While many football fans may already be familiar with NK Maribor due to their rather troubling habit of knocking Scottish teams out of European competitions, others may not be so familiar.
Tonight they will face Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the first round of a tie that will see one side go on to the Europa League group stages and a huge cash windfall.
While the Dons prepare themselves for one of the most crucial games of the season, here is everything you need to know about their opponents, NK Maribor…
The basics
Full name: Nogomenti Klub Maribor
Nation: Slovenia
Background: Former in 1960, NK Maribor are Slovenia’s most successful club, having won the Slovenian league 13 times.
They may not have won the title last season, having lost out to Olimpija Ljubljana, but they are also perennial over-achievers in European competitions.
Tottenham were held 1-1 in Slovenia in 2012/13, while Maribor won away from home twice in the Champions League group stages the following season.
In the last 16, they led eventual winners Sevilla on away goals at half-time during the second leg before narrowly drawing and missing out on aggregate.
They have also dumped Celtic (2014), Rangers (2011) and Hibs (2010) out of Europe in the past.
How they play
The Slovenian side will be dangerous for Derek McInnes’ men. They have creativity and pace going forward.
Midfielder Dare Vrsoc is a constant threat and loves to have go from long range, while attacker Tavares is known for his pace.
Aberdeen’s defensive line will play an integral part tonight and will be hoping to keep a clean sheet in the first leg.
But with that being said, if the Dons do make it to Slovenia without scoring first, they will find themselves against a side who are yet to concede a goal at home this season.
All in all, a tough proposition.
Key players
- Brazillian Tavares is the key man for Maribor, as outlined by Dons chief Derek McInnes, and is revered as Maribor royalty as the club’s all-time top goalscorer.
- Regularly tipped for Slovenian goalkeeper of the year, Jasmin Handanovic is another huge figure for the side. Aberdeen’s front men will need to be on top form if they hope to get something past him.
- At centre-half there is Marko Suler, a bonafide leader and the heart of Maribor’s defence. Suler has won a number of trophies with the club and will be vital to their chances of moving forward with this year’s competition.
The Head Coach
Ante Simundza is another regarded as royalty at the club, having been a key part of the side that qualified for the group stages of the Champions League.
He began his coaching career at the club with the youth set up before moving on to lead Mura 05 to an unexpected third-place finish in his debut season.
After rejoining Maribor as first-team coach, he steered them to a 12th league title and helped them reach the Europa League knockout stages for the first time in the club’s history.
Ahead of tonight’s match Simundza, had this to say: “We will have to be strong and will not be going out playing nice football.
“It will be strong football.”
What’s at stake
The Dons could be set for a multi-million pound windfall if McInnes’ men can win tonight.
They could be set to benefit from a whopping £2.5million in the Pittodrie coffers from qualifying for the group stage.
UEFA awards a handsome £2m to each of the 48 clubs who make up the 12 groups.
… That and pride, of course.
