State Champions 2004.

Without a stain, but with a lot of trouble, primarily due to injuries to key players and bad luck in important matches, Crvena Zvezda has, however, reached its 24th national championship title. Red Star became the champion in the end, with a victory in a hot away match in Nikšić against Sutjeska, and the new title was celebrated pompously at Marakana in a match against Vojvodina. The cup intended for the champion, Red Star captain Nemanja Vidić, was presented by the then president of the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro, Dragan Stojković.

The 2003/04 season was marked by the league's top scorer - Nikola Žigić with 18 goals. Zvezda, under the expert guidance of coach Slavoljub Muslin, won its eighth "double crown", as it also triumphed in the domestic cup. The Serbian and Montenegrin Championship was won with 74 points, 11 more than second-placed Partizan, 16 more than third-placed Železnik, 23 more than fourth-placed OFK Beograd...

Both main club criteria were met: creating a quality team and winning trophies. First, a game without surprises in the defense zone and maneuvering space was ensured, and then the realization came by itself. The team leader was captain Nemanja Vidić, already an exceptional defender at that time, who would later become the captain of the famous English club Manchester United, with whom he won all possible trophies, including the most important one - the Champions League. Even when he was injured, Vidić fully motivated his teammates in the red and white jersey.

- They were surprised on the island when I told them that my dream came true when I played for Red Star. Everything else is just work - Vidić recalled.

Playing staff

Crvena Zvezda : Dusan Basta 1, Nikola Beljic 1, Dragan Bogavac 10, Jadranko Bogicevic 2, Branko Boskovic 2-1, Nemanja Vidic 20-5, Milivoje Vitakic 18, Vladimir Disljenkovic 24-9 goals conceded, Ivan Dudic 10-1, Milan Dudic 23-3, Bojan Djordjevic 18, Slavoljub Djordjevic 23, Nikola Zigic 28-18, Dejan Ilic 12, Bosko Jankovic 4, Nenad Kovacevic 7, Radovan Krivokapic 27-5, Marjan Markovic 18-1, Bojan Miladinovic 11, Dejan Milovanovic 21, Dragan Mladenovic 24-3, Dragan Mrdja 5-3, Marko Muslin 2, Sanibal Orahovac 8-2, Marko Pantelic 12-5, Marko Perovic 25-3, Ivan Randjelovic 6-3 goals conceded, Stojanovic Nenad 18-7, Šarac Dragan 9-1.

Coach: Slavoljub Muslin.

The giant two-meter tall Nikola Žigić was a great revelation and quickly became a favorite of the audience. He especially excelled on his debut in the autumn derby, when he torpedoed Partizan, who were then participating in the Champions League, with two goals at Marakana. The famous German football player on the bench of the black and whites, Lothar Matthaus, admitted in a sporting manner that they could not stop Žigić, saying in a humorous tone that perhaps only the famous basketball player Vlade Divac could guard him. The epilogue was as follows: Crvena Zvezda - Partizan 3:0, and the prolific goal scorer Žigić is the great hero of the eternal derby.

For another double crown, club president Dragan Džajić and trophy-winning coach Slavoljub Muslin had enormous merit.

- The two generations I coached won five out of a possible six trophies. Crvena Zvezda has preserved its trophy habits, it has also preserved it, and even raised it to a higher level - a unique fan atmosphere, a true European one - said Muslin.

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