Celtic have been drawn to face Bosnia and Herzegovina’s FK Sarajevo in the first qualifying round of next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Hoops enter the competition at the first qualifying round stage for the second time, after facing Armenia’s Alashkert FC last time out in 2018/19, following UEFA’s rule change to the competition prior to last season.
Neil Lennon will be looking to guide his side into the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign, when Celtic saw off Linfield and Rosenborg respectively in the qualifying rounds before beating Astana in the play-offs.
Celtic will host the Bosnian outfit in the first leg of the tie, which will be played on either the 9th or 10th of July, before travelling to the Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium for the second leg the following week.
Here’s all you need to know about FK Sarajevo ahead of the first qualifying round tie.
Club background
FK Sarajevo were founded in 1946 and have gone on to become the one of the most successful football teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based in the capital city of Sarajevo, the club plays in the Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium, named after one of their greatest ever players Asim Ferhatovic.
Bosnian champions
FK Sarajevo won their fourth league title last season and their first since the 2014-15 campaign, finishing on 70 points, five points clear of second place under boss Husref Musemic. The club have also finished as runners-up on six occasions and won the domestic cup six times.
European experience
Sarajevo produced a stunning performance to draw 2-2 away from home against Serie A side Atalanta in the second qualifying round of the Europa League last season, before succumbing to an 8-0 drubbing in the second leg.
They almost progressed into the group stages of the Europa League in 2014/15 after progressing through the qualifying rounds, but eventually fell to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.
Club owner
Cardiff City chairman Vincent Tan bought FK Sarajevo in 2013 and helped the club establish themselves as a leading side in Bosnia and Herzegovina once again, after a spell of seven years without a trophy.
Captain
FK Sarajevo are captained by Krste Velkoski, who has been capped 10 times for North Macedonia.
Key players
Three of the top six goalscorer’s in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina last season were from FK Sarajevo, with captain Velkoski, Mersudin Ahmetovic and Benjamin Tatar all reaching double figures.