About NK Rudar Velenje

NK Rudar Velenje is a Slovenian football club based in the industrial city of Velenje, founded in 1948. The club’s name “Rudar” means “miner,” reflecting the region’s strong mining heritage, and its nickname “Knapi” (The Miners) is closely tied to this identity. It plays its home matches at the Ob Jezeru City Stadium, which has been its home ground since the mid-20th century. The club has long been an important part of the local sporting culture in the Šalek Valley.

Throughout its history, Rudar Velenje developed through the Yugoslav football system, where it achieved notable success at the republic level, including winning regional competitions and earning promotion to higher tiers. After Slovenia became independent in 1991, the club became a regular participant in the Slovenian top division. During the 1990s and 2000s, it experienced some of its strongest periods, including high league finishes and domestic cup success, establishing itself as a competitive first-division team.

One of the club’s greatest achievements came in the 1997–98 season, when Rudar Velenje won the Slovenian Cup, which also allowed it to participate in European competitions. The club has also finished near the top of the national league on several occasions and competed in UEFA tournaments such as the Cup Winners’ Cup and Europa League. In recent years, Rudar has spent time between the top division and the second tier, but it remains an important and historically successful club in Slovenian football.