The Eternal derby (), also called the Derby of Southeast Europe and Belgrade derby (), is the local derby in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, between fierce city rivals Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade, two of the biggest and most popular clubs in Serbia, although the derby has caused division throughout the whole of Serbia. It has been described as "one of European football's most bitter rivalries".
The rivalry is present in a number of different sports but the most intense matches are in football and basketball sections of both clubs. It started immediately after the creation of the two clubs in 1945 and the two clubs have been dominant in domestic football since then.
According to a 2008 survey, Red Star is the most popular club in Serbia with 48% of the population supporting them. The second most popular is Partizan. They also have many supporters in Republika Srpska, Montenegro and Serbian diaspora.
The football rivalry is highly regarded worldwide being as among the fiercest ones. The highest attendance for a Red Star–Partizan match was about 100,000 spectators at the Red Star Stadium.
History
Origins of both Red Star and Partizan are found in political institutions of the post-World War II Communist Yugoslavia. Red Star was formed on 4 March 1945 by the United Alliance of Anti-Fascist Youth, part of the new civil authority in Yugoslavia. A few months later, on 4 October 1945, Partizan was founded as the sports association of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). The first match between the two football teams was played on 5 January 1947. Red Star won 4–3 and an intense rivalry has developed since. Partizan got its first win, 1-0, in the very next derby on 27 April 1947.
However, the fierce Belgrade derby tradition originates from the pre-World War II rivalry between BSK Belgrade and SK Jugoslavija in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. SK Jugoslavija was disbanded in 1945 by the new Communist authorities with its property nationalized and most of it signed over to the newly-formed Red Star. On the other hand, BSK was allowed to continue its existence by the new authorities; after successive name changes, the club came to be known as OFK Beograd since 1957, losing its relevance to the newly-founded Partizan in the process. Although OFK Beograd became successful in its own right, both Red Star and Partizan quickly overtook it in popularity.
Over time, the on-pitch rivalry between Red Star and Partizan in the Yugoslavian Championship reflected the power struggle between the Interior ministry and the Ministry of Defence. The two clubs were dominant in the post-1945 Yugoslav First League, with Red Star having won 19, and Partizan having won 11 Yugoslav championships. The clashes of these two against Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb, the third and fourth respectively in number of national titles, were similarly intense. The four clubs were known as the big 4. After the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992, the Belgrade derby further intensified, the two clubs having since then won all national titles except one, with Partizan winning a further 16 and Red Star winning 13 by 2022.
Honours
Honours
International
Red Star has won 2 international, 2 regional and 64 domestic trophies, making them the most successful football club in Serbia and the former Yugoslavia. Partizan participated in one European final, won 44 domestic trophies and also 1 regional trophy.
Red Star: International titles – 4 European Cup / UEFA Champions League Winners (1): 1990–91 Intercontinental Cup Winners (1): 1991 UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League Runners-up (1): 1978–79 UEFA Super Cup Runners-up (1): 1991 Mitropa Cup Winners (2): 1958, 1967–68
Partizan: International titles – 1 European Cup / UEFA Champions League Runners-up (1): 1965–66 Mitropa Cup Winners (1): 1978
Supporters
An important aspect of the Belgrade derby are the fans. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.