HNK Hajduk Split

Origins

The club was founded in the centuries-old pub U Fleků in Prague (then also part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), by a group of students from Split: Fabijan Kaliterna, Lucijan Stella, Ivan Šakić and Vjekoslav Ivanišević. They went to the pub following a match between AC Sparta and SK Slavia and decided it was time their own town founded a professional club. They all knew how popular the sport was in their home Split, and how well their friends can play.

The club was officially registered with the authorities on February 13, 1911. While trying to come up with a name for the club (other options being "Velebit", "Uskok", "Marjan"...), the students went to their old teacher Josip Barač for advice and according to accounts, after enthusiastically storming into his office, he told them to take the name "Hajduk" which symbolized "that which is best in our people: bravery, humanity, friendship, love of freedom, defiance to powers, and protection of the weak. Be worthy of that great name."

Hajduks were romanticized bandits that fought the rule of the Ottoman Turks. It is speculated that famed hajduk Andrija Šimić, who triumphantly arrived in Split in 1902 to cheering crowds (after a long stint in an Austrian prison), was perhaps the inspiration for the name. The founders subsequently designed the club's emblem, and a group of Catholic nuns from a monastery in Split, created copies which were distributed to fans. Both the name and the checkered board on the crest were found provocative by the Monarchy, but it eventually allowed them having been convinced that a football club is a good way to train soldiers.

Hajduk gathered the pro-Croat party of citizens of Split, Croat unionists or puntari. That is why the club specifically has the name "hrvatski nogometni klub" (Croatian football club) and has the Croatian coat-of-arms in its crest. The club itself was against the Austrian-Hungarian government's policy of not allowing the unification of the Croatian provinces and keeping them separated (the government and the emperor did not allow the reunion of Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia). Hajduk's first opponent were Calcio Spalato, the club of an autonomist party from in Split, and the match ended with a 9–0 (6–0) victory for Hajduk. The first to score for Hajduk was Šime Raunig, legend has it – with his knee.

In 1912, Hajduk played their first match in Zagreb against the HAŠK football club, and lost 3–2. The first international match against an eminent opponent was held in 1913 against the Czech squad Slavia Prague, which at that time were one of the strongest squads in Europe. Hajduk ended up losing the game by 1–13 (0–13). After the formation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, Hajduk first entered Yugoslav league in 1923, losing their first and only game that season against SAŠK. However, that same year while on tour in North Africa, Hajduk defeated Olympique Marseille by 3–2 in their first international match, sparking mass celebrations in home city. The very next year team was considered so strong that 10 out of 11 players that played an international friendly for Yugoslavia against Czechoslovakia were contracted to Hajduk (only exception being the goalkeeper, as Hajduk had an Italian keeper at the time). In 1926 in honour of the clubs 15th birthday, composer Ivo Tijardović dedicated an operetta "Kraljica baluna" to the club, making it the only football club in the world to have its own operetta. Apart from national championship, from 1920 to 1936 Hajduk continuously competed in Dalmatian Championship, having won all but one of them.

Hajduk reached their first period of glory in the late twenties, when they won their first two Yugoslav championships (1927 and 1929), which earned them a slot in the Central European Cup. Some of the best players in that period were Leo Lemešić and Vladimir Kragić, with Ljubo Benčić managed to become the best goalscorer of the 1927 season. Long lasting coach of the team was one of clubs greats, Luka Kaliterna. During the 6 January Dictatorship the adjective "Croatian" in "Croatian Football Club" was forcibly replaced by the adjective "Yugoslav" to the dismay of the team. Furthermore, the 1930s proved disastrous for Hajduk, as they won no tournaments or championships, recording only a few successes in international matches.

They did manage to win one title during the Banovina of Croatia era in 1940–41, with an impressive 14–3–1 record. As a Croatian champion the club was about the play the playoffs for Yugoslav championship but with World War II emerging championship was never finished. During the time Hajduk could have had a fantastic generation lead by young Frane Matošić, Ratko Kacijan, and prominent Czech international Jiri Sobotka.

World War II

In April 1941, during World War II, Yugoslavia was invaded, occupied, and carved-up by the Axis powers, with Split being annexed directly into Italy. Residents and players were both opposed to the assimilation to Italy, thus the club ceased to compete in defiance throughout the occupation of Split, declining an offer to join the Italian first division under the name "AC Spalato". Instead, Mussolini founded Societa Calcio Spalato, and renamed the club's home ground after his son's name. After capitulation of Italy in 1943, the Partisans temporarily liberated Split and disarmed the Italian garrison, but the Croatian libertarians re-occupied the city and granted it back to the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) they had installed in Zagreb back in 1941. The attitude of the club did not change when the NDH authorities attempted to include Hajduk in the Independent State of Croatia Cup as NDH earned resentment in Split for allying and partitioning them to Italy. With the Allies invading southern Italy and controlling the Mediterranean, the Adriatic islands became a haven for the resistance, prompting Hajduk's rebirth on one of them in 1944.

The club's players then joined the Partisan general headquarters on the island of Vis in the Adriatic sea. On 7 May 1944 on the Feast of Saint Domnius, the patron saint of Split, in presence of Partisan leader Tito's and British officers (one of them being Randolph Churchill) Hajduk was formed again and began playing as the official football team of the Yugoslav resistance. They competed with Allied service football teams from across the Adriatic in Italy, where they famously played the British army in a friendly match in Bari on 23 September, in front at least 40.000 spectators, losing 2–7. The game is considered to be one of the most attended football games during the war years, with a rematch in liberated Split few years after (Hajduk won 1–0). At this time, the club leadership adopted the Partisans' red star as the badge on the white-and-blue club dress. During 1945, Hajduk embarked on a tourney through Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Malta. Traveling roughly 30.000 kilometers, and playing over 90 games, club won 74 of them, while at the same time Allied airplanes dropped fliers all over Europe prompting other football clubs to follow Hajduk example. While in Beirut, Charles de Gaulle gave Hajduk the title of honorary team of Free France, trophy being treasured ever since.

With its proficiency and its "unique Dalmatian spirit", the club reportedly impressed Tito, who frequently attended matches. After the war, he invited Hajduk to move to the Yugoslav capital Belgrade and become the official Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) team, but the club refused, wanting to continue to play in their hometown of Split. One of their biggest future rivals FK Partizan were founded instead. The club, however, continued to enjoy the reputation of "Tito's favorite" long after the war, and it was because of the friendly relationship with the resistance, it became one of the few Yugoslav football clubs (and the only prominent one), not to be disbanded after the war by the communist government (as was the case with a number of other clubs, especially prominent ones such as BSK, Građanski, Jugoslavija, Concordia, HAŠK, and Slavija).

Iconic 1950s

After World War II, Hajduk continued to play in the Yugoslav championship and its Cup. In 1946, they won Croatian championship and established the magazine "Journal of Hajduk". In 1948–1949, Hajduk visited Australia and became the first team from Yugoslavia to play on all continents. The club won the 1950 Yugoslav championship without a single loss, setting a record that no one managed to accomplish before the breakup of Yugoslavia 40 years later. On 28 October 1950, a day before a decisive match against one of its biggest rivals Red Star (a 2–1 win), the official fan organization Torcida was founded. It was created by engineering student Vjenceslav Žuvela, who chose the name after the enthusiastic Brazilian fans, and Torcida become the first organized group of supporters in Europe. The following year, reconstruction of "Stari Plac" stadium was finished, and it homed the club for more than three decades.

Consequent seasons showed Hajduk's supremacy, but also the political manipulations to prevent them winning the championships. For one, Torcida was viewed as a hostile organization by the communist authorities, which posed a risk to the national consciousness of the new Yugoslavian state. Hajduk's leadership was sanctioned, the team's captain expelled from the communist party, and Vjenceslav Žuvela imprisoned. Also, during the winter break of the 1952–53 season, following an invitation from Juan Perón, Hajduk went on tour to South America and eventually extended their stay there. This caused them to come home late, but instead of promised delay of games in the Championship, they faced defeat against BSK and a draw with Spartak Subotica as their youth team and couple of veteran players had to play them. Although Hajduk later beat both Red Star (4–1) and Partizan (4–2) in Belgrade, Red Star became the champion by only a two-point margin.

Next season saw a similar occurrence with players Vladimir Beara and Bernard Vukas arriving late for national team training and receiving a month-long ban from football. Without these essential players Hajduk lost important matches, and Dinamo emerged as champions. All this prompted the club legend Frane Matošić to storm a meeting of the Yugoslav Football Association quipping, "Have you at least a gram of integrity?". On 3 April 1955 in Zagreb, Hajduk defeated Dinamo 6–0, recording its biggest win in the derby between the two largest Croatian clubs, and later won the championship. However, the Football Association of Yugoslavia qualified them to the European Mitropa Cup, while Partizan was chosen to participate in the inaugural European Cup.

During the early 1950s club had one of its most iconic generation of players, winning three Yugoslav championships. Two of them, goalkeeper Vladimir Beara and Zagreb-born midfielder Bernard Vukas (called "Bajdo") were called to represent Team Europe in friendly games against Great Britain. In one of them, Vukas scored a hat-trick. Apart from them, Frane Matošić reached his 729 goals in 739 official and unofficial games, achieving a club's record which is certainly never to be reached again. Other famous players include Božo Broketa, Ljubomir Kokeza, Slavko Luštica, Lenko Grčić etc.

Miserable 1960s and another Golden Generation

Generation of 1950's broke down after 1955 title, with Matošić retiring, Beara moving to Red Star, and Vukas to Bologna. The 1960s were remembered as some of the hardest times in Hajduk's history. In four seasons from 1963 to 1966 club finished no better than 10th, and no better than 4th in the next half of the decade. In the 1965–66 season, due to "Planinić affair" accusing Hajduk of rigging games during the unsuccessful seasons, five-points were deducted (initial fine was relegation!), and Hajduk struggled to stay in the top tier, much thanks to Petar Nadoveza who managed to become the league's top scorer (21 goals) regardless the club's poor performances. During this era club only managed to win a single trophy – the 1967 cup, which was also their first Yugoslav cup trophy and send the team to Cup Winners' Cup the next year, their first appearance under UEFA led international competition. Among prominent players of the time were Ante Žanetić, member of 1960 World Soccer Team of the Year, Ivica Hlevnjak, Vinko Cuzzi and Andrija Anković.

From 1970–1980 Hajduk had achieved its most successful years in SFR Yugoslavia. The new "Golden Generation" won five consecutive cups and four championships in the period from 1972 to 1979, accompanied by notable international success. In 1971, Hajduk won the title after 16 years after a memorable 4–3 away win over Partizan in a decisive away game they were losing 0–3. This unexpected success was achieved with a team of youngsters, and Nadoveza as a league top scorer yet another time. After winning their first out of five consecutive domestic cups in 1972, the team achieved first major international success playing semifinals of next year's Cup Winners' Cup against Leeds United. Team's manager was one of Croatia's finest, Branko Zebec.

After Zebec left the club he was replaced by young and talented Tomislav Ivić who would later become the clubs coaching legend and one of the most successful managers in Europe recording 8 league titles in 7 different countries. First three years under Ivić saw Hajduk winning two Yugoslav titles and three cups. In 1976 it could have been third straight Double after defeating the top league team FK Partizan 6–1 on away ground, if there wasn't for a scandal in the last round game when Partizan won Olimpija scoring in 95th minute of the game (even thought UEFA didn't introduce additional time for another 20 years) after a numerous dubious referee decisions during the whole game. With season ending Ivić left for Ajax, but would return two years later only to win another league title, club's last in former Yugoslavia.

During the time Hajduk reached quarterfinals of both European Cup and Cup Winners' Cup, with notable home wins against likes of PSV Eindhoven (2–0), Arsenal (2–1) and Saint Etienne (4–1). Notable Hajduk and Yugoslav international players include goalkeepers Ivan Katalinić and Radomir Vukčević, defenders Ivan Buljan (1975 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year), Zoran Vujović, Dragan Holcer, Vilson Džoni, Luka Peruzović and Vedran Rožić, midfielders Jurica Jerković, Dražen Mužinić (1975 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year), Branko Oblak (1974 Ballon d'Or candidate) and strikers Ivica Šurjak (1976 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year) and Slaviša Žungul. Club's respected president at the time was Tito Kirigin.

Poljud curse

In 1979, Hajduk moved to the newly designed stadium at Poljud built to host the 1979 Mediterranean Games. However, the 1980s were noticeably less successful, as club recorded only three Yugoslav cups before country fell apart in 1991. Often is this linked to attributes of their new home which had athletic running track opposed to Stari Plac where supporters could cheer much closely to their team. Inaugural season at Poljud saw Hajduk's most iconic official international game in 1979-80 European Cup quarterfinals against later finalists Hamburger SV, and a 3–2 home win after losing 0–1 away, being unfortunately eliminated. Later years had Hajduk achieve memerable home wins against Valencia (4–1), Bordeaux (4–1), Olympique de Marseille (2–0), Tottenham (2–1) and a friendly win against Manchester United (6–0) considered to be United's biggest loss outside England. Hajduk also eliminated clubs such as Metz (5–1, 2–2), VfB Stuttgart (3–1, 2–2), Torino (3–1, 1–1), Dnipro (2–0, 1–0), and Sparta Prague (2–0, 0–1), reaching UEFA Cup semifinals in 1984 and quarterfinals in 1986. In 1988, during a Cup Winners' Cup home game with Qlympique Marseille, crowd trouble caused the game to be canceled at 2–0 for Hajduk and awarded 0–3 to Marseille, with Hajduk banned from all UEFA competitions for the next two years.

Apart from international success, domestic result were not as good. Although Hajduk spent entire decide near the top of the league table competing with Dinamo Zagreb, Partizan and Red Star, forming what will be known as "Great Yugoslav Four", no title was won before Croatia became independent. Prominent players of the time were goalkeepers Ivan Pudar and Zoran Simović (1983 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year), defenders Boro Primorac, Branko Miljuš and Jerko Tipurić, midfielders Blaž Slišković (1985 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year), Ivan Gudelj (1982 Yugoslav Footballer of the Year), Zoran Vulić, Aljoša Asanović, Stipe Andrijašević, Dragutin Čelić and striker Zlatko Vujović (1981 Ballon d'Or candidate). By end of the Yugoslav era a young generation of future 1998 World Cup bronze medalists started to play for the club. Notable players include Igor Štimac, Robert Jarni, Alen Bokšić, Nikola Jerkan and Slaven Bilić.

In the wake of national tensions which would eventually lead to Yugoslav Wars, during a tour in Australia, Hajduk restored its traditional emblem with the Croatian checkerboard, leaving out the red star, and sparking a massive crowd celebrations upon return. In September that same year a home game against Partizan would be cancelled in 73rd minute due to crowd entering the field and burning Yugoslav flag. Later, on 8 May 1991, Hajduk won the last held Yugoslav Cup final defeating that years European Champions Red Star in Belgrade with goal scored by Bokšić. Tito's trophy for Yugoslav Cup winners was therefore given to Hajduk and stayed in their permanent possession.

Champions League and financial breakdown

In the first four years of the HNL (the Croatian football league), Hajduk became far more successful than rivals from Zagreb, winning three League titles, two domestic Cups and two Supercups, with season 1994–95 still standing as the most successful since playing in independent Croatia. As a crowning champion Hajduk entered that years Champions League with a mix of young upcoming stars Milan Rapaić, Ivica Mornar, Tomislav Erceg, Goran Vučević and experience former players like Igor Štimac, Zoran Vulić, Aljoša Asanović and Tonči Gabrić returning to assist them. After entering the group stage, Hajduk finished 2nd behind Benfica, ahead Steaua and Anderlecht, before facing and losing in quarterfinals to later European champions Ajax (0–0, 0–3). At home the club won its first and last double crown. However, even tho the team was doing so well, the club was financially poorly managed, accumulating a massive financial loss that led to blocking of club's account.

For the next five years Hajduk Split stood in the shadow of wealthier and politically privileged rivals from Zagreb, and the Champions League was no longer within reach. Between 1995 and 2000, not a single trophy was won. After continuous failure on domestic and international scene, fans began to seek the dismissal of administration officials, and circulated the story about the possible privatization of the club, which at that time did not happen. While their arch-rival Dinamo (then called "Croatia Zagreb") won titles, Hajduk had problems with the registration of players for the League. Dissatisfaction among the fans grew so much that some broke into the club premises, causing a change in leadership and promises of new beginnings. After death of the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman, whom many saw as heavily preferring and financing "Croatia", 2001 saw Hajduk become champions once more, after a memorable 4–2 win against Varteks in Varaždin, game attended by far more Hajduk fans than locals. Unfortunately, financial conditions in the club were still dire, and the club was often on the precipice of bankruptcy and collapse.

And yet, even if operating with blocked account, chairman Branko Grgić boosted with promises of attractive signings and trophies. Although Hajduk did manage to win Cup in 2003 and League titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as sign Dinamo's promising young captain Niko Kranjčar and their legendary manager Miroslav Blažević, when finances and politically driven leadership finally broke down, so did the clubs results. Hajduk spent rest of the decade finishing behind its rival, with numerous coaching and management changes and reorganizations, players of dubious quality, and mediocre international performances, worst of which came after being eliminated by Shelbourne F.C. and 0–5 home loss to Debrecen. Election of new chairman Mate Peroš in June 2008, upon which he changed the entire professional staff and reorganized the administration, brought only temporary relief. Hajduk achieved first away win against Dinamo after five and a half years (2–0) but again finished behind their arch-rivals, and reached Croatian Cup finals only to lose to Dinamo once again in a two-game thriller which saw two 3–0 wins by both teams, before Dinamo winning 4–3 in penalty shootout. But the most important thing, state of club's finances, didn't radically change until next season when Hajduk became joint stock company owned by City of Split. Even if financially secure, newly appointed chairman Joško Svaguša, continued the policy of expensive signings and unsustainable expenses to regain the club's former glory. In 2010 Hajduk won national Cup, its first trophy in five years, and later managed to qualify for the group stage of 2010–11 UEFA Europa League which was the first time since 1994 club secured a place in the group stages of UEFA competitions. Home wins against Dinamo Bucharest (3–0), Unirea Urziceni (4–1) and Anderlecht (1–0) were, however, just a temporary reminiscence of former successes.

Notable players of Hajduk's first 20 years in Croatia include goalkeepers Stipe Pletikosa and Tonči Gabrić, defenders Igor Štimac, Igor Tudor and Darijo Srna, midfielders Milan Rapaić, Ante Miše, Nenad Pralija, Dean Računica, Josip Skoko, Ivan Leko, Srđan Andrić and Senijad Ibričić and strikers Ardian Kozniku, Nikola Kalinić and Tomislav Erceg.

On 13 February 2011, Hajduk commemorated its 100th birthday with a massive celebration in Split and all of Croatia with both Hajduk players and fans honouring the club. The entire city was decorated with Hajduk banners, flags, posters and paraphernalia, and there was a spectacular firework show over Split. Hajduk played a friendly game with Slavia Prague to honour its Czech origins, losing 0–2.

Our Hajduk

All this time supporters led by Torcida led a struggle to end what they considered to be politically driven management of the club, and install experts to save Hajduk. In 2009 they started an initiative called "Dite puka" (People's Child) that should have prompted fans to buy up clubs shares and gain control of the club, which at the time didn't happen. In July 2011, however, inspired by examples in Germany and Sweden and organized under the association "Naš Hajduk" (Our Hajduk), fans managed to gain rights of organizing elections for members of the club's supervisory board, making Hajduk only fan-owned football club in Croatian First League, and one of only two in former Yugoslavia (other being nearby HNK Trogir). In 2012 club fell into yet another financial trouble caused by former Hajduk presidents, leaving it with more than 100 million kunas in debt, and one town meeting away of being bankrupt. After forming lines in front of the City Hall on 15 October 2012 fans convinced the town leaders to sign a loan insurance to the newly fan-elected chairman Marin Brbić and start the club's long needed financial recovery. Since then, according to the club's annual financial report, Hajduk is under continuous financial and managerial recovery. On 18 May 2015, Brbić was replaced by Ivan Kos and on 2 June 2016, he announced that Mário Branco had been selected as the club's new sporting director, while Marijan Pušnik was appointed as the manager of the first team, replacing Damir Burić.

Stadium

Hajduk's home ground is the Poljud stadium. It has 35,000 seats and is one of the two largest stadiums in Croatia, designed by architect Boris Magaš, chosen among 20 other project in a 1975 competition. The stadium was built for the 1979 Mediterranean Games, but was also a venue for the 1990 European Championships in athletics and the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup. The stadium is affectionately known to the locals as the "Poljudska ljepotica" or "Poljud beauty". The largest crowd recorded was in 1980 at a match against Hamburg SV – 52,000 people. Two years later, after the stadium was fully completed its capacity was increased to 62,000 for a derby against Dinamo Zagreb.

From 1911 to 1979 Hajduk played in a stadium called "Kod stare Plinare", used today by RK Nada rugby club. The stadium's first name was "Krajeva njiva", but after club moved to Poljud, the old ground has become known in Split as the "Stari Plac" or "Staro Hajdukovo" (Old Hajduk's place). During the time stadium hosted a match between Yugoslavia and the Netherlands in the UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying tournament. Hajduk supporters who would later reestablish the once forbidden name of Torcida, were situated in the east stands. 3,148 games were played on it, with 9,542 goals scored, 11 championships and six cups have been won.

Colours

Hajduk played its first game in a strip with red and white vertical stripes, which symbolized the Croatian coat of arms. The former Austrian City Council did not want to be seen as partisan and would not allow club colors to be made up from the emergent Croatian tricolour. Hajduk changed its kit design to red and blue vertical stripes with white 'Hajduk' written in the middle. 1914 saw the club choose a white shirt, blue shorts and socks; a combination that symbolizes white sails on a blue sea. The color white has since then become a symbol for the club, along with the nickname 'Bili' ('Whites').

Its away strip consists of red and blue shirts with vertical stripes (sometimes narrow, sometimes wide), blue shorts and socks, to symbolize the Croatian flag. From 2008–2011 the stripes were made horizontal. Although UEFA has not introduced compulsory registration of the third set of colours, one possibility was shirts of vertical red and white stripes, but were not adopted due to the resemblance of club colours of Red Star. Third set of colours was therefore often a combination of first two (most often completely white outfit), until a new gray design, composed of small triangular fan flags was introduced in 2015.

At one time the main colours were to be a combination of navy blue, white with blue horizontal stripes, but this kit was only sporadically worn by goalkeepers Stipe Pletikosa and Danijel Subašić.

Crest

Hajduk's crest consists of the Croatian checkerboard with 25 red and white checkers bordered by a circle of blue ribbon, with two white vertical lines on each side. The words Hajduk and Split are written above and below the checkerboard respectively. The symbolism of the white vertical lines is still under discussion, with theories such as being a symbol of the four founders, the equals sign or quotation marks.

The modern crest is almost identical to the one created in 1911. The original was designed by one of club's founders Vjekoslav Ivanišević. It was then taken to Ana, the sister of the Kaliterna brothers who took a drawing of the crest to a convent where nuns created 20–30 pieces by hand. The crest first appeared in public in 1926 during a performance of the Tijardović opera Kraljica baluna as part of the scenery.

Hajduk didn't, however, wear the original crest before World War II as it was not obligatory at the time. After the club's rebirth following the end of WWII the new crest became just a red star – a symbol of anti-fascism which Hajduk stood up for during the war. In 1960, a new crest was made, similar to the old one but with the red star in the middle instead of the former red and white traditional checkerboard. In 1990, while on tour in Australia, the original crest was returned and has been used ever since.

Supporters

Hajduk Split supporters, Torcida, were formed on 28 October 1950 by a group of students in Zagreb, namely Ante Dorić, Ante Ivanišević and Vjenceslav Žuvela, and are considered the oldest organized supporters group in Europe. They took their name from the Brazilian fan group they idolized, which comes from the Portuguese 'torcer' which means 'to cheer on'. "Hajduk lives forever" is their slogan.

Torcida members and other fervent fans gather in the north stand at the Poljud stadium from where they support their club. The 'Heart of Hajduk' (Croatian: Hajdučko srce) is an annual football prize which was established in 1994 and is officially awarded by the Hajduk Split supporters' to the team's best performing player during the season. It is awarded during the annual futsal competition Torcida Cup.

Rivalries

Today, Hajduk's biggest rivals are Dinamo Zagreb, as the matches between the two teams are referred to as "Eternal derby". Former major rivalries used to include Serbian clubs Red Star and Partizan who along with Hajduk and Dinamo were part of the so-called Yugoslav Big Four, the biggest and most successful clubs in the former Yugoslavia.

Players

Croatian teams are restricted to fielding at most six foreign players in the first eleven during the domestic league and cup matches. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player; players who also hold Croatian citizenship are specifically noted.

First-team squad

For details of former players, see List of HNK Hajduk Split players.

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

Out on loan

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

Retired numbers

12 – The 12th man (reserved for the club supporters)

Reserves

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

Current technical staff

Club statistics and records

Vedran Rožić holds the club's overall official games appearance record by playing in 390 matches over the course of 12 seasons from 1972 to 1984. Hajduk's all-time leading scorer in all competitions is Frane Matošić, scoring 211 official goals for the club, while Zlatko Vujović is all-time leading goalscorer in European competition with 19 goals.

Hajduk's record home attendance is 62,000 during a Yugoslav Championship match against Dinamo Zagreb in 1982. The record modern (all-seated) attendance is 38,000 for a match against Dinamo Zagreb on 22 February 2009.

Hajduk's first competitive game was a 9–0 victory against Calcio Spalato. 14–0 win over Slavija Sarajevo in 1934 was their largest league win during Yugoslav era. In Prva HNL club's largest league win was 10–0 against Radnik in 1994, while their biggest defeat was against Varteks in 2001, having lost 1–5. Hajduk's biggest victory in European competitions was 8–0 against GÍ Gøta in 2002, while their heaviest defeat, 0–6, came against Ajax in 1993.

UEFA club coefficient ranking

(As of 4 September 2016), Source: [1]

Hajduk won two Kingdom of Yugoslavia championships, seven Yugoslav championships, six Croatian championships, as well as nine Yugoslav Cup titles, four Croatian Cups and five Croatian Super Cups. Abroad, the club has reached five European quarterfinals: three times in European Cup (now UEFA Champions League), once in UEFA Cup and once in Cup Winners' Cup, as well as two European semifinals: Cup Winners' Cup 1973, and UEFA Cup 1984.

Competitions indicated in italics are defunct.

Others:

Best results in European competitions

Record wins in UEFA competition:

Awards