Hajduk Split Football Club From Croatia

Since Split Town attracts numerous guests throughout the year, writing this blog about the famous Croatian football club - Hajduk is necessary. Its rich history, tangible and intangible heritage, Poljud stadium, Hajduk's trophy hall, and fan shops enrich the tourist offer of the second-largest city in Croatia.

Founding of Hajduk Split

Croatian professional football club Hajduk Split was founded on February 13, 1911, in pub U Fleků (address: Křemencova 11), in Prague - the capital of today's Czech Republic (then the Kingdom of Bohemia). Its founders are Fabijan Kaliterna, Josip Barač, Lucijan Stella, Vladimir Šore, Vjekoslav Ivanišević and Ivan Šakić. Thank you, gentleman!

Founders of Hajduk Split Football Club, source: Wikipedia

After watching the match between Sparta and Slavia, they decided to found a football club in their hometown. The club's rules were written in the "Troccoli" cafe in Split. At the wise men's table, names of the club were proposed, among which were "Mosor," "Marjan," "Borac," "Uskok," "Velebit," etc.

Inscription on the founding of Hajduk in the Prague pub "U Fleků", source: Wikipedia author: Vesta144

The Split gymnasium teacher Mr. Josip Barač finally named the clubafter these students rushed into the office like rebels, the so-called "hajduci". 

“Let the club be called Hajduk!"; Josip Barac, July 31, 1871, Split – 1939

He said: "You came in uninvited, without knocking, like real Hajduks. Let that be your name! As you know, and we taught you this at school, that word signifies in our nation, in our legend, everything that is most beautiful - heroism, courage, honesty, camaraderie. Defiance of the powerful, protection of the weak. Let the club be called Hajduk!" That's how Hajduk got its name and Josip Barač is best remembered as Hajduk's godfather.

Hajduk Split Stadium

Throughout its rich history, Hajduk played on two football fields.. Here they are!

Former Hajduk Split Football Field

From 1911 to 1979, Hajduk played matches on the playground called "Kod stare Plinare". Today it is the playground of RK Nada. That field was originally called "King's Field". Nowadays the old playground is called "Stari Plac" or "Staro Hajdukovo". On the north part of the stadium was the Torcida fan group, like now on Poljud. 

Former Hajduk football field, source: Wikipedia

On this football field, 3148 games were played, 9542 goals were scored and 11 championships and 6 cups were won!  

Mišo Krstičević (1958) scored the last goal for Hajduk at their old "Stari plac" stadium in 1979.

Poljud Stadium

The City Stadium on Poljud is called Poljud Stadium or Poljud. It is the home ground of the Hajduk Split football club since September 12, 1979. It's one of the most imporant landmarks in Split!

Poljud stadium, source: Wikimedia Commons author: Ballota

On February 7, 1975, five players laid the foundation stone of the stadium in Poljud. Those 5 players were: Luka Kaliterna, Jozo Matošić, Jurica Jerković, Joško Radovniković and Zoran Vulić. 

The stadium was built for the Mediterranean Games in 1979. This impressive seashell-like Stadium has 33,987 seating places.

Poljud stadium under construction, pictured in 1979, source: Wikipedia author: B. Karadza

Its construction lasted 2 years, from 1977 – 1979. The architect was Dr. Boris Magaš.

Poljud Stadium – VIP stands, source: Wikimedia Commons author: Ballota 

Boro Primorac (1954) scored the first goal at Hajduk's new stadium in Poljud, on September 19, 1979, against Trabzonspor (1:0), in the match of the 1st round of the Champions Cup.

Poljud by Night, source: Wikimedia Commons authors: Muleni

Poljud Stadium hosted the European Athletics Championships in 1990 and the IAAF Continental Cup athletics competition in 2010. Ultra-Europe was held at Poljud Stadium from 2013 – 2018.

Football Championships and Medals

Throughout its rich history, the club has won 18 championships in five countries, 15 national cups and 5 super cups, and its greatest European successes are three quarterfinals of the Champions League and one semi-final each of the UEFA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.

First Game of Hajduk Split

The first opponent of Hajduk was "Calcio Spalato", a club of Italians who lived in Split. The first match was played on June 11, 1911, and ended with a score of 9:0 (6:0) for Hajduk. Šime Raunig scored the first goal for Hajduk with a knee.

The Most Fruitful Years

From 1970 to 1980 Hajduk's golden generation achieved the best results in the club's history. In 1971, they won the title after 16 years, over Partizan 4:3 after losing 0:3.

Hajduk Split Titles

On May 8, 1991, Hajduk won the last Yugoslav Cup.

• Cup of Yugoslavia: 
  • 1966/67, 1971/72, 1973, 1974, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1983/84, 1986/87, 1990/91.
• Croatian Cup:
  • 1992/93, 1994/95, 1999/00, 2002/03, 2009/10, 2012/13, 2021/22.

Celebration in season 1999/2000, source: HNK Hajduk Split

• National championships (18):
  • 1927, 1929, 1940/41, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1954/55, 1970/71, 1973/74, 1974/75, 1978/79, 1992, 1993/94, 1994/95, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2004/05.
• National Cups (16):
  • 1966/67, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1983/84, 1986/87, 1990/91, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1999/00, 2002/03, 2009/10, 2012/13, 2021/22., 2022/23.

Cup celebration on May 26, 2022, source: HNK Hajduk Split

• Croatian Super Cup (6):
  • 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2005.
• Champions League (Champions Cup):
  • 1975/76 (1/4 final), 1979/80 (1/4 final), 1994/95 (1/4 final).
• Cup Winners' Cup: 
  • 1972/73 (1/2 final), 1977/78 (1/4 final).
• UEFA Cup: 
  • 1983/84 (1/2 final), 1985/86 (1/4 final).

Players celebrate Cup in May of 2022, source: HNK Hajduk Split

• Central European Cup - Mitropa Cup:
  • 1955 (1/4 final), 1969/70 (1/4 final).
• Split sub-union (14):
  • 1920/21, 1921/22, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1924/25, 1926 (Spring first), 1926 (Autumn championship), 1927 (Spring championship), 1927 (Autumn championship), 1928 (Spring championship), 1928 (Autumn championship), 1929 (Spring championship), 1932 (Spring championship), 1936 (Spring championship).
• First HNL Indoor Championship (2):
  • 2008, 2009.

Prominent Hajduk Split Players Throughout History

Here are only some players and club officials who marked the game and era of the Hajduk club:

• Mr. Tomislav Ivić (1933 – 2011) is the most successful football coach in the club's history. His nicknames were Braco, Šjor Ive, and Napoleon.
• Ljubomir Benčić(1905 – 1992) played 353 games for Hajduk and scored 355 goals.
• Leo Lemešić (1908 – 1978) was a soccer player, national team member, referee, coach, selector, and sports worker. He played 491 times for Hajduk and scored 455 goals!
• With 729 goals, Frane Matošić (1918 – 2007) is the best scorer in Hajduk's history.

Mural dedicated to Mr. Frane Matošić, the best scorer in the history of Hajduk, source: VIP Holiday Booker

• Tito Kirigin (1920 – 1987) was considered to be the best president of Hajduk. He was the president in the seventies of the 20th century, at the time of Hajduk's greatest successes. With Hajduk, he won four championships, five cups, and twice reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League (then the European Champions Cup).
• Bernard “Bajdo” Vukas (1927 – 1983) had extraordinary dribbling ability. He played 615 games for Hajduk and scored 300 goals. In 2000 he was voted the best Croatian player of all time and was voted as the best Croatian athlete of the 20th century.
• Vladimir Beara (1928 – 2014) was called Vladimir the Great, Ballerina with Steel Fists and the Rubber Man was a goalkeeper. He participated in winning three league titles for Hajduk. He played 308 games for Hajduk.
• Petar Nadoveza (1942) was Hajduk's goal scorer when was most needed when the club needed to preserve its first league status. He was a member of Hajduk from 1963 - 1973. He played 460 games and scored 296 goals, and won the first Yugoslav Cup in 1967. Mr. Nadoveza combined all four functions, player and coach, head of the youth department and sports director.
• Dragan Holcer (1945 – 2015) had 419 appearances and 9 goals. He was the conductor of Hajduk's defense for 7 years, during which he recorded 3 championship titles and 3 cups.
• Jurica Jerković – Jure (1950 – 2019) played 529 times for Hajduk and scored 219 goals. He played in football matches with Pele and Maradona, 17 years apart.
• Ivica Šurjak (1953) played 504 times and scored 141 goals until 1981.
• Dražen Mužinić – Frfa (1953) played 508 games for Hajduk and scored 28 goals.
• Zlatko Vujović (1958) played 420 games for Hajduk and scored 182 goals.
• Alen Bokšić (1970) was a classy striker. It is known his legendary statement: 'I played for Hajduk and some other smaller clubs.' Just to remind you that in his career he played for Olympique Marseille, Lazio, Juventus and Middlesbrough.

Statue dedicated to Bernard Vukas, source: HNK Hajduk Split

Some other players contributed a lot to the development of the club:

Luka Kaliterna - Barba Luka (1893 - 1984), Vinko Radić (1898 – 1945), Šime Poduje (1905 – 1966), Veljko (Vjekoslav) Poduje (1907 – 1933), Bartul Čulić (1907 – 1948), Vladimir Kragić - Kalun (1910 – 1975), Gajetano “Gajo” Rafanelli (1913 – 1988), Branko Viđak (1920 – 1997), Božo Broketa – Broke (1922 – 1985), Lenko Grčić - Gaga (1925 – 1999), Ante Vulić (1928 - 1993), Sulejman Rebac (1929 – 2006), Vladimir Šenauer - Geza (1930 – 2013), Ante Jurić (1934 - 2013), Ante Tonči Vičević (1933 – 2017), Ante Žanetić (1936 – 2014), Andrija Anković (1937 - 1980), Ivo Bego – “The heart of Hajduk” (1937), Ferante Colnago Junior (1940 – 2008), Miroslav Ferić (1944 – 2017), Mladen Matijanić (1945), Ivan Buljan (1949), Slaviša Žungul (1954), Vedran Rožić (1954), Miroslav Ferić (1944 – 2017), Branko Oblak (1947), Vilson Đžoni (1950), Ivan Katalinić (1951), Mario Boljat Kalimero (1951), Luka Peruzović (1952), Nikica Cukrov (1954), Ivo Jerolimov Junior (1958), Boro Primorac (1954), Željko Mijač - Cico (1954 - 2022), Zoran Vujović (1958), Mišo Krstičević (1958), Blaž Slišković (1959), Ivan Gudelj (1960), Ivan Pudar (1961), Zoran Vulić (1961), Tonči Gabrić (1961), Aljoša Asanović (1965), Igor Štimac (1967), Ante Miše (1967), Slaven Bilić (1968), Robert Jarni (1968), Nenad Pralija (1970), Darko Butorović - Kike (1970), Goran Vučević (1971), Milan Rapaić - Miki (1973), Mate Baturina (1973), Mass Sarr Jr. (1973), Ivica Mornar (1974), Jurica Vučko (1976), Vlatko Đolonga (1976), Hrvoje Vejić (1977), Igor Tudor (1978), Ivan Leko (1978), Stipe Pletikosa (1979), Goran Sablić (1979), Zvonimir Deranja - Popaj (1979), Darko Miladin (1979), Srđan Andrić (1980), Mario Carević (1982), Darijo Srna (1982), Luka Vučko (1984), Niko Kranjčar (1984), Senijad Ibričić (1985), Marin Tomasov (1987), Nikola Kalinić (1988), Mario Maloča (1989), Lovre Kalinić (1990), Goran Jozinović (1990), Marko Livaja (1993) and Josip Juranović – Jura (1995).

Football titans of Hajduk

We also thank all those whose names are not on this list.

Hajduk Split Trophy Hall

Hajduk's trophy hall- cups and medals, source: HNK Hajduk Split

Hajduk's trophy hall is located on the premises of the Poljud Stadium.

Hajduk's trophy hall- jerseys, source: HNK Hajduk Split

On Hajduk's 104th birthday, trophy rooms were remodeled. The entire history of the Club is covered in three representative spaces. You can see the valuable and numerous trophies, plaques, gifts, books, brochures, and other items of Hajduk's rich collection.

Symbols and Traditions of Hajduk Split

Here are some of the most recognizable symbols and traditions of the Hajduk Split football club.

Coat of Arms of Hajduk Split

Coat of arms of Hajduk, source: Wikipedia

The coat of arms was designed by Vjekoslav Ivanišević in 1911. It first appeared in public in 1926 during the performance of Tijardović's operetta “Queen of the Ball” as part of the scenography.

Hajduk Split Football Jersey

Home jersey, source: HNK Hajduk Split

The traditional color of the jersey is white with a blue lower part, which symbolizes the ship's white sail and Adriatic's blue color. 💙

Away jersey, source: HNK Hajduk Split

Hajduk Split's Nickname

It is often called “Bili” ("Whites"), “Hajduci”, or “Majstori s mora” ("Masters from the sea").

Rivalry with Dinamo Zagreb

Hajduk is one of the two most popular and trophy-winning clubs in Croatia. The other one is Dinamo Zagreb. The football match between these two great rivals is called the Eternal Derby. The great rivalry and fan tensions began in 1913 when Hajduk and Građanski played the first game. The first match between Hajduk and Dinamo was on May 26, 1946. Since then there have been 200 official derbies between the two most successful Croatian clubs.

Hajduk is one of the few clubs that have never been relegated from the first league. It is the first team in the world to visit all five continents.

Derby Hajduk – Dinamo Zagreb, source: Wikipedia author: West Brom 4ever

There are usually 4 to 6 derbies per season. They are the most visited and fans always search for extra tickets.

The symbol of Hajduk is white color, and the Dinamo's symbol is blue.

100 Years of Hajduk 

For the 100th birthday, Hajduk played with Slavia from Prague. The football coach in 2011 was Mr. Goran Vučević (1971).

Festive choreography for 100 years of Hajduk, on February 13, 2011, source: Wikiwand

The Torcida fan group prepared a big torch the night before Sunday's duel with Slavia. The program was this below:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

• 09:30 Wreath-laying on the memorial plaque to deceased fans on the north stand of Poljud Stadium
• 10:00 Wreath-laying on Lovrinac in memory of all deceased Hajduk residents
• 12:00 - 14:00 Hajduk players meeting with fans on the Riva
• 21:00 Presentation of HRT's film in the Poljud cinema hall, lighting of Poljud in Hajduk's colors
• 00:00 Fireworks

Choreography of Torcida for 100 years of Hajduk, in 2011, source: Wikipedia

Sunday, February 13, 2011

• 09:30 Mass in St. Duje Cathedral, after which the guests moved across the Riva to the HNK building accompanied by HRM music
• 11:00 Formal academy at the Split National Theater directed by Krešimir Dolenčić
• 14:00 Millennium photo organized by Torcida
• 14:30 Program at the stadium: Brass band, majorettes, Spalatine, Filip Dević, KUD Jedinstvo, Brodosplit, paratroopers with the Croatian and Hajduk flags, and an old ball, Alen Nižetić, Mladen Grdović
• 15:14 Choreography in the entire stadium organized by Torcida
• 15:15 Friendly match Hajduk - Slavia Prague
• 15:25 Senijad Ibričić's farewell to the white jersey
• 16:00 Choreography in the entire stadium organized by Torcida
• 17:00 Countdown from the 90th to the 100th minute with an entertainment program, confetti fireworks and a "rocket"
• 18:30 Concert on the Riva with four Hajduk fans Coce, Grdović, Stavros, and Ban
• 19:11 Big fireworks next to the Port Captain's Office with ships' sirens

Torcida - Hajduk Split Fan Club

Torcida, the oldest fan group in Europe and a fan group of the Hajduk club was founded on October 28, 1950, on the eve of a football match with Crvena Zvezda. 

Torcida logo, source: Wikipedia

It was founded by the Dalmatian students in Zagreb: Vjenceslav Žuvela, Ante Ivanišević and Ante Dorić. The idea came from the player Bernard “Bajdo” Vukas (1927 – 1983) that was often talking about the atmosphere in Brazilian stadiums. In fact, the name Torcida comes from the Brazilian and Portuguese word for "supporters" ("torcedor"). 

On October 28, 2020, Torcida celebrated 70 years of existence, source: VIP Holiday Booker

Members of Torcida always gather in the north of Poljud, from where they loudly cheer on their club with various choreographies. Doris Dragović, a female singer from Split, was the “Queen of Torcida”.

The fan club's address is Zrinsko-Frankopanska 17, 21000 Split.  Its web site you can see on this link.

Hajduk - Because of One Love

Many books and songs were written in Hajduk’s honor. 

Hajduk inspired many artists, especially singers. The most famous composition about Hajduk is "Kraljica baluna" ("The Queen of the Ball"), an operetta by Ivo Tijardović in honor of the club's 15th anniversary.

Vinko Coce's hit “Kada umrem umotan u bilo” (“When I die wrapped in white“) remains one of the most important odes to loyalty to Hajduk. Another one fan favorite from Coce is "Oluja sa Sjevera" ("A Storm from the North").

Recently, “Zbog jedne ljubavi” (“Because of one love”) is a very popular song sung by Torcida Split, and "Ja ne mogu drugo, nego da ga volin" ("I can't help but love it") by Mišo Kovač and Saša Antić.

"Dalmatian nightingales" Oliver Dragojević, Vinko Coce, and Arsen Dedić were famous Hajduk fans.

Fan shops

If you want to visit the Hajduk Split fan shop and get some official merch, jerseys, and more, here they are!

Official Hajduk webshop:  https://shop.hajduk.hr/

Hajduk fan shop in Joker shopping mall in Split, source: HNK Hajduk Split

There are 4 official fan shops:

1. Fan shop Poljud Stadium, 8. Mediteranskih igara 2, Email: [email protected],
2. Fan shop Riva, Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 5, Email: [email protected]
3. Fan shop Joker, Put Brodarice 6, T.C Joker, Email: [email protected]
4. Fan shop Mall of Split, Josipa Jovića 93

Two other official fann shops are:

1. Fan shop Makarska, Obala kralja Tomislava 6, Email: [email protected]
2. Fan shop Zadar, Siroka ulica 14, Email: [email protected]

Additionally, you can visit the Torcida shop at the address Ivana Gundulića Street 26 in Split.

“I can do nothing but love him”, source: HNK Hajduk Split

We hope to celebrate soon the new title of our favorite football club. Good luck to the team!

Aleee, aleee!!!!! 🏆

Hajduk lives forever!

HŽV! ✌️❤️ 💙