HNK Gorica

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]

As of 1 September 2023[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 5 DF  CRO Mateo Leš 6 MF  CRO Marko Soldo (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb) 7 FW  CRO Ante Matej Jurić 8 MF  CGO Merveil Ndockyt 9 FW  NED Sven Blummel 10 MF  CRO Jurica Pršir (2nd Captain) 11 FW  CRO Lenny Ilečić 12 GK  CRO Jan Paolo Debijađi 13 DF  DEN Alexander Munksgaard 14 MF  CRO Josip Mitrović 15 MF  CRO Filip Mrzljak (Captain) 20 DF  MNE Momčilo Raspopović 22 DF  CRO Mario Maloča

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 MF  CRO Luka Kapulica 24 MF  CRO Martin Šroler 25 DF  CRO Krešimir Krizmanić 30 MF  CRO Luka Brlek 31 GK  CRO Ivan Banić 34 DF  CRO Mario Matković 44 GK  CRO Božidar Radošević 46 FW  MNE Nikola Vujnović 77 MF  CRO Valentino Majstorović 89 FW  SVN Tim Matavž 90 DF  CRO Dino Štiglec 99 MF  IRQ Abdullah Hameed

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  CRO Karlo Žiger (at Sesvete until 30 June 2024) 17 MF  CRO Vinko Skrbin (at Tolmin until 30 June 2024) 18 MF  CRO Patrik Jug (at Ilirija 1911 until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  BRA Caio Da Cruz (at Radomlje until 30 June 2024) 45 DF  FRA Nathan Cruce-Corcy (at Mladost Ždralovi until 30 May 2024)

Youth academy

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 GK  CRO Josip Cundeković 29 FW  CRO Lovro Nezirović 35 DF  CRO Zvonimir Josić

No. Pos. Nation Player 38 DF  CRO Ino Vuko 40 DF  SRB Đuro Giulio Đekić

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

• Official website (in Croatian)