The Counts of Celje were a powerful noble family in the Middle Ages; today, the “Counts” of NK Celje are national football champions and come from the “sports capital of Slovenia”. How did they win the league title on the same weekend as FC Bayern Munich and well before the end of the season? What is the history and current day-to-day life of the football club like? What role does the club’s academy play? What footballing and personal qualities must a footballer possess? What are the plans for the future? And how does a footballer manage to play 488 matches in the Slovenian top league?
Research carried out as part of the “Jugend schreibt” project in collaboration with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung/FAZ. By Mateja Petek, Lucian Lovrenčič, Lan Jerič and Nevio Pintarič – on 24 April 2026, in discussions with Sebastjan Gobec, the Slovenian league’s record appearance holder and technical director, and with Rok Gregorič, head of PR, in the administrative offices of NK Celje’s stadium. Interviews with Stijan Gobec, U19 player, and Spasoje Bulajić, head of the club academy, will follow.
A project supported by the Municipality of Celje and II. gimnazija Maribor; Project management/Photos: INSTITUT DISCIMUS LAB.
