Football in Ljubljana until 1945: 110th anniversary of the founding of SFK Ilirija

In 2021, 110 years have passed since the founding of the first Slovenian football club SFK Ilirija. To commemorate the birth of this pioneer of Ljubljana and Slovenian sports, the Sports Museum has prepared an exhibition on the history of Ljubljana football, the author of which is the curator dr. Aleš Šafarič. On the Krakovo embankment in October 2021, old photographs and articles on 22 billboards took visitors through almost half a century of history in the development of football in the city - from its beginnings, through student clubs and Ilirijia, post-war boom to difficult conditions during World War II and the first matches in liberated Ljubljana. In the period between the two world wars, there were over 20 clubs in the city, led by Ilirija and Primorje, a club of Slovenian emigrants who fled from fascist violence. A fiery derby developed between them with many spectators and fierce matches on the pitch, and the two clubs also represented Slovenian football at the national level. Tense duels also developed between the smaller clubs, which were especially numerous in the south and east of the city.

The exhibition was opened from 1 October 2021 to 9 November 2021.