HNK Gorica

This article is about the Croatian football club. For the Slovenian football club, see ND Gorica.

Gorica
Full nameHrvatski nogometni klub 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 coachMario Carević
LeagueCroatian Football League
2023–24Croatian 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 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Second Football League title and were initially promoted to Croatian First Football League, but their top license was revoked.[3] The club regard themselves as the spiritual continuation of the former Prva HNL members NK Radnik, who went bankrupt and were dissolved in 2009.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 12 July 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. Nation Player
1 GK  CRO Karlo Žiger
2 DF  CRO Dino Mikanović
4 DF  CRO Dominik Braun
5 DF  CRO Mateo Leš
6 DF  CRO Jakov Gurlica
8 MF  ESP Iker Pozo
9 FW  BIH Filip Čuić
10 MF  CRO Jurica Pršir (Captain)
13 DF  CRO Marijan Čabraja
17 MF  CRO Vinko Skrbin
18 MF  CRO Ivan Fiolić
20 MF  CRO Luka Vrzić
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF  CRO Luka Kapulica
29 FW  CRO Vanja Pelko
30 GK  CRO Darijan Žarkov
32 DF  BIH Elvir Duraković
36 MF  CRO Ante Kavelj
38 DF  CRO Ino Vuko
45 DF  AUT Stefan Perić
50 FW  CRO Ante Erceg
71 GK  CRO Davor Matijaš
87 MF  CRO Antonio Ilić
99 FW  KOS Medin Gashi

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
13 GK  CRO Tin Došen
35 DF  CRO Zvonimir Josić
— DF  CRO Fran Kasumović
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  CRO Petar Topić
— MF  CRO Stjepan Kučiš

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
— MF  CRO Patrik Jug (at Jarun until 30 June 2025)
— DF  CRO David Sim (at Marsonia 1909 until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  CRO Lovro Nezirović (at Dugo Selo until 30 June 2025)
— MF  CRO Luka Brlek (at Brežice 1919 until 30 June 2025)

Personnel

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

Academy personnel

Position Staff
Director of academy Slavko Perković
Head of academy Marko Radenić
Academy coach Ivan Parlov
Academy coach Boris Trivunov
Academy coach Sven Raić
Fitness coach Ivan Zagorec
Fitness coach Leon Biondić

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 7 29 51 37 8th

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.
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