2021–22 Croatian First Football League

The 2021–22 Croatian First Football League (officially Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga for sponsorship reasons) was the 31st season of the Croatian First Football League, the national championship for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. Contested by 10 teams, the season started on 16 July 2021 and ended on 21 May 2022. Dinamo Zagreb, the defending champions, successfully defended their title.

Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga
Season2021–22
Dates16 July 2021 – 21 May 2022
ChampionsDinamo Zagreb (23rd Croatian title)
RelegatedHrvatski Dragovoljac
Champions LeagueDinamo Zagreb
Europa Conference LeagueHajduk Split
Osijek
Rijeka
Matches played180
Goals scored504 (2.8 per match)
Top goalscorerMarko Livaja (28)
Biggest home winDinamo Zagreb 8–0 Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Biggest away winŠibenik 0–5 Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Highest scoringIstra 1961 3–6 Rijeka
Longest winning runDinamo Zagreb
6 games
Longest unbeaten runOsijek
13 games
Longest winless runHrvatski Dragovoljac
15 games
Longest losing runHrvatski Dragovoljac
8 games
Highest attendance30,524
Hajduk Split 0–0 Osijek
Lowest attendance50
Hrvatski Dragovoljac 1–1 Lokomotiva
Total attendance502,012
Average attendance2,789[1]

Teams

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On 23 April 2021, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2020–21 season was complete. For the 2021–22 Prva HNL, eleven clubs were issued a top level license: Cibalia, Dinamo Zagreb, Gorica, Hajduk Split, Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Istra 1961, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka, Slaven Belupo and Varaždin. All of these clubs except Cibalia and Hrvatski Dragovoljac were also issued a license for participating in UEFA competitions.[2]

Changes

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Hrvatski Dragovoljac (promoted after a seven-year absence) was promoted from the 2020–21 Druga HNL. Varaždin (relegated after two years in the top flight) was relegated to 2021–22 Druga HNL.

Stadia and locations

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Dinamo Zagreb Gorica Hajduk Split Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Stadion Maksimir Gradski stadion Velika Gorica Stadion Poljud Stadion Kranjčevićeva
Capacity: 35,123 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 34,198 Capacity: 5,350
       
Istra 1961
Locations of teams in 2021–22 Prva HNL
Lokomotiva
Stadion Aldo Drosina Stadion Kranjčevićeva
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 5,350
   
Osijek Rijeka Slaven Belupo Šibenik
Stadion Gradski vrt Stadion Rujevica Stadion Ivan Kušek-Apaš Stadion Šubićevac
Capacity: 17,061 Capacity: 8,279 Capacity: 3,205 Capacity: 3,412
     
Team City Stadium Capacity Ref.
Dinamo Zagreb Zagreb Maksimir 35,123 [3]
Gorica Velika Gorica ŠRC Velika Gorica 5,000 [4]
Hajduk Split Split Poljud 34,198 [5]
Hrvatski Dragovoljac Zagreb Kranjčevićeva1 5,350 [6]
Istra 1961 Pula Stadion Aldo Drosina 10,000 [7]
Lokomotiva Zagreb Kranjčevićeva2 5,350 [6]
Osijek Osijek Gradski vrt 17,061 [8]
Rijeka Rijeka Rujevica 8,279 [9]
Slaven Belupo Koprivnica Stadion Ivan Kušek-Apaš 3,205 [10]
Šibenik Šibenik Šubićevac 3,412 [11]
Rank Counties of Croatia Number of teams Club(s)
1   City of Zagreb 3 Dinamo Zagreb, Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Lokomotiva
2   Koprivnica-Križevci 1 Slaven Belupo
  Osijek-Baranja Osijek
  Primorje-Gorski Kotar Rijeka
  Split-Dalmatia Hajduk Split
  Šibenik-Knin Šibenik
  Zagreb County Gorica

Personnel and kits

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Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsors
Dinamo Zagreb   Ante Čačić   Arijan Ademi Adidas PSK
Gorica   Samir Toplak   Matija Dvorneković Alpas Admiral Bet
Hajduk Split   Valdas Dambrauskas   Lovre Kalinić Macron Tommy
Hrvatski Dragovoljac   Dragan Tadić   Zvonimir Šubarić Macron
Istra 1961   Gonzalo García   Slavko Blagojević Kelme Croatia Osiguranje
Lokomotiva   Silvijo Čabraja   Josip Pivarić Adidas
Osijek   Nenad Bjelica   Mile Škorić 2Rule Mészáros és Mészáros Kft.
Rijeka   Goran Tomić   Hrvoje Smolčić Joma Sava Osiguranje
Slaven Belupo   Zoran Zekić   Goran Paracki Adidas Belupo
Šibenik   Dean Računica   Mario Ćurić Macron

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Šibenik   Sergi Escobar[12] Signed by Castellón 23 May 2021   Mario Rosas[13] 14 June 2021 Pre-season
Gorica   Siniša Oreščanin[14] Sacked 24 May 2021   Krunoslav Rendulić[15] 30 May 2021 Pre-season
Hajduk Split   Paolo Tramezzani[16] Mutual consent 27 May 2021   Jens Gustafsson[17] 28 May 2021 Pre-season
Lokomotiva   Samir Toplak[18] Contract expired 28 May 2021   Silvijo Čabraja[19] 8 June 2021 Pre-season
Slaven Belupo   Tomislav Stipić[20] Sacked 10 June 2021   Dean Klafurić[21] 11 June 2021 Pre-season
Istra 1961   Danijel Jumić Contract expired 11 June 2021   Gonzalo García[22] 11 June 2021 Pre-season
Hrvatski Dragovoljac   Miroslav Kuljanac[23] Sacked 22 August 2021   Davor Mladina[23] 22 August 2021 10th
Slaven Belupo   Dean Klafurić[24] Sacked 27 August 2021   Zoran Zekić[25] 31 August 2021 8th
Hajduk Split   Jens Gustafsson[26] Sacked 1 November 2021   Valdas Dambrauskas[27] 2 November 2021 4th
Dinamo Zagreb   Damir Krznar Resigned 1 December 2021   Željko Kopić 1 December 2021 3rd
Šibenik   Mario Rosas Sacked 5 January 2022   Ferdo Milin 5 January 2022 7th
Hrvatski Dragovoljac   Davor Mladina Sacked 12 January 2022   Dragan Tadić 12 January 2022 10th
Šibenik   Ferdo Milin Sacked 12 February 2022   Marko Kartelo (caretaker) 13 February 2022 7th
Gorica   Krunoslav Rendulić Sacked 3 March 2022   Samir Toplak 3 March 2022 7th
Šibenik   Marko Kartelo (caretaker) Removed from position 4 March 2022   Ivica Matas (caretaker) 4 March 2022 8th
Šibenik   Ivica Matas (caretaker) Signing of Računica 7 March 2022   Dean Računica 7 March 2022 8th
Dinamo Zagreb   Željko Kopić Sacked 21 April 2022   Ante Čačić 21 April 2022 1st

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Dinamo Zagreb (C) 36 24 7 5 68 22 +46 79 Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round
2 Hajduk Split 36 21 9 6 64 31 +33 72 Qualification to Europa Conference League third qualifying round[a]
3 Osijek 36 19 12 5 49 29 +20 69 Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round
4 Rijeka 36 20 5 11 71 51 +20 65
5 Lokomotiva 36 12 13 11 55 50 +5 49
6 Gorica 36 12 9 15 43 50 −7 45
7 Slaven Belupo 36 9 9 18 35 54 −19 36
8 Šibenik 36 9 5 22 46 75 −29 32
9 Istra 1961 36 7 10 19 42 67 −25 31
10 Hrvatski Dragovoljac (R) 36 4 7 25 31 75 −44 19 Relegation to First Football League
Source: PrvaHNL.hr
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored (at home if two teams tied); 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Criteria 2-4 and 7 is only used if deciding champion, teams to international competition or teams for relegation and in that case criteria 6 will not be used).[28]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The cup winner, Hajduk Split, will enter the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

Results

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Each team plays home-and-away against every other team in the league twice, for a total of 36 matches each played.

Home \ Away DIN GOR HAJ HRV IST LOK OSI RIJ SLA ŠIB DIN GOR HAJ HRV IST LOK OSI RIJ SLA ŠIB
Dinamo Zagreb 1–0 0–2 8–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–3 0–2 2–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 3–0 3–0
Gorica 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–4 1–0 3–1 0–1 0–4 4–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–0 0–3 2–3
Hajduk Split 1–0 0–0 2–0 4–0 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 4–0 0–0 1–3 3–1 2–1
Hrvatski Dragovoljac 0–4 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 3–1
Istra 1961 0–2 1–2 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–0 3–6 1–2 3–4 1–2 2–1 1–1 3–0 2–2 2–3 0–2 3–1 1–2
Lokomotiva 1–0 0–1 2–2 3–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–1
Osijek 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 3–1
Rijeka 3–3 2–0 2–3 4–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–3 1–0 1–0 3–2 3–1 3–0 4–2
Slaven Belupo 1–4 1–2 3–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 1–1
Šibenik 1–2 1–2 2–0 6–2 3–1 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–3 0–5 2–1 1–4 0–3 3–5 2–1
Source: Prva HNL (in Croatian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

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Top goalscorers

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As of 21 May 2022[29]
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Marko Livaja Hajduk Split 28
2   Josip Drmić Rijeka 21
3   Dion Drena Beljo Istra 1961 15
4   Mislav Oršić Dinamo Zagreb 14
5   Marko Dabro Lokomotiva 13
6   Robert Murić Rijeka 11
7   Marin Jakoliš Šibenik 10
  Ivan Krstanović Slaven Belupo
  Sandro Kulenović Lokomotiva
  Haris Vučkić Rijeka
  Ivan Delić Šibenik

Awards

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Annual awards

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Award[30] Winner Club
Player of the Season   Marko Livaja Hajduk Split
Manager of the Season   Goran Tomić Rijeka
Young Player of the Season   Lukas Kačavenda Lokomotiva
Team of the Year[31]
Goalkeeper   Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb)
Defence   Stefan Ristovski (Dinamo Zagreb)   Josip Elez (Hajduk Split)   Josip Šutalo (Dinamo Zagreb)
Midfield   Petar Bočkaj (Dinamo Zagreb)   Filip Krovinović (Hajduk Split)   Domagoj Pavičić (Rijeka)   Arijan Ademi (Dinamo Zagreb)   Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb)
Attack   Josip Drmić (Rijeka)   Marko Livaja

References

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  1. ^ "Broj gledatelja" (in Croatian). prvahnl.hr. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Završen središnji postupak licenciranja u prvom stupnju" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Stadion Maksimir". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  4. ^ "ŠRC Velika Gorica". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Stadion Poljud". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Stadion Kranjčevićeva". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Stadion Aldo Drosina". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Stadion Gradski vrt". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Stadion HNK Rijeka". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Stadion Ivan Kušek-Apaš". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Stadion Šubićevac". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Sergi Escobar više nije trener HNK Šibenik!" (in Croatian). HNK Šibenik. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Mario Rosas novi trener Šibenika". Nacional (in Croatian). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Siniša Oreščanin i Goran Rosanda više nisu treneri Gorice" (in Croatian). HNK Gorica. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Krunoslav Rendulić novi trener HNK Gorice: 'Obećajem red, rad i disciplinu'" (in Croatian). HNK Gorica. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Sporazumni raskid: Paolo Tramezzani više nije trener HNK Hajduk" (in Croatian). HNK Hajduk Split. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Jens Gustafsson novi je trener Hajduka!" (in Croatian). HNK Hajduk Split. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Samir Toplak nije više trener Lokomotive" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Silvijo Čabraja novi je trener Lokomotive" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Tomislav Stipić više nije trener prve momčadi Slaven Belupa" (in Croatian). NK Slaven Belupo. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Dean Klafurić novi je trener Slaven Belupa" (in Croatian). NK Slaven Belupo. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Gonzalo García novi je trener Istre 1961!" (in Croatian). NK Istra 1961. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Hrvatski dragovoljac nakon katastrofalnog starta sezone smijenio trenera i po šesti put doveo kultno HNL ime". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 22 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  24. ^ Čičin-Mašansker, Goran (27 August 2021). "Rušio je Dinamo usred Maksimira pa mu presudio - Dragovoljac! Potentnom HR-treneru uručen ekspresni otkaz". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Zoran Zekić novi je trener Slaven Belupa" (in Croatian). NK Slaven Belupo. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  26. ^ "JENS GUSTAFSSON VIŠE NIJE TRENER HNK HAJDUK" (in Croatian). HNK Hajduk Split. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  27. ^ "VALDAS DAMBRAUSKAS NOVI JE TRENER HAJDUKA!" (in Croatian). HNK Hajduk Split. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Propozicije natjecanja za prvenstvo Hrvatski Telekom Prve lige za natjecateljsku godinu 2021/2022" (PDF). hns-cff.hr (in Croatian). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  29. ^ PrvaHNL.hr
  30. ^ "Objavljeni laureati Trofeja nogometaš 2022. godine". NACIONAL.HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Objavljeni laureati Trofeja nogometaš 2022. godine". NACIONAL.HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
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