The Maniacs
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The most passionate fans of FK Željezničar, known as The Maniacs, are one of the top supporter groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are carrying that tradition from the former Yugoslavia, where they belonged to the second quality group, together with Horde zla, Armada and Red Firm. They carry the name from the late 80’s, but it would be wrong to consider that time as the start of fiery supporting on the Grbavica stadium.
Since the beginning of the club, it had its loyal supporters. It was workers' club and very popular with common people and because of it's multiethnicity, it had a lot of problems with the influential circles, so many people were finding it exciting to support it. In the championship-winning season, 1971/1972, the supporters followed the club all around the country, and the climax was on the JNA stadium when the title was won, in the last round of the championship. Upon return to Sarajevo, a celebration was organized in the city, cars with flags circled around the city making a whole lot of noise with car horns, trumpets, etc. After years of success, a switch of generations came, and Željo ended up in the second division, but the fans never left the Blues even then. The average attendance on Grbavica was close to 10,000.
At that time, the most passionate fans gathered on a hill behind the South Stand, which was not constructed at the time. Upon return to the first division, a strong team was created gradually, and in 1981 Željo reached the Yugoslav Cup final. The game was played in Belgrade and it attracted some 60,000 spectators, which was the top attendance for a Cup finals game (except for those played by Belgrade clubs). Thousands of Željo supporters arrived to Marakana and were based on the eastern stand, while Velež supporters were on the west stand. Despite loud support, Željo lost 2-3, but this game caused many “undecided” ones to finally choose Željo.
In the first half of the 80’s, the atmosphere on Grbavica was somewhat different from today’s (the supporters’ trend was quite different at the time). The trend was to have flags on masts (the biggest one Grbavica was a blue-white flag with locomotive and wagons, which represented Željo’s train) and the atmosphere was further heated by ship sirens mounted on pumps for car tires, as well as bells, whistles… Cheering and rooting for Željo was there at every game, while especially important were the games against the “big four” (Red Star, Partizan, Dinamo, Hajduk), Velež and of course the derby against city arch-rivals Sarajevo. Preparations for the city derby lasted for months and the atmosphere at the stadium was close to the boiling point. It was a custom that after victory, fans go through the city all the way to Baščaršija (old part of Sarajevo) where it would all end in front of a pastry shop owned by a passionate fan of FK Sarajevo. On one occasion, in November 1982, after a victory on Grbavica 1-0 against Sarajevo, the column of fans was led by people carrying a banner with a humorous obituary dedicated to FK Sarajevo.
Željo reached the heights of its glory in 1984/85 when the team took part in the UEFA Cup. Banners of fans from outside Sarajevo could be seen at Grbavica at the time, such as those from Konjic, Breza, Travnik, Kiseljak, Mala Gornja Doboštica near Lukavac, and Željo had the support of players and fans of NK Uranija from Baška Voda, Croatia. Željo always had its fans in Tuzla, Zenica, Mostar, Rijeka, Ljubljana, etc. And before the war there was a group of some 50 Maniacs in Novi Sad. Željo’s fans are also in several songs – “Song of Željo’s supporters” was recorded in the 70’s, and it is played before every game at Grbavica even today, as well as “Željo, that is my team” by Sarajevo pop-rock group Bombaj štampa and famous train whistle.
[edit] Modern times
In the second half of the '80s the most passionate fans are getting more organized and they give themselves the name The Maniacs. Beside this group, other sub-groups are formed – Blue Tigers, Joint Union and several other. New scarves are made (Joint Union scarf was well-respected at all stadiums around former Yugoslavia), pyrotechnic devices are purchased – most flares were lit at the game against Red Star in 1990, and traveling to away matches is organized. Influences of hooliganism in Europe could be seen in the late '80s as fights against rival fan groups were organized.
During the aggression on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Grbavica was on the occupied territory, the wooden West Stand was torched and battles took place around the stadium. All Maniacs had only one thought in their minds – “when will we get back to Grbavica”. Upon reintegration of Sarajevo, the stadium was in a very bad condition, but the club management and the fans stared working, thus the stadium was rehabilitated as much as it was possible for the match against Sarajevo, on the symbolic date of May 2nd 1996. It is difficult to describe the look on The Maniacs’ faces during that historical game. A mixture of disbelief, sadness but also a huge joy for being at Grbavica again.
Željo’s fans had their leaders. There were many during all these years, but one name sticks out. That is late Dževad Begić Džilda, who died as a hero during the first year of war. His name is mentioned on Grbavica today with special respect.
Today, new trends can be seen. Much efforts are being spent on coreography and decore is usually very original and very much like ones made by Italian supporter groups. Loud cheering and singing, mixture of scarfs and flags, paper rolls at the beginning of the match, make away team to feel unpleasant and the guests on the stadium impressed. Away games have even better atmosphere among the fans as only the most passionate ones go.
The Maniacs remain on their South Stand, although it has become an unwritten rule that after a certain number of years the older ones move to the North Stand, thus Željo today has support from both sides of the pitch. These older fans are known as Košpicari (Seed eaters). What is important is that one can always hear the famous words “Let's go Željo blue troops…” on Grbavica…
