We'll be under the European lights once again on Thursday! For matchday 3 of the UEFA Europa League league phase, we head to Slovenia this week, where our boys will face NK Celje this at 21:00 CEST. Admittedly, we will face opponents that many of us might not have had on our radar before the league phase. All the more reason for us to introduce them in a bit more detail.

Noble 'unrelegatables'

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Founded in 1919 in a city with a population of nearly 40,000, the club boasts an eventful history and holds a unique record in Slovenian football: alongside NK Maribor, NK Celje is the only club in the country to have remained in the top flight continuously since Slovenia gained independence and the first division (PrvaLiga) was established in 1991.

Back home, the team is nicknamed Grofje (the Counts) and is deeply connected to the city's history. In the late Middle Ages, the Counts of Cilli (Celje) were among the most powerful noble families in Central Europe - their historic three golden stars still adorn not only the city's coat of arms but also the club logo of our hosts.

Patient challengers turned three-time champions

For a long time, Celje were viewed as perennial challengers to the bigger sides from Maribor and Ljubljana in Slovenian football, though without any tangible success to show for it. That changed fundamentally toward the end of the last decade: in 2020 - shortly after the club’s centenary - they were crowned Slovenian champions for the first time in their history.

Soon after, an international group of investors - including current club president Valeriy Kolotilo and former AFC Bournemouth owner Maxim Demin - came on board. Supported by their long-standing local main sponsor, Cinkarna Celje, the club significantly professionalised its structures, secured a budget that is substantial by Slovenian standards, and firmly established itself as a top-tier force in the domestic league.

Following a second title in the 2023/24 season, the Counts (as they are nicknamed) added another in the most recent 2025/26 campaign. Having secured their third championship in just a few years, they face our boys as reigning title holders. The club is no longer an unknown on the international stage, either. This season marks their fourth appearance in a European competition, with the team notably reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League during the 2024/25 campaign.

A homecoming and a young key player

One of the most experienced figures in the current squad is Benjamin Verbič, who has returned to the club. The 32-year-old forward was born in Celje and played for his hometown club during the early stages of his career. He went on to score goals for several prominent European sides - including FC Copenhagen, Dynamo Kyiv, and Panathinaikos - before returning to his home city this past summer.

15.15 Million Euro estimated combined market value

Joining him in the attack is 24-year-old playmaker Svit Seslar - not only the most valuable player in the squad but also their current top scorer. Between the posts, the Slovenian side features a promising young talent: 23-year-old goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban, a product of the Everton youth academy.

Turbulent start and a new coach

The defending champions have faced a turbulent start to the current season. After narrowly missing out on the UEFA Champions League - losing to Slovan Bratislava in the play-offs (1–1, 1–2 after extra time) - the team’s momentum stalled in the domestic league toward the end of the summer. This led to a change of coach in mid-September, with 46-year-old Slovenian Zoran Zeljkovic taking the helm. However, the improvement the club had hoped for has yet to materialise.

In the domestic PrvaLiga, NK Celje currently sit in sixth place (out of ten teams) with 16 points from eleven matches. In the UEFA Europa League league phase, they are also still searching for their first point, and their first goal, after two matches. Their opening match under the new coach ended in a 0–2 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen, followed by a 0–3 home loss to Omonia Nicosia. The hosts are therefore under significant pressure in front of their own fans, while our Red Bulls look to carry the momentum gained in their good win against Altach.

The match this Thursday (22 October) kicks off at 21:00 CEST. You can watch the game for free on ServusTV and ServusTV On in Austria.

NK Celje: visiting the Counts