in December 2019. Public business records list Sport Invest d.o.o. as holding 74% of NKCE and the NK Celje association holding 26%. The 74–26 structure was also reported by Sportklub when examining the organisation of Slovenian top flight clubs in 2021–22.

Valeriy Kolotilo was elected club president in July 2023 after previously serving as general director.

Club officials

Source: NK Celje

First-team coaching and support staff

Source: NK Celje

Sponsorship

Cinkarna Celje is one of the club's principal long-term commercial partners. In July 2026, the company stated that its continuous principal sponsorship of NK Celje had lasted for more than 20 years, describing it as one of the longest-running partnerships in Slovenian sport. Another major partner, Austrian insurance group GRAWE, extended its agreement with the club in June 2026 through 2031.

Players

Current squad

As of 7 September 2026

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

Out on loan

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

Honours

League

Slovenian First League (since 1991)

Winners (3): 2019–20, 2023–24, 2025–26

Runners-up (3): 2002–03, 2014–15, 2022–23

Slovenian Republic League (prior 1991)

Winners (1): 1963–64

Runners-up (6): 1936–37, 1950, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1970–71, 1973–74

Cup

Slovenian Cup (since 1991)

Winners (2): 2004–05, 2024–25

Runners-up (9): 1992–93, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21

Slovenian Republic Cup (prior 1991)

Winners (1): 1964

MNZ Celje Cup

Runners-up: 1991–92

Records and statistics

Club records

The following records cover Celje players in the Slovenian PrvaLiga since 1991. Sebastjan Gobec holds both the club record and the all-time PrvaLiga appearance record with 488 league appearances.

Source: Football Association of Slovenia.

Domestic league and cup record

Key

European record

All results (home and away) list Celje's goal tally first.