FK Mačva Šabac

History

The club was founded in 1919. It competed in the Yugoslav football league system until 1991. During the 1920s it played in the First League of the Novi Sad district (a league within the Belgrade Football Subassociation) and since 1930 the league was transformed into the First League if the Novi Sad Football Subassociation. In this period between the two world wars Mačva developed a firce rivalry for the titles in those leagues with FK Vojvodina. The highlight of Mačva in this period was their participation in the 1930–31 Yugoslav Football Championship, however they finished in bottom 6th place.

During this period the club got nicknamed in the press as the "Provincial Uruguay". Provincial because they were playing in the Provincial Group of the Belgrade Subassociation League, and Uruguay because of their playing style which resembled Uruguay´s one which was highly regarded at that time as they were the Olympic champions. The nickname was used for the first time in 1927. By early spring of 1928, Mačva finished top of the First League of the Novi Sad District where they beat their main rivals Vojvodina. In the decisive match Mačva won Vojvodina by 6:1. By the league system of that time, the winners of the district (župa) leagues had to compete between them to determine the Belgrade Subassociation Provincial League champion. Mačva first played at home against the winner of Banat district league champion, Obilić Veliki Bečkerek, which they won by 4:1, and then played away and won by 4:3 the champion of the Šumadija district league, FK Šumadija 1903. Then, the drew determined that the final match will be played in Šabac against ZAŠK from Zemun, which Mačva smashed by 6:1 with goals by Bora Kesić, Milan Perić, Raduška Gajić and Kokan Stevanović.

After becoming Belgrade Subassociation Provincial League champions, Mačva became notorious and the main daily newspaper Politika consistently used the nickname Provincial Uruguay specially after their surprising win against SK Jedinstvo Beograd by 3:2 in Belgrade, and after their successful tour in Greece where they beat Thessaloniki sides Iraklis by 3:1, and Aris by 4:2.

In the following season they became Novi Sad District League champions for the third time and qualified for the Vojvodina Group of the Belgrade Subassociation League. Mačva wins the league and thus earns a spot in the Yugoslav First League where competes among the major clubs in the country. They make great performances against BSK Belgrade and Hajduk Split and win the 3-time Yugoslav champions Građanski Zagreb. Mačva players start to receive calls for the Yugoslav national team, namely Milorad Arsenijević, Ivan Bek, Milorad Ilić, Milanče Jovanović, Radomir Vojisavljević, Andreja Kojić and Bora Kesić. Other players of the Provincial Uruguay generation were Jefta Jovanović, Jovan Vračarić, Jovan Cvetković, Gidra Šljivić, Milan Perić, Kokan Stefanović, Kulja Suvajdžić, Bata Kiš, Vido Božović, Moma Jovanović, Mikica Sinđelić, Đole Jovanović, Đorđe Pantazijević, Raduška Gajić, Mikela Stanojčić, Mita Salajdžijević, Nikola Kradžić, Brana Janković and others.

Supporters

The organized supporters of Mačva Šabac are known as Šaneri (Serbian Cyrilic: Шанери), and have a frienship with Napredak Kruševac fan group Jakuza.

Current squad

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

Out on loan

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

For recent transfers, see List of Serbian football transfers winter 2016–17. For summer transfers, see List of Serbian football transfers summer 2016.

Notable players

For the list of all current and former players with Wikipedia article, please see: Category:FK Mačva Šabac players.