HNK Gorica

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Gorica
HNK Gorica.png
Full nameHrvatski nogometni klub Gorica
Nickname(s)Goričani, Turopoljci
Short nameGOR
Founded16 July 2009;16 years ago (2009-07-16) (as merger of NK Radnik and NK Polet Buševec)
Ground Gradski stadion Velika Gorica
Capacity5,200 [1]
PresidentNenad Črnko
Head coach Mario Carević
League Croatian Football League
2024–25 Croatian Football League, 9th of 10
Website www.hnk-gorica.hr
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Hrvatski nogometni klub Gorica (English: Croatian Football Club Gorica), commonly referred to as HNK 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Second Football League title and were initially promoted to Croatian First Football League, but their top license was revoked.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]

Contents

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 5 September 2025 [8]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
4 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Jakov Filipović
5 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Mateo Leš
6 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Jakov Gurlica
7 MF Flag of Montenegro.svg  MNE Ognjen Bakić
8 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Iker Pozo
9 FW Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Filip Čuić
10 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Jurica Pršir (Captain)
14 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Stjepan Kučiš
18 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Ivan Fiolić
19 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Marijan Čabraja
20 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Luka Vrzić
22 DF Flag of Slovenia.svg  SVN Žan Trontelj (on loan from Zorya Luhansk)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
24 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Domagoj Pavičić
29 FW Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Vanja Pelko
30 GK Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Darijan Žarkov
32 DF Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Elvir Duraković
35 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Zvonimir Josić
36 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Ante Kavelj
45 DF Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Stefan Perić
50 FW Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Ante Erceg
71 GK Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Davor Matijaš
98 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Fran Kasumović
99 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Medin Gashi
DF Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Vedad Radonja

Dual registration

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
33 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Lovro Dukić(at Flag of Croatia.svg Kustošija)

Out on loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
23 MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Luka Kapulica(at Flag of Croatia.svg Karlovac 1919 until 26 June 2026)
DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Ino Vuko(at Flag of Croatia.svg Dubrava until 15 June 2026)
DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Mario Matković(at Flag of Austria.svg Austria Klagenfurt until 30 June 2026)
DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO David Sim(at Flag of Montenegro.svg Arsenal Tivat until 30 June 2026)
MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Luka Brlek(at Flag of Slovenia.svg Brežice 1919 until 30 June 2026)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Antonio Ilić(at Flag of Croatia.svg Jarun until 30 June 2026)
MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Patrik Jug(at Flag of Croatia.svg Jarun until 31 May 2026)
MF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Vinko Skrbin(at Flag of Slovenia.svg Brinje Grosuplje until 30 June 2026)
FW Flag of Bulgaria.svg  BUL Georgi Stoyanov(at Flag of Slovenia.svg Tolmin until 15 June 2026)
FW Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Fran Stunja(at Flag of Slovenia.svg Jadran Dekani until 30 June 2026)

Personnel

PositionStaff
Head coach Flag of Croatia.svg Mario Carević
Assistant coach Flag of Slovenia.svg Denis Mojstrovič
Assistant coach Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Mensur Mujdža
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Croatia.svg Siniša Klafurić
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Croatia.svg Tihomir Pereković
Fitness coach Flag of Croatia.svg Matija Špičić
Fitness coach Flag of Croatia.svg Vito Tadić
Analyst Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Matovina
Physiotherapist Flag of Croatia.svg Domagoj Prnjak
Physiotherapist Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Bradić
Sport advisor Flag of Slovenia.svg Boštjan Blažinčič
Head scout Flag of Croatia.svg Luka Perić
Team manager Flag of Croatia.svg Matija Dvorneković
Technical director Flag of Croatia.svg Darko Blažinčić
Kit manager Flag of Croatia.svg Franjo Kovačić

Academy personnel

PositionStaff
Director of academy Flag of Croatia.svg Slavko Perković
Head of academy Flag of Croatia.svg Marko Radenić
Academy coach Flag of Croatia.svg Marko Srebačić
Academy coach Flag of Croatia.svg Boris Trivunov
Academy coach Flag of Croatia.svg Sven Raić
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Croatia.svg Leonard Kovačić
Fitness coach Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Zagorec
Fitness coach Flag of Croatia.svg Leon Biondić

Honours

Recent seasons

SeasonLeague Cup Top goalscorer
DivisionPWDLFAPtsPosPlayerGoals
2009–10 3. HNL 3425456320791st ↑Igor Hajduk20
2010–11 2. HNL 3020465421641stBoris Bajto11
2011–12 2. HNL 28101082724407thTomislav Pek6
2012–13 2. HNL 3010101040354010th R2 Domagoj Abramović 12
2013–14 2. HNL 33136143233457th R1 Ivan Antolek, Robert Peričić5
2014–15 2. HNL 30131254626513rd Tomislav Kiš 12
2015–16 2. HNL 33138124040474th R1 Benjamin Tatar 7
2016–17 2. HNL 33151265331572nd PR Benjamin Tatar 13
2017–18 2. HNL 3318874429621st ↑ R2 Henrik Ojamaa, Victoraș Astafei 6
2018–19 1. HNL 36178115746595th Łukasz Zwoliński 14
2019–20 1. HNL 361213114448496th QF Kristijan Lovrić 14
2020–21 1. HNL 36178116047595th SF Kristijan Lovrić 15
2021–22 1. HNL 36129154350456th SF Kristijan Lovrić, Anthony Kalik 7
2022–23 1. HNL 36711183650329th R2 Toni Fruk 7
2023–24 1. HNL 36118173550417th QF Tim Matavž 5
2024–25 1. HNL 36910172951379th QF Martin Šlogar, Marko Kolar 4

References

  1. "HNK Gorica - Club history". www.hnk-gorica.hr (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. "HNK Gorica - Club history". www.hnk-gorica.hr (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. "NK Gorica morao igrati MAXtv Prvu ligu!". Sportcom.hr. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. Paviša, Mato (28 December 2016). "HNK Gorica je na sceni a NK Radnik se ne zaboravlja". cityportal.hr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  5. Škrlec, Silvijo (25 August 2018). "Tko stoji iza turopoljskog nogometnog čuda, koje je potopilo Hajduk usred Poljuda". tportal.hr. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. 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. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  7. "Iyayi Atiemwen iz Gorice prešao u Dinamo". Hrvatska Radiotelevizia. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  8. "Momčad". Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2025.