Prva HNL

Prva HNL
Countries Croatia
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1992
Number of teams 16
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to Druga HNL
Domestic cup(s) Croatian Cup
Croatian Supercup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
Current champions Dinamo Zagreb
(2009–10)
Most championships Dinamo Zagreb (12)
TV partners HRT
Website http://www.prva-hnl.hr
2010–11 season

The Prva HNL (Croatian: Prva hrvatska nogometna liga), also known as 1. HNL or for sponsorship reasons the T-Com Prva HNL, is the top Croatian football league competition, established in 1992. The winners qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Dinamo Zagreb are the current champions, having won their fifth consecutive title in the 2009–10 season, and are the most successful club with 12 titles overall, followed by Hajduk Split with 6 titles.

Since 2003, Prva HNL has been named after its sponsor, giving it the following names:

Contents

Overview

The Prva HNL was formed in 1991, following the dissolution of the Yugoslav First League, and is operated by the Croatian Football Federation. The first season started in February 1992. Since its formation, the league went through many changes in its system and number of participating clubs. Currently, there are 16 teams participating in the league.

Each season of the Prva HNL starts in late July or early August and ends in May, with a two-month hiatus between December and February. Historically, the teams were split into two groups of six which continued to play separately starting in March. These two groups were known as the Championship League and the Relegation League. However, the 2006-07 season introduced a new system in which everybody plays everybody three times in the season. Upon the end of the first part of the season, consisting of 22 matchdays, a draw is held to pair the teams and decide host teams for the last 11 matchdays of the season. This system brought one additional matchday in comparison to the preceding seasons.

At the end of each season, the last team is directly relegated to the Druga HNL and the second-last team goes in the relegation play-off, a two-legged tie against the second-placed team from the Druga HNL. The champions qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, the runners-up, as well as the winners of the Croatian Cup, for the UEFA Europa League qualifying, with the third-placed team also winning a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying. The average attendance for the 07-08 season was about 2,838 per game. Altogether the attendance was 562,000. UEFA currently ranks the league 27th in Europe. The main sponsor of Prva HNL is T-Com Croatia, part of German telecommunications firm Deutsche Telekom. The president of T-Com HNL is Igor Štimac.

Members for 2010–11

The following 16 clubs will compete in the Prva HNL in the 2010–11 season. The clubs in bold also had spells in the Yugoslav First League before Croatian clubs abandoned it in 1991 (as of the 2010–11 season 8 out of 9 Croatian clubs which had appeared in the Yugoslav top division competed in the Croatian championship, the remaining one being the fourth level side Trešnjevka).

Six of the twelve founding members were never relegated from the Prva HNL (Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Osijek, Rijeka, Varteks and NK Zagreb), and one club will have their Prva HNL debut in the 2010–11 season (RNK Split).

Club
 Position
in 2009–10		 First season in
top division		 Number of seasons
in top division		 Number of seasons
in Prva HNL		 First season of
current spell in
top division		 Top division
titles		 Last top division title
Cibalia a 0033rd 1982–83 23 18 2005–06 0 n/a
Dinamo Zagreb a,b 0011st 1946–47 65 20 1946–47 16 2009–10
Hajduk Split a,b 0022nd 1946–47 65 20 1946–47 15 2004–05
Hrvatski Dragovoljac YYY3rd in 2. HNL 1995–96 8 8 2010–11 0 n/a
Inter Zaprešić a 01313th 1992 13 13 2007–08 0 n/a
Istra 1961 01111th 2004–05 5 5 2009–10 0 n/a
Karlovac b 0066th 2009–10 2 2 2009–10 0 n/a
Lokomotiva b 0088th 1946–47 12 2 2009–10 0 n/a
Osijek a,b 0055th 20 1981–82 0 n/a
Rijeka a,b 0099th 1958–59 49 20 1974–75 0 n/a
Šibenik a 0044th 1992 17 17 2006–07 0 n/a
Slaven Belupo b 0077th 1997–98 14 14 1997–98 0 n/a
RNK Split XXX1st in 2. HNL 1957–58 3 1 2010–11 0 n/a
Varaždin a,b 01010th 1992 20 20 1992 0 n/a
Zadar a 01212th 1992 15 15 2006–07 0 n/a
NK Zagreb a,b 01414th 1952 38 20 1992 1 2001–02

a: Founding member of the Prva HNL
b: Never been relegated from Prva HNL

Attendance

League matches

Season
 Total attendance
 Number of
matches		 Average attendance
per match		 Ref
1998–99 745,728 192 3,884 [3]
1999–2000 515,790 198 2,605 [3]
2000–01 546,624 192 2,847 [3]
2001–02 573,840 240 2,391 [3]
2002–03 635,520 192 3,310 [3]
2003–04 570,816 192 2,973 [3]
2004–05 541,440 192 2,820 [3]
2005–06 633,792 192 3,301 [3]
2006–07 622,908 198 3,146 [3]
2007–08 616,572 198 3,114 [3]
2008–09 617,050 198 3,116 [4]
2009–10 500,002 240 2,083 [4]

Big Two home attendances

Season
 Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split
Total Avg Total Avg
2007–08 127,300 7,488 83,000 4,882
2008–09 109,500 6,441 154,500 9,088
2009–10 62,000 4,133 64,500 4,300

HNL Teams in Champions League

Only three times in history have HNL teams entered the UEFA Champions League. In the 1994-95 season, Hajduk Split qualified over Legia Warsaw (1-0 A, 4-0 H). They qualified for the quarterfinals (from group with Benfica 0-0 H, 1-2 A, Steaua 1-0 A, 1-4 H, and Anderlecht 2-1 H,0-0 A), but lost to Ajax 0-0 H, 0-3 A. Ajax won CL that year. In the 1998-99 season, NK Croatia Zagreb (Dinamo) qualified over Celtic (0-1 A, 3-0 H). They were drawn in the same group with Olympiacos 1-3 A, 1-1 H, Porto 0-3 A, 3-1 H, and Ajax 1-0 A, 0-0 H. They finished in 2nd place, but failed to go to the next round because in that season only first place teams went through. Next season, 1999-2000, Dinamo also played in CL, in the same group as defending champion Manchester United, Olympique de Marseille and Austrian side FK Sturm Graz. They started their campaign with a famous 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. After that they lost to OM 0-1 in Zagreb, won against Sturm 3-0, lost against Sturm away 0-1, lost 0-2 against MU in Zagreb, and in the last match they drew against OM at Velodrome 2-2 (Bakayoko scored for Marseille in 91'). They finished fourth.

TV

In past, TV coverage was only for one match in each round (derby match). But in this season there were some changes. Croatian national TV Network (HRT) started new TV Show Volim Nogomet (I love football), made in association with League's main sponsor T-Com. In that show, 5 matches are watched combined on Sunday afternoons (during summer on night), while derby match is on programme at 20.15 CET, so TV-viewers can watch all matches. There are also experts in studio, commenting on matches and other things, football and non-football. Main initiator of that project is famous Croatian football player (played for Hajduk Split, West Ham United and Derby County) and also president of T-Com 1. HNL Organisation Igor Štimac.

During World War II

Croatia previously had its own football league which operated from 1941 to 1944 (during the Independent State of Croatia 1941-1945). The Croatian Football Federation seems to recognize this league as being equivalent to the current Prva HNL, despite the fact that the territory covered by these leagues was not the same as of Croatia today, and that most of this was during World War II.

In the 1944 season, the final match between HAŠK Zagreb and SAŠK Sarajevo could not be played due to war complications, leaving no champion.

Winning clubs

Season Champions [1] Runners up Third place Top scorer(s) Goals
1992 Hajduk Split NK Zagreb Osijek Ardian Kozniku (Hajduk Split) 12
1992–93 Croatia Zagreb Hajduk Split NK Zagreb Goran Vlaović (Croatia Zagreb) 23
1993–94 Hajduk Split NK Zagreb Croatia Zagreb Goran Vlaović (Croatia Zagreb) 29
1994–95 Hajduk Split Croatia Zagreb Osijek Robert Špehar (Osijek) 23
1995–96 Croatia Zagreb Hajduk Split Varteks Igor Cvitanović (Croatia Zagreb) 19
1996–97 Croatia Zagreb Hajduk Split Hrvatski Dragovoljac Igor Cvitanović (Croatia Zagreb) 20
1997–98 Croatia Zagreb Hajduk Split Osijek Mate Baturina (NK Zagreb) 18
1998–99 Croatia Zagreb Rijeka Hajduk Split Joško Popović (Šibenik) 21
1999–2000   Dinamo Zagreb   Hajduk Split Osijek Tomislav Šokota (Croatia Zagreb) 21
2000–01 Hajduk Split   Dinamo Zagreb   Osijek  Tomislav Šokota (Dinamo Zagreb)  20
2001–02 NK Zagreb Hajduk Split   Dinamo Zagreb   Ivica Olić (NK Zagreb) 21
2002–03 Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split Varteks Ivica Olić (Dinamo Zagreb) 16
2003–04 Hajduk Split Dinamo Zagreb Rijeka Robert Špehar (Osijek) 18
2004–05 Hajduk Split Inter Zaprešić NK Zagreb Tomislav Erceg (Rijeka) 17
2005–06 Dinamo Zagreb Rijeka Varteks Ivan Bošnjak (Dinamo Zagreb) 22
2006–07 Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split NK Zagreb Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb) 34 [2]
2007–08 Dinamo Zagreb Slaven Belupo Osijek Želimir Terkeš (Zadar) 21
2008–09 Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split Rijeka Mario Mandžukić (Dinamo Zagreb) 16
2009–10 Dinamo Zagreb Hajduk Split Cibalia Davor Vugrinec (NK Zagreb) 18
[3] Dinamo Zagreb was renamed HAŠK Građanski in 1992. During the winter break of the 1992-93 season it changed its name again and started playing as Croatia Zagreb in March 1992. The club won 5 Prva HNL titles and participated in the 1998-99 and 1999-00 Champions League seasons bearing that name until they switched back to Dinamo Zagreb in mid-season in February 2000.
[4] This is the record number of goals scored by any player in a single Prva HNL season.

Results by team

Club Titles Years won
Dinamo Zagreb 12 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Hajduk Split 6 1992, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2005
NK Zagreb 1 2002

Top scorers

The following table is a list of Prva HNL top scorers per season. It indicates the season, the club they were with, the number of multiple times they have won the honour up to that point (if applicable; in parentheses), and the number of goals they scored in that season. Clubs shown in bold denote they were also Prva HNL champions for that season.

Season Club Top scorer Goals
1992
 Hajduk Split CroatiaArdian Kozniku
12
1992–93
 Croatia Zagreb CroatiaGoran Vlaović (1)
23
1993–94
 Croatia Zagreb CroatiaGoran Vlaović (2)
29
1994–95
 Osijek CroatiaRobert Špehar (1)
23
1995–96
 Croatia Zagreb CroatiaIgor Cvitanović (1)
19
1996–97
 Croatia Zagreb CroatiaIgor Cvitanović (2)
20
1997–98
 NK Zagreb CroatiaMate Baturina
18
1998–99
 Šibenik CroatiaJoško Popović
21
1999–2000
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaTomislav Šokota (1)
21
2000–01
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaTomislav Šokota (2)
20
2001–02
 NK Zagreb CroatiaIvica Olić (1)
21
2002–03
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaIvica Olić (2)
16
2003–04
 Osijek CroatiaRobert Špehar (2)
18
2004–05
 Rijeka CroatiaTomislav Erceg
17
2005–06
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaIvan Bošnjak
22
2006–07
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaEduardo
34
2007–08
 Zadar Bosnia and HerzegovinaŽelimir Terkeš
21
2008–09
 Dinamo Zagreb CroatiaMario Mandžukić
16
2009–10
 NK Zagreb CroatiaDavor Vugrinec
18

All-time Prva HNL table

The All-Time Prva HNL Table is a cumulative record of all matches played since the inception of the Prva HNL, in 1992. The table is accurate from the 1992 season to the end of the 2008–09 season, inclusive.

P
 Club
 Ssn
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 F
 A
 GD
 Pts
 PPG
 1st
 2nd
 3rd
 4th
1 Dinamo Zagreb 18 564 385 101 78 1303 489 +814 1256 2.22 11 3 2
2 Hajduk Split 18 564 331 123 110 1061 512 +549 1116 1.97 6 9 1
3 NK Zagreb 18 564 232 144 188 814 701 +113 840 1.48 1 2 3 1
4 Osijek 18 564 230 132 202 818 770 +48 822 1.45 6 4
5 Rijeka 18 554 223 148 183 760 665 +95 817 1.47 2 2 5
6 Varteks 18 564 223 121 220 789 768 +21 790 1.40 3 2
7 Cibalia 16 490 145 140 205 526 670 −144 575 1.17
8 Slaven Belupo 12 386 145 101 140 465 476 −11 536 1.38 1 1
9 Šibenik 15 458 140 115 202 533 650 −117 536 1.17 1
10 Zadar 13 402 111 101 190 460 698 −238 434 1.07
11 Inter Zaprešić 11 330 111 81 138 393 467 −74 414 1.25 1 2
12 Hrvatski Dragovoljac 7 199 62 54 83 234 294 −60 240 1.20 1 1
13 Istra 7 201 58 46 97 198 295 −97 220 1.09
14 Kamen Ingrad 6 191 59 40 92 203 279 −76 217 1.13 1
15 Marsonia 6 176 50 40 86 204 293 −89 190 1.07
16 Segesta 5 146 49 39 58 178 188 −10 186 1.27
17 Međimurje 4 130 32 25 73 146 244 −98 121 0.93
18 Istra 1961 3 97 26 31 40 100 107 −7 109 1.12
19 Mladost 127 4 94 27 23 44 97 135 −38 104 1.10
20 Belišće 4 94 24 21 49 115 170 −55 93 0.98
21 GOŠK Dubrovnik 3 86 18 23 45 54 133 −79 77 0.89
22 Pomorac 2 62 19 15 28 78 93 −15 72 1.16
23 Čakovec 2 62 19 14 29 59 81 −22 71 1.14
24 Primorac 2 64 18 17 29 69 103 −34 71 1.10
25 Pazinka 2 64 15 20 29 71 95 −24 65 1.01
26 Radnik Velika Gorica 2 64 12 9 43 47 161 −114 45 0.70
27 Samobor 1 32 9 5 18 34 55 −21 32 1.00
28 Vukovar '91 1 33 7 9 17 32 56 −24 30 0.90
29 Dubrava 1 34 7 9 18 28 63 −35 30 0.88
30 Orijent 1 30 5 11 14 28 53 −25 26 0.86
31 Croatia Sesvete 1 33 6 8 16 31 66 −35 251 0.75
32 Neretva 1 30 4 11 15 20 44 −24 23 0.76
33 TŠK Topolovac 1 30 4 2 24 31 95 −64 14 0.46
34 Karlovac 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
35 Lokomotiva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

1 Croatia Sesvete were deducted 1 point for an unpaid transfer fee in the 2008–09 season.
P = Position; Ssn = Number of seasons; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; Ppg = Points per game Source: Clas Glenning's website

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Prva HNL Ožujsko" (in Croatian). Vjesnik. 19 September 2003. http://ns1.vjesnik.com/Html/2003/09/19/Clanak.asp?r=spo&c=4. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  2. ↑ "Prva HNL promijenila ime u T-Com Prva hrvatska nogometna liga" (in Croatian). T-Hrvatski Telekom. 24 May 2007. http://www.t.ht.hr/press/novosti_disp.asp?id=1260. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. 6 April 2010. p. 97. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Redžić, Dea (14 May 2010). "2.092 gledatelja po utakmici: Nas je sramota, srami li se i HNS?" (in Croatian). Index.hr. http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/2092-gledatelja-po-utakmici-nas-je-sramota-srami-li-se-i-hns/491304.aspx. Retrieved 14 May 2010. 

External links

Prva HNL
2010–11 teams
Cibalia · Dinamo Zagreb · Hajduk Split · Hrvatski Dragovoljac · Inter Zaprešić · Istra 1961 · Karlovac · Lokomotiva · Osijek · Rijeka · Šibenik · Slaven Belupo · RNK Split · Varaždin · Zadar · NK Zagreb
Former teams
Belišće · Čakovec · Croatia Sesvete · Dubrava · Dubrovnik · Istra Pula · Kamen Ingrad · Marsonia · Međimurje · Neretva · Orijent · Pazinka · Pomorac · Primorac 1929 · Radnik Velika Gorica · Samobor · Segesta · Suhopolje · TŠK Topolovac · Vukovar '91
Associated competitions
Croatian Cup · Croatian Supercup · Women's League · Academy League
Seasons
1992 · 1992–93 · 1993–94 · 1994–95 · 1995–96 · 1996–97 · 1997–98 · 1998–99 · 1999–2000 · 2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03 · 2003–04 · 2004–05 · 2005–06 · 2006–07 · 2007–08 · 2008–09 · 2009–10 · 2010–11 · 2011–12
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