Season 2017/18
The collection of trophies continues – the double crown after 25 years.
Before the 2017/18 season, Olimpija appointed Croatian expert Igor Bišćan as head coach. The former player of Dinamo Zagreb, Liverpool, and Panathinaikos experienced an early setback with the team’s elimination from European qualifiers. However, what followed was a remarkable success story.
With three wins in their first three league matches, the Dragons showed they meant business. In the first half of the season, they suffered only two defeats and went into the winter break three points behind Maribor. They eliminated Maribor in the quarterfinals of the Slovenian Cup and shone in the second half of the season. Olimpija started the spring portion of the league with six consecutive victories and secured a spot in the Slovenian Cup final after a dominant win over Celje. Toward the end of the season, the Dragons’ form dipped slightly, with a few draws leading to a thrilling league finale.
The title race was decided three rounds before the end of the season in Maribor, where Olimpija arrived two points behind their rivals. In a dramatic match at Ljudski vrt, the team from Ljubljana delivered a heroic performance. In a game full of twists and turns, Andres Vombergar scored a crucial goal in the 90th minute, sealing a spectacular 3–2 victory for Olimpija! With two rounds remaining, Olimpija needed just four points to secure the title. First, they defeated Krško in Stožice, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the Slovenian league. Thanks to a better head-to-head record against Maribor, the Dragons needed only a draw in the final round to clinch the championship. In the decisive match, Domžale took the lead after an hour of play, putting Igor Bišćan’s team in trouble. However, the hero of the day was Rok Kronaveter. Less than ten minutes before the final whistle, Stefan Savić won a penalty, and Kronaveter stepped up with nerves of steel to convert it. His goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the green-and-white faithful as Olimpija secured the Slovenian championship title.
Just three days after clinching the league title, the Slovenian champions faced a packed Stožice Stadium for the Slovenian Cup final. Their opponent, Aluminij, stood no chance against the unstoppable Dragons. With goals from Leon Benko (twice), Ricardo Alves, Goran Brkić, and Issah Abass, Olimpija secured a commanding 6–1 victory, sparking celebrations in Stožice. Captain Branko Ilić raised both home trophies high in just a few days, which happened for the first time in 25 years.