# HNK Gorica

45°43′26″N 16°04′23″E﻿ / ﻿45.72395°N 16.07317°E﻿ / 45.72395; 16.07317
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. 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Second Football League title and were initially promoted to Croatian First Football League, but their top license was revoked. 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.

## 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. 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.
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.

## Current squad

    As of 8 January 2025
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 | NED | Matthew Steenvoorden |
| 5 | DF | CRO | Mateo Leš |
| 6 | DF | CRO | Jakov Gurlica |
| 7 | MF | ALB | Adrion Pajaziti (on loan from Fulham) |
| 8 | MF | CGO | Merveil Ndockyt |
| 9 | FW | BIH | Filip Čuić |
| 10 | MF | CRO | Jurica Pršir (Captain) |
| 11 | FW | CRO | Martin Šlogar |
| 14 | MF | MKD | Agon Elezi (on loan from Bochum) |
| 18 | MF | CRO | Ivan Fiolić |
| 20 | MF | CRO | Luka Vrzić |
| 21 | FW | CRO | Marko Kolar |
| 22 | DF | CRO | Mario Maloča |
| 23 | MF | CRO | Luka Kapulica |
| 24 | DF | CRO | Mateo Bašić |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 25 | DF | CRO | Krešimir Krizmanić |
| 27 | DF | SVN | Gregor Sikošek (on loan from Maribor) |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slavko Bralić (on loan from Celje) |
| 29 | MF | SRB | Nikola Jojić (on loan from Stoke City) |
| 30 | GK | CRO | Darijan Žarkov |
| 31 | GK | CRO | Ivan Banić (2nd Captain) |
| 32 | MF | CRO | Tibor Halilović |
| 34 | DF | CRO | Mario Matković |
| 44 | GK | CRO | Božidar Radošević |
| 47 | DF | CRO | Anton Krešić (on loan from Cluj) |
| 50 | FW | CRO | Ante Erceg |
| 55 | MF | CRO | Vito Čaić (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb) |
| 77 | MF | CRO | Valentino Majstorović |
| 87 | MF | CRO | Antonio Ilić |
| 88 | MF | SEN | Sekou Matar Sagna |
| 90 | DF | CRO | Dino Štiglec |
| 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 |
| 19 | FW | SEN | Arona Fall |
| 35 | DF | CRO | Zvonimir Josić |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | CRO | Fran Kasumović |
| — | FW | CRO | Petar Topić |

### 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 |
| 13 | GK | CRO | Matej Vidić (at Segesta until 29 June 2025) |
| 17 | MF | CRO | Vinko Skrbin (at Gorica until 29 June 2025) |
| — | FW | BRA | Caio Da Cruz (at Sesvete until 29 June 2025) |
| — | MF | CRO | Patrik Jug (at Jarun until 30 June 2025) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | CRO | David Sim (at Marsonia 1909 until 30 June 2025) |
| — | FW | CRO | Lovro Nezirović (at Dugo Selo until 30 June 2025) |
| — | MF | CRO | Luka Brlek (at Brežice 1919 until 30 June 2025) |
| — | DF | CRO | Ino Vuko (at Karlovac 1919 until 14 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 Katić |
| Physiotherapist | Ivan Bradić |
| Physiotherapist | Sonja Pasarić |
| Sport advisor | Boštjan Blažinčič |
| Head scout | Filip Šelendić |
| 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

* Druga HNL
** Champions (2): 2010–11, 2017–18
* Treća HNL – West
** Champions (1): 2009–10

## Recent seasons

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | Cup | Top goalscorer | Top goalscorer |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Cup | 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 |