45°43′26″N 16°04′23″E / 45.72395°N 16.07317°E / 45.72395; 16.07317

Gorica
Full nameHrvatski nogometni klub Gorica
(Football Club Gorica)
Nickname(s)Goričani, Turopoljci
Short nameGOR
Founded16 July 2009 (2009-07-16) (as merger of NK Radnik and NK Polet Buševec)
GroundGradski stadion Velika Gorica
Capacity5,200[1]
PresidentNenad Črnko
Head coachDinko Jeličić
LeagueSuperSport HNL
2022–23SuperSport HNL, 9th of 10
WebsiteClub website

Hrvatski nogometni klub Gorica (English: Croatian Football Club Gorica), commonly referred to as HNK Gorica or simply Gorica, is a Croatian football club based in the town of Velika Gorica, located just south of the Croatian capital Zagreb. They play their home matches at the Gradski stadion Velika Gorica, which has a capacity of 5,200.[2] They won the 2010–11 Croatian Second Football League title and were initially promoted to Croatian First Football League, but their top license was revoked.[3] The club regard themselves as the spiritual continuation of the former Prva HNL members NK Radnik, who went bankrupt and were dissolved in 2009. However, legally HNK Gorica is a distinct and separate club, and is not entitled to claim the history of the old NK Radnik.[4]

History

There is a long lasting tradition of football in Velika Gorica and region of Turopolje. First organized clubs were founded during the 1930s but the most prominent football club, NK Radnik, was created in 1945, just after the end of World War II.

Radnik enjoyed average success during Yugoslavia, and its most impressive results came with independence of Croatia. With a newly built stadium for 1987 Summer Universiade Radnik were champions of the first ever Croatian second division. In doing so they were promoted to the highest level Croatian league. Radnik competed there for two seasons, 1992–93 and 1993–94. After being relegated, Radnik started a downfall, obtaining mediocre results which resulted in them playing in the fourth tier of Croatian league football for four seasons (from 2002 till 2006).

During 2009 Radnik got into serious financial troubles and only solution for preserving Velika Gorica's top and most popular football team was a merger with one of financially stable local football clubs. A perfect partner was found in NK Polet from nearby village Buševec. NK Polet had a long lasting football tradition and was a competitive member of Treća HNL. In summer of 2009, merging between NK Radnik and Polet was agreed and HNK Gorica was formed.[5] As a primal mission club stated winning the league title and reaching Croatian Second Football League after many years of absence. The goal was reached during the first season, Gorica won the Treća HNL West and achieved promotion to the Druga HNL for the 2010–11 season.

Before 2010–11 season it was stated that club's ambitions are not high and that everybody would be satisfied with top half finish. But as the season progressed, Gorica proved to be the best club in the league, this culminating with securing the title two rounds before the end of the season. As 2. HNL champion, Gorica earned a place in Croatia's first division, which was later denied after getting their top level license revoked.[6]

Gorica won the 2017-18 Croatian Second Football League after which they were finally granted licence to play in the top tier after many years of being denied. Their league debut (as HNK Gorica) in the 2018–19 season was one of the most surprising and impressing parts of the league, becoming the best league-debutants in history by winning 59 points, as well as beating European contenders Hajduk Split and Osijek twice and the vice-champions Rijeka three times, although still finishing 5th, just 3 points away from reaching the Europa League qualifying rounds. Many foreign players out of contract were bought for free before the season, which turned out to be remarkable signings, most notably Łukasz Zwoliński, Kristijan Lovrić and Iyayi Atiemwen, who was ranked third in the 2018 Prva HNL Player of the year rankings and sold to Dinamo Zagreb over the 2019 transfer window for a record fee.[7]

Current squad

As of 1 September 2023[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF Croatia CRO Mateo Leš
6 MF Croatia CRO Marko Soldo (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb)
7 FW Croatia CRO Ante Matej Jurić
8 MF Republic of the Congo CGO Merveil Ndockyt
9 FW Netherlands NED Sven Blummel
10 MF Croatia CRO Jurica Pršir (2nd Captain)
11 FW Croatia CRO Lenny Ilečić
12 GK Croatia CRO Jan Paolo Debijađi
13 DF Denmark DEN Alexander Munksgaard
14 MF Croatia CRO Josip Mitrović
15 MF Croatia CRO Filip Mrzljak (Captain)
17 MF Croatia CRO Vinko Skrbin
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF Montenegro MNE Momčilo Raspopović
22 DF Croatia CRO Mario Maloča
23 MF Croatia CRO Luka Kapulica
25 DF Croatia CRO Krešimir Krizmanić
30 MF Croatia CRO Luka Brlek
31 GK Croatia CRO Ivan Banić
34 DF Croatia CRO Mario Matković
44 GK Croatia CRO Božidar Radošević
46 FW Montenegro MNE Nikola Vujnović
77 MF Croatia CRO Valentino Majstorović
89 FW Slovenia SVN Tim Matavž
90 DF Croatia CRO Dino Štiglec

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Croatia CRO Karlo Žiger (at Croatia Sesvete until 30 June 2024)
18 MF Croatia CRO Patrik Jug (at Slovenia Ilirija 1911 until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Brazil BRA Caio Da Cruz (at Slovenia Radomlje until 30 June 2024)
45 DF France FRA Nathan Cruce-Corcy (at Croatia Mladost Ždralovi until 30 May 2024)

Youth academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Senegal SEN Arona Fall
29 FW Croatia CRO Lovro Nezirović
35 DF Croatia CRO Zvonimir Josić
No. Pos. Nation Player
38 DF Croatia CRO Ino Vuko
40 DF Serbia SRB Đuro Giulio Đekić
88 MF Senegal SEN Sekou Matar Sagna

Personnel

Position Staff
Head coach Croatia Dinko Jeličić
Assistant coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Mensur Mujdža
Assistant coach Croatia Marko Krnjić
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Siniša Klafurić
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Tihomir Pereković
Fitness coach Croatia Krešimir Šoš
Fitness coach Croatia Matija Špičić
Analyst Croatia
Physiotherapist Croatia Domagoj Prnjak
Physiotherapist Croatia Ivan Katić
Physiotherapist Croatia Luka Puškić
Physiotherapist Croatia Sonja Pasarić
Sport director Croatia Mario Brkljača
Head scout Netherlands Grads Fühler
Scout Croatia Filip Šelendić
Scout Croatia Igor Krlić
Team manager Croatia Matija Dvorneković
Technical director Croatia Darko Blažinčić
Kit manager Croatia Franjo Kovačić

Academy personnel

Position Staff
Director of the football academy Croatia Slavko Perković
Head of academy and coach Croatia Marko Radenić
Academy coach Croatia Igor Čagalj
Academy coach Croatia Ivan Parlov
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Leonard Kovačić
Fitness coach Croatia Ivan Zagorec

Honours

Recent seasons

Season League Cup Top goalscorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Player Goals
2009–10 3. HNL 34 25 4 5 63 20 79 1st ↑ Igor Hajduk 20
2010–11 2. HNL 30 20 4 6 54 21 64 1st Boris Bajto 11
2011–12 2. HNL 28 10 10 8 27 24 40 7th Tomislav Pek 6
2012–13 2. HNL 30 10 10 10 40 35 40 10th R2 Domagoj Abramović 12
2013–14 2. HNL 33 13 6 14 32 33 45 7th R1 Ivan Antolek, Robert Peričić 5
2014–15 2. HNL 30 13 12 5 46 26 51 3rd Tomislav Kiš 12
2015–16 2. HNL 33 13 8 12 40 40 47 4th R1 Benjamin Tatar 7
2016–17 2. HNL 33 15 12 6 53 31 57 2nd PR Benjamin Tatar 13
2017–18 2. HNL 33 18 8 7 44 29 62 1st ↑ R2 Henrik Ojamaa, Victoraș Astafei 6
2018–19 1. HNL 36 17 8 11 57 46 59 5th Łukasz Zwoliński 14
2019–20 1. HNL 36 12 13 11 44 48 49 6th QF Kristijan Lovrić 14
2020–21 1. HNL 36 17 8 11 60 47 59 5th SF Kristijan Lovrić 15
2021–22 1. HNL 36 12 9 15 43 50 45 6th SF Kristijan Lovrić, Anthony Kalik 7
2022–23 1. HNL 36 7 11 18 36 50 32 9th R2 Toni Fruk 7

References

  1. "HNK Gorica - Club history". www.hnk-gorica.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. "HNK Gorica - Club history". www.hnk-gorica.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. "NK Gorica morao igrati MAXtv Prvu ligu!". Sportcom.hr. 30 March 2012.
  4. Paviša, Mato (28 December 2016). "HNK Gorica je na sceni a NK Radnik se ne zaboravlja". cityportal.hr.
  5. Škrlec, Silvijo (25 August 2018). "Tko stoji iza turopoljskog nogometnog čuda, koje je potopilo Hajduk usred Poljuda". tportal.hr. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  6. Halar, Ivan (13 February 2017). "'Spremni smo za ulazak u Prvu HNL! Nemamo dugova, trenera plaćamo više od Intera i imamo bolje uvjete od prvoligaša'". Vecernji.hr.
  7. "Iyayi Atiemwen iz Gorice prešao u Dinamo". Hrvatska Radiotelevizia. 22 January 2019.
  8. "Momčad". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
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