Football in the Balkans I

Dariusz Wojtaszyn is Professor of Modern History at the University of Wroclaw (Poland), Visiting Professor at the University of Vienna (Austria), a member of the Expert Board for the history of football in the GDR at the German Football Association, and a member of Sport History/Sport Studies Austria and ISHPES. Maroš Melichárek is Assistant professor of Modern European and Balkan History at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Visiting Researcher at Balkan Studies Center (BSC)—International University of Sarajevo (IUS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a member of the Balkan History Association. Melichárek has received several domestic and international grants and is a two-time Visegrad scholarship holder.

Table of Contents


1. Football between History, Politics, Society, and Culture: Introduction (Maroš Melichárek and Dariusz Wojtaszyn)





2. A Popular Game in Dracula’s Land? A Socio-Historical Overview of Romanian Football (Andrei Antonie)


3. From Commons to Commodity and Back Again: Football’s Great Transformation in Post-socialist Romania (Razvan Papasima)





4. Yugoslav Football from Tito’s Death to the Breakup of Yugoslavia: Situation and Problems in the Climate of Political Conflict (Davor Kovačić)





5. Football and Politicians: Tito, Tuđman, and Milošević and Their Political Instrumentalization of the Social Phenomenon of Football (Maciej Górski)





6. Competing for the Nation on the Football Pitch: Ideology and Sports in Mostar (Giordano Merlicco, Danilo Kovač and Luca Alteri)





7. Greek Football of the 70s and 80s in the Memories of Polish Coaches and Footballers (Artur Pasko)





8. The Odyssey of Greek Football: Politics, Corruption and the Spirit of Division (Theofilos Pouliopoulos)





9. Conclusions (Maroš Melichárek and Dariusz Wojtaszyn)





Notes on Contributors


Index

“This edited book is dedicated to the phenomenon of football in the Balkans, a region known for its strong links between sport and politics and the hot atmosphere of matches. It gives the readers an gives an in-depth view of Balkan societies and their political and social turbulences. This interdisciplinary publication will undoubtedly interest a wide academic audience (scientists and students), journalists, analysts as well as sports, football, and the Balkan region enthusiasts. It contributes a lot to the existing literature on the subject.”
Magdalena Rekść, Associate Professor, University of Łodź (Poland)