Meraklije are the organised supporters of FK Radnički Niš and one of the most recognisable fan groups in Serbian football. Based traditionally in the South Stand of Čair Stadium, they represent far more than match-day support. Their identity combines devotion to Radnički, pride in Niš and a determination to defend the football culture of southern Serbia.
The name comes from the word meraklija, derived from merak, a term deeply embedded in the culture of Niš and the wider Balkans. It describes someone who knows how to enjoy life, take pleasure in the moment and do something with genuine emotion. Few names could better express the temperament of a support known for combining fierce loyalty with the distinctive spirit of its city.
Before Meraklije: the birth of organised support in Niš
The roots of organised support for Radnički can be traced to 1962, decades before Meraklije formally appeared. That year, several thousand supporters travelled from Niš to Skopje for the decisive promotion match against Vardar. The scale of the journey demonstrated that Radnički already possessed a large and committed following capable of mobilising beyond its own city.
Radnički earned promotion to the Yugoslav First League that summer. On 23 September 1962, during the club’s first top-flight home match against Red Star Belgrade, supporters displayed a huge banner carrying the words “Real sa Nišave”, meaning “Real from the Nišava”. Stretching across a significant section of the stand, the banner became one of the earliest symbols of Radnički’s growing fan identity.
Čair soon developed a reputation for large crowds and an intense atmosphere. Radnički represented not only Niš but much of southern Serbia, attracting supporters from across the Nišava District and neighbouring areas. The club’s rise gave a region often overshadowed by Belgrade football a team around which it could build its own identity.
European nights at Čair
The most celebrated period arrived at the beginning of the 1980s. After finishing third in the Yugoslav First League in 1979/80, Radnički qualified for the UEFA Cup and began a remarkable series of European campaigns. Napoli, Grasshoppers, Feyenoord, Dundee United and Hamburger SV were among the teams that experienced the atmosphere of Čair.
Large flags, scarves, continuous chanting and the sound of traditional gajde turned European nights in Niš into major city events. The organised group known today as Meraklije did not yet exist, but the foundations of its mentality were already visible. Travelling across Europe and filling Čair against famous opponents helped create a generation for whom Radnički became an essential part of local identity.
The defining night came in April 1982, when Radnički hosted Hamburger SV in the first leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final. In front of a packed and deafening Čair, Radnički defeated the future European champions 2–1. Hamburg overturned the tie in the return match, but the victory in Niš remains one of the greatest nights in the club’s history and one of the strongest examples of the bond between the team, the city and its supporters.
Radnički eventually suffered relegation at the end of the 1984/85 season, after 23 consecutive campaigns in the Yugoslav top division. The stay outside the elite lasted only one year, but the changing fortunes of the club created a need for a more structured and permanent supporters’ organisation.
The foundation of Meraklije
Meraklije were officially formed in September 1989, shortly before a league match against Red Star. The new organisation united younger supporters who wanted to improve the atmosphere, organise away travel and give Radnički’s most committed following a clear name and identity.
The group quickly established its place behind the goal. Flags, drums, scarves, banners and coordinated chanting became regular features of Radnički matches, while the South Stand developed into the recognised home of active support. The abbreviation M89, referring to Meraklije and their founding year, became one of the group’s principal symbols.
Their identity was closely connected to Niš. The colours red, white and blue reflected both Radnički and Serbian tradition, while the gate of the Niš Fortress frequently appeared on emblems, flags and supporter material. It was a visual reminder that Meraklije saw themselves as representatives of the city as much as followers of a football club.
Survival during the 1990s
The break-up of Yugoslavia, war, international sanctions and hyperinflation severely affected everyday life and football during the 1990s. Radnički’s results declined, attendances fell and organising regular away travel became far more difficult. Nevertheless, Meraklije continued to follow the club through one of the most unstable periods in its history.
A younger generation began rebuilding the group during the middle of the decade. Even while Radnički competed outside the highest division, supporters travelled across Serbia and maintained an active presence at Čair. New scarves, shirts, banners and flags helped strengthen the group’s visual identity, while away matches became vital for preserving internal unity.
The difficult years also shaped the group’s central principle: support should not depend on results or league status. For Meraklije, loyalty to Radnički became inseparable from loyalty to Niš. That conviction would later define campaigns aimed at encouraging local people to support the club of their own city instead of the more successful teams from Belgrade.Local patriotism remains at the heart of the Meraklije mentality. Messages such as “Ako si Nišlija, budi Meraklija” or “If you are from Niš, be a Meraklija” have appeared throughout the city. Other campaigns have used slogans including “Gradska deca uz gradski klub”, meaning “City children behind the city club”, and “Nemoj da budeš stranac u svom gradu”, or “Do not be a stranger in your own city”.
These messages express the group’s opposition to the centralisation of Serbian football culture around Red Star and Partizan. Meraklije argue that supporting Radnički is an expression of belonging, regardless of trophies, divisions or results. Their purpose is not simply to attract spectators but to pass the connection between the club and the city from one generation to the next.
Support is usually directed by a vođa, or capo, positioned at the front of the section with a megaphone or microphone. Drums maintain the rhythm while flags, two-pole banners, pyrotechnics and choreographies give the stand its visual character. The objective is continuous collective participation rather than watching the match in silence.
The South Stand remains the symbolic home of Meraklije, although stadium conditions have sometimes forced the group to move temporarily. In 2025, safety concerns and damaged seating led to the closure of the north and south stands, with active support transferred to the east. Regardless of location, the group has continued to identify itself with the southern end of Čair.
Beyond football
Meraklije are primarily associated with Radnički, but their presence is not limited to football. They have supported clubs representing Niš in other sports and have been particularly visible during matches played by the Serbian national handball team at the Čair Sports Centre.
Niš has long been regarded as one of the strongest handball cities in Serbia, and national-team matches there regularly produce loud, emotionally charged atmospheres. This involvement reflects the wider outlook of Meraklije: when a team carries the name or spirit of Niš, it deserves the backing of the city.
Friendships with Marinci and Varvari
The best-known friendship of Meraklije is with Marinci, the organised supporters of Spartak Subotica. The relationship began spontaneously in 1992 and developed into one of the more unusual friendships in Serbian supporter culture, connecting groups from opposite ends of the country.
When Radnički and Spartak met again regularly in the Serbian SuperLiga around two decades later, the groups marked their long friendship by standing together and exchanging chants and banners. Their relationship has survived changes in generations, divisions and club management, earning the description of a supporter brotherhood rather than a temporary alliance.
Meraklije also share a long-standing friendship with Varvari, supporters of Budućnost Podgorica. The connection dates back to the period of a common Yugoslav league and was strengthened through personal contacts, mutual visits and hospitality. Varvari representatives have continued to visit Niš, including for major Meraklije anniversaries, while Radnički supporters have reciprocated in Podgorica.
A relationship of mutual respect has also developed with Crveni Đavoli, supporters of Radnički Kragujevac. The two clubs were founded in 1923, while both organised supporter groups trace their beginnings to 1989. Their shared working-class names and emphasis on local identity inspired the slogan “Radnička deca, radnička braća”, meaning “Workers’ children, workers’ brothers”.
Meraklije today
Radnički’s return to the Serbian top division in 2012 provided Meraklije with a renewed platform, but the group’s importance cannot be measured by attendance figures alone. In December 2024, members marked the 35th anniversary of Meraklije with a major choreography at Čair, joined by representatives of friendly groups.
Modern restrictions, stadium closures, changing generations and the attraction of Serbia’s two largest clubs continue to present serious challenges. Yet the core idea behind Meraklije has remained unchanged since 1989: Niš should stand behind its own club.
From the mass journey to Skopje in 1962 and the “Real sa Nišave” banner to the European nights of the 1980s and the creation of M89, Radnički’s supporter culture has always reflected the character of the city. Meraklije are its organised expression: proud, emotional, stubbornly local and determined to keep the voice of southern Serbia alive at Čair.