On this day, Grbavica was set on fire, 26 years later the stadium hosts European matches

SARAJevo, (Patria) - On this day, May 4, 1992, the Grbavica stadium was set on fire.

During the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Grbavica stadium, popularly known as Dolina Ćupova, became the first front line, and the west stand, transferred from the 6. April stadium from Marijin Dvor during the stadium's construction, was set on fire, while part of the stadium was mined.

Along with the stand, 316 trophies burned and disappeared, of which 42 belonged to the footballers, and the rest were won by other clubs from the Željezničar Sports Association, which then numbered 14 clubs.

However, some trophies that were in the club's premises at Marijin Dvor were saved and today adorn the showcases of the Blue Salon.

The signing of the Peace Agreement in Dayton brought an end to the war, and the final return of Grbavica under the city's control occurred on March 19, 1996. From then until today, Grbavica has been living its new life, along with its residents and the Željo stadium.

Although almost completely destroyed, the first official match was played on the stadium, full of visible scars, on May 2, 1996. It was, fittingly symbolic, a city derby in which Željezničar and Sarajevo played to a draw (1:1).

Twenty-six years later, the Grbavica stadium is home to European matches of Željezničar and the BiH national team.