Eternal derby (Croatia)

Eternal derby
Croatian derby

Eternal Derby at Stadion Poljud in 2006
Other names	Vječni derbi Hrvatski derbi
Locale	Croatia (Zagreb and Split)
Teams	Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split
First meeting	26 May 1946
Latest meeting	Dinamo Zagreb 0–0 Hajduk Split (2016–17 Croatian League) 2 October 2016
Next meeting	17 December 2016 (2016–17 Croatian League)
Statistics
Meetings total	208 official matches (169 league)
Most wins	Dinamo Zagreb (88)
Top scorer	Slaven Zambata (12)
Largest victory	Dinamo Zagreb 0–6 Hajduk Split 1954–55 Yugoslav First League (3 April 1955)

Eternal Derby (Croatian: Vječni derbi) also known as the Croatian Derby (Croatian: Hrvatski derbi), is the name given to matches between the two biggest and most popular Croatian football clubs Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split.

The rivalry can be traced back to 1920s when Zagreb's Građanski and Hajduk often clashed in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia championships. After World War II, Građanski was disbanded by the authorities, and Dinamo Zagreb was formed to take its place, retaining its colours. The two clubs soon became part of the "Big Four" of Yugoslav football (the other two being Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade from Serbia) ever since the Yugoslav championship was established in 1946 (both clubs spent their entire existence playing top-flight football). This lasted until 1991, when Croatia declared independence so clubs started competing in the Prva HNL, which saw its first season being played in 1992. Since 1992 Dinamo and Hajduk won 23 out of 24 Croatian championship titles, as well as 19 out of 24 Croatian Cups, which makes them by far the most successful club in Croatia.

Due to various formats that were used in the Croatian championship (which currently employs a four-round robin format) and the cup competition format (which has teams playing two-legged fixtures even in the final game) and in addition to the games played in the Supercup, there can be anywhere from four to seven derbies per season. Since the first official match in 1946, there have been 208 official derbies played in total, with Dinamo winning 88 and Hajduk 66 games, while 54 matches ended in a draw.

In September 2009, British Daily Mail ranked the Eternal Croatian derby 20th among the 50 greatest football rivalries of all time.^[1]

Supporters

Dinamo Zagreb fans traditionally occupy the northern stands of Maksimir

Hajduk Split fans traditionally occupy the northern stands of Poljud, southern of Maksimir

An important aspect of the Croatian derby are the fans. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.

Bad Blue Boys

Bad Blue Boys (BBB) were originally founded on 17 March 1986 in Zagreb (Croatia), with members from different areas of Zagreb. The name of the group is said to have been inspired by the 1983 film starring Sean Penn, Bad Boys.^[2] They are considered one of the most dangerous supporters' groups in the world and are known for their vocal and physical intimidation at football matches. In 2011, Bad Blue Boys were mentioned in the list of 16 "hardcore hooligan firms, ultras groups we wouldn't want to mess with", compiled by the American sports website Bleacher Report.^[3] The group's mascot is a bulldog and the official anthem is "Dinamo ja volim" ("I love Dinamo"), by the Croatian pop rock band Pips, Chips & Videoclips. BBB also publish a fanzine about the club and the ultras subculture. The original fanzine was Ajmo plavi (Go Blues) which was replaced in 2006 by Dinamov sjever (Dinamo's North). At home matches in Dinamo Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium, the Bad Blue Boys usually settle behind the home goal on the stadium's north stand. Dinamo's fans are often unmannerly referred to as "purgeri" (a colloquial moniker for a citizen of Zagreb, originating from German bürger) by members of Torcida Split.

Torcida

Torcida Split or simply Torcida is the Hajduk Split supporters' group. Founded on 28 October 1950, it's known as one of the oldest supporters' groups in Europe. They are one of two major football fan groups in Croatia and one of the largest in Southeast Europe. The name of the groups comes for torcida, the Brazilian Portuguese word for "supporters". Club fans operate from Zrinsko Frankopanska-17, Split. The slogan of the fans, "Hajduk lives forever", testifies to the long and continuing tradition of Hajduk Split, which has survived without change from its establishment until today (while states and leagues have failed, "Hajduk lives forever"). The group as a whole traditionally maintains good relations with the Portuguese Sport Lisboa e Benfica football club supporters No Name Boys. Torcida members gather in the north stand at the stadium of Poljud. Hajduk's fans are often unmannerly referred to as "tovari" (English: donkeys, similar to magarac) by Bad Blue Boys members, as the said animal is the supporters' group official mascot.

Results

All statistics correct as of December 5, 2016.

Key

1946–1991

1992–2000

¹ Match abandoned after 86 minutes due to mass fight between both clubs' supporters and the police.^[4]

2000–2010

2010–present

Note: Home team's score always shown first

¹ Match abandoned after 85 minutes due to crowd trouble.

² Match was postponed and later abandoned following Hajduk Split's players reluctance to enter the stadium. On November 25, 2014, Croatian Football Federation awarded Dinamo Zagreb a 3–0 win, deeming Hajduk Split's players move as "unjustified".^[10]

Players who have played for both teams

• Ratko Kacian (as player: Hajduk Split 1939–1941 / Dinamo Zagreb 1945–1949)
• Branko Stinčić (as player: Hajduk Split 1946–1948 / Dinamo Zagreb 1950–1953)
• Božidar Senčar (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1946–1947, 1951–1952 / Hajduk Split 1952–1954)
• Svemir Delić (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1949–1952 / Hajduk Split 1952–1954)
• Hrvoje Jukić (as player: Hajduk Split 1956–1957 / Dinamo Zagreb 1966–1968)
• Vilson Džoni (as player: Hajduk Split 1968–1978 / Dinamo Zagreb 1978–1979)
• Damir Maričić (as player: Hajduk Split 1976–1977, 1978–1981 / Dinamo Zagreb 1983–1984)
• Stjepan Deverić (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1979–1984, 1987–1991 / Hajduk Split 1984–1987)
• Dražen Boban (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1985–1988, 1989–1990, 1994–1995 / Hajduk Split 1988–1989)
• Vlado Papić (as player: Hajduk Split 1986–1988 / Dinamo Zagreb 1988–1989)
• Saša Peršon (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1990–1992 / Hajduk Split 1992–1995)
• Željko Šoić (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1991–1993 / Hajduk Split 1993)
• Mario Novaković (as player: Hajduk Split 1988–1990, 1991–1993 / Dinamo Zagreb 1993–1995)
• Joško Jeličić (as player: Hajduk Split 1987–1993 / Dinamo Zagreb 1993–1995, 1997–2001)
• Srđan Mladinić (as player: Hajduk Split 1993–1994 / Dinamo Zagreb 1995–1998)
• Renato Jurčec (as player: Hajduk Split 1994–1996 / Dinamo Zagreb 1996–1998)
• Mladen Mladenović (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1989–1991 / Hajduk Split 1997–1998)
• Ardian Kozniku (as player: Hajduk Split 1990–1994 / Dinamo Zagreb 1998–2000)
• Goce Sedloski (as player: Hajduk Split 1996–1998 / Dinamo Zagreb 1998–2005)
• Mario Bazina (as player: Hajduk Split 1992–1995 / Dinamo Zagreb 1999–2001)
• Tomislav Rukavina (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 1995–1999 / Hajduk Split 2003–2005)
• Ivan Bošnjak (as player: Hajduk Split 2000–2002 / Dinamo Zagreb 2003–2006)
• Mate Dragičević (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2002–2004 / Hajduk Split 2004–2006)
• Niko Kranjčar (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2001–2004 / Hajduk Split 2005–2006)
• Danijel Hrman (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2004 / Hajduk Split 2005–2006)
• Mario Grgurović (as player: Hajduk Split 2003–2006 / Dinamo Zagreb 2006)
• Mladen Bartolović (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2003–2004 / Hajduk Split 2006–2009)
• Mirko Hrgović (as player: Hajduk Split 2006–2008 / Dinamo Zagreb 2008–2009)
• Dario Jertec (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2007–2008 / Hajduk Split 2008–2010)
• Marijan Buljat (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2004–2008 / Hajduk Split 2008–2012)
• Ivo Smoje (as player: Dinamo Zagreb 2001–2002 / Hajduk Split 2009–2010)
• Ante Rukavina (as player: Hajduk Split 2007–2008 / Dinamo Zagreb 2010–2014)
• Duje Čop (as player: Hajduk Split 2009–2011 / Dinamo Zagreb 2012–present)
• Ruben Lima (as player: Hajduk Split 2011–2013 / Dinamo Zagreb 2013–2014)
• Franko Andrijašević (as player: Hajduk Split 2010–2014 / Dinamo Zagreb 2014–2016)