Founded in 1919, Celje represents one of Slovenia’s established football institutions and carries the Grofje identity associated with the Counts of Celje. Yellow and blue define the club’s visual character, while Stadion Z’dežele provides its modern home in the city’s sports park. The club combines a long top-flight presence with domestic ambition and a growing European profile. This page brings together a concise view of Celje’s identity, recent context and football environment.
Celje Upcoming matches by league
UEFA Europa League
-
- Group Stage
Sturm Graz
Celje
-
- Group Stage
Ferencvarosi TC
Celje
-
- Group Stage
Celje
Olympiakos Piraeus
1. SNL
-
- Regular Season - 14
CeljeNo H2HNafta
-
- Regular Season - 15
RadomljeNo H2HCelje
-
- Regular Season - 16
CeljeNo H2HBrinje-Grosuplje
-
- Regular Season - 17
KoperNo H2HCelje
Cup
-
- Round of 16
BeltinciNo H2HCelje
Celje Last matches by league
UEFA Europa League
1. SNL
-
- Regular Season - 13
Olimpija Ljubljana1 - 1Celje
-
- Regular Season - 12
Maribor0 - 0Celje
Ljudski vrt -
- Regular Season - 11
Celje1 - 0Aluminij
Cup
-
- Round of 32
Korotan Prevalje0 - 2Celje
UEFA Champions League
Friendlies Clubs
UEFA Europa Conference League
Celje Team Roster
Celje’s recorded squad contains 30 players: four attackers, ten defenders, four goalkeepers and twelve midfielders. The structure gives the team depth across the back line and central areas, with a smaller attacking group and four goalkeeping options listed. The roster includes S. Sluga and B. Verbič, with Žan-Luk Leban, Ł. Bejger and T. Letonja among the other listed options. S. Sešlar, M. Kvesić and V. Tusha add further midfield variety, while A. Kucys and M. Poplatnik provide additional attacking choices. Shirt numbers are recorded for most but not every player.
position Goalkeeper
Žan-Luk Leban
Luka Kolar
Simon Sluga
Žiga Frelih
position Defender
Luka Sega Zan
Pijus Širvys
Damjan Vukliševič
Artemijus Tutyškinas
Milot Avdyli
Žan Žužek
Alpha Richard Diounkou Tecagne
Leonárdo Páblo Koútris
Łukasz Bejger
Nino Vukasović
position Midfielder
Darko Hrka
Mario Kvesić
Svit Sešlar
Papa Mustapha Daniel
Luka Vešner Tičić
Andrej Kotnik
Mark Zabukovnik
Ivan Ćalušić
T. Letonja
Rudi Požeg Vancaš
position Attacker
Benjamin Verbič
Blaž Kramer
Veton Tusha
D. Suhovrsnik
Armandas Kučys
Matic Ivanšek
Yaya Dukuly
Last Celje Coachs
Albert Riera Ortega, listed in the coaching record as Riera, has been Celje’s current head coach since 1 July 2024. His appointment followed Damir Krznar’s spell from 1 October 2023 to 1 July 2024. Riera had also led the club from 1 July to 1 October 2023, creating two separate periods in the recorded timeline. Earlier entries place Roman Pilipchuk in charge from June 2022 to July 2023 and Simon Rožman from January to May 2022. The sequence reflects a coaching history that includes Slovenian and international technical leadership.
Albert Riera Ortega
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Riera Ortega | Spain | 1 July 2024 | |
| Damir Krznar | Croatia | 1 October 2023 | 1 July 2024 |
| Albert Riera Ortega | Spain | 1 July 2023 | 1 October 2023 |
| Roman Pilipchuk | Ukraine | 1 June 2022 | 1 July 2023 |
| Simon Rožman | Slovenia | 1 January 2022 | 1 May 2022 |
| Simon Sešlar | Slovenia | 1 September 2021 | 1 December 2021 |
| Agron Šalja | Slovenia | 1 April 2021 | 1 September 2021 |
| Jiří Jarošík | Czechia | 1 December 2020 | 1 April 2021 |
| Dušan Kosič | Yugoslavia | 1 September 2017 | 1 December 2020 |
| Tomaž Petrovič | Slovenia | 1 June 2017 | 1 August 2017 |
| Igor Jovičević | Croatia | 1 October 2016 | 1 June 2017 |
| Robert Pevnik | Slovenia | 1 April 2016 | 1 October 2016 |
| Iztok Kapušin | Slovenia | 1 September 2015 | 1 April 2016 |
| Simon Rožman | Slovenia | 1 April 2014 | 1 September 2015 |
| Marjan Pušnik | Slovenia | 1 July 2012 | 12 December 2012 |
| Damijan Romih | Slovenia | 1 March 2011 | 1 June 2012 |
| Stane Bevc | Slovenia | 12 October 2010 | 25 March 2011 |
| Damijan Romih | Slovenia | 1 September 2010 | 1 October 2010 |
| Milan Đuričić | Croatia | 1 July 2009 | 1 September 2010 |
Celje Transfers
Celje’s recorded arrivals include several free-agent moves: B. Verbič from Levadiakos, Y. Dukuly from Adelaide United, A. Dionkou from Omonia Nicosia, P. Širvys from Maribor, L. Ceh from Aluminij, L. Koútris from Pogon Szczecin, Ž. Frelih from Spartak Trnava and M. Ivanšek from Bravo. V. Tusha arrived from Drita in a recorded transfer. The list also includes returns from loan for M. Kavcic, S. Džumhur, L. Mačak, M. Boben, D. Vidovic, Sen Dzumhur, Z. Žužek, G. Morozov, Jošt Pišek and H. Sørensen. It is a recent movement snapshot rather than a complete seasonal total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| L. Tičić |
Nizhny Novgorod
|
Transfer | 2 September 2026 |
| Ž. Žužek |
Gençlerbirliği S.K.
|
Free agent | 1 September 2026 |
| B. Kramer |
Konyaspor
|
Transfer | 31 August 2026 |
| B. Kramer |
Konyaspor
|
Transfer | 30 August 2026 |
Olimpija Ljubljana
|
Free agent | 4 August 2026 | |
| B. Verbič |
Levadiakos
|
Free agent | 30 July 2026 |
| A. Dionkou |
Omonia Nicosia
|
Free agent | 9 July 2026 |
| Y. Dukuly |
Adelaide United
|
Free agent | 9 July 2026 |
| L. Ceh |
Aluminij
|
Free agent | 8 July 2026 |
| P. Širvys |
Maribor
|
Free agent | 8 July 2026 |
| M. Ivanšek |
Bravo
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Ž. Frelih |
Spartak Trnava
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| L. Koútris |
Pogon Szczecin
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| V. Tusha |
Drita
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| B. Verbič |
Levadiakos
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
Recorded departures show a mix of loans and free-agent exits. Stijan Gobec moved to Bistrica on loan, while I. Vidović went to Zrinjski and H. Sørensen to Aluminij under the same arrangement. Free-agent departures include N. Iosifov to Sporting Gijon, Ž. Karničnik to Maribor, Juanjo Nieto to Castellón, M. Boben to Aluminij, L. Mačak to Triglav, V. Lisakovich to Torpedo Zhodino, F. Dževahirić to Primorje and N. Noordanus to Wuxi Wugou. F. Kovačević’s move to Ferencvarosi TC is recorded as a transfer. The entries represent a recent snapshot, not a complete departure total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Kavcic |
Brinje-Grosuplje
|
Loan | 3 September 2026 |
| G. Vodeb |
Krka
|
Loan | 3 September 2026 |
| L. Ceh |
Beltinci
|
Loan | 31 August 2026 |
| J. Pranjić |
HNK Gorica
|
Loan | 11 August 2026 |
| David Castro |
Racing Ferrol
|
Free agent | 6 August 2026 |
| David Castro |
Racing Ferrol
|
Free agent | 5 August 2026 |
| F. Jevšenak |
Mura
|
Loan | 30 July 2026 |
| Z. Žužek |
Dravinja
|
Loan | 29 July 2026 |
| Stijan Gobec |
Bistrica
|
Loan | 28 July 2026 |
| Stijan Gobec |
Bistrica
|
Loan | 28 July 2026 |
| N. Iosifov |
Sporting Gijon
|
Free agent | 12 July 2026 |
| Ž. Karničnik |
Maribor
|
Free agent | 8 July 2026 |
| I. Vidović |
Zrinjski
|
Loan | 2 July 2026 |
| H. Sørensen |
Aluminij
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| M. Boben |
Aluminij
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
Celje’s 2026 movement profile, considered through 20 August, combines incoming recruitment with extensive circulation of players returning from loans and others leaving on temporary or permanent terms. The arrivals include a clear free-agent component, with Verbič, Dukuly, Dionkou, Širvys, Koútris, Frelih and Ivanšek joining from clubs in several countries, while Tusha is listed as a transfer. Alongside these additions, the recorded returns from loan show players re-entering the club’s orbit after spells elsewhere. Departures follow a similarly varied pattern: loans to Bistrica, Zrinjski, Aluminij and other destinations sit beside free-agent exits, with Kovačević the named transfer departure. The movement points to an active reshaping of the available playing group, but the recent movement lists do not establish a complete balance of arrivals and departures. No recorded amounts are provided, so the financial dimension cannot be assessed.
Leagues Celje has participated in
Celje has recent recorded participation in Slovenia’s 1. SNL and Cup, with both competitions listed through 2025. The club also has recent entries in Friendlies Clubs and the UEFA Europa Conference League, each recorded through 2025. UEFA Europa League participation is recorded from 2015 through 2025 and forms part of Celje’s European history. The UEFA Champions League is a historical entry covering 2020 to 2024 rather than a recently active competition in the available record. Overall, the competition profile spans domestic league and cup football, preparation matches and recurring UEFA involvement.
More about Celje
Celje, officially Nogometni klub Celje, is a Slovenian football club founded in 1919 and rooted in the city of the same name. Its historical identity has passed through several eras and names, including SK Celje, NK Kladivar from 1946 to 1992 and NK Publikum from 1992 to 2007, before the modern Celje name was restored. The club is widely associated with the nickname Grofje, or The Counts, reflecting the medieval Counts of Celje and the city’s heritage.
Yellow and blue are the defining colors, echoed in the club’s badge and traditional home kit. The crest’s three yellow stars on a blue shield draw directly on the Counts of Celje symbolism, giving the team a visual link with local history rather than a generic sporting identity. Celje’s home is Stadion Z’dežele, a modern all-seater stadium opened in 2003 in the city’s sports park. The venue has a natural-grass pitch, undersoil heating and a stated capacity of 13,059, and its central infrastructure has made it suitable for international fixtures and national cup finals.
On the field, Celje occupies a durable place in Slovenian football. The club has participated in every season of the top division since the PrvaLiga began in 1991, a continuity that distinguishes it within the national game. Its core ecosystem is domestic league and Slovenian Cup competition, complemented by regular UEFA involvement across the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League qualifying pathways. The club’s modern professional structure has included private investment and strategic partnerships directed toward infrastructure and squad development. Its football model is described as proactive and attacking, with domestic players, academy products and international talent forming a broad bridge between development and senior competition. Together, the city, colors, crest, venue and uninterrupted top-flight presence form the durable character of Celje.
Last matches statistics for Celje
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Celje
0 - 1
Koper
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Bravo
2 - 1
Celje
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Bayer Leverkusen
2 - 0
Celje
|
3 / 5 |
|
88 | 10 | - | 7 |
|
Mura
0 - 0
Celje
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Celje
1 - 0
Aluminij
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Celje
0 - 3
Omonia Nicosia
|
2 / 12 |
|
0% | 9 | 4 | 3 |
|
Maribor
0 - 0
Celje
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Celje
2 - 2
Red Bull Salzburg
|
3 / 9 |
|
0% | 14 | 2 | 2 |
|
Korotan Prevalje
0 - 2
Celje
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Olimpija Ljubljana
1 - 1
Celje
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
Detailed statistics Celje
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).