The Slovenian Prva Liga resumed yesterday, but for Rudar Velenje, this season can turn out to be a historic nightmare.
Besides being dead bottom of the league, they currently try to avoid the unwanted title of being the last winless team in Europe this season.
Rudar, known as Knapi (The Miners), is not one of the major Slovenian clubs, but it has a significant part in its history. In 1991, they were the last club to win the Slovenian Republic Football League, a regional league in the Yugoslav third division. After the independence of Slovenia, Rudar became part of the first division in the country. The club played at this level for many years, although never winning any title.
Their current spell in the top division began in the 2008-2009 season, and their best finishing was third place. This season, Rudar is struggling. Before the coronavirus break, Rudar was in last place with 10 points in 25 matches. They had 10 draws, 15 defeats, but without a single win all season. There is only one more winless team in Europe, Juvenes/Dugana from San Marino, but Rudar played twice as many league matches - which gives them this dubious honour.
Rudar barely had a chance to avoid relegation this season. They are 16 points away from the 9th place, which leads to the relegation playoffs. Without big hopes, they appointed Dominik Beršnjak as their manager for the rest of the season. He will be the fifth manager of the club this term. "As long as there is a chance that we will be in the league, we will keep playing," said Beršnjak this week. "And even if not, we will keep playing for our dignity."
Yesterday they played their first match against Celje, one of four teams in the title race this season. "The feelings are great. If someone watches us, he will never think that we are in the last place," said Beršnjak. After a goalless first half, Celje scored twice and won 2-0. Another defeat for Rudar.
Behind the scenes, Rudar still hopes that the Slovenian FA will decide to expand the league to 12 teams, and there will be no relegations - just like in the Serbian league. Whether it will happen or not, they still need to avoid the big embarrassment of finishing a whole season without a single win.
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Thumbnail photo by Rudar Velenje Facebook page
