On this day: Winning Mitropa Cup 1978

On 13^th of December 1978, Partizan one its only European trophy beating Hungarian outfit Honved 1-0 in a Mitropa Cup final with penalty spot goal from Aca Trifunovic.

Partizan Mitropa Cup final team: Zalad, Djurovic, Kozic, Trifunovic, Stojkovic, Lazicic, Zavisic, Zivkovic, Santrac, Prekazi, Klincarski. Also played: Varga, Jovic. Venue: Partizan Stadium. Att: 4000. Referee: Antonin Wenzel (Czechoslovakia).

Partizan was coached by Ante Mladinic who was surpisingly sacked after the Mitropa Cup win.

Competition was split into two groups with Partizan paired with Italians Perugia and Czechoslovakians Zbrojovka Brno with other group consisting of Vojvodina (Yugoslavia), Honved (Hungary) and Rapid Wien (Austria). Austrians actually cancelled their participation so it was down to Vojvodina and Honved to battle for competition final.

Partizan kicked-off group stage with a 28^th of Sep 1977 5-1 win over Zbrojovka with brace from Vukotic and goals from Trifunovic, Grubjesic and Prekazi. This Partizan home game was watched by 10000 fans.

On 14^th of Dec 1977, Partizan played away to Perugia and Italians won it 2-1, goal for Partizan scored by Nenad Stojkovic. Perugia finished Serie A 1978 season as 7^th placed.

Partizan played away game to Zbrojovka Brno on 29^th of March 1978 and won it 3-2 with goals from Santrac, Vukotic and Jovic. Zbrojovka won Chechoslovakian 1978 championship.

Partizan played final group stage game home to Perugia, on 19^th of April 1978. Italians were beaten 4-0 with goals from Klincarski, Santrac, Jovic and Zavisic for our team to top the group and reach the competitons`s final.

Mitropa Cup is the oldest European competition (1927-1992). In the early stages, it was reserved for football clubs from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary and it was later joined by teams from Romania, Switzerland and Italia.

Number of Yugoslav clubs won Mitropa Cup – Crvena Zvezda and Celik (twice), Vojvodina, Partizan, Iskra Bugojno and Borac Banja Luka.