HNK Rijeka
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| Full name | Hrvatski Nogometni Klub Rijeka | |||
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| Nickname(s) |
Riječki bijeli (The Rijeka's White) | |||
| Founded |
1926 (as U.S. Fiumana) 1946 (as NK Kvarner) | |||
| Ground | Stadion Kantrida, Rijeka | |||
| Capacity | 10,261 (seating) | |||
| Owner | Social Sport Foundation (70%), City of Rijeka (30%) | |||
| Chairman |
 Damir Mišković | |||
| Manager |
 Matjaž Kek | |||
| League | 1. HNL | |||
| 2012–13 | 1. HNL, 3rd | |||
| Website | Club home page | |||
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 Current season | ||||
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast, competing in Croatia's MAXtv Prva Liga and the group stage of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.
History
The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka (known by its Italian name Fiume up to 1945) passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. Some dispute this and claim that the club's roots date back to 1926, the founding of U.S. Fiumana, which competed in various levels of the Italian Football Championship, including a season in the top tier competition (Divisione Nazionale) in 1928. Their claim is backed by the fact that there is a clear continuity between the two clubs. For example, besides using the same grounds (Stadion Kantrida), as many as eight U.S. Fiumana players later played for NK Kvarner.[1]
During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav and local club championships. It changed its name to NK Rijeka on 3 June 1954, and advanced to the Yugoslav First League in the 1957–58 season. It remained in the top tier until the 1969–70 season, when it got relegated to the Second League. It topped that league many times but it wasn't until 1973–74 when it returned to the First League, where it would remain until the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Rijeka won the Yugoslav Cup in 1978 and 1979, was a runner-up in 1987, won the Croatian Cup in 2005 and in 2006, and was a runner-up in 1994. Rijeka was also the best placed Croatian club in the Yugoslav First League in 1965, 1984, and 1987. On numerous occasions, Rijeka participated in various UEFA competitions. Although it never advanced to the final stages of the competition, Rijeka played against some of the biggest clubs in the European football. The most notable results in Europe have been home wins against Real Madrid in 1984 and Stuttgart in 2013, a home draw against Juventus in 1980, and an away draw against Stuttgart, which secured Rijeka participation in the group stage of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.
Rijeka has been playing in the Prva HNL since the independence of Croatia in 1991, generally finishing near the top. Notably, it finished second in 1999 and 2006 and third in 2004, 2009 and 2013. Due to many format changes of the league, Rijeka has played more games in the competition than any other team. In the 2004–05 season, its player Tomislav Erceg was the top scorer of the Prva HNL with 17 goals. Leon Benko was the league's top scorer during the 2012–13 season of the Prva HNL with 18 goals.
In February 2012, Gabriele Volpi, an Italian businessman and oil magnate, and also the owner of Spezia Calcio and Pro Recco, injected the much needed capital into the club. With the privatization process complete in September 2013, Volpi, through Social Sport Foundation, became the owner of 70 percent of the club, with the City of Rijeka in control of the remaining 30 percent.[2]
Rivalries
Rijeka's greatest rivalry is with Hajduk Split. Adriatic derby is contested between the two most popular Croatian football clubs coming from Adriatic coast, Rijeka and Hajduk. Each new match between these two great rivals, means a great match on the field, but also in the stands between Rijeka's Armada and Split's Torcida.
Other rivalries exist with Dinamo Zagreb, and on regional level with Istra Pula. The origins of Rijeka-Pula rivalry date back to the clashes between U.S. Fiumana and G.S.F. Grion Pola since the late 1920s.
There is also a city rivalry with NK Orijent. The rivalry dates back to the time when the western part of the city, Fiume, was part of Italy and the eastern part of the city, Sušak, part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Between 1932 and 1940 U.S. Fiumana and NK Orijent played 10 games, with Fiumana winning 9 and Orijent 1 game.[3] Numerous Rijeka city derbies were contested after World War II, and particularly when both clubs were competing in the Yugoslav Second League between 1969 and 1973. Out of 14 league games, Rijeka won 11, Orijent won 1, with 2 games ending in a draw. The last city derby took place during the 1996–97 season of Prva HNL, the only season in which Orijent played in the same tier as Rijeka since 1972–73.
Stadium
NK Rijeka play their home matches at Stadion Kantrida, which has a seating capacity of 10,261. Including standing space the stadium can hold up to 12,600 spectators. The plans are currently being drawn up to build a new stadium on current grounds.
Supporters
The fans are known as Armada Rijeka.
First-team squad
- As of 31 January 2014.[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
- As of 28 January 2014.[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current technical staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Director of football | Srećko Juričić |
| Team manager | Radoslav Ljepojević |
| Manager | Matjaž Kek |
| Assistant manager | Matjaž Florjančič Vjekoslav Miletić |
| Fitness coach | Ugo Maranza |
| Goalkeeping coach | Siniša Ćaleta |
| Scout | Ranko Buketa |
| Academy director | Predrag Stilinović |
Notable players
- To appear in this section a player must have:
- Played at least 100 league games for the club;
- Scored at least 20 league goals for the club if forward, 10 if midfielder and no goal requirement if defender or goalkeeper; and
- Played at least one international match for their national team while playing for Rijeka.
- Otherwise, also included are twenty of the club's top scorers and most capped players in the first division.
All Time Best 11
According to a 2005–07 survey of former players (older than 40 years of age) and respected journalists, Marinko Lazzarich found that the best all time team of Rijeka is as follows:
1. Jantoljak, 2. Milevoj, 3. Hrstić, 4. Radaković, 5. Radin, 6. Juričić, 7. Lukarić, 8. Gračan, 9. Osojnak, 10. Naumović, 11. Desnica.[6]
Rijeka's daily, Novi List, in 2011 declared the following 11 players as Rijeka's best all time team:
1. Jantoljak, 2. Šarić, 3. Radin, 4. Juričić, 5. Hrstić, 6. Loik, 7. Radaković, 8. Mladenović, 9. Naumović, 10. Skoblar, 11. Desnica.[7]
Managerial history
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Presidents
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Seasons and Records
Honours
- Yugoslav Cup (2): 1977–78, 1978–79
- Croatian Cup (2): 2004–05, 2005–06
- Balkans Cup (1): 1978
- Yugoslav First League best placed Croatian club (3): 1964–65, 1983–84, 1986–87
- Croatian League runner-up (2): 1998–99, 2005–06
- Yugoslav Cup runner-up (1): 1986–87
- Croatian Cup runner-up (1): 1993–94
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinal (1): 1979–80
- Balkans Cup runner-up (1): 1980
- Croatian Supercup runner-up (2): 2005, 2006
Rankings
UEFA club coefficient ranking
(As of 12 December 2013), Source: Bert Kassies website
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 175 |  Arsenal Kiev | 9.026 |
| 176 |  CSKA Sofia | 8.975 |
| 177 | HNK Rijeka | 8.925 |
| 178 |  FC Luzern | 8.785 |
| 179 |  Helsingborgs IF | 8.765 |
European record
By competition
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Last season played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1999–2000 |
| UEFA Cup UEFA Europa League |
32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 44 | 40 | 2013–14 |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 1979–80 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2008 |
| Total | 48 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 56 | 60 |
Source: uefa.com, Last updated on 12 December 2013
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.
By ground
| Ground | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 24 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 42 | 22 | +20 |
| Away | 24 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 38 | −24 |
| Total | 48 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 56 | 60 | −4 |
Source: uefa.com, Last updated on 12 December 2013
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against.
By season
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Intertoto Cup | Group B3 |
 Rot-Weiß Oberhausen |
2–1 | 3–4 | – |
| Basel |
5–1 | 2–2 | – | |||
 PSV Eindhoven |
3–1 | 3–2 | – | |||
| QF |  Dozsa Pecs |
2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 | ||
| 1965–66 | Intertoto Cup | Group B1 |
 Motor Jena |
0–3 | 1–3 | – |
 Tatran Prešov |
0–0 | 1–3 | – | |||
 Szombierki Bytom |
0–3 | 1–0 | – | |||
| 1974–75 | Mitropa Cup | Group A |
Tatabánya |
3–1 | 1–3 | – |
 Wacker Innsbruck |
1–3 | 0–0 | – | |||
| 1977–78 | Intertoto Cup | Group 6 |
 Frem Kobenhavn |
2–2 | 0–2 | – |
| Ruch Chorzów |
0–1 | 4–2 | – | |||
| Grazer AK |
1–1 | 3–0 | – | |||
| 1978 | Balkans Cup | Group B |
 Skënderbeu Korçë |
6–0 | 0–1 | – |
 Aris Thessaloniki |
2–0 | 2–1 | – | |||
| F |  Jiul Petroşani |
4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | ||
| 1978–79 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | R1 |  Wrexham |
3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| R2 | .svg.png){kind=small} Beveren |
0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
| 1979–80 | Balkans Cup | Group A |
PAS Giannina |
2–1 | 3–1 | – |
| Partizani Tirana |
3–0 | 1–4 | – | |||
| F | Sportul Studențesc București |
1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | ||
| 1979–80 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Germinal Beerschot |
2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| R2 | Lokomotiva Košice |
3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | ||
| QF |  Juventus |
0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
| 1984–85 | UEFA Cup | R1 |  Valladolid |
4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 |
| R2 | Real Madrid |
3–1 | 0–3 | 3–4 | ||
| 1985–86 | Mitropa Cup | SF | Debreceni |
0–1† | – | – |
| 3rd Place | Sigma Olomouc |
3–2† | – | – | ||
| 1986–87 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Standard Liege |
0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| 1999–2000 | UEFA Champions League | QR2 |  Partizan |
0–3 | 1–3 | 1–6 |
| 2000–01 | UEFA Cup | QR |  Valletta |
3–2 | 5–4 (aet) | 8–6 |
| R1 | Celta Vigo |
0–1 (aet) | 0–0 | 0–1 | ||
| 2002 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | R1 |  St Patrick's Athletic |
3–2 | 0–1 | 3–3 (a) |
| 2004–05 | UEFA Cup | QR2 |  Gençlerbirliği |
2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) |
| 2005–06 | UEFA Cup | QR2 | Litex Lovech |
2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) |
| 2006–07 | UEFA Cup | QR1 |  Omonia |
2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 |
| 2008 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | R1 |  Renova |
0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| 2009–10 | UEFA Europa League | QR2 |  Differdange |
3–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| QR3 | Metalist Kharkiv |
1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | ||
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | QR2 | Prestatyn Town |
5–0 | 3–0 | 8–0 |
| QR3 |  Žilina |
2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | ||
| Playoff | Stuttgart |
2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | ||
| Group I |  Vitória de Guimarães |
0–0 | 0–4 | 4th out of 4 | ||
| Real Betis |
1–1 | 0–0 | ||||
 Lyon |
1–1 | 0–1 | ||||
Last updated on 12 December 2013.
Note: List includes matches played in competitions not endorsed by UEFA.
† Match played at neutral ground in Pisa, Italy.
Player records
- Most appearances in UEFA club competitions: 14 appearances[8]
- Top scorer in UEFA club competitions: 6 goals[8]
References
- ↑ RijekaDanas (2011) (in Croatian), "Split slavi, Zagreb izmišlja, Opatija ne zna, a Rijeka se srami" (http://www.rijekadanas.com/split-slavi-zagreb-izmislja-opatija-ne-zna-a-rijeka-se-srami/), 26 April. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ↑ Index.hr (2013) (in Croatian), "Rijeka postala sportsko dioničko društvo: Volpi dao 54 milijuna kuna za 70 posto" (http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/rijeka-postala-sportsko-dionicko-drustvo-volpi-dao-54-milijuna-kuna-za-70-posto-vlasnistva/703532.aspx), 30 September. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ↑ Lazzarich, Marinko (2008) (in Croatian). Kantrida bijelih snova. Rijeka: Adamić. ISBN 978-953-219-393-0, p. 250.
- ↑ HNK Rijeka "2012–13 season". HNK Rijeka.
- ↑ "Players on Loan". HNK Rijeka.
- ↑ Lazzarich, Marinko (2008) (in Croatian). Kantrida bijelih snova. Rijeka: Adamić. ISBN 978-953-219-393-0, p. 467.
- ↑ Cvijanović, Marko (2011) (in Croatian), "Asevi s Kantride: Idealna momčad Rijeke" (http://www.novilist.hr/Sport/Nogomet/Asevi-s-Kantride-Idealna-momcad-Rijeke), Novi List, 29 August. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Rijeka profile". UEFA.com. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to HNK Rijeka. |
- Official website (Croatian)
- Official Facebook Fanpage
- Official Twitter account
- HNK Rijeka profile at UEFA.com
- Armada Rijeka official website
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