About NK Celje

NK Celje is a Slovenian professional football club based in the city of Celje, founded in 1919 as SK Celje. Throughout its long history, the club has undergone several name changes and reorganizations, including periods as NK Kladivar and NK Publikum, before eventually returning to the name NK Celje. It is one of the oldest active football clubs in Slovenia and has played an important role in the development of football in the region. The team is commonly known by its nickname “The Counts,” reflecting its identity and tradition.

During the Yugoslav era, Celje competed in the national league system, spending most of its time in the lower divisions but occasionally reaching higher levels of competition. After Slovenia gained independence in 1991, the club became a founding member of the Slovenian PrvaLiga and has remained a consistent participant ever since. Over time, Celje established itself as a stable top-flight club, regularly competing in domestic league and cup competitions and gradually improving its competitiveness within Slovenian football.

The club achieved its first major successes in the mid-2000s, including winning the Slovenian Cup, and later went on to secure its first league title in the 2019–20 season. Celje has since added further league and cup victories, strengthening its status as one of the leading clubs in the country. It plays its home matches at Stadion Z’dežele, a modern stadium in Celje, and has also taken part in European competitions, representing Slovenia on the international stage.