The name Delije first began to be used by hardcore Red Star supporters during the late 1980s, with official inauguration taking place on 7 January 1989.

Up to that point, the die-hard fans were scattered amongst about eight groups that shared the north stand at the Rajko Mitić Stadium (known colloquially as Marakana), most prominent of which were the Red Devils, Ultras and Zulu Warriors.

[2] As a sign of appreciation, during the late 1990s, Red Star painted the word Delije in block letters across the north stand.

Since the mid-2000s the brotherhood has evolved to include Spartak Moscow ultras Fratria, owing to strong Russophilia and a shared Slavic heritage.

The Ultras followed Italian influence which consisted of long and melodic songs, fireworks, and choreography.

The late 1980s came with strong nationalism, and Red Star supporters, in the spirit of their tradition declared themselves as Serbian nationalists.

At the moment when politics was already deeply inside stadiums a big meeting of all North groups was held with only one goal that no other names except Red Star, Belgrade and Serbia should be spoken at the games.

Always an intense rivalry, the fact that this particular match took place just weeks after Croatia had held its first multi-party elections in about 50 years (which, incidentally, was won by the parties favouring Croatian independence) only served to increase the tension between the two.

They traveled all over Europe, defeating Grasshopper Zürich, Glasgow Rangers, Dynamo Dresden and German giants Bayern Munich along the way to Bari (the host of the final), where they faced Marseille.

The 1991 Red Star team gave the fans something that many Delije could only have dreamt about until then; the European Cup trophy, defeating the French side 5–3 on penalties, with Prosinečki, Binić, Belodedić, Mihajlović and Pančev scoring.

Vojislav Šešelj in his Hague trial said: In 1990, all the supporters of the football club Red Star joined the Serbian Chetnik movement, and at some point in October 1990, through mediators, Arkan requested to meet me.

[1]Šešelj further claimed: Nebojša [Đorđević], Suca, was one of the principal leaders of Red Star fans.

A large flag with "Welcome Orthodox Brothers" was set along the east stand as a welcome gesture to Greek fans and players.

Delije organizational structure is fairly decentralized with many subgroups present at the stadium's north stand—the gathering point of the club's most loyal and passionate fans.

Since Red Star enjoys a lot of support outside of Belgrade as well, various organized groups exist in cities across Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Hercegovina as well as in Serbian diaspora.

The most organized and numerous of those include Nišlije (from Niš), NSCZ (from Novi Sad), Mladji Kikindjani (from Kikinda), Kopre Nedri (groupings of various subgroups from numerous cities in Republika Srpska), Čačani (from Čačak), Delije Šabac (from Šabac), Armija 5 (grouping of various subgroups from Smederevo, Požarevac and several neighbouring towns), Delije Kruševac (from Kruševac), Barani (from Bar, Montenegro), Delije Kumanovo (from Kumanovo in North Macedonia), Orthodox Boys (from Slovenia), Ultra klan (grouping of various subgroups from Serbian diaspora).