Its history is filled with great matches, trophies, legendary players and coaches, as well as a special relationship with its fans, who have always been one of the most important parts of the club’s story.

FROM PRAGUE STUDENTS TO ONE OF THE REGION’S BIGGEST CLUBS

Hajduk was officially founded on February 13, 1911, by four students from Split studying in Prague – Fabjan Kaliterna, Vjekoslav Ivanišević, Lucijan Stella, and Ivan Šakić.

After experiencing football in the Czech capital, they decided to establish a club in their hometown.

Vladimir Šore and Professor Josip Barač helped them bring the idea to life; Professor Barač is credited with suggesting the name Hajduk.

The club played its first official match on June 11, 1911, against Calcio Spalato, winning convincingly 9–0.

The first goal in the club’s history was scored by Šime Raunig.

Within its first few decades, Hajduk began building a reputation as a successful football club.

Its championship titles in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1927 and 1929 stand out in particular, and the club continued its tradition in the decades that followed.

One of the most difficult periods in its history came during World War II, when it ceased operations in 1941 because of the Italian occupation of Split.

However, Hajduk was re-established on the island of Vis in 1944, where its football story continued.

It returned to Split in October that year.

GOLDEN ERAS AND MAJOR TROPHIES

Throughout its history, Hajduk has won league and cup trophies in various national competitions.

A special place belongs to the team that won the Yugoslav championship in 1950 without a single defeat.

That achievement remains one of the most important moments in the club’s history.

Further Yugoslav league titles followed in 1952 and 1955, and the 1970s brought another remarkable era.

Under the leadership of legendary coach Tomislav Ivić, Hajduk won league titles and cups, becoming one of the strongest teams in European football at the time.

On the international stage, the club achieved notable results, including reaching the semi-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1984.

After Croatia gained independence, Hajduk continued to win the most important domestic trophies.

It has been Croatian champion six times and has also won the Croatian Cup and Super Cup.

The championship-winning teams of 1992, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2004, and 2005 are especially remembered.

Yet Hajduk’s history cannot be measured solely by the number of trophies it has won.

Its special character also lies in its continuity, identity, and the emotion the club represents for its fans.

POLJUD – WHERE HISTORY IS MADE

One of Hajduk’s most recognizable symbols is undoubtedly Poljud Stadium, often called the “Beauty of Poljud.”

It was built in 1979 ahead of the Mediterranean Games held in Split.

Its distinctive shell-like shape, architectural design, and position within Split’s urban landscape have made it one of the most recognizable football stadiums in this part of Europe.

Hajduk has welcomed many domestic and international opponents at Poljud, and over the decades the stadium has hosted major victories, dramatic matches, and unforgettable moments for fans.

Poljud is more than just the place where the first team plays.

It is a symbol of the club and a place where generations of fans come together, from the oldest, who remember great historic matches, to the youngest, who are just beginning to make memories of their own.

TORCIDA – FANS WHO ARE PART OF THE CLUB’S IDENTITY

It is impossible to talk about Hajduk without mentioning Torcida, one of the best-known fan groups in Europe.

It was founded in 1950, ahead of an important league match against Red Star Belgrade.

Its founding was a landmark in the history of organized support, and Torcida is considered the oldest organized fan group in Europe.

Over the decades, Torcida has become an inseparable part of Hajduk’s identity.

Its support is not tied solely to the first team’s results, but to a deep connection with the club and the city.

The songs, choreographies, flags, and atmosphere created by the fans at Poljud are part of Split’s football landscape.

Hajduk and Torcida have built a special relationship grounded in belonging, emotion, and tradition.

An important part of the modern story of the relationship between the fans and the club is the “Naš Hajduk” (“Our Hajduk”) project, launched in 2011, which developed a model for fans to actively participate in running the club.

HAJDUK LEGENDS – GENERATIONS THAT MADE HISTORY

For more than a century, numerous footballers have worn the Hajduk shirt and left a lasting mark on the history of the club and of Croatian and Yugoslav football.

Among the greatest names is Frane Matošić, the legendary forward who played 739 matches for Hajduk and scored 729 goals.

His records are among the most impressive in the club’s statistics.

A special place also belongs to Vladimir Beara, one of the best goalkeepers of his era, as well as Bernard “Bajda” Vukas, Petar Nadoveza, Dragan Holcer, Jurica Jerković, Ivan Buljan, and Dražen Mužinić.

Later generations saw the rise of Slaviša Žungul, Alen Bokšić, Aljoša Asanović, Robert Jarni, Igor Štimac, Slaven Bilić, Igor Tudor, Stipe Pletikosa, and Darijo Srna.

Coaches have also played a special role in the club’s history.

Luka Kaliterna, known as Barba Luka, was one of the pioneers of football in Split and a man who laid the foundations for organized work with young players.

Tomislav Ivić is remembered as one of the most successful and influential coaches in Hajduk’s history.

Players and coaches from different generations created the continuity that still gives Hajduk a special place in the region’s football history.

LUKA KALITERNA ACADEMY – A TRADITION OF DEVELOPING NEW GENERATIONS

Working with young footballers is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the club’s identity.

Organized work with youth teams at Hajduk began as early as 1919, when Luka Kaliterna gathered a group of talented children and started working more systematically on their football development.

The century-long tradition of youth development was celebrated in 2019, when the Academy was officially named the HNK Hajduk “Luka Kaliterna” Academy, in honor of one of the most important figures in the club’s history.

Over the decades, Hajduk’s Academy has produced many talented footballers. Its importance lies not only in developing players for the first team, but also in nurturing young athletes who will continue building their football knowledge and experience in different settings.

In more recent years, the club has continued to develop projects for the youngest players.

One of these is the “Budi čovik” (“Be a Good Person”) tournament, launched in 2026, which brought together 90 teams from 45 clubs in its inaugural edition.

The competition is intended for youth teams, and its focus is on sporting development, socializing, and bringing clubs together.

Projects like these show how important it is to create a positive environment where children develop sporting habits, friendships, and a sense of community alongside their football skills.

HAJDUK AT AFT TOURNAMENTS – VALUABLE RESULTS AND CONSISTENCY

HNK Hajduk Split is a recognizable name on the international youth football scene, and its participation in AFT tournaments has made a significant contribution to the club’s AFT ranking.

Results from the last three seasons show the consistency of Hajduk’s young footballers’ participation and success.

In the 2024/25 season, Hajduk earned 860 AFT points, while in the 2025/26 season, it achieved an even better result – 1,790 points in total.

In the current 2026/27 season, the Split club continues to perform well and has collected 1,105 AFT points so far.

Since the season is still underway, there is an opportunity to make further progress and earn more points in the rankings.

Hajduk’s combined tally across the three seasons under review currently stands at an impressive 3,755 AFT points.

These results confirm that Hajduk is active not only in senior football and historic competitions, but also in international youth football, where young players gain valuable experience by taking on peers from different footballing backgrounds.

MORE THAN A CLUB – A STORY THAT LIVES ON

In more than 115 years of existence, Hajduk from Split has built an identity that cannot be described solely through trophies, victories, and statistics.

Its history connects generations of footballers, coaches, fans, and everyone who has in some way become part of Split’s great football story.

From four students in Prague, through great generations that won league titles and cups, to today’s young footballers wearing the white shirt, Hajduk has remained a club whose tradition lives on through new generations.

It is especially meaningful that this tradition continues through the work of the Academy, where the youngest footballers have the opportunity to learn, progress, and dream of one day playing for the first team.

Because Hajduk is not just a story about the past.

It is also a story about the future, about children just starting out on their football journeys, and about values passed down from generation to generation.