OK Maribor

Last updated
i-Vent Maribor
OK Maribor.png
Full nameOdbojkarski klub i-Vent Maribor
Founded14 June 1945;79 years ago (14 June 1945) [1]
Ground Tabor Hall
Maribor, Slovenia
(Capacity: 3,261)
ChairmanMilan Kuster
ManagerSebastijan Škorc
CaptainŽiga Donik
League Slovenian Volleyball League
2023−24Regular season: 3rd
Playoffs: Third place
Website Club home page
Uniforms
Kit short left arm.png
Kit body.svg
Kit short right arm.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit short left arm.png
Kit body.svg
Kit short right arm.png
Kit shorts.svg
Away
Championships
1992, 1993, 2021

Odbojkarski klub Maribor (English: Maribor Volleyball Club) or simply OK Maribor, known as i-Vent Maribor due to sponsorship reasons, is a Slovenian professional volleyball team based in Maribor. The team play their home games at Tabor Hall and competes in the Slovenian Volleyball League, the top division of Slovenian volleyball. Founded in 1945, the club has won the Slovenian national championship three times (1992, 1993 and 2021) and the national cup four times (1992, 1994, 1995 and 2006).

Contents

History

Immediately after the Second World War, on 14 June 1945, the men's volleyball section of the Železničar Sports Association was established. [1] They played in the inaugural edition of the Slovenian national championship in 1946 and finished in fourth place. [1] In 1947, the club was renamed as Odbojkarski klub Železničar (English: Železničar Volleyball Club). [1] In 1951, the team was relegated from the Slovenian championship. [1]

In 1976, Železničar merged with its city rival Branik and became Odbojkarski klub Maribor (English: Maribor Volleyball Club). [1] In 1980, Maribor won the Yugoslav second division and qualified for the highest level of Yugoslav volleyball, the Yugoslav Volleyball Championship. [2] The club was relegated during its first top division season, but the following year they won the second division and were thus immediately promoted back. [2] They were also the runners-up of the Yugoslav Cup in 1983. [1] Maribor remained in the top division until 1989, when the Yugoslav League was reorganized and reduced to eight teams. [2] Maribor again immediately returned to the top tier after winning the A2 division in 1990, but the following year the club again dropped out of the Yugoslav top tier. This was also the last season before the breakup of Yugoslavia. [2]

In 1991, Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia, and the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia established its own league system. OK Maribor won the first two editions of the newly established Slovenian Volleyball League, becoming back-to-back national champions in 1992 and 1993. [3] As Slovenian champions, the team competed in the 1992–93 edition of the CEV European Champions Cup, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Swiss team Lausanne UC. [4] During the 1990s, Maribor also won the national cup three times and was the league runner-up on several occasions. [5] In January 2006, Maribor, competing under the sponsorship name Prevent Gradnje IGM, won its fourth national cup title by defeating Salonit Anhovo in the final, the first major trophy won by the club in eleven years. [6]

Between 2009 and 2019, the club went through a period of stagnation, never finishing higher than fourth in the league. In 2009–10, Maribor even finished in the last, 12th place. [7] In December 2019, the club signed a sponsorship deal with Merkur and changed its name to Merkur Maribor. [8] In 2021, Maribor won their third national championship after defeating ACH Volley 3–2 in the final, preventing them from winning their 17th consecutive title. [9]

Name changes

Throughout its history, OK Maribor has been named after their main sponsor on numerous occasions:

Season-by-season records

SeasonLeaguePositionDomestic cupEurope
1991–92 1. DOL ChampionsWinners—
1992–931. DOLChampionsRunners-up CEV European Champions Cup PR
1993–941. DOLRunners-upWinners CEV European Champions Cup R16
1994–951. DOL3rdWinners CEV Cup Winners' Cup QF
1995–961. DOLRunners-upRunners-up CEV Cup Winners' Cup GS
1996–971. DOLRunners-upRunners-up CEV Cup Winners' Cup GS
1997–981. DOL3rdSemi-final CEV Cup Winners' Cup GS
1998–991. DOLRunners-upSemi-final CEV Cup MP
1999–001. DOL5thRunners-up CEV Cup MP
2000–011. DOL6thQuarter-final—
2001–021. DOL3rdQuarter-final CEV Cup MP
2002–031. DOLRunners-upSemi-final CEV Cup MP
2003–041. DOL5thSemi-final CEV Cup MP
2004–051. DOL5thRound of 16—
2005–061. DOLRunners-upWinners—
2006–071. DOLRunners-upQuarter-final CEV Cup R16
CEV Top Teams Cup PR
2007–081. DOL3rdQuarter-final CEV Challenge Cup R3
CEV Cup R32
2008–091. DOL6thQuarter-final CEV Challenge Cup R2
2009–101. DOL12thRound of 16—
2010–111. DOL10thFourth round—
2011–121. DOL8thRound of 16—
2012–131. DOL5thSemi-final—
2013–141. DOL5thSemi-final—
2014–151. DOL7thRound of 16—
2015–161. DOL5thQuarter-final—
2016–171. DOL5thRound of 16—
2017–181. DOL5thQuarter-final—
2018–191. DOL4thQuarter-final—
2019–201. DOL3rdRunners-up—
2020–211. DOLChampionsQuarter-final—
2021–221. DOL3rdRunners-up CEV Champions League GS
2022–231. DOL3rdSemi-final CEV Challenge Cup Q32
2023–241. DOL3rdRunners-up CEV Challenge Cup Q32

Players

2024−25 team

NumberNameBirthdateHeight (cm)Position
1 Flag of Slovenia.svg Miha Cafuta15 October 1998 (age 26)200Middle blocker
2 Flag of Slovenia.svg Urban Fužir8 September 2002 (age 22)192Libero
3 Flag of Slovenia.svg Timotej Vodušek19 November 2004 (age 20)195Middle blocker
4 Flag of Portugal.svg Gustavo Almeida Cavalcanti3 February 2001 (age 23)193Wing spiker
4 Flag of Slovenia.svg Jakob Rojnik9 January 1996 (age 29)192Wing spiker
5 Flag of Slovenia.svg Jaka Sešek21 July 2001 (age 23)202Opposite
7 Flag of Slovenia.svg Martin Valenčič21 May 1999 (age 25)201Opposite
10 Flag of Slovenia.svg Kristjan Mazej22 May 2005 (age 19)195Wing spiker
11 Flag of Slovenia.svg Žiga Donik 21 September 1995 (age 29)192Wing spiker
12 Flag of Slovenia.svg Maj Škorc31 December 2008 (age 16)182Libero
13 Flag of Slovenia.svg Miha Fink20 September 2003 (age 21)200Middle blocker
15 Flag of Slovenia.svg Žiga Kastelic1 March 2007 (age 17)182Setter
17 Flag of Serbia.svg Stefan Mirković4 October 1999 (age 25)191Wing spiker
25 Flag of Slovenia.svg Primož Mejal25 November 1998 (age 26)200Setter
99 Flag of Slovenia.svg Liam Klinger2 July 2008 (age 16)185Wing spiker
Head coach: Sebastijan Škorc
Assistant coach: Alen Kranjc

Source: Volleyball Federation of Slovenia

Honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Maribor</span> Association football club in Slovenia

Nogometni klub Maribor is a Slovenian professional football club based in Maribor, Slovenia. It competes in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top tier of the Slovenian football league system. Nicknamed "The Purples", the club was founded on 12 December 1960. They are regarded as a symbol of Slovenian football, particularly in their home region of Styria in northeastern Slovenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Celje</span> Slovenian football club

Nogometni klub Celje, commonly referred to as NK Celje or simply Celje, is a professional football club from Celje, Slovenia. They play in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top tier of Slovenian football. Together with Maribor, they are the only club that have participated in every season of the Slovenian PrvaLiga since its formation in 1991. Celje won their first league title in the 2019–20 season, a feat they have repeated four years later. They have also won the 2004–05 edition of the Slovenian Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Mura</span> Football club

Nogometni klub Mura, commonly referred to as NK Mura or simply Mura, was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. The club had its golden years in the 1990s when they won the Slovenian Football Cup. During this period they were also the runners-up of the Slovenian PrvaLiga on two occasions. They played their home matches at Fazanerija City Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Ljubljana</span> Football club

Nogometni klub Ljubljana, commonly referred to as NK Ljubljana or simply Ljubljana, was a Slovenian football club based in the capital city of Ljubljana. The club was established in 1909 and dissolved in 2005.

Football in Slovenia is governed by the Football Association of Slovenia. Slovenia has been participating in international football as an independent country since 1991, when the country gained independence from SFR Yugoslavia. The Slovenia national football team has qualified for four major tournaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Železničar Maribor</span> Football club

Nogometni klub Železničar Maribor, commonly referred to as NK Železničar Maribor or simply Železničar, was a Slovenian football club from Maribor. They qualified for the top division of Slovenian football, the Slovenian PrvaLiga, in the 1992–93 season, but were relegated in their first season, never returning to the top level. They were one of the most successful Slovenian clubs in the Yugoslav era, winning the Slovenian Republic League four times and the Slovenian Republic Cup twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RK Maribor Branik</span> Slovenian handball club

Rokometni klub Maribor Branik, commonly referred to as RK Maribor Branik or simply Branik, is a handball club from Maribor, Slovenia. As of the 2024–25 season, the club competes in the Slovenian Second Handball League, the third tier of Slovenian handball. They play their home games at Lukna Sports Hall, a 2,100-capacity multi-purpose sports venue in Maribor. Between 2004 and 2010, the team was known as RK Klima Petek Maribor due to sponsorship reasons. Their biggest success is reaching the final of the Slovenian Handball Cup twice and reaching the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup in the 2012–13 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NK Branik Maribor</span> Football club

Nogometni klub Branik Maribor, known as NK Branik or simply Branik, was an association football club based in the city of Maribor. Founded on 29 January 1949 they traced their origin back to 1919 and the establishment of I. SSK Maribor, an association football club founded by Slovenian youth which ceased all operations due to World War II. NK Branik was disbanded on 11 August 1960 due to the food poisoning affair before their promotional qualifications match for the Yugoslav Second League against Karlovac. The club colours were black and white.

Odbojkarski klub OTP Banka Branik, commonly referred to as OTP Banka Branik, is a professional women's volleyball team based in Maribor that competes in the Slovenian Volleyball League. Formed in 1946, they are the most successful Slovenian women's volleyball team, winning the Slovenian League 16 times, Slovenian Cup 20 times and the regional MEVZA League 4 times. Before Slovenia's independence in 1991, the team won the Yugoslav Championship four times and reached the Yugoslav Cup final on eight occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I. SSK Maribor</span> Football club

1. slovenski športni klub Maribor or simply I. SSK Maribor was a football club from Maribor. The club was founded in 1919. I. SSK Maribor had a fierce rivalry with NK Železničar Maribor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ŽKK Maribor</span> Basketball team in Maribor, Slovenia

Železničarski košarkarski klub Maribor, commonly referred to as ŽKK Maribor or simply ŽKK, was a basketball team based in Maribor, Slovenia. The club was founded in 1946 and was dissolved after the 2005–06 season due to financial difficulties.

Basketballin Slovenia is governed by the Basketball Federation of Slovenia. Slovenia has participated in international basketball as an independent nation since 1991, when the country gained independence from SFR Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HDD Jesenice</span> Slovenian ice hockey team

Hokejsko drsalno društvo Jesenice or simply HDD Jesenice, currently named SIJ Acroni Jesenice due to sponsorship reasons, is a Slovenian ice hockey team based in Jesenice. They are members of the Alps Hockey League and the Slovenian Ice Hockey League. HDD Jesenice was founded in 2014. The club replaced a temporary team called Team Jesenice, which was established in 2013. HDD Jesenice previously competed in the Inter-National League from 2014 to 2016, before the league merged into the Alps Hockey League. The club won their first Slovenian Championship in the 2014–15 season and as a result qualified for the 2015–16 IIHF Continental Cup. Their home arena is Podmežakla Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovenian Volleyball League</span>

The Slovenian Volleyball League or 1A. DOL, currently named Sportklub prva odbojkarska liga due to sponsorship reasons, is the highest men's volleyball league in Slovenia. It is managed by the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KK Koper Primorska</span> Defunct basketball club in Koper, Slovenia

Košarkarski klub Koper Primorska, commonly referred to as KK Koper Primorska, was a men's professional basketball club based in Koper, Slovenia. The club was formed by the merger of KOŠ Koper and KK Lastovka in 2016, and was disbanded in 2020 due to financial problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ŠD Brezje</span> Football club

Športno društvo Brezje Maribor or simply ŠD Brezje was a futsal club from Maribor, Slovenia. They won the Slovenian Futsal League two times, in 2016 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcit Volley</span> Slovenian volleyball club

Odbojkarski klub Kamnik, known as Calcit Volley due to sponsorship reasons, is a Slovenian volleyball team from Kamnik. The club was founded in 1947 and competes in the Slovenian League and in MEVZA League. Calcit Volley won the Slovenian League three times consecutively between 2000–01 and 2002–03.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcit Volley (women's)</span> Slovenian womens volleyball team from Kamnik

Odbojkarski klub Kamnik, known as Calcit Volley or Calcit Kamnik due to sponsorship reasons, is a Slovenian women's volleyball team from Kamnik. The team competes in the Slovenian Volleyball League and in MEVZA League.

The 2021–22 Slovenian First League was the 31st season of the Slovenian First League, the top men's handball league in Slovenia. A total of fourteen teams contested this season's league, which began on 10 September 2021 and concluded on 27 May 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Železničarsko športno društvo Maribor (2007). "Železničarsko športno društvo Maribor 1927 – 2007" (PDF). navdih.net (in Slovenian). p. 168. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Studia Historica Slovenica (2003). "Maribor skozi čas II". issuu.com (in Slovenian). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Dosedanji državni odbojkarski prvaki". odbojka.si (in Slovenian). Volleyball Federation of Slovenia. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "LAUSANNE UC 3–1 Vileda MARIBOR". cev.eu. European Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Dosedanji zmagovalci Pokala Slovenije". odbojka.si (in Slovenian). Volleyball Federation of Slovenia. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Mariborčani po 11 letih spet pokalni prvaki". sta.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 22 January 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "1. DOL Radenska Classic 2009/2010 – Končni vrstni red". odbojka.si (in Slovenian). Volleyball Federation of Slovenia. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Š. L. (16 December 2019). "Mariborčani odslej z novim generalnim sponzorjem in imenom" (in Slovenian). Siol . Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Konec 16-letne prevlade ACH-ja, Maribor je tretjič državni prvak" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Mariborski odbojkarji dobili pokrovitelja". sta.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 28 November 1994. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.