Celje secures Slovenian football championship after dominant season

Celje have secured the Slovenian football championship, sealing their third national title and underlining the club's emergence as one of the dominant forces in the top echelons of Slovenian football.

The club confirmed the title with a 2:0 win away to Mura in the 31st round of the Slovenian PrvaLiga on 19 April, opening an unassailable 13-point lead over nearest challengers Koper with only a few matches remaining.

The club has a record of 21 wins, five draws and only four defeats in 30 rounds of play in the domestic championship, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

It is the third championship for the club from the eastern Slovenian city of Celje after previous triumphs in the 2019/20 and 2023/24 seasons.

Outstanding season

The title caps a season in which Celje have led the standings almost from the outset, sitting at the top of the table since the third round despite several changes on the bench. The team began the campaign under Spanish coach Albert Riera before a brief spell under interim boss Ivan Majevski.

In March the club appointed Portuguese manager Vítor Campelos on a contract until 2028, and the side responded with a strong run of form, winning six matches in a row to seal the title.

"We're very happy with the third national title. The boys felt that we could seal the deal today," Campelos said after the match.

"We are confident in our style of play. When we came to Celje, we brought fresh energy - and this is the secret to our success."

Celje also enjoyed one of the most notable European campaigns in the club's history this season in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

They progressed to the knockout rounds after victories against teams including Legia Warsaw and Shamrock Rovers. Their run ended in the round of 16 against AEK Athens, who advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

And this came after the club reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League in 2024/25, the farthest a Slovenian club has ever come in a European competition.

From also-ran to champion

For much of modern history, Celje was overshadowed by domestic powerhouses Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.

But the last several years of successes are a demonstration of a rapid rise, with the club now firmly established among the leading sides in Slovenian football and a serious contender in Europe.

Asked about European competitions, the coach said summer obligations were not on his mind yet. "A lot can happen before the Champions League qualifying."

Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA