Confederation None Ground Banja Luka City Stadium | Head coach Željko Buvač | |
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Home stadium Banja Luka City Stadium Location Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Association Football Association of Republika Srpska (FSRS) | ||
The Republika Srpska football team (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Reprezentacija Republike Srpske / Репрезентација Републике Српске) is the official team of Republika Srpska, an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA.
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The football team was formed in 1992, following the creation of Republka Srpska as a political entity. The Football Association of Republika Srpska (FSRS) was established on 5 September 1992 in spite of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina which had escalated earlier that year. The main task of FSRS in that period was to organize and manage competitions in the territory of Republika Srpska. The competitions were played in different league formats throughout wartime.
History
Although the Dayton Agreement (which ended war conflict in the country) allowed the general forming of independent sport organizations in Republika Srpska which would be recognized internationally, FIFA and UEFA allowed FSRS to participate in the international scene only as part of FSBiH. However, a possibility for international friendly matches for national teams of Republika Srpska was left open, but with explicit permission of FIFA. The national team of Republika Srpska had its "international debut" in 2000 against the Greek club Kavala FC which won 6–0. After that, two other "international matches" were played. In 2001, in Germany, there were two matches against Bayern II (lost by 0–1) and Schweinfurt 05 (won by 4–2). On the other hand, the U21 squad of Republika Srpska takes part in "international" friendly tournaments every year.
The Republika Srpska official team played its first unofficial match at the Banja Luka City Stadium on 20 December 1992, when the rival to the Srpska team was a team representing the Republic of Serbian Krajina. This match ended 1–1. Srpska scored the first goal in the 16th minute thanks to Zoran Nešković and the equaliser was scored in the 45th minute by Tihomir Žorić. Žorić, then playing for Dinara from Knin, was chosen the best player of that friendly match. There were about 2,000 spectators at the FK Borac stadium. Republika Srpska was coached in that match by Miloš Đurković, assistant coach was Mladen Katić, and the selected players were Nikola Čobanović, Dragan Marković, Nedo Zdjelar, Sretko Vojkić, Zoran Vranješ, Stojan Janjetović, Veljko Salamić, Vlado Jagodić, Borče Sredojević, Ljubiša Kukavica, Borislav Tonković, Danijel Pajić, Jovica Lukić, Milan Miladinović, Stojan Malbašić, Enver Ališić, Mićo Gračanin, Zoran Nešković, Aleksa Marić, Predrag Šobot, Boris Gluhović, Filip Trivan, Drago Lukić and Miro Šarac.
In 1995, the First League of Republika Srpska was established as a top division for clubs competition. Also a cup tournament was created, the Republika Srpska Cup. Meanwhile, separate leagues were formed in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina which gathered Croatian and Bosniak clubs in the country. The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, FSBiH, was created in 1992 and was recognised by FIFA in 1996 and UEFA in 1998. As the FSBiH was the only football federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina recognized by FIFA its clubs alone were allowed to compete internationally and contest the newly formed Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Faced with the fact that clubs from Republika Srpska hadn't been allowed to take part in international competitions, FSRS decided to join FSBiH, on 23 May 2002. After that, some top ranked clubs from the First League were promoted to the Premier League, which started on 4 August the same year.
Head coaches
Assistant coaches
Results in the past
During that period, the senior team played several unofficial matches against the local football clubs, such as Rudar Ugljevik, Kozara Gradiška and Radnik Bijeljina.
Republika Srpska played the first unofficial match in Germany in 2001 against FC Bayern Munich II and lost by 1–0. During that same visit to Germany, the Srpska team celebrated their first victory against FC Schweinfurt 05 with the result of 4–2.
In recent years, Republika Srpska has planned to play a friendly match against Serbia. Although the Srpska team received the approval of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this match has not been played yet.
Youth competitions
Since 2000, the U19 team regularly takes part in the international Stevan Nešticki Tournament in Novi Sad, Serbia. Republika Srpska won the tournament on two occasions (in 2004 and 2012).