Siroki Brijeg set the standard

A small-town club with big ambitions, NK Široki Brijeg will take another step forward tonight when they enter the UEFA Champions League for the second time. Unlike other Bosnia-Herzegovnian sides such as NK Željeznicar and FK Sarajevo, Široki Brijeg never competed in the top flight in the former Yugoslavia. Nor does their region boast a footballing tradition to rival that of Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Zenica or Banja Luka. But as the town of 10,000 gears up for another shot at the UEFA Champions League, Široki Brijeg are setting the example for the rest of the country to follow.

Sudden rise
Široki Brijeg were founded in 1948 as Borak and spent much of their existence in the Bosnia-Herzegovnian regional league, four levels below the Yugoslavian élite. Since the Bosnia-Herzegovnian Premier League was established in 1998, however, the team have enjoyed a sudden rise, winning a first title in 2004 before adding a second last term. "Ten years ago we paid particular attention to strengthening the organisation of the club," Široki Brijeg president Zlatan Mijo Jelić told uefa.com. "We built the Pecara stadium according to UEFA standards and, at the same time, strengthened the squad. We created the right conditions to play in Europe and have shown that with our performances in three seasons in UEFA competition."

Faith in youth
Široki Brijeg take pride in a strong youth system based on local talent and their juniors were national champions last season. Unlike many of their peers, Široki Brijeg have also stayed loyal to their coaches in recent years, with stability bringing its rewards. The club's two bosses over the last four years, Ivo Ištuk and Ivica Barbarić, have each claimed the championship. Now Barbarić has set his sights on translating domestic success into European.

Experience
Two summers ago, Široki Brijeg were eliminated by Azerbaijani opponents PFC Neftchi in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. Then, in last season's UEFA Cup, they overcame Albania's KS Teuta and Montenegrin outfit FK Zeta to reach the first round, where they lost to FC Basel 1893. With another tilt at the UEFA Champions League looming, the Široki Brijeg squad have been in training for over a month, first at their Mostarsko Blato base, then in Slovenia, before completing preparations at the Pecara stadium.

'Respect'
So hopes are high for this evening's first leg away to Belarussian champions FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk. "We respect our rivals, the champions of Belarus, and it will be difficult to reach the next round," Barbarić said. "However, we are confident we can repeat our success of last season when we had some great performances in the UEFA Cup."