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Prva HNL
Prva HNL
Country Croatia Croatia
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1992
Number of teams 10
Relegation to Prva NL
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) Croatian Cup, Croatian Super Cup
UEFA cup(s) UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League
Current champions Dinamo Zagreb (23rd title) (2021–22)
Most successful club Dinamo Zagreb
(23 titles)
TV T-Hrvatski Telekom
(MAX Sport)
HRT
Website Official website
Football current event 2022–23

The Hrvatska nogometna liga (Croatian football league), also known as HNL or for sponsorship reasons the SuperSport HNL, is the top Croatian professional football league competition, established in 1992. Previously, it was called Prva Hrvatska nogometna liga (First Croatian Football League), but a league structure reorganization from 2022–23 led to name changes for the three top league levels.

Since 2003, the league has been named after its main sponsor, giving it the following names (Logos see below):

  • 2003–2007 – Prva HNL Ožujsko (Sponsored by Zagrebačka pivovara and their Ožujsko beer brand.)
  • 2007–2011 – T-Com Prva HNL (Sponsored by T-Hrvatski Telekom, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.)
  • 2011–present – MAXtv Prva Liga (Sponsored by T-Hrvatski Telekom, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.)

Overview[]

The league was formed in 1991, following the dissolution of the Yugoslav First League, and is operated by the Croatian Football Federation. Since its formation, the league went through many changes in its system and number of participating clubs. In the first three seasons two points were awarded for a win, from 1994–95 season this was changed to three points. Each season starts in late July or early August and ends in May, with a two-month hiatus between December and February. Currently, there are ten teams participating in the league.

The first season started in February 1992 and ended in June 1992. A total of twelve clubs contested the league and at the end of the season no teams were relegated as it was decided that the league would expand to 16 clubs for the following season. This was followed by another expansion to 18 teams in 1993–94 season, highest number of participating teams in Prva HNL history. The following season, number of teams was reduced again to 16. 1995–96 Prva HNL was the first season to feature separate A- and B- leagues, with a complicated two-stage format to the season. Twelve teams contested the A league, while the B league, formally the second level, consisted of ten teams. In March, the teams were split into three groups: Championship group (consisting of first five teams from A league and the first-placed team of the B league), A play-off group (remaining teams from A league and the second-placed team of the B league) and B play-off group (remaining teams from B league). The first two teams of the B play-off group were placed in the A league for the following season, which featured 16 teams in both A and B league. In the 1997–98 Prva HNL, the league consisted of 12 team and a new format was used. In March, teams were split into two groups of six, Championship and Relegation group, with 50% of their points taken to this phase of the competition. At the end of the season, the last team was directly relegated to the Druga HNL and the second-last team went in the relegation play-off, a two-legged tie against the second-placed team from the Druga HNL. This system was used for two seasons, followed by 1999–2000 Prva HNL where each club playing every other club three times for a total of 33 rounds. Next season featured a return of Championship and Relegation group system but without 50% points cutoff. This system was used until 2005–06 season, with a brief expansion to 16 teams in 2001–02 season. The 2006–07 season brought back a 33 rounds system previously used in 1999–2000 Prva HNL. In the 2009–10 season, the league was expanded to 16 teams. This lasted for three seasons, and in the 2012–13 Prva HNL season, the league was contested by 12 teams playing a total of 33 rounds. From the 2013–14 Prva HNL season, number of teams was reduced to ten.

The league's main sponsor is T-Hrvatski Telekom, owned by the German telecommunications firm Deutsche Telekom. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Croatian First Football League was ranked 17th in Europe. The champions of the 2015–16 Croatian First Football League will qualify for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, the runners-up will qualify for the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League, while the third-placed team will qualify for the first qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. The winners of the 2015–16 Croatian Football Cup will qualify for the third qualifying round of UEFA Europa League.

Members for 2022–23[]

Team City Stadium Capacity
Dinamo Zagreb Zagreb Maksimir 24,851
Gorica Velika Gorica ŠRC Velika Gorica 5,200
Hajduk Split Split Poljud 33,987
Istra 1961 Pula Stadion Aldo Drosina 9,800
Lokomotiva Zagreb Kranjčevićeva1 5,350
Osijek Osijek Gradski vrt 18,856
Rijeka Rijeka Rujevica 8,191
Slaven Belupo Koprivnica Stadion Ivan Kušek-Apaš 3,205
Šibenik Šibenik Šubićevac 3,412
Varaždin Varaždin Stadion Varteks 8,850
  • 1 Lokomotiva host their home matches at Stadion Kranjčevićeva. The stadium is originally the home ground of fifth-level side NK Zagreb.

External links[]

Croatian Football League 2023-24

Dinamo Zagreb · Gorica · Hajduk Split · Istra 1961 · Lokomotiva · Osijek · Rijeka · Rudeš · Slaven Belupo · Varaždin

Croatian Football League stadiums 2020–21

Aldo Drosina (Pula) · Anđelko Herjavec (Varaždin) · Gradski (Koprivnica) · Gradski vrt (Osijek) · Ivan Laljak-Ivić (Zaprešić) · Kranjčevićeva (Zagreb) · Maksimir (Zagreb) · Poljud (Split) · Radnik (Velika Gorica) · Rujevica (Rijeka)

Croatian Football League seasons

2019-20 · 2020-21 · 2021-22 · 2022-23 · 2023-24 ·

Croatian First Football League winners

92: Hajduk Split · 92-93: Croatia Zagreb · 93-94: Hajduk Split · 94-95: Hajduk Split · 95-96: Croatia Zagreb · 96-97: Croatia Zagreb · 97-98: Croatia Zagreb · 98-99: Croatia Zagreb · 99-00: Dinamo Zagreb · 00-01: Hajduk Split · 01-02: NK Zagreb · 02-03: Dinamo Zagreb · 03-04: Hajduk Split · 04-05: Hajduk Split · 05-06: Dinamo Zagreb · 06-07: Dinamo Zagreb · 07-08: Dinamo Zagreb · 08-09: Dinamo Zagreb · 09-10: Dinamo Zagreb · 10-11: Dinamo Zagreb · 11-12: Dinamo Zagreb · 12-13: Dinamo Zagreb · 13-14: Dinamo Zagreb · 14-15: Dinamo Zagreb · 15-16: Dinamo Zagreb · 16-17: Rijeka · 17-18: Dinamo Zagreb · 18-19: Dinamo Zagreb · 19-20: Dinamo Zagreb · 20-21: TBD

Football in Croatia
League competitions The CFF Cup competitions
HNL Croatia Croatian Football Cup
1. HNL (U-21) (U-19) (U-17) Super Cup
2. HNL List of clubs
3. HNL List of stadiums
1. ŽNL List of leagues
Croatia football federation
Flag of Croatia Croatia
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