FK Vojvodina – Celtic’s toughest opponent on road to Lisbon

The Celtic Star

·25 November 2024

FK Vojvodina – Celtic’s toughest opponent on road to Lisbon

FK Vojvodina. One of our toughest opponents en route to Lisbon glory…

Celtic clinched a place in the Semi-Finals of the European Cup by winning 2-0 against Vojvodina at Celtic Park. Stevie Chalmers & Billy McNeill the goalscorers to give Celtic a 2-1 win on aggregate. Imago Celtic Curio

FK Vojvodina who provided one of our stiffest tests

Our road to victory in our greatest ever achievement as a club was paved with difficult obstacles. So one would be forgiven for thinking that the mighty Inter Milan who we defeated on that sunny day in Lisbon, would have been our most formidable opponent, but according to the great man himself Jock Stein, it was Yugoslavian side FK Vojvodina who provided one of our stiffest tests.

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Vojvodina were a well known side in Yugoslavia and were of course current champions of their country. They were founded in 1914 by a group of Serbian orthodox high school students and serval intellects and craftsmen.

Celtic v FK Vojvodina, 8th March 1967. Photos The Celtic Wiki

Vojvodina’s History

The club was found in secrecy due to the Austro-Hungarian empire banning larger organised gatherings of juveniles in the region which was inhabited mostly by Serbs.

The name Vojvodina was indeed established in empathy with the political territorial unit of the Serbs in Serbian Vojvodina. A group which fought for many years in a bid to earn Serbs the same divine rights as all the other citizens in the Habsburg Empire.

Vojvodina have a close bond with Czech side Slavia Prague. The Czechs were instrumental in helping develop the club after a tough start amidst the aftermath of World War One. Hence the red and white colours of Vojvodina are in tribute to the Czechs.

Celtic v FK Vojvodina, 8th March 1967. Photos The Celtic Wiki

Despite being a major side in Yugoslavia they failed to win a major trophy in the first half century of their existence despite always being there or thereabouts when it came to winning silverware.

Vojvodina narrowly missed out on the 1962 title, before nearly succumbing to relegation the following season. In a bid to revive their fortunes they had a major reshuffle in 1964 when They hired former Red Star and Yugoslavian international right back Branko Stankovic as their manager, and installed former player Vujadan Boskov as technical director.

Celtic v FK Vojvodina, 8th March 1967. Photos The Celtic Wiki

They won their first ever league title in 1966

It worked wonders and they won their first ever league title in 1966. This of course allowed them to enter the European cup and they defeated Austrians Admira Wacker in the first round before defeating Spanish champions Atletico Madrid after a third match to set up a quarter final tie with Celtic.

Celtic v FK Vojvodina, 8th March 1967. Photos The Celtic Wiki

Vojvodina beat Celtic 1-0 in Yugoslavia

Vojvodina would defeat Celtic 1-0 in Yugoslavia before heading to Glasgow for the second leg. Celtic struggled for the first 45 against the technically gifted and organised Yugoslavs in front of a huge Celtic park crowd, but turned on the style in a blistering second half which seen us advance to the semi finals as a Stevie Chalmers strike and a last gasp Billy McNeill header sent Celtic park into a frenzy.

Celtic had been tested to the limit against the well disciplined and skilful Yugoslavian side, and it’s no wonder big Jock was an admirer of Branko Stankovics side.

Vojvodina would have to wait another twenty three years before their next league title, a title that remains their last to this day, but they are still a huge side in the now Serbian football scene.