Connah’s Quay Nomads will play a Champions League qualifying game for the first time in their history when they face FK Sarajevo next Wednesday, August 19.
The Deeside club made their European bow just four years ago, when they competed in the 2016-17 Europa League qualifiers, and now, in what is their fifth campaign, they are preparing to represent Wales in Europe’s elite club competition.
The recently-crowned Cymru Premier champions will take on the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina winners in a one-legged tie at the Cardiff City Stadium.
As the teams prepare to do battle in the Welsh capital, we’ve taken a closer look at the Nomads’ opponents.
The history
Nicknamed Bordo-bijeli, which translates as The Maroon-Whites, the club were founded in 1946 after two local Sarajevo clubs – Udarnick and Slobada – merged to form FK Sarajevo.
Two-time winners of the Yugoslav First League, in 1966-67 and 1984-85, the side now owned by Nguyễn Hoài Nam have won five Bosnian Championships, six Bosnian Cups and one Bosnian Supercup.
The club’s best European performance came in the 1967-68 campaign when they reached the Round of 16, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Manchester United.
They also reached the same stage in the 1982-83 UEFA Cup (now Europa League), this time suffering a 6-2 defeat on aggregate to Anderlecht.
The stadium
Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium – home to FK Sarajevo. (Photo: Ulicar/Wikimedia Commons)
Sarajevo play their home games at the Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, which was opened in 1947.
Since then, the ground has been renovated twice – in 1984 and 1986 – and was expanded in 1984.
The stadium, which has a capacity of 34,500, is named after former striker Asim Ferhatović, who scored 98 goals in 228 appearances during two spells with the club.
Sarajevo are joint tenants with FK Olimpik, who also compete in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ground is also home to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, and hosted the opening ceremony of the 1984 Winter Olympics.
The manager
The club are managed by Vinko Marinović, who has been in charge since December 2019.
The 49-year-old is a former player, and represented the Serbia and Montenegro national football team (no longer in existence) on one occasion.
During a 21-year playing career, he represented clubs including Borac Banja Luka, Red Star Belgrade and Laktaši.
After taking charge during the winter break, Marinović was able to guide the club to a sixth league title, as they finished three points clear of rivals Željezničar.
The players
Macedonian striker Krste Velkoski, the current captain, is currently 10th on the list of all-time leading goalscorers for Sarajevo with 63. The 32-year-old is currently in his second spell with the club, and is one player the Nomads will certainly need to keep an eye on.
Forward Mersudin Ahmetovic has been the club’s leading goalscorer in the previous four league seasons, netting a total of 51 goals since the start of the 2016-17 season. He is also the team’s vice-captain.
Goalkeeper Vladan Kovačević is listed as the club’s most valuable player on football transfers, statistics and market values website transfermarkt.com. The 22-year-old has played for Bosnia and Herzegovina four times, and looks to be a bright prospect for the near future.
(Featured image: Julian Nyča/Wikimedia Commons)
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