2015–16_Croatian_First_Football_League
2015–16 Croatian First Football League
Football league season
The 2015–16 Croatian First Football League (officially known as MAXtv Prva Liga for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th season of the Croatian First Football League, the national championship for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 10 July 2015 and ended on 14 May 2016.[3]
Quick Facts Season, Dates ...
| Season | 2015–16 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10 July 2015 – 14 May 2016 |
| Champions | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Relegated | NK Zagreb |
| Champions League | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Europa League | Rijeka Hajduk Split Lokomotiva |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 410 (2.28 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ilija Nestorovski (25) |
| Biggest home win | Lokomotiva 6–1 Istra 1961 Rijeka 5–0 Osijek |
| Biggest away win | Lokomotiva 0–4 Dinamo |
| Highest scoring | Lokomotiva 6–1 Istra 1961 |
| Longest winning run | Dinamo Zagreb (12) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Rijeka (22) |
| Longest winless run | Istra 1961 (23) |
| Longest losing run | Istra 1961, Osijek, NK Zagreb (4) |
| Highest attendance | 24,621 (Hajduk Split 0–3 Rijeka) |
| Lowest attendance | 138 (Zagreb 2–0 RNK Split) |
| Total attendance | 442,952[1][2] |
| Average attendance | 2,461[1][2] |
← 2014–15 2016–17 →
All statistics correct as of 14 May 2016[2]. | |
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The league was contested by ten teams and played in a quadruple round robin format, with each team playing every other team four times over 36 rounds. Dinamo Zagreb were the defending champions, having won their tenth consecutive title in 2014–15. At the end of the previous season Zadar were relegated, ending their eight-season spell in top flight. They were replaced by Inter Zaprešić, who returned to the top level after two seasons in the second division.
On 20 April 2015, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2015–16 season was complete. For the 2015–16 Prva HNL, only six clubs were issued a top level license: Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Lokomotiva, Rijeka, Slaven Belupo and NK Zagreb. These clubs were also issued a license for participation in UEFA competitions. In the second stage of licensing, clubs that were not licensed in the first stage appealed the decision.[4] On 20 May 2015, all remaining Prva HNL clubs were granted top level license. Additionally, Istra 1961 and RNK Split obtained a license for UEFA competitions. Only three teams from Druga HNL acquired the top level license: Inter Zaprešić, Sesvete and Hrvatski Dragovoljac.[5]
The following teams participated in the 2015–16 Prva HNL.
Zagreb
Zagreb clubs:
Locations of teams in 2015–16 Prva HNL
Stadia and locations
More information Stadium, City ...
| Stadium | City | Home club | Licensed club(s) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maksimir | Zagreb | Dinamo Zagreb | 38,079[6] | |
| Poljud | Split | Hajduk Split | 34,448[7] | |
| ŠRC Zaprešić | Zaprešić | Inter Zaprešić | 5,228[8] | |
| Aldo Drosina | Pula | Istra 1961 | 8,923[9] | |
| Gradski vrt | Osijek | Osijek | 22,050[10] | |
| Rujevica | Rijeka | Rijeka | 6,036[11] | |
| Gradski stadion | Koprivnica | Slaven Belupo | 3,134[12] | |
| Park mladeži | Split | RNK Split | 4,075[13] | |
| Kranjčevićeva | Zagreb | NK Zagreb | Lokomotiva | 8,850[14] |
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Personnel and kits
More information Club, Manager ...
| Club | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb |  Zoran Mamić |
Domagoj Antolić |
Puma | |
| Hajduk Split | Damir Burić |
Goran Milović |
Macron | Tommy |
| Inter Zaprešić | Samir Toplak |
Marko Ćosić |
Joma | Veleučilište Baltazar Zaprešić |
| Istra 1961 | Andrej Panadić |
Dario Tomić |
Erreà | Croatia Osiguranje |
| Lokomotiva | Sreten Ćuk |
Jerko Leko |
Nike | Crodux |
| Osijek | Zoran Zekić |
Hrvoje Kurtović |
Jako | Osječko |
| Rijeka |  Matjaž Kek |
Ivan Močinić |
Jako | |
| Slaven Belupo | Željko Kopić |
Mateas Delić |
adidas | Belupo |
| RNK Split | Goran Sablić |
Danijel Zagorac |
Jako | Skladgradnja |
| NK Zagreb | Dražen Madunović |
Valentino Stepčić |
Kappa |
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Managerial changes
More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hajduk Split | Hari Vukas |
Removed from position | 1 June 2015[15] | Damir Burić |
1 June 2015[15] | Pre-season |
| Osijek | Ivo Šušak |
Contract expired | 1 June 2015[16] | Dražen Besek |
14 June 2015[16] | Pre-season |
| Slaven Belupo | Ante Čačić |
Signed by Lokomotiva | 3 June 2015[17] | Željko Kopić |
10 June 2015[18] | Pre-season |
| Lokomotiva | Marko Pinčić (caretaker) |
End of caretaker tenure | 3 June 2015[17] | Ante Čačić |
3 June 2015[17] | Pre-season |
| NK Zagreb | Željko Kopić |
Signed by Slaven Belupo | 9 June 2015[18] | Goran Vincetić |
9 June 2015[18] | Pre-season |
| Osijek | Dražen Besek |
Sacked | 1 September 2015[19] | Zoran Zekić |
1 September 2015[19] | 9th |
| Lokomotiva | Ante Čačić |
Signed by Croatia | 21 September 2015 | Sreten Ćuk |
22 September 2015[20] | 5th |
| RNK Split | Zoran Vulić |
Mutual consent | 30 September 2015[21] | Goran Sablić |
30 September 2015[21] | 4th |
| Istra 1961 | Igor Pamić |
Sacked | 5 October 2015[22] | Robert Rubčić (caretaker) |
5 October 2015[22] | 7th |
| Istra 1961 | Robert Rubčić (caretaker) |
End of caretaker tenure | 4 January 2016[23] | Andrej Panadić |
4 January 2016[23] | 8th |
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More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinamo Zagreb (C) | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 67 | 19 | +48 | 85 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2 | Rijeka | 36 | 21 | 14 | 1 | 56 | 20 | +36 | 77 | Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round |
| 3 | Hajduk Split | 36 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 46 | 28 | +18 | 61 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Lokomotiva | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 56 | 53 | +3 | 52 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Inter Zaprešić | 36 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 47 | |
| 6 | RNK Split | 36 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 28 | 29 | −1 | 46 | |
| 7 | Slaven Belupo | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 41 | 42 | −1 | 42 | |
| 8 | Osijek | 36 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 27 | 49 | −22 | 34 | |
| 9 | Istra 1961 (O) | 36 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 58 | −35 | 24 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
| 10 | NK Zagreb (R) | 36 | 3 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 64 | −37 | 17 | Relegation to Croatian Second Football League |
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Source: PrvaHNL.hr, Soccerway
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).[24]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
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).[24]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Dinamo Zagreb qualified for the Europa League third qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Croatian Football Cup. However, since they already qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.
More information Home \ Away, DIN ...
| Home \ Away | DIN | HAJ | INT | IST | LOK | OSI | RIJ | SLA | SPL | ZAG | DIN | HAJ | INT | IST | LOK | OSI | RIJ | SLA | SPL | ZAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
| Hajduk Split | 0–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | ||
| Inter Zaprešić | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | ||
| Istra 1961 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–4 | ||
| Lokomotiva | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | ||
| Osijek | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | ||
| Rijeka | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | ||
| Slaven Belupo | 1–2 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | ||
| RNK Split | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | ||
| NK Zagreb | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 |
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Source: PrvaHNL.hr
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
At the end of the season, ninth placed Istra 1961 qualified for a two-legged relegation play-off tie against Šibenik, runners-up of the 2015–16 Croatian Second Football League.
First leg
Second leg
More information Istra 1961, 1–1 ...
| Istra 1961 | 1–1 | Šibenik |
|---|---|---|
Mišić  51' |
Šare 49' |
|
| Penalties | ||
Zlomislić  Gržan Mihaljević Đurić  Victor Bouhna |
5–4 | Plazonić Vukorepa Grković Alispahić Barać Collins |
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2–2 on aggregate. Istra 1961 won 5–4 on penalties.
Top scorers
More information Rank, Player ...
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | Apps | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ilija Nestorovski |
Inter Zaprešić | 25 | 33 | 2968 |
| 2 | Muzafer Ejupi |
Slaven Belupo | 16 | 32 | 2429 |
| 3 | Roman Bezjak |
Rijeka | 13 | 32 | 2625 |
 Armin Hodžić |
Dinamo Zagreb | 24 | 1350 | ||
| 5 | Franko Andrijašević |
Lokomotiva | 12 | 28 | 2354 |
 Junior Fernandes |
Dinamo Zagreb | 28 | 2119 | ||
| Tino-Sven Sušić |
Hajduk Split | 27 | 2305 | ||
| 8 | Gabrijel Boban |
NK Zagreb | 10 | 31 | 2699 |
| 9 |  Bekim Balaj |
Rijeka | 9 | 31 | 1856 |
| Eros Grezda |
Lokomotiva | 29 | 2004 |
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Annual awards
More information Award, Winner ...
| Award[27] | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the Season | Marko Pjaca |
Dinamo Zagreb |
| Manager of the Season | Zoran Mamić |
Dinamo Zagreb |
| Young Player of the Season | Ante Ćorić |
Dinamo Zagreb |
| Goalkeeper of the Season | Lovre Kalinić |
Hajduk Split |
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More information Team of the Year ...
| Team of the Year[28] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk Split) | |||||
| Defence | Stefan Ristovski (Rijeka) |
Gordon Schildenfeld (Dinamo Zagreb) |
Marko Lešković (Rijeka) |
Josip Pivarić (Dinamo Zagreb) | ||
| Midfield | Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb) |
Tino-Sven Sušić (Hajduk Split) |
Rog (Dinamo Zagreb) |
Marin Tomasov (Rijeka) | ||
| Attack |
|
Ante Ćorić (Dinamo Zagreb) | ||||
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- Attendance statistics MAXtv Prva Liga. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- "Glasnik – Službeno glasilo Hrvatskog nogometnog saveza" (PDF). HNS-CFF.hr (in Croatian). 4 March 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- "Središnji postupak licenciranja za natjecateljsku 2015/16. godinu završen u prvom stupnju" (PDF). HNS-CFF.hr (in Croatian). 20 April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- "Središnji postupak licenciranja klubova za natjecateljsku 2015/16. godinu – Konačne odluke" (PDF). HNS-CFF.hr (in Croatian). 20 May 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- "Stadion Maksimir". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- "Stadion Poljud". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- "Stadion ŠRC Zaprešić". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- "Stadion Aldo Drosina". soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- "Stadion Gradski vrt". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- "Nogometno igralište Rujevica". soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- "Gradski Stadion". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- "Stadion Park mladeži". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- "Stadion Kranjčevićeva". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- Korać, Branimir (1 June 2015). "Burić: Iskustva imam, ali nemam previše vremena. Pokušat ću podići Hajduk na višu razinu". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- Rupnik, Borna (3 June 2015). "Ivo Šušak odlazi na odmor: Dosta mi je, preživio sam velike stresove na klupi Osijeka". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- Bradovski, Mihaela (3 June 2015). "Ante Čačić brzo pronašao novi angažman, povratak u Lokomotivu nakon tri i pol godine". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- Korać, Branimir (9 June 2015). "Željko Kopić napustio Zagreb, Goran Vincetić došao na njegovo mjesto". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- Rupnik, Borna (1 September 2015). "Smjena u Osijeku: Dražen Besek otišao, Zoran Zekić preuzeo prvu momčad". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- Sreten Ćuk novi je trener Lokomotive PrvaHNL.hr. (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- "Zoran Vulić povukao se s klupe Splita, zamijenio ga Goran Sablić". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). 30 September 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- Korać, Branimir (5 October 2015). "Igor Pamić dobio otkaz, Robert Rubčić privremeno preuzeo prvu momčad". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- "Istra 1961 dobila novog trenera, Andrej Panadić na klupi Puljana". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). 4 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- "Propozicije natjecanja za prvenstvo MAXtv prve lige za natjecateljsku godinu 2015/2016" (PDF) (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- "Nogometni Oscar 2016 / Novosti / Hrvatska udruga "Nogometni sindikat"". 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "Nogometni Oscar 2016 / Novosti / Hrvatska udruga "Nogometni sindikat"". 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- Official website (in Croatian)
- Prva HNL at UEFA.com