Before the independence of Montenegro, football clubs from that country played in different competitions. From 1945 to 2006, Montenegrin club played in the leagues of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Federation of Serbia and Montenegro.
Upon the independence referendum, Montenegrin Football Association established their own competitions, with the Montenegrin First League as a top tier.
As a part of the football system in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, Montenegrin clubs played in different leagues. Below is the table with chronology of competition system and leagues in which played Montenegrin teams during the each period from 1945 to 2006.
| Country | Period | Tiers |
|---|---|---|
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1946 | Montenegrin Republic League (I) |
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1946-1947 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Montenegrin Republic League (II) | ||
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1947-1949 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Yugoslav Second League (II) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (III) | ||
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1950 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Yugoslav Second League (II) | ||
| Yugoslav Third League (III) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (IV) | ||
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1951-1968 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Yugoslav Second League (II) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (III) | ||
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1969-1988 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Yugoslav Second League (II) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (III) | ||
| Montenegrin regional league system (IV) | ||
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1988-1992 | Yugoslav First League (I) |
| Yugoslav Second League (II) | ||
| Yugoslav Third League (III) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (IV) | ||
| Montenegrin regional league system (V) | ||
| FR Yugoslavia | 1992-2001 | First League of FR Yugoslavia (I) |
| Second League of FR Yugoslavia (II) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (III) | ||
| Montenegrin regional league system (IV) | ||
| Serbia and Montenegro | 2001-2006 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro (I) |
| Second League of Serbia and Montenegro (II) | ||
| Montenegrin Republic League (III) | ||
| Montenegrin regional league system (IV) | ||
During the existence of SFR Yugoslavia, Montenegrin clubs which participated in the First League were FK Budućnost and FK Sutjeska. Budućnost was among the clubs which participated in the first season of Yugoslav First League (1946-47).
| Club | Seasons | First season | Last season | Matches | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FK Budućnost | 26 | 1946-47 | 1991-92 | 789 | 261 | 188 | 335 | 889:1114 |
| FK Sutjeska | 9 | 1964-65 | 1991-92 | 295 | 90 | 65 | 135 | 346:454 |
Due to fact that in new state union of FR Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro) were two republics, Montenegrin clubs find easier way to qualify for the First League. Among the clubs which played one or more seasons in the First League of FR Yugoslavia and, later, Serbia and Montenegro, were FK Budućnost, FK Sutjeska, FK Rudar, FK Mogren, FK Zeta, FK Kom and FK Jedinstvo.
| Club | Seasons | First season | Last season | Matches | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FK Budućnost | 11 | 1992-93 | 2005-06 | 368 | 125 | 78 | 165 | 385:512 |
| FK Sutjeska | 11 | 1992-93 | 2004-05 | 310 | 107 | 59 | 144 | 353:474 |
| FK Zeta | 6 | 2000-01 | 2005-06 | 192 | 83 | 38 | 71 | 269:250 |
| FK Mogren | 5 | 1992-93 | 2002-03 | 170 | 44 | 35 | 91 | 171:289 |
| FK Rudar | 6 | 1993-94 | 2002-03 | 140 | 39 | 33 | 68 | 129:187 |
| FK Kom | 1 | 2003-04 | 2003-04 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 21:67 |
| FK Jedinstvo | 1 | 2005-06 | 2005-06 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 18:72 |
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Sport in Montenegro revolves mostly around team sports, such as football, basketball, handball, and volleyball. Other sports involved are boxing, tennis, swimming, judo, karate, athletics, table tennis, and chess.
The First League of Montenegro is the top professional football league in Montenegro. Founded in 2006, competition is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 10 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round. The second and third placed teams and Montenegrin Cup winner play in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Conference League. The last placed team is directly relegated to the Montenegrin Second League, and the two next lowest ranked teams play in Montenegrin First League playoffs.
The Montenegrin Second League is the second-top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. Second Montenegrin League consists of 10 participants. The top team qualifies for the First League of Montenegro, the second and third one contest in a playoff match against the 8th and 9th team from the First League, while the bottom-placed two teams are relegated to any of the three third-tier leagues, to be replaced by the two winners of a three-way promotion playoffs, contested by the winners of the three Third League divisions.
The Prva A liga, for sponsorships reasons named the Erste Liga, is the top-tier professional basketball league in Montenegro. It is the highest basketball division organized by the Basketball Association of Montenegro (KSCG). It was established in 2006. shortly after Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia and Montenegro.
Fudbalski Klub Čelik Nikšić is a football club based in Nikšić, Montenegro. Founded in 1957, they currently compete in the Montenegrin Third League. The team once won the Montenegrin Cup trophy and played three seasons in the UEFA Europa League.
The Montenegrin Men's Handball Cup is an elimination handball tournament held annually. It is the second most important national title in Montenegrin handball after the Montenegrin First League.
The 2006–07 Montenegrin First League season was the inaugural season of the league as Montenegro's top-tier football competition. Although the league existed before, it was previously a second-tier league, underneath the Serbo-Montenegrin First League. Upon the independence of Montenegro, and the establishment of a Montenegrin Football Association, the league became disassociated with the Serbo-Montenegrin league and thus was given its present position.
The Montenegrin Cup is the national football cup played in Montenegro, established in 2006. The winner of the cup is awarded a spot in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League if they have not already gained a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Most successful cup participants are Budućnost and Rudar with four titles each.
The 2007–08 Montenegrin First League was the second season of the top-tier football in Montenegro, since the vote for Montenegrin independence split the Montenegrin FA from Serbia's. FK Jedinstvo and FK Berane were relegated to the second league, giving FK Bokelj their first time in the top league of Montenegro. The 2007-08 season began on 11 August 2007 and ended on 24 May 2008.
The 2009–10 Montenegrin Cup was the fourth season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the second qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Petrovac, who beat Lovćen in the final of the 2008–09 competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It started on 16 September 2009 and ended with the final on 19 May 2010.
The 2010–11 Montenegrin Cup was the fifth season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the second qualifying round of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Rudar, who beat Budućnost in the final of the 2009–10 competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It started on 15 September 2010 and ended with the final on 25 May 2011.
The 2011–12 Montenegrin Cup was the sixth season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the first qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Rudar, who beat Mogren in the final of the 2010–11 competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It started on 24 August 2011 and ended with the final on 23 May 2012.
The 2012–13 Montenegrin Cup was the seventh season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the first qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Čelik, who beat Rudar in the final of the 2011–12 competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It will start on 19 September 2012 and end with the final on 22 May 2013.
The 2013–14 Montenegrin Cup was the eighth season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the first qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Budućnost, who beat Čelik in the final of the 2012–13 competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It started on 17 September 2013 and ended with the final on 21 May 2014.
The Montenegrin Volleyball League is the highest level of men's volleyball in Montenegro and it is organized by Montenegrin Volleyball Federation. In the Montenegrin Volleyball League currently competes 8 clubs.
The Montenegrin First League of Men's Handball is the top men's team handball league in Montenegro. It is organized by the Handball Federation of Montenegro. In the league participate eight clubs.
The 2014–15 Montenegrin Cup was the ninth season of the Montenegrin knockout football tournament. The winner of the tournament received a berth in the first qualifying round of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. The defending champions were Lovćen, who beat Mladost in the final of the last competition. The competition featured 30 teams. It started on 24 September 2014 and ended with the final on 20 May 2015.
Before the independence of Montenegro, football clubs from that country played in different competitions. From 1945 to 2006, Montenegrin club played in the leagues of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
The 2017–18 Montenegrin First League was the 12th season of the top-tier football in Montenegro. The season began on 5 August 2017 and ended on 26 May 2018. Budućnost Podgorica are the defending champions.
The 1970–71 Montenegrin Republic League was 26th season of Montenegrin Republic League. Season started in August 1970 and finished in May 1971.
