As Dalmatia’s biggest birthday party approaches with Hajduk Split turning 105 on February 13, 2016, part three of TCN’s look at 105 things about Croatia’s most-loved club. Today, 21 Legends of Hajduk.
1. Anković, Andrija (1958-1966)
Born 1937 in Gabela, came to Split in his early twenties, and played 326 games, scoring 250 goals for Hajduk. He is remembered as a great goal-scorer, and in his honor, a tournament bearing his name is played traditionally in Gabela, with Hajduk being a regular participant. In the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, he won a gold medal as a member of Yugoslav national team.
2. Beara, Vladimir (1947-1955)
Vladimir the Great was born in Zelovo, 1928. He is considered to be one of world’s best goalkeepers ever. His leaving to Red Star was probably the biggest team management mistake of all Hajduk boards ever. Has won three Championship titles playing for Hajduk, and after his leaving, Hajduk endured a title drought, whilst Beara won four more playing for fierce rivals. Due to signing for Red Star, for a long time he was a persona non grata in the Hajduk community, but he was not to blame, and all that injustice was resolved in his later days. Lev Yashin, one of best goalkeepers ever, when presented the Trophy for the best European goalkeeper stated that he considered Beara to be better than himself. He won a Olympic silver medal, and in the video below you can see a rare footage of him saving a penalty shot by Ferenc Puskas in the finals.
3. Benčić, Ljubomir (1922-1933)
Think only Ronaldo and Messi score more than one goal per game? Think twice. 353 games played, and 355 goals, those are the statistics for Ljubomir Benčić, born in Stari Grad, 1905. He won two national Championship titles with Hajduk, and was, unsurprisingly, the best scorer of the competition. Legend says that he never missed a penalty. His career ended when he was just 28, due to a knee injury, and one can only wonder what would happened if he had stayed fit.
4. Broketa, Božo (1946-1956)
Born in Dubrovnik, 1922, legendary left back scored probably the most important goal in Hajduk’s history few minutes before the end of Hajduk – Red Star game that won Hajduk a Championship title. He scored 70 goals in 493 games played for Hajduk. He was a part of 1948 Yugoslavian Olympic team in London, winning the silver medal.
5. Gudelj, Ivan (1978-1986)
Player born in Imotski, 1960, voted the best European U21 player in 1979, was destined for a big football career. Has been part of Hajduk team in one Championship and two Cup titles, played 362 games, and scored 93 goals. He was considered to be a prototype for a modern midfielder, and has been on a verge to signing for Real Madrid, when Hepatitis B hit him. He never fully recovered, and career was over when he was in his best years, but he is remembered as one of greatest players, of great bravery and dedication. 1982, L’Equipe has voted him to the best XI of the World Cup.
6. Hlevnjak, Ivica (1962-1973)
Born 1944 in El Shatt, in refugee camp founded for people fleeing Dalmatia in WWII, has played 665 games and scored 237 goals. One of beloved characters by Hajduk community, Bukle won two Championship, and two Cup titles. He was a great attacking midfielder, and a great character, beloved by the teammates and opponents alike. Only legendary captain Frane Matošić has more appearances for the team. He will be remembered also for his statement in documentary dedicated to Hajduk, which became a proverb in Dalmatia. Speaking of Hajduk past, tears came down on his face, so he said; “Emotions are one f…ed up affair”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX38yyCZr1Y
7. Jerković, Jurica (1968-1978)
Born in Split, 1950, is considered to be a best player of The Golden Generation of Hajduk. Imaginative midfielder, with a great technique and a powerful shot. He played 529 games, and scored 219 goals for Hajduk. Legendary no. 10 has won three Championship titles and 5 Cup titles. Story is, Pele and Jerković have changed shirts after Pele’s farewell game on Maracana, game in which Jerković scored a final goal. It was a great one, you can check it in the video attached.
8. Kokeza, Ljubomir (1939-1941, 1944-1957)
Born in Split, 1920, has started his career in RNK Split, but in junior days, comes to Hajduk, and becomes a legendary right back, pairing with Broketa on the left side, and Beara in front of the goal. He played 625 games for the team, scored 8 goals, and is remembered for his uncompromised dedication to the team and a big heart.
9. Kragić, Vladimir (1929-1940)
Born in Split, 1910, nicknamed Kalun (translated cannon), Kragić played 354 games, and scored 266 goals. Legendary Hajduk bomber with rocket shot who played on all positions except one of a goalkeeper. Smallish, broad-shouldered, he was a great striker and scorer, mostly due to a very strong shot. Local newspaper “Novo doba” in 1933 printed a headline: “Kragić-HAŠK 7-1”, as he scored all 7 goals in the game. He is remembered also for his love for Split, as he turned down many calls to play for National team, and has missed even some Hajduk away games for a simple reason – he was reluctant to leave Split at any occasion.
10. Lemešić, Leo (1924-1940)
Born in Sinj, 1908, Lemešić was an all-round sportsman. He was a rower, sailor, and also played rugby. Before all, he was a great striker, scoring 455 goals in 491 game played for Hajduk. He won two national Chamionships titles with Hajduk. After retiring from the game, he was a respectable referee, participating as one in three World cups. He was also a member of FIFA international board.
11. Luštica, Slavko (1941-1956)
Luštica, born in Kumbor, 1923, has spent entire career as a player of Hajduk Split. He was a great full back, with 634 appearances, and 86 goals scored. He was a part of 50-es team and won 4 Championship titles. After retiring, ha was an accomplished coach, and brought the title back to Split as a coach in 1971, after a 17 year drought. He was a leader on and off the pitch, and his coaching in 1971 was a subject to the book written by Mario Garber “Hajdukova ‘71” (Hajduk’s ’71).
12. Marušić, Anđelko (1930-1939)
Born in Omiš, 1911, Ferata (Train) was beloved by the fans for his dedication. He was the first player in Hajduk producing sliding tackles, and to be noted, in those days, pitch was made of clay, not grass. He got his nickname due to his inexhaustibility on the pitch, and it was a tradition for him to finish a game with blood pouring from his knees. He has played 394 games, and scored 15 goals, winning three national Championships. The city stadium in Omiš bears his name.
13. Matošić, Frane (1935-1939, 1940-1941, 1944-1956)
Not to get into a debate, we have done this list in alphabetical order, to avoid ranking of the players, but undoubtedly the most important player in Hajduk’s history was Frane Matošić, legendary captain born 1918 in Split. He played 739 games, and scored 729 goals for Hajduk, leading the team to 6 Championship titles. He was a proud man, not afraid to stand up for the right cause in many occasions. After Hajduk was denied a title, he stormed into Football association office and asked them if they have even one gram of honesty there. He stud up to president Tuđman when invited to join him to watch the Hajduk – Croatia game, and has told him that it is not fair that Croata has more privileges than other clubs, Hajduk included.
He is always to be remembered as The Captain, and has a mural in Split dedicated to his glory days.
14. Mužinić, Dražen (1970-1980)
In modern days, Torcida honors one player per year presenting him the Hajdučko srce (Hajduk’s heart) trophy. It is recognized that Frfa was the prototype of a player deserving this trophy, even if it was not established in his years. He was a dedicated defensive midfielder, playing 508 games for Hajduk, and scoring 28 goals. He participated in four national Championship titles, and five Cup titles.
15. Nadoveza, Petar (1963-1973)
Born in Šibenik, 1942, Pere – splitski Pele (Split’s Pele) was one of best strikers Hajduk had. He scored 296 goals in 460 games played for Hajduk, and won one Championship and two Cup titles. Afterwards, he was coaching Hajduk on 4 occasions, and brought a few more titles to Split.
16. Šurjak, Ivica (1971-1981)
Born in Split, 1953, captain of the Golden Generation, great left-winger with deadly cross, Šure played 504 games, and scored 141 goalsfor Hajduk. Assists were not counted in those days, and he would surely be leading the category in the time. He won three Championship, and five Cup titles with Hajduk, and has 54 caps for Yugoslavia. He was also a bit of a rock star in his time, because of his appearance, and also had a record published in 1980. He continued with football, at the joy both of football lovers, as well of the music ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWNEUEz_IEI
17. Vidošević, Joško (1952-1963)
Jole Vidošević was born in Split, 1935, one of many great strikers to play for Hajduk. He played 349 games, and scored 228 goals, winning one Championship title. He was considered to be the heir to Kragić, as he had a rocket shot too. He has a silver Olympic medal won in Melbourne 1956, and in later days, he went on to become a Chairman of Hajduk board in the eighties.
18. Vujović, Zlatko (1976-1986)
Probably the fastest attacker Hajduk ever had. Born in Sarajevo, 1958, he played 420 games, and scored 186 goals for the club. He has won one Championship, and two Cup titles, and was a team captain for years. He is the player with most goals scored for Hajduk in European Cups matches, scoring 19 goals, and holds a record with 4 goals scored in a single game vs Metz. He was a captain of Yugoslavian national team, with 25 goals scored in 70 games played for national team.
19. Vukas, Bernard (1947-1957, 1959-1963)
If Frane Matošić is the most important player in Hajduk’s history, Bajdo Vukas (born in Zagreb, 1927) was the best one. Voted the best Croatian athlete of the 20th century by Večernji List, he has played 615 games for the club, and scored 300 goals. He has won three championship titles, and has won two silver Olympic medals with the national team. In 1955, he played for European selection against selection of British players in Belfast, and this was a competitive match, not friendly, as these games tend to be in modern days. Europe won 4-1, and Vukas scored a hat-trick decider in last ten minutes of the game.
20. Žanetić, Ante (1955-1961)
One of the best midfielders playing for Hajduk ever, and being overlooked on many occasions before 1990, due to his emigration from Yugoslavia for political reasons. Nevertheless, Žanetić, born in Blato on Korčula, 1936, played 254 games, and scored 41 goals for Hajduk, and was voted in world XI in 1960, as we reported in January. He won an Olympic silver medal in 1960, and silver medal on European Cup in the same year.
21. Žungul, Slaviša (1972-1979)
Long before Cantona and Ronaldo, Hajduk had its own legendary No.7, Slaviša Žungul. Born in Požarevac, 1954, he played 342 games, and scored 182 goals. He was called The King of the penalty box, and has been Hajduk’s attacking force in the 70-es, together with Jerković and Šurjak. His leaving Hajduk to play hall football in USA was a shocker for Hajduk fans, but he couldn’t resist the call of money, and went on to become a huge star in the States. He has three Championship, and four Cup titles won with Hajduk.
