The Sarajevo derby (, ), also known as the Eternal derby (), is the name given to any football match between rival clubs à ½eljezniÃÂar and FK Sarajevo, the two primary clubs in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the most viewed annual sporting event in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
à ½eljezniÃÂar leads in head-to-head results in competitive matches with 48 wins to Sarajevo's 47 with 62 draws. Along with Zrinjski and à  iroki Brijeg, they are the only clubs in the Bosnian Premier League to have never been relegated.
This fixture is not only Bosnia and Herzegovina's premier football rivalry, but it has also been recognized internationally, being featured among FourFourTwoâÂÂs 50 Biggest Derbies in the World.
The history of the Sarajevo derby dates back to 1954, but the rivalry began eight years earlier. At the end of the World War II the three major clubs in Sarajevo, ÃÂerzelez, SAà  K and Slavija, were disbanded by the new authorities which formed FK Sarajevo in 1946. Since the idea was for this new club to represent the city on a national level, SD Torpedo, as initially FK Sarajevo was called, needed the best players from the city. Numerous notable players were brought to the club, and they received good salaries for that time. On the other side, FK à ½eljezniÃÂar Sarajevo is a club which was formed by a group of railway workers much earlier, in 1921. However, until then, during the pre-war period, they were in the shadow of ÃÂerzelez, SAà  K and Slavija and had never managed to qualify to the Yugoslav Championship. à ½eljezniÃÂar won the second-tier Bosnian championship title in 1946, as part of the Yugoslav football league system, and that achievement marked the beginning of their climb. After the war, these two clubs became the most prominent and successful clubs in Sarajevo, and since then, the rivalry between the two has been intense.
FK Sarajevo supporters were considered to be upper-class individuals, mainly from Bosniak dominated old and central parts of town. On the other side, supporters of FK à ½eljezniÃÂar were usually working-class with a liberal image. Those differences were later partly erased. FK à ½eljezniÃÂar still has the image of a liberal club and they are also popular among other supporters in the region, while FK Sarajevo's support outside Sarajevo comes mostly from the Bosniak dominated areas in the region and diaspora.
Since they played in different levels, the first matches between FK à ½eljezniÃÂar and FK Sarajevo were friendlies. The first official league match was held in 1954; FK Sarajevo won 6âÂÂ1. That is still the biggest victory by any team in these matches.
As of 7 December 2025, 137 league matches have been played. à ½eljezniÃÂar have won 40 times, Sarajevo have won 39 times, while 58 matches have ended in a draw. Goal difference is 158:154 in Sarajevo's favour. In all competitions, à ½eljezniÃÂar and Sarajevo have played 157 times, à ½eljezniÃÂar have won 48 times, Sarajevo have won 47 times and 62 games have ended in a draw.
The Sarajevo derby is currently played four times a year in the Premier League, but they may also play against one another in other competitions. There are also friendly matches and games played in various tournaments. Although these games are not included in official statistics.
⢠Total: FK Sarajevo 18 times higher, FK à ½eljezniÃÂar 12 times higher.
Note that only league matches are included in statistics. Cup, other tournaments and friendly matches are not included.
Sarajevo derby fans are known for their cheering and choreography. Both sides of fans prepare between the matches and make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion that are usually directed towards the opposing side.
FK à ½eljezniÃÂar's most passionate fans (wearing blue) are called Manijaci because their love for the club is on the edge of insanity, so it is said. They are located on the South side of Grbavica Stadium (the Holy South as they call it). The older fans ones are known affectionately as the Koà ¡picari (which can metaphorically be translated as "seed eaters", although the name itself has different meaning - namely that of "seed sellers").
FK Sarajevo's most passionate fans (crimson) are called the Horde Zla (Evil hordes) after the popular Zagor comic book. At their home games at the Asim Ferhatovià- Hase Stadium, they are located on the North stands, while the older fans are known as the Pitari (similar to the Koà ¡picari etymology except referring to pie and not seeds) and they are mainly on the East side.
Both the two big Sarajevo clubs have a rivalry with Slavija Sarajevo, a club dominated by Bosnian Serbs in eastern Sarajevo.
Another football club from Sarajevo was Olimpik; located in the neighbourhood of Otoka, but their support group was very small.
Olimpik's games between its rivals, FK Sarajevo and FK à ½eljezniÃÂar, in town were known as the little town derby (Mali gradski derbi).