The Serbian Super League (Serbian: Супер лига Србије / Super liga Srbije), stylized as Mozzart SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a Serbian professional league for football clubs.

Serbian SuperLiga
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
CountrySerbia
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSerbian First League
Domestic cup(s)Serbian Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
Current championsRed Star Belgrade (10th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsRed Star Belgrade
(10 titles)
Most appearancesJanko Tumbasević (390 matches)
Top goalscorerAleksandar Katai
(107 goals)
TV partnersArena Sport, Adria TV, SportKlub Slovenia, Match TV
Websitesuperliga.rs
Current: 2024–25 Serbian SuperLiga

At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It operates a system of promotion and relegation with Serbian First League, the second tier in the Serbian football pyramid. Serbian Super League is usually contested by 16 clubs, but the 2020–21 season was contested by 20 clubs, because the Football Association of Serbia restructured the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic, operating a system of promotion and relegation with Serbian First League, the second tier in the Serbian football pyramid.

The SuperLiga was formed during the summer of 2005 as the country's top football league competition in Serbia and Montenegro. Since summer 2006 after the secession of Montenegro from Serbia, the league only has had Serbian clubs.

Serbian clubs used to compete in the Yugoslav First League. This competition was formed in 1923 and lasted until 2003. After the downfall of SFR Yugoslavia in 1991 a new Yugoslavia would be formed that would be named FR Yugoslavia with Montenegro and Serbia. They kept the name Yugoslavia until 2003 when the country changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro: this union lasted until 2006 when Montenegro gained independence and formed its own league, the Montenegrin First League.

The current SuperLiga champions are Red Star Belgrade. UEFA currently ranks the league 13th in Europe of 55 leagues.[1] The league was known as Meridian SuperLiga from 2005 until 2008. The league's official sponsor until 2015 was beer brand Jelen pivo, this resulted in the league's official name to be Jelen SuperLiga.

Format

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Competition

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The SuperLiga began as a league with a playoff system in an attempt to boost ratings and improve competition. After the first season however, the SuperLiga changed its format. The 2007–08 season was the first to be played in a more traditional format. The league no longer divided into a play-off and play-out group midway through the campaign. Instead, the 12 teams began playing each other three times in a more conventional league format. After two seasons with that format the Football Association of Serbia decided to add 4 teams to the SuperLiga. The 2009–10 season will be the first with a 16 team league played in a conventional league format of one home and one away match rather than the previous 3 match encounters. This drops the match schedule from 33 rounds to 30.

As of the 2015-16 season, the league reverted to its previous playoff system, whereby the top 8 placed teams compete in the championship round at the end of the season and the 8 lowest placed teams play in the relegation playoff round. The two bottom placed teams are relegated to the second division, the Serbian Prva Liga. The third lowest-placed team is then sent to a relegation playoff against the third-placed team in the second division. Whichever team wins will play in the SuperLiga the following season.

Qualification for UEFA competitions

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Superliga champions and runner-ups enter Champions League qualifying entering the play-off round and second qualifying round respectively. The cup winner qualifies for the Europa League playoff round. The third and fourth placed teams enter the qualyfing round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, entering in the third and second qualifying round respectively.

In 2022-23, champions Red Star Belgrade were guaranteed to enter the Champions League group stage, due to access list changes in the Champions League regarding the suspension of Russian teams, and Serbia was ranked 11th in the UEFA coefficient list. TSC was also promoted from the UCL second qualifying round to the third qualifying round. This meant that for the first time ever, Serbia was allocated a group stage berth in the Champions League.

History

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The Yugoslav First League started being played in 1923, and gathered the best clubs from the former Yugoslavia. In 1991, clubs from Slovenia and Croatia left and formed their own league systems, and in 1992 so did the clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia. The Yugoslav First League was played since 1992 with clubs from Serbia and Montenegro, until 2006, when Montenegro declared independence and subsequently formed its own league system. Since 2006 the league is formed exclusively by clubs from Serbia and got renamed into Serbian SuperLiga.

Serbian League (1920–1922 / 1940–1944 / 1946)

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Club Titles Years won
OFK Beograd
5
1920, 1921, 1941, 1943, 1944
Jugoslavija
2
1922, 1942
Red Star
1
1946

Kingdom of Yugoslavia League (1923–1940)

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Club Titles Years won Runners up
OFK Beograd
5
1931, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1939
4
Jugoslavija
2
1924, 1925
3

Yugoslav First League (1946–1992)

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Club Titles Years won Runners up Third place
Red Star
19
1951, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992
9
7
Partizan
11
1947, 1949, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1987
9
8
Vojvodina
2
1966, 1989
3
2
OFK Beograd
2
2
Radnički Beograd
2
Radnički Niš
2

First League of Federal Republic Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)

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In 1992 the Yugoslav First League became the First League of FR Yugoslavia (Prva savezna liga or Meridian SuperLiga) and was played since then with the clubs from Serbia and Montenegro.

The league winner had access to the UEFA Champions League qualifications rounds, and the 2nd, 3rd and the Cup winner had played in the UEFA Cup. The bottom clubs would be relegated to the two Second Leagues depending on the republic they were based in, the Second League of Serbia (Druga savezna liga Srbija) and the Second League of Montenegro (Druga savezna liga grupa Crna Gora).

In 2002, FR Yugoslavia changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro, and the league was named First League of Serbia and Montenegro between 2002 and its dissolution, in 2006. In 2006 Serbia and Montenegro separated and formed their own top leagues (Serbian SuperLiga and Montenegrin First League). Serbian SuperLiga was officially declared the successor of the First Leagues of FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro.

A total of 41 clubs participated between 1992 and 2006, being 34 from Serbia, 6 from Montenegro and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Borac Banja Luka was temporarily based in Serbia in early 1990s). A total of 3 clubs were champions, all from Serbia, Partizan (8 times), Red Star (5 times) and Obilić (once).

Season Champions Runners-up Third place Top scorer(s) Goals
1992–93 Partizan (12)  Red Star  Vojvodina Anto Drobnjak (Red Star)
Vesko Mihajlović (Vojvodina)
22
1993–94 Partizan (13) Red Star Vojvodina Savo Milošević (Partizan) 21
1994–95  Red Star (21) Partizan Vojvodina Savo Milošević (Partizan) 30
1995–96 Partizan (14) Red Star Vojvodina Vojislav Budimirović (Čukarički) 23
1996–97 Partizan (15) Red Star Vojvodina Zoran Jovičić (Red Star) 21
1997–98 Obilić (1) Red Star Partizan Saša Marković (Železnik / Red Star) 27
1998–99 Partizan (16) Obilić  Red Star  Dejan Osmanović (Hajduk Kula) 16
1999–00 Red Star (22) Partizan Obilić Mateja Kežman (Partizan) 27
2000–01 Red Star (23) Partizan Obilić Petar Divić (OFK Beograd) 27
2001–02 Partizan (17) Red Star Sartid Zoran Đurašković (Mladost Lučani) 27
2002–03 Partizan (18) Red Star OFK Belgrade Zvonimir Vukić (Partizan) 22
2003–04 Red Star (24) Partizan Železnik Nikola Žigić (Red Star) 19
2004–05 Partizan (19) Red Star Zeta Marko Pantelić (Red Star) 21
2005–06 Red Star (25) Partizan Voždovac Srđan Radonjić (Partizan) 20
Club Titles Years Won Runners up Third place
Partizan
8
1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005
5
1
Red Star
5
1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006
8
1
Obilić
1
1998
1
2
Vojvodina
5
Sartid
1
OFK Beograd
1
Železnik
1
Voždovac
1

Serbian Superliga (2006–)

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A total of 39 clubs participated between 2006 and 2023 in the Serbian Superliga. After 18 seasons, Red Star has won 10 championship titles and Partizan has won 8 championship title. Also, Red Star is record holder by winning 7 consecutive champion titles.

Season Champions Runners up Third place Top scorer(s) Goals
2006–07 Red Star (26) Partizan Vojvodina   Srđan Baljak (Banat) 18
2007–08 Partizan (20) Red Star Vojvodina   Nenad Jestrović (Red Star) 13
2008–09 Partizan (21) Vojvodina Red Star   Lamine Diarra (Partizan) 19
2009–10 Partizan (22) Red Star OFK   Dragan Mrđa (Vojvodina) 22
2010–11 Partizan (23) Red Star Vojvodina   Ivica Iliev (Partizan)
  Andrija Kaluđerović (Red Star)
13
2011–12 Partizan (24) Red Star Vojvodina   Darko Spalević (Radnički Kragujevac) 19
2012–13 Partizan (25) Red Star Vojvodina   Miloš Stojanović (Jagodina) 19
2013–14 Red Star (27) Partizan Jagodina   Dragan Mrđa (2) (Red Star) 19
2014–15 Partizan (26) Red Star Čukarički   Patrick Friday Eze (Mladost Lučani) 15
2015–16 Red Star (28) Partizan Čukarički   Aleksandar Katai (Red Star) 21
2016–17 Partizan (27) Red Star Vojvodina   Uroš Đurđević (Partizan)
  Leonardo (Partizan)
24
2017–18 Red Star (29) Partizan Radnički Niš   Aleksandar Pešić (Red Star) 25
2018–19 Red Star (30) Radnički Niš Partizan   Nermin Haskić (Radnički Niš) 24
2019–20 Red Star (31) Partizan Vojvodina   Vladimir Silađi (TSC)
  Nenad Lukić (TSC)
  Nikola Petković (Javor)
16
2020–21 Red Star (32) Partizan Čukarički   Milan Makarić (Radnik) 25
2021–22 Red Star (33) Partizan Čukarički   Ricardo Gomes (Partizan) 29
2022–23 Red Star (34) TSC Čukarički   Ricardo Gomes (2) (Partizan) 19
2023–24 Red Star (35) Partizan TSC   Matheus Saldanha (Partizan)
  Miloš Luković (IMT)
17
2024–25
Club Titles Years Won Runners up Third place
Red Star
10
2007, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
7
1
Partizan
8
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
7
1
Vojvodina
1
7
Radnički Niš
1
1
TSC
1
1
Čukarički
5
Jagodina
1
OFK Beograd
1

Serbian all-time champions (1923–present)

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Club Titles Years Won Runners up
Red Star
35
1946, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
24
Partizan
27
1947, 1949, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
22
OFK Beograd
5
1931, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1939
6
Vojvodina
2
1966, 1989
4
Jugoslavija
2
1924, 1925
3
Obilić
1
1998
1

All-time table 2006–2024

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The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Serbian SuperLiga at any time since its formation in 2006 to the current season. Teams playing in the 2024–25 Serbian SuperLiga are indicated in bold. A total of 41 teams have played in the Serbian SuperLiga. The table is accurate as of the start of the 2024–25 season.

Pos. Team Town S P W D L F A Pts 1st App Since/Last App Highest finish
1 Red Star Belgrade 18 605 467 84 54 1358 419 1485 10 7 1 2006–07 2006–07 1st
2 Partizan Belgrade 18 605 427 98 80 1256 441 1379 8 8 1 2006–07 2006–07 1st
3 Vojvodina Novi Sad 18 605 291 150 164 857 606 1023 1 7 2006–07 2006–07 2nd
4 Čukarički Belgrade 15 513 215 125 173 680 590 770 5 2007–08 2013–14 3rd
5 Spartak Subotica 15 507 180 129 198 588 646 669 2009–10 2009–10 4th
6 Radnički Niš 12 417 163 111 143 509 483 600 1 1 2012–13 2012–13 2nd
7 Voždovac Belgrade 12 418 145 96 178 467 549 531 2006–07 2023–24 5th
8 Napredak Kruševac 13 446 142 105 199 466 579 531 2007–08 2016–17 5th
9 Mladost Lučani 11 390 137 101 152 444 526 512 2007–08 2014–15 4th
10 Javor Ivanjica 13 436 126 129 181 426 542 507 2008–09 2023–24 4th
11 Rad Belgrade 13 429 129 105 195 418 551 492 2008–09 2020–21 4th
12 OFK Beograd Belgrade 10 315 112 64 139 345 399 400 1 2006–07 2024–25 3rd
13 Novi Pazar Novi Pazar 10 343 107 79 157 352 471 400 2011–12 2020–21 5th
14 Radnik Surdulica 9 327 93 85 149 334 463 364 2015–16 2023–24 6th
15 Borac Čačak 10 329 89 89 151 277 408 356 2006–07 2017–18 4th
16 Jagodina Jagodina 8 250 87 60 103 268 296 321 1 2008–09 2015–16 3rd
17 TSC Bačka Topola 5 179 91 42 46 319 211 315 1 1 2019–20 2019–20 2nd
18 Radnički 1923 Kragujevac 7 231 68 63 100 245 317 267 2011–12 2021–22 5th
19 Hajduk Kula 7 218 64 59 95 194 248 251 2006–07 2012–13 5th
20 Metalac Gornji Milanovac 7 239 59 66 114 217 334 243 2009–10 2021–22 9th
21 Smederevo Smederevo 6 185 50 42 93 153 240 192 2006–07 2012–13 8th
22 Sloboda Užice 4 120 45 32 43 136 145 167 2010–11 2013–14 5th
23 Proleter Novi Sad 4 142 40 36 66 129 187 156 2018–19 2021–22 8th
24 BSK Borča Belgrade 4 120 31 30 59 91 170 126 2009–10 2012–13 11th
25 OFK Bačka Bačka Palanka 4 149 32 26 91 123 246 122 2016–17 2020–21 13th
26 Mačva Šabac 4 142 30 30 82 106 224 120 2017–18 2020–21 12th
27 Banat Zrenjanin 3 98 25 26 47 91 141 101 2006–07 2008–09 9th
28 Donji Srem Pećinci 3 90 22 26 42 80 116 92 2012–13 2014–15 11th
29 Inđija Inđija 3 98 24 14 60 84 161 86 2010–11 2020–21 14th
30 Zemun Belgrade 3 106 18 26 62 92 163 80 2006–07 2018–19 11th
31 Kolubara Lazarevac 2 74 25 12 37 70 122 78 2021–22 2022–23 10th
32 Bežanija Belgrade 2 65 17 16 32 67 89 67 2006–07 2007–08 4th
33 IMT Belgrade 1 37 11 9 17 43 53 42 2023–24 2023–24 11th
34 Mladost Apatin 1 32 11 8 13 25 33 41 2006–07 2006–07 6th
35 Železničar Pančevo 1 37 10 9 18 47 65 39 2023–24 2023–24 14th
36 Dinamo Vranje 1 37 9 6 22 24 67 33 2018–19 2018–19 14th
37 Mladost Novi Sad 1 37 6 12 19 25 49 30 2022–23 2022–23 16th
38 Zlatibor Čajetina 1 38 7 8 23 28 64 29 2020–21 2020–21 18th
39 Mladi Radnik Požarevac 1 30 5 10 15 19 47 25 2009–10 2009–10 16th
40 Jedinstvo Ub 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2024–25 2024–25 TBD
41 Tekstilac Odžaci 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2024–25 2024–25 TBD

League or status at 2024–25:

2024–25 Serbian SuperLiga
2024–25 Serbian First League
2024–25 Serbian League
2024–25 fourth or lower degree of competition
Dissolved

Current clubs

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Locations of the 2024-25 Serbian SuperLiga teams from Belgrade

The following 16 clubs compete in the Linglong Tire SuperLiga during the 2024–25 season.

Club
Finishing position
in 2023–24
First season in
top division
First season after
most recent promotion
Stadium Official website
Čukarički 6th 1995–96 2013–14 Čukarički Stadium fkcukaricki.co.rs
IMT 11th 2023–24 2023–24 Lagator Stadium fkimt.com
Beograd 1st in Serbian First League   1927 2024–25 Kraljevica Stadium ofkbeograd.com
Mladost 7th 1995–96 2014–15 SRC MR Radoš Milovanović fkmladostlucani.com
Napredak 8th 1951 2016–17 Mladost Stadium fknapredak.rs
Novi Pazar 9th 2011–12 2020–21 Novi Pazar City Stadium fknovipazar.com
Partizan 2nd 1946–47 1946–47 Partizan Stadium partizan.rs
Radnički Kragujevac 5th 1935–36 2021–22 Čika Dača Stadium fkradnicki.com
Radnički Niš 12th 1935–36 2012–13 Čair Stadium fkradnickinis.rs
Jedinstvo 2nd in Serbian First League   2024-25 2024–25 Dragan Džajić Stadium fkjedinstvoub.com
Red Star 1st 1946 1946 Red Star Stadium crvenazvezdafk.com
Spartak 10th 1946–47 2009–10 Subotica City Stadium fkspartak.com
TSC 3rd 2019–20 2019–20 TSC Arena fktsc.com
Vojvodina 4th 1931–32 1987–88 Karađorđe Stadium fkvojvodina.rs
Tekstilac 4th in Serbian First League   2024–25 2024–25 Slavko Maletin Vava Stadium
Železničar 14th 2023–24 2023–24 SC Mladost Stadium

Stadiums

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Serbian top-level football has been played in 27 stadiums since its formation in 2006. The top-three stadiums by clubs who are competing currently (2023-2024) in the Serbian top flight by seating capacity are Belgrade-based Red Star Stadium, Partizan Stadium and FK Radnicki Nis Cair Stadium.

Below are the ten largest stadiums in Serbia of clubs who are competing or have competed in the Serbian top division of football. Currently in the below list only six of these clubs are competing in the Serbian top flight, them been as follows : Red Star, Partizan, Vojvodina, Radnički Niš, Radnički Kragujevac and Spartak Subotica.

Biggest stadiums by seating capacity
Stadium Club City Opened Capacity
1 Rajko Mitić Stadium Red Star Belgrade 1963 51,755
2 Partizan Stadium Partizan Belgrade 1951 29,775
3 Čair Stadium Radnički Niš 1963 18,151
4 Smederevo Stadium Smederevo 1924 Smederevo 1930 17,200
5 Čika Dača Stadium Radnički 1923 Kragujevac 1957 15,100
6 Karađorđe Stadium FK Vojvodina Novi Sad 1924 14,458
7 Stadion Karađorđev park Banat Zrenjanin 1968 13,500
8 Subotica City Stadium Spartak Subotica 1936 13,000
9 Radomir Antić Stadium FK Sloboda Užice Užice 1958 12,000
10 Omladinski Stadium OFK Beograd Belgrade 1957 10,600

Superliga records and statistics

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Attendance

Single game

Players

Clubs

  • Most consecutive league victories: 24 out of 37 games, Red Star during 2015–16 season
  • Most consecutive league defeats: 14, Čukarički during 2010–11 season
  • Most consecutive league games without defeat (undefeated run): 65, Red Star from 27 October 2021 to 26 August 2023
  • Club having top season scorers: 3, Red Star
  • Club with overall SuperLiga hat-tricks: 12, Red Star

Season

Goalkeepers

UEFA ranking

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The following data indicates Serbian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[3]

  • Highest position: 4 (1990–91 season, 8.666 points)
  • Lower position: 47 (1996)

All time Serbian football clubs in European and World competitions

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European Cup/ UEFA Champions League

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Club Champions Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist Group Stage
Red Star 1991 - 1957, 1971, 1992 1958, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1987 1992, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Partizan - 1966 - 1956, 1964 2003, 2010
Vojvodina - - - 1967 -

UEFA Cup/ UEFA Europa League

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Club Champions Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
Red Star - 1979 - -
Radnički Niš - - 1982 -
OFK Beograd - - - 1973

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

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Club Champions Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
Red Star - - 1975 1972, 1986
OFK Beograd - - 1963 -
Partizan - - - 1990

Intercontinental Cup

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Club Champions Finalist
Red Star 1991 -

UEFA Super Cup

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Club Champions Finalist
Red Star - 1991

UEFA Intertoto Cup

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Club Champions Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
Vojvodina 1976 1998 - -
Hajduk Kula - 2007 - -

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

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Club Champions Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
Red Star - - 1962 1963
Vojvodina - - - 1962, 1968

The Golden Star

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Based on an idea of Umberto Agnelli, the honor of Golden Star for Sports Excellence was introduced to recognize sides that have won multiple championships or other honours by the display of gold stars on their team badges and jerseys.

The current officially sanctioned SuperLiga stars indicate a club had won 10 titles per star and are:

Names of the competition

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Broadcasting rights

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Television

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Serbian Superliga games are broadcast live on Arena Sport in countries of Ex-Yugoslavia. 02.TV starts broadcasting Serbian Superliga from March 2019. SportKlub Slovenia and Match TV[8] also broadcasting live Serbian Superliga matches.

The Eternal derby is the game that attracts most attention from the foreign media. In 2010, the 139th Eternal derby was broadcast in 19 countries and over 60 foreign correspondents were present.[9]

Sponsorships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  2. ^ http://www.utakmica.rs/2-jelen-super-liga-2011-2012/poseta/ Archived 2012-08-31 at the Wayback Machine Average attendance for Serbian league
  3. ^ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2024". kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  5. ^ "UEFA Team Ranking 2024". kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Sportske.net - Potpisano - Linglong Super liga!". Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  7. ^ "Mozzart Bet Super liga Srbije". 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Сербская Суперлига — только на "Матч ТВ"!".
  9. ^ Ogromno interesovanje stranih medija za 139. večiti derbi Archived 2016-03-31 at the Wayback Machine at sport.blic.rs, 19–10–2010, retrieved 20-3-2016 (in Serbian)
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