HNK Gorica

Gorica
Full nameHrvatski nogometni klub Gorica
NicknamesGoričani, Turopoljci
Short nameGOR
Founded16 July 2009 (2009-07-16) (as merger of NK Radnik and NK Polet Buševec)
GroundGradski stadion Velika Gorica
Capacity8,000
PresidentIlija Karamatić
Head coachMario Carević
LeagueCroatian Football League
2025–26Croatian Football League, 7th of 10
Websitewww.hnk-gorica.hr

Hrvatski nogometni klub Gorica (English: Croatian Football Club Gorica), commonly referred to as HNK Gorica, is a Croatian professional football club based in the town of Velika Gorica, located just south of the Croatian capital Zagreb. They compete in the Croatian Football League (HNL), the top tier of Croatian football. They play their home matches at Gradski stadion Velika Gorica, which has a capacity of 8,000. They won the 2010–11 Croatian Second Football League.[1][2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

Current squad

As of 26 August 2026[6]

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. Nation Player
1 GK  CRO Renato Josipović
2 DF  CRO Filip Braut
4 DF  SWE Kevin Čustović
6 MF  FRA Tom Lacoux
7 MF  MNE Ognjen Bakić
8 MF  CRO Jakov Pranjić (on loan from Celje)
9 FW  CRO Patrik Mijić
11 FW  NGA Wisdom Sule (on loan from Koper)
14 MF  CRO Stjepan Kučiš
15 DF  SRB Dušan Stevanović
18 FW  CRO Bartol Kardum
19 DF  CRO Marijan Čabraja
20 MF  CRO Luka Vrzić
21 DF  CMR Hadji Issa Moustapha
24 MF  CRO Domagoj Pavičić
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF  CRO Bruno Bogojević
26 MF  FRA Keenan Carole
28 DF  CRO Elisandro Kožina Aranha
30 GK  CRO Darijan Žarkov
32 DF  CRO Jakov Filipović (Captain)
34 DF  CRO Ivan Cvijanović
36 MF  CRO Ante Kavelj
45 DF  AUT Stefan Perić
50 FW  CRO Ante Erceg
66 MF  CRO Juraj Frigan
67 DF  CRO Tomislav Prgomet
71 GK  CRO Davor Matijaš
77 MF  CRO Mihael Kelava
99 FW  KOS Medin Gashi

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. Nation Player
33 DF  CRO Lovro Dukić (at Croatia Kustošija)
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 GK  CRO Tin Došen (at Croatia Trnje)

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. Nation Player
35 DF  CRO Zvonimir Josić (at Slovenia Brežice until 20 January 2027)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  CRO Fran Stunja (at Slovenia Brežice until 30 June 2027)

Youth academy

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. Nation Player
— FW  CRO Francis Chinedu Echue

Personnel

Position Staff
Head coach Croatia Mario Carević
Assistant coach Slovenia Denis Mojstrovič
Assistant coach Croatia Ivan Senzen
Assistant coach Croatia Stjepan Babić
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Siniša Klafurić
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Tihomir Pereković
Fitness coach Croatia Matija Špičić
Fitness coach Croatia Vito Tadić
Analyst Croatia Ivan Matovina
Physiotherapist Croatia Domagoj Prnjak
Physiotherapist Croatia Ivan Bradić
Sport advisor Slovenia Boštjan Blažinčič
Head scout Croatia Luka Perić
Team manager Croatia Jurica Kovačić
Technical director Croatia Darko Blažinčić
Kit manager Croatia Franjo Kovačić

Academy personnel

Position Staff
Director of academy Croatia Slavko Perković
Head of academy Croatia Marko Radenić
Academy coach Croatia Denis Banić
Academy coach Croatia Boris Trivunov
Academy coach Croatia Marko Srebačić
Goalkeeping coach Croatia Leonard Kovačić
Fitness coach Croatia Velimir Jesenšek
Fitness coach Croatia Leon Biondić
Academy analyst Croatia Nikola Brandić

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
2023–24 1. HNL 36 11 8 17 35 50 41 7th QF Tim Matavž 5
2024–25 1. HNL 36 9 10 17 29 51 37 9th QF Martin Šlogar, Marko Kolar 4
2025–26 1. HNL 36 11 8 17 40 48 41 7th QF

References

  1. ↑ "NK Gorica morao igrati MAXtv Prvu ligu!". Sportcom.hr. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Iyayi Atiemwen iz Gorice prešao u Dinamo". Hrvatska Radiotelevizia. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Momčad". Retrieved 19 January 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.