The football system in Croatia is not that old, because Croatia gained independence after the dissolution of the Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. After the establishment of the Croatian football association, many clubs were able to formally organize themselves to participate in various competitions now running in the newly established nation. A lot of football clubs have become popular in Europe, and the rest of the world. Here are the top 5 football clubs in Croatia.
1. Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo was founded 110 years on April 26 under the name HSK Gradanski. In 1945, they were reformed into FD Dinamo. They participated for many years under the old Yugoslav football system until the independence of Croatia. Dinamo Zagreb is the most successful football club in Croatia, with a record 22 and 16 Prva HNL and Croatia Cup titles respectively. In the old Yugoslav league, they were crowned champions nine times and also won the Yugoslav cup 8 times. They are nicknamed Modri, and usually play in an all-blue kit.
2. Hajduk Split
The Croatian side was established 110 years ago in the Croatian city of Split. Hajduk, like their counterparts Zagreb, competed in competitions under the supervision of the Yugoslav football association before Croatia became independent. HAJ won 9 Yugoslav league and cup titles each. Under the current Croatian football association, Bili has been able to win 6 Prva HNL titles and 6 Croatian Cups.
3. HNK Rijeka
The Croatian side was established on the 25th of December, 1906. Rijeka like a lot of Croat sides, had to compete under the Yugoslav Football Association, where they won 6 Yugoslav league titles and 2 Yugoslav Cups. Since Croatian independence, they have won 7 Prva HNL titles and 6 Croatian cups. Rijecki Bijeli play out of the Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka. HNK Rijeka is the third-most successful football club in Croatia. They play in 3 distinct White, Red, and Black kits.
4. NK Zagreb
NK are city rivals of Dinamo. The Croats were established in 1908, and like other Croatian sides established before the independence played under the supervision of the Yugoslavian football association. Pjesnici competed in the lower Yugoslav divisions. After Croatian independence, they have won the Prva HNL only once in their history and finished second and third a host of times. They currently play in the Croatian lower divisions.
5. NK Osijek
OSI was founded 74 years ago on the 24th of February. They competed for many years in the Yugoslav lower divisions before the Croatian independence. Osijek has struggled to break the dominance of other top Croatian clubs in the Prva HNL, finishing 2nd in the 2020-2021 season. The White and Blues play in a white shirt with blue horizontal stripes.
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