2015–16 Croatian First Football League

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]

MAXtv Prva Liga
Season2015–16
ChampionsDinamo Zagreb
RelegatedNK Zagreb
Champions LeagueDinamo Zagreb
Europa LeagueRijeka
Hajduk Split
Lokomotiva
Matches played180
Goals scored410 (2.28 per match)
Top goalscorerIlija Nestorovski (25)
Biggest home winLokomotiva 6–1 Istra 1961
Rijeka 5–0 Osijek
Biggest away winLokomotiva 0–4 Dinamo
Highest scoringLokomotiva 6–1 Istra 1961
Longest winning runDinamo Zagreb (12)
Longest unbeaten runRijeka (22)
Longest winless runIstra 1961 (23)
Longest losing runIstra 1961, Osijek, NK Zagreb (4)
Highest attendance24,621
(Hajduk Split 0–3 Rijeka)
Lowest attendance138
(Zagreb 2–0 RNK Split)
Total attendance442,952[1][2]
Average attendance2,461[1][2]
All statistics correct as of 14 May 2016[2].

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.

Teams

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.

Locations of teams in 2015–16 Prva HNL

Stadia and locations
Stadium City Home club Licensed club(s) Capacity
MaksimirZagrebDinamo Zagreb38,079[6]
PoljudSplitHajduk Split34,448[7]
ŠRC ZaprešićZaprešićInter Zaprešić5,228[8]
Aldo DrosinaPulaIstra 19618,923[9]
Gradski vrtOsijekOsijek22,050[10]
RujevicaRijekaRijeka6,036[11]
Gradski stadionKoprivnicaSlaven Belupo3,134[12]
Park mladežiSplitRNK Split4,075[13]
KranjčevićevaZagrebNK ZagrebLokomotiva8,850[14]

Personnel and kits
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

Managerial changes
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

League table
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 to Champions League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
2 Rijeka 36 21 14 1 56 20 +36 77 Qualification to Europa League third qualifying round
3 Hajduk Split 36 17 10 9 46 28 +18 61 Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round
4 Lokomotiva 36 16 4 16 56 53 +3 52 Qualification to 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 to relegation play-off
10 NK Zagreb (R) 36 3 8 25 27 64 −37 17 Relegation to Croatian Second Football League
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) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. 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.

Results

Relegation play-offs

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
Šibenik1–1Istra 1961
Šare  87' Report Trojak  18'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Bruno Marić (Daruvar)

Second leg
Istra 19611–1Šibenik
Mišić  51' Šare  49'
Penalties
Zlomislić
Gržan
Mihaljević
Đurić
Victor
Bouhna 		5–4 Plazonić
Vukorepa
Grković
Alispahić
Barać
Collins
Attendance: 3,470
Referee: Fran Jović (Zagreb)

2–2 on aggregate. Istra 1961 won 5–4 on penalties.

Statistics

Top scorers
As of 14 May 2016[25][26]
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

See also

References
  1. Attendance statistics MAXtv Prva Liga. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  2. hrnogomet.hr
  3. "Glasnik – Službeno glasilo Hrvatskog nogometnog saveza" (PDF). HNS-CFF.hr (in Croatian). 4 March 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Stadion Maksimir". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  7. "Stadion Poljud". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  8. "Stadion ŠRC Zaprešić". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  9. "Stadion Aldo Drosina". soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  10. "Stadion Gradski vrt". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  11. "Nogometno igralište Rujevica". soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  12. "Gradski Stadion". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  13. "Stadion Park mladeži". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  14. "Stadion Kranjčevićeva". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Korać, Branimir (9 June 2015). "Željko Kopić napustio Zagreb, Goran Vincetić došao na njegovo mjesto". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. Rupnik, Borna (1 September 2015). "Smjena u Osijeku: Dražen Besek otišao, Zoran Zekić preuzeo prvu momčad". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  20. Sreten Ćuk novi je trener Lokomotive PrvaHNL.hr. (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  21. "Zoran Vulić povukao se s klupe Splita, zamijenio ga Goran Sablić". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). 30 September 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  22. Korać, Branimir (5 October 2015). "Igor Pamić dobio otkaz, Robert Rubčić privremeno preuzeo prvu momčad". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  23. "Istra 1961 dobila novog trenera, Andrej Panadić na klupi Puljana". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). 4 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  24. "Propozicije natjecanja za prvenstvo MAXtv prve lige za natjecateljsku godinu 2015/2016" (pdf) (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  25. PrvaHNL.hr
  26. Soccerway – Players
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