| Season: | 2017–18 |
| Manager: | Mario Cvitanović (from 13 July, until 10 March) Nikola Jurčević (from 12 March, until 14 May) Nenad Bjelica (from 15 May) |
| Chairman: | Mirko Barišić |
| League Result: | 1st |
| Cup1 Result: | Winners |
| Cup2 Result: | Play-off round (knocked out by Skënderbeu Korçë) |
| League Topscorer: | El Arabi Hillel Soudani (17) |
| Season Topscorer: | El Arabi Hillel Soudani (18) |
| Highest Attendance: | 13,500 (vs. Hajduk Split) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 514 (vs. Rudeš) |
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The 2017–18 season is Dinamo Zagreb's 27th season in the Croatian First Division and 105th year in existence as a football club.
This is the first season since 2006 that Dinamo Zagreb failed to qualify for the group stages of a European competition.[1]
Mario Cvitanović was the manager of the club and had moved to club to 1st position, going unbeaten for 21 league games, but after two abysmal performances against rivals HNK Rijeka and feeder-club NK Lokomotiva, both of which were defeats by a score of 4–1, he ultimately resigned as manager of the club on 10 March 2018.[2]
Nikola Jurčević then took over as head coach, returning to Dinamo, having managed them in the 2003–04 season.[3] Dinamo confirmed the title following Rijeka and Hajduk's draws with Cibalia and Osijek, respectively. However, on 14 May, another poor form resulted in Nikola Jurčević's dismissal as manager, being head coach for just 65 days.[4]
After much speculation, Nenad Bjelica took over as manager, signing a reported two-year contract.[5] He won the Croatian Football Cup with the club, beating Hajduk Split in the final. This season was a major success for Dinamo, as the club won the domestic double.
On 6 June 2018, the former executive director and advisor of the club, Zdravko Mamić, was sentenced to a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for corruption.[6] On the same day, the club released a statement on their official website, in which they claimed that they were "shocked" with the verdict, also claiming that they "firmly believe" that Zdravko Mamić and the others who were sentenced are innocent.[7]
15 July: Dinamo Zagreb won their first game of the season against Istra 1961 by a result of 2–0, with goals coming from defensive midfielder Nikola Moro and centre-back Filip Benković.
21 July: Dinamo Zagreb won against HNK Cibalia by a result 4–0, with a brace from centre-forward Armin Hodžić and a goal each from winger Júnior Fernándes and Ante Ćorić.
30 July: Dinamo Zagreb were held to a draw by NK Osijek in their first away game of the season, with Nikola Moro clinching a goal in a 1–1 draw.
6 August: Dinamo Zagreb won at home against old rivals Hajduk Split, by a score of 3–1. Goals from Ante Ćorić, Dani Olmo and El Arabi Hillel Soudani were enough to secure a win in the first of four meetings between the two sides.
11 August: Dinamo Zagreb beat league champions HNK Rijeka at the Stadion Rujevica by a result of 2–0 with a brace from Júnior Fernándes.
20 August: Dinamo Zagreb secure a 2–0 win over Slaven Belupo with goals from attacking midfielder Ivan Fiolić and centre-back Amir Rrahmani.
27 August: A hat-trick from El Arabi Hillel Soudani is enough to secure Dinamo Zagreb a comfortable 3–0 win over feeder-club NK Lokomotiva.
9 September: Dinamo Zagreb earn a hard-fought home win over newly-promoted NK Rudeš, with goals from Ángelo Henríquez, El Arabi Hillel Soudani and Filip Benković securing a win.
16 September: Goals from Ángelo Henríquez, El Arabi Hillel Soudani and Tongo Doumbia secure a 3–1 away win for Dinamo Zagreb against NK Inter Zaprešić.
24 September: Dinamo are held to a stalemate (0–0 draw) away to Istra 1961.
30 September: Dinamo secure a 5–2 away win against HNK Cibalia, with a brace from Dani Olmo and El Arabi Hillel Soudani and a goal from Armin Hodžić.
14 October: A last-minute equalizer from Ángelo Henríquez rescued Dinamo from their first defeat of the season against NK Osijek in a 1–1 draw.
21 October: Dinamo drew 2–2 with rivals Hajduk Split in an entertaining and dramatic match, as goals from Filip Benković in the 89th minute and Ángelo Henríquez in the 90th minute gave Dinamo a 2–1 lead before Ante Erceg struck a late equalizer in the 94th minute.
28 October: Dinamo moved 9 points clear of league champions HNK Rijeka and 7 points clear of second-placed NK Osijek at the top of the table as a goal from Nikola Moro and a brace from El Arabi Hillel Soudani sealed a 3–1 win for Dinamo against HNK Rijeka.
5 November: Dinamo won 1–0 against NK Slaven Belupo with a late goal from Amer Gojak.
26 November: Dinamo drew 1–1 with newly promoted side NK Rudeš.
3 December: Dinamo won 1–0 against Inter Zaprešić with a goal from Spanish footballer Dani Olmo.
9 December: Dinamo secured a 5–1 home win against NK Istra 1961 with goals from Nikola Moro, El Arabi Hillel Soudani, Ante Ćorić and Armin Hodžić (2).
16 December: Dinamo won 1–0 against HNK Cibalia with a goal from Ángelo Henríquez.
10 February: Dinamo won 4–2 in entertaining display against NK Osijek, with El Arabi Hillel Soudani, Arijan Ademi (2) and Dani Olmo getting on the scoresheet.
18 February: Dinamo lost 1–0 against Hajduk Split at home.
4 March: Dinamo beat Slaven Belupo by a score of 1–0, with Mario Gavranović scoring the goal.
7 March: Dinamo suffered a 4–1 defeat by HNK Rijeka, with Mario Gavranović scoring the only goal for Dinamo.
10 March: Dinamo suffered a humiliating defeat by NK Lokomotiva, their very own feeder-club, with Dani Olmo scoring the only goal for the club. Following the defeat, Mario Cvitanović resigned as manager of the club. Nikola Jurčević then took over as head coach.
17 March: Dinamo won 2–0 against NK Rudeš, with Mario Gavranović and Dani Olmo scoring.
31 March: Dinamo drew 0–0 with NK Inter Zaprešić.
8 April: Dinamo secured a 4–0 win over Istra 1961 with El Arabi Hillel Soudani, Dani Olmo, Ivan Fiolić and Mario Gavranović scoring one goal each.
14 April: Dinamo beat HNK Cibalia by a score of 2–0, with El Arabi Hillel Soudani scoring a brace.
18 April: Dinamo suffered a setback in their title chase following a surprise 1–0 home loss to NK Osijek.
22 April: Dinamo secured a 2–1 away win over rivals Hajduk Split with Mario Gavranović scoring twice.
28 April: Dinamo suffered another setback in their title chase after a 1–0 loss to HNK Rijeka at home. The Dinamo line-up and bench notably included many reserve and academy players,[8] due to the unavailability of many first-team players because of injuries or suspensions.[9]
4 May: Dinamo drew 2–2 with Slaven Belupo, with Mario Budimir and Filip Benković scoring a goal each for Dinamo.
8 May: Dinamo suffered their second successive defeat against feeder-club NK Lokomotiva, losing 3–1 at the Stadion Kranjčevićeva, with El Arabi Hillel Soudani scoring the only goal.
14 May: Dinamo were crowned league champions, despite losing 1–0 to NK Rudeš, but Rijeka and Hajduk's draws made it mathematically impossible for Dinamo to lose first place at the top of the league table.
19 May: Dinamo finished the season with a 3–1 win over Inter Zaprešić with El Arabi Hillel Soudani and Mario Gavranović (2) scoring the goals.
20 September: Dinamo won 6–0 away to NK Borac Imbriovec in the 1st round of the Croatian Football Cup with Ivan Fiolić and Alen Jurilj scoring a brace and Dani Olmo and Armin Hodžić scoring once.
31 October: Dinamo played second-tier side NK Novigrad in the 2nd round. After the regular game ended 0–0, the match was decided on penalties. Dinamo won 3–2.
29 November: Dinamo played NK Istra 1961 and won 4–2. Ángelo Henríquez marked off a fine performance with a hat-trick.
4 April : Dinamo beat HNK Rijeka in the semi-final by a score of 3–0, with Izet Hajrović, El Arabi Hillel Soudani and Ante Ćorić scoring the goals. (The match was originally scheduled for 28 February, but due to unfavourable weather conditions, it was moved to 4 April).
23 May: Dinamo won the 2018 Croatian Football Cup Final after beating bitter rivals Hajduk Split, with Mario Gavranović scoring the only goal, although the game was controversially overshadowed by the allegedly poor refereeing decisions made by referee Mario Zebec.[10] [11]
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Note: Games played and goals scored include all competitions.
| No. | Name | Nat | Position | Since | Date of Birth (Age) | Signed from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||
| 1 | Danijel Zagorac | GK | 2016 | 7 February 1987 (age 30) | Split | ||
| 33 | Marko Mikulić | GK | 2009 | 30 January 1994 (age 23) | Academy | ||
| 40 | Dominik Livaković | GK | 2016 | 9 January 1995 (age 22) | Zagreb | ||
| Centerbacks | |||||||
| 13 | Amir Rrahmani | CB | 2016 | 24 February 1994 (age 23) | Split | ||
| 26 | Filip Benković | CB | 2015 | 13 July 1997 (age 20) | Academy | ||
| 31 | Marko Lešković | CB | 2016 | 27 April 1991 (age 26) | Rijeka | ||
| 55 | Dino Perić | CB | 2017 | 12 July 1994 (age 23) | Lokomotiva | ||
| Fullbacks | |||||||
| 3 | Borna Sosa | LB | 2015 | 21 January 1998 (age 19) | Academy | ||
| 6 | Jan Lecjaks | LB | 2017 | 9 August 1990 (age 27) | Young Boys | ||
| 30 | Petar Stojanović | RB | 2016 | 7 October 1995 (age 21) | Maribor | ||
| 77 | Alexandru Mățel | RB | 2015 | 17 October 1989 (age 27) | Astra Giurgiu | ||
| Defensive Midfielders | |||||||
| 5 | Arijan Ademi (vice-captain) | DM | 2010 | 29 May 1991 (age 26) | Šibenik | ||
| 27 | Nikola Moro | DM | 2016 | 12 March 1998 (age 19) | Dinamo Zagreb B | ||
| Central Midfielders | |||||||
| 4 | Tongo Doumbia | CM | 2017 | 6 August 1989 (age 28) | Toulouse | ||
| 28 | Zvonko Pamić | CM | 2013 | 4 February 1991 (age 26) | Karlovac | ||
| Attacking Midfielders | |||||||
| 10 | Ante Ćorić | AM | 2014 | 14 April 1997 (age 20) | Red Bull Salzburg | ||
| 14 | Amer Gojak | AM | 2015 | 13 February 1997 (age 20) | Olimpic | ||
| 29 | Ivan Fiolić | AM | 2017 | 29 April 1996 (age 21) | Lokomotiva | ||
| Forwards | |||||||
| 7 | Dani Olmo | AM | 2015 | 7 May 1998 (age 19) | Dinamo Zagreb B | ||
| 8 | Izet Hajrović | RW | 2018 | 4 August 1991 (age 26) | Free Agent | ||
| 2 | El Arabi Hillel Soudani | CF | 2013 | 25 November 1987 (age 29) | Vitória de Guimarães | ||
| 11 | Mario Gavranović | CF | 2018 | November 24, 1989 (age 28) | HNK Rijeka | ||
| 15 | Armin Hodžić | SS | 2014 | 17 November 1994 (age 22) | Liverpool | ||
| Position | Name | Age | Type | Notes | Fee | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Amir Rrahmani | 23 | Loan Return (from Lokomotiva) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| DF | Dino Perić | 22 | Transfer (from Lokomotiva) | Permanent transfer. | Undisclosed | ||
| DF | Jan Lecjaks | 26 | Transfer (from Young Boys) | Permanent transfer. | €500,000 | ||
| DF | Mario Musa | 26 | Loan Return (from Hammarby) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| MF | Tongo Doumbia | 27 | Transfer (from Toulouse) | Permanent transfer. | €800,000 | ||
| MF | Marko Rog | 21 | Loan Return (from Napoli) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| MF | Ali Karimi | 23 | Loan Return (from Lokomotiva) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| FW | Endri Çekiçi | 20 | Loan Return (from Lokomotiva) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| FW | Júnior Fernándes | 29 | Loan Return (from Alanyaspor) | Loan return. | Free | ||
| Total | €1,300,000 | ||||||
| Position | Name | Age | Type | Notes | Fee | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Gordon Schildenfeld | 32 | Transfer (to Anorthosis) | Permanent transfer on a free. | Undisclosed | ||
| DF | Dino Perić | 22 | Loan Return (to Lokomotiva) | Loan return after 1-year loan spell. | Free | ||
| DF | Vinko Soldo | 19 | Loan (to Lokomotiva) | 1-year loan spell. | Free | ||
| DF | Josip Pivarić | 28 | Transfer (to Dynamo Kyiv) | Permanent transfer. | €2,000,000 | ||
| DF | Mario Musa | 27 | Loan (to Lokomotiva) | 1-year loan spell. | Free | ||
| MF | Marko Rog | 21 | Transfer (to Napoli) | Permanent transfer. | €13,000,000 | ||
| MF | Domagoj Pavičić | 23 | Loan (to Rijeka) | 6-month loan spell. (until January) | Free | ||
| MF | Ali Karimi | 23 | Transfer (to Sepahan) | Permanent transfer on a free. | Free | ||
| MF | Gonçalo | 30 | Transfer (to Desportivo Aves) | Permanent transfer. | Free | ||
| MF | Paulo Machado | 31 | Transfer (to Desportivo Aves) | Permanent transfer, after contract expiration. | Free | ||
| FW | Sammir | 30 | Transfer (to Wuhan Zall) | Permanent transfer. | Undisclosed | ||
| FW | Endri Çekiçi | 20 | Loan (to Dinamo Zagreb Academy) | 1-year loan spell. | Free | ||
| FW | Marcos Guilherme | 21 | Loan Return (to Atlético Paranaense) | Loan return after 6-month loan spell. | Free | ||
| FW | Mario Šitum | 25 | Loan (to Lech Poznań) | 1-year loan spell. | Free | ||
| FW | Júnior Fernándes | 29 | Transfer (to Alanyaspor) | Permanent transfer. | €2,000,000 | ||
| Total | €17,000,000 | ||||||
See main article: 2017–18 Croatian First Football League.
| width=125 | Date | width=260 | Venue | width=170 | Opponents | width= 75 | Score | width=320 | Dinamo Zagreb scorer(s) | width=100 | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 Croatian Football Cup – First round | |||||||||||
| 20 September 2017 | Igralište NK Borac, Imbriovec | Borac Imbriovec | align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 6–0 | Hodžić, Fiolić (2), Olmo, Jurilj (2) | SofaScore | |||||
| 2017–18 Croatian Football Cup – Second round | |||||||||||
| 31 October 2017 | Igralište Lako, Novigrad | Novigrad | align=center bgcolor=#FFFFCC | 0–0 | SofaScore | ||||||
| 2017–18 Croatian Football Cup – Quarter-finals | |||||||||||
| 29 November 2017 | Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb | Istra 1961 | align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 4–2 | Henríquez (3), Ademi | SofaScore | |||||
| 2017–18 Croatian Football Cup – Semi-finals | |||||||||||
| 4 April 2018 | Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb | Rijeka | align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 3–0 | Hajrović, Soudani, Ćorić | SofaScore | |||||
| 2017–18 Croatian Football Cup – Final | |||||||||||
| 23 May 2018 | Stadion HNK Cibalia, Vinkovci | Hajduk Split | align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 1–0 | Gavranović | SofaScore | |||||
| width=125 | Date | width=260 | Venue | width=170 | Opponents | width= 75 | Score | width=320 | Dinamo Zagreb scorer(s) | width=100 | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 UEFA Europa League – Third qualifying round | |||||||||||
| 27 July 2017 | Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb | Odd | align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2–1 | Hodžić, Fernándes | UEFA.com | |||||
| 3 August 2017 | Skagerak Arena, Skien | Odd | align=center bgcolor=#FFFFCC | 0–0 | UEFA.com | ||||||
| 2017–18 UEFA Europa League – Play-off round | |||||||||||
| 17 August 2017 | Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb | Skënderbeu Korçë | align=center bgcolor=#FFFFCC | 1–1 | Henríquez | UEFA.com | |||||
| 24 August 2017 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan | Skënderbeu Korçë | align=center bgcolor=#FFFFCC | 0–0 (a) | UEFA.com | ||||||
List contains only players who are currently at the club.
| Name | First League | Football Cup | Europa League | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Danijel Zagorac | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2 | FW | El Arabi Hillel Soudani | 19 | 2 | 3 | 24 | ||
| 3 | DF | Borna Sosa | 17 | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 4 | MF | Tongo Doumbia | 21 | 1 | 2 | 24 | ||
| 5 | MF | Arijan Ademi (Captain) | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 | ||
| 6 | DF | Jan Lecjaks | 12 | 1 | 4 | 17 | ||
| 7 | MF | Dani Olmo | 23 | 2 | 2 | 27 | ||
| 8 | MF | Izet Hajrović | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 10 | MF | Ante Ćorić | 12 | 2 | 3 | 17 | ||
| 11 | FW | Mario Gavranović | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 13 | DF | Amir Rrahmani | 16 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||
| 14 | MF | Amer Gojak | 15 | 1 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 15 | FW | Armin Hodžić | 21 | 1 | 4 | 26 | ||
| 19 | MF | Ivan Fiolić | 13 | 1 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 26 | DF | Filip Benković | 19 | 2 | 2 | 23 | ||
| 27 | MF | Nikola Moro | 24 | 1 | 4 | 29 | ||
| 30 | DF | Petar Stojanović | 22 | 2 | 4 | 28 | ||
| 31 | DF | Marko Lešković | 12 | 2 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 40 | GK | Dominik Livaković | 24 | 0 | 4 | 28 | ||
| 55 | DF | Dino Perić | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 77 | DF | Alexandru Mățel | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.
| Player | First League | Football Cup | Europa League | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF | 2 | El Arabi Hillel Soudani | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
| 2 | CF | 9 | Ángelo Henríquez | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| 3 | LW | 7 | Dani Olmo | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 | |
| 4 | SS | 15 | Armin Hodžić | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| 5 | AM | 29 | Ivan Fiolić | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 6 | CF | 78 | Júnior Fernándes | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 7 | DM | 5 | Arijan Ademi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 8 | AM | 10 | Ante Ćorić | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | CF | 11 | Mario Gavranović | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 10 | CB | 26 | Filip Benković | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 11 | DM | 27 | Nikola Moro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 12 | CF | 16 | Alen Jurilj | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | CM | 4 | Tongo Doumbia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 | LB | 6 | Jan Lecjaks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 15 | CB | 13 | Amir Rrahmani | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 16 | AM | 14 | Amer Gojak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| width=10 | width=10 | width=10 | width=150 | Player | width=50 | First League | width=50 | Football Cup | width=50 | Europa League | width=50 | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 40 | Dominik Livaković | 12 | 0 | 2 | 14 | ||||||||
| 2 | GK | 1 | Danijel Zagorac | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | GK | 33 | Marko Mikulić | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
| Total | 13 | 1 | 4 | 18 | |||||||||||