Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium

Foundation and early decades

The stadium in Koševo was originally built in 1947, making it one of the first modern sports venues in post-war Yugoslavia. Over the following two decades it underwent a series of expansions and improvements that progressively raised its capacity and modernised its stands. FK Sarajevo and the Yugoslav national team both called it home, and the ground became the sporting heart of the Bosnian capital.

The 1984 Winter Olympics

Sarajevo's selection as host city for the XIV Winter Olympic Games (1984) was a transformative moment for the stadium and the city alike. The opening ceremony was held on the Koševo pitch on 8 February 1984, broadcast to a global television audience of hundreds of millions. Olympic investment modernised the stadium's infrastructure, and the event placed Sarajevo firmly on the international map. For an entire generation of Bosnians, Koševo and the 1984 Games are inseparable memories.

The Siege of Sarajevo (1992--1995)

The stadium's darkest chapter coincided with the Siege of Sarajevo (April 1992 -- February 1996), the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. Artillery and sniper fire caused serious structural damage to the stands and forced the closure of large sections of the ground. In one of the war's most haunting ironies, part of the stadium car park was converted into an improvised cemetery as the city's existing burial grounds became inaccessible under fire. Football fell silent; survival came first.

Reconstruction and renaming

Following the Dayton Agreement of 1995, the stadium entered a phased reconstruction that restored it to competitive use. FK Sarajevo returned to its home ground, and in 2004 the venue was officially renamed in honour of Asim Ferhatović Hase. The renaming was both a tribute to a sporting legend and a statement of cultural continuity -- an assertion that Sarajevo's football heritage had survived the war intact.

FK Sarajevo and Horde Zla

The atmosphere at Koševo is shaped above all by FK Sarajevo, founded in 1946 and the holder of multiple Yugoslav and Bosnian-Herzegovinian league titles. The club's ultras group, Horde Zla (Hordes of Evil), is among the most passionate and vocally intense supporter movements in the Balkans. On matchdays the Koševo end transforms into a wall of noise -- drums, flares and coordinated chants audible across the surrounding hillsides. For visiting supporters the atmosphere can feel overwhelming; for FK Sarajevo fans it is simply home.

The Eternal Derby

The Vječno derby (Eternal Derby) between FK Sarajevo and city rivals FK Željezničar is one of the fiercest local derbies in south-eastern Europe. The rivalry, dating to 1921, carries deep historical, cultural and social undertones that load the fixture with tension well beyond what any league table position can explain. When the derby is played at Koševo, the ground fills to capacity and the atmosphere ranks among the most intense stadium experiences the region has to offer.

Memory and meaning

Koševo is not merely a sports ground -- it is a container of collective memory. The same pitch that hosted Olympic joy in 1984 witnessed shelling and grief less than a decade later; the same stands that roared for Yugoslav football legends were riddled with shrapnel during the siege. For Sarajevans, watching football at Koševo is an act inseparable from that layered history. The stadium endures as a testament to the city's resilience and its stubborn insistence on reclaiming the ordinary pleasures of sport.

Getting to the stadium

Koševo Stadium lies in the Koševo valley in northern Sarajevo, roughly 2--3 km from the historic Baščaršija bazaar district. Getting there is straightforward:

• Bus / trolleybus: Several GRAS Sarajevo urban lines serve the Koševo area from the city centre; the journey takes approximately 10--15 minutes. Check current routes at gras.com.ba.
• Taxi / rideshare: Bolt and local taxi operators are reliable; a ride from the city centre typically takes 5--10 minutes and is inexpensive by Western European standards.
• On foot: From Baščaršija, a scenic uphill walk through the Koševo neighbourhood takes around 30--40 minutes and passes through attractive residential streets.

Surroundings and tourist tips

The stadium is close to the Sarajevo Zoo and the popular Koševo park, a leafy green space used daily by local residents. The ground itself bears visible traces of wartime damage alongside reconstruction, making it a compelling site for visitors interested in contemporary history. The surrounding streets offer traditional Bosnian cafes and restaurants serving ćevapi, burek and bosanska kafa (Bosnian coffee).

Tickets and fixtures

Tickets for FK Sarajevo matches are available through the club's official website or at stadium box offices on matchday. The ground holds over 37,500 spectators and major derby fixtures typically sell out. Current fixtures and ticketing information can be found at fksarajevo.ba. For international fixtures involving the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, check the NFSBiH (Football Federation of BiH) website.