Croatian Football League Explained

SuperSport HNL
Pixels:300
Confed:UEFA
Organiser:HNS
Teams:10
Relegation:Prva NL
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Croatian Cup
Croatian Super Cup
Confed Cup:UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
Champions:Dinamo Zagreb (25th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Successful Club:Dinamo Zagreb
(25 titles)
Most Appearances:Jakov Surać (453)
Top Goalscorer:Davor Vugrinec (146)
Tv:T-Hrvatski Telekom
(MAX Sport)
HRT
Current:2024–25 Croatian Football League

The Hrvatska nogometna liga (in Croatian pronounced as /xř̩ʋaːtskaː nôɡomeːtnaː lǐːɡa/; English: Croatian Football League), abbreviated as HNL and also known for sponsorship reasons as the SuperSport HNL,[1] is the top Croatian professional football league competition, established in 1992.[2] It was previously 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.[3]

Overview

The league was formed in 1991, following the independence of Croatia and the creation of a separate Croatian league from the Yugoslav First League. This newly formed league was 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, the Croatian First 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.

Clubs

The following ten clubs compete in the 2023–24 Croatian Football League season, the 33rd season since the league's establishment.

Five of the ten clubs currently competing in the Croatian top level also had spells in the Yugoslav First League played from 1945 to 1991 before Croatian clubs abandoned the competition (Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka). Four other Croatian clubs which had appeared in the top Yugoslav league (Cibalia, RNK Split, NK Zagreb and Trešnjevka) are currently playing in Croatian lower levels.

As of 2023, only four of the 12 founding members of the Croatian league have never been relegated: Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Osijek and Rijeka.

Club
Position
in 2022–23
First season in
top division
Number of seasons
in top division
Number of seasons
in 1. HNL
First season of
current spell in
top division
Best top level
result
Titles total
(most recent)
Dinamo Zagreb0011st1946–4778331946–471st 28 (2022–23)nb1
0099th2018–19662018–195th
Hajduk Split0022nd1923953319231st15 (2004–05)nb2
0055th2004–0518182009–105th
0077th1946–4724152009–102nd
Osijek0033rd1953–5449331981–822nd
Rijeka0044th1946–4762331974–751st1 (2016–17)
RudešZZZ1st in 2. HNL2017-18332023–248th
0088th1997–9827271997–982nd
0066th2019–20442022–236th

† – One of the 12 founding members of the league in the inaugural 1992 season.
‡ – Appeared in all 33 seasons up to and including the current 2023–24 season.
nb1 – Dinamo Zagreb tally includes four Yugoslav and 24 Croatian league titles.
nb2 – Hajduk Split tally includes nine Yugoslav and six Croatian league titles.

Prva HNL teams in European competitions

The breakup of Yugoslavia saw top flight league split into several smaller ones. This meant separation of Croatian football association from the Football Association of Yugoslavia and launch of their own football league. Prva HNL saw its first edition in 1992. Hajduk Split and HAŠK Građanski took part in European competitions on account of qualification secured at the end of the 1990–91 Yugoslav football season: HAŠK Građanski were runners-up in the 1990–91 Yugoslav First League and qualified for 1991–92 UEFA Cup while Hajduk Split won the 1990–91 Yugoslav Cup and entered 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup. Due to war both clubs had to host their European matches abroad, in Austria.

Affected by the ongoing war in Croatia, the first Prva HNL season was held over the course of a single calendar year, from February to June 1992. Neither Hajduk Split (1992 Croatian champions) nor Inker Zaprešić (1992 Croatian Cup winners) could enter European competitions the following 1992–93 season as the Croatian Football Federation, the league's governing body, wasn't yet recognized by UEFA and officially became its affiliate as late as June 1993.

Eight times in history have HNL teams entered the group stages of UEFA Champions League. In the 1994–95 season, Hajduk Split eliminated Legia Warsaw in the qualifying round and entered the group stage. They advanced to quarterfinals as group runners-up behind Benfica but were eliminated by eventual winners Ajax. In the 1998–99 season, Croatia Zagreb qualified over Celtic and finished in second place behind Olympiacos, but failed to advance as only first place teams and two best runners-up went through. The following season, Croatia also entered the group stage after eliminating MTK Budapest in the third qualifying round. Drawn in the group with Manchester United, Olympique Marseille and Sturm Graz, they finished last, winning only against Sturm and drawing away at Manchester and Marseille. In the 2011–12 season, Dinamo Zagreb advanced through three qualifying rounds and were drawn in the group with Real Madrid, Lyon and Ajax. The following season, Dinamo Zagreb also advanced to the group stages and was drawn in the group with Dynamo Kyiv, Paris Saint-Germain and Porto. They lost five group matches, drawing with Dynamo Kyiv in the last round. In the 2015-16 season, Dinamo Zagreb entered the group stage and recorded notable win 2–1 over Arsenal. Next season, 2016-17, another qualification followed. Latest entry to the group stage was in 2019-20 where Dinamo Zagreb finished fourth behind Manchester City, Atalanta and Shakhtar with 2 draws vs Shakhtar and a 4–0 win over Atalanta, with controversial refereeing decisions in both draws — a win in either would have sent them through to the Round of 16 as runners-up.

Former names

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

UEFA rankings

Europe's top football body, the UEFA, ranks national leagues every year according to coefficients calculated based on each nation's clubs results in international competitions. The ranking takes into account results over the previous five seasons to determine the nation's European quota for the following season, i.e. how many berths in European competitions is assigned to clubs from each of UEFA's 55 member associations.

UEFA also maintains a separate club ranking, based on each club's international results, used to determine seeds in draws for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. This is calculated through a combination of each club's results as well as the ranking of its national league. As of 2022 Dinamo Zagreb is the top rated Croatian club, ranked 34th in Europe.

Country

As of 5 November 2023

RankCompetitionPoints
17 Danish Superliga27.825
18 Russian Premier League26.215
19 Croatian Football League25.400
20 Super League Greece25.225
21 Israeli Premier League25.000
Source: Bert Kassies' website (country rankings); last updated 29 May 2022

Club

As of 21 June 2023

width= 702023
rank
width= 702021
rank
width=100Teamwidth= 702023
club pts
width= 702023
nation pts
3933Dinamo Zagreb50.000 5.105
124113Rijeka12.000
156137Hajduk Split9.000
160Osijek8.500
265225Lokomotiva2.000
Source: Bert Kassies' website (team rankings); last updated 29 May 2022

Media coverage

In past, only one match in each round (derby match) was broadcast on television. In the 2008–09 season there were some changes. Croatian national TV Network (HRT) started the new TV show Volim Nogomet (I Love Football), made in association with league's main sponsor T-Com. In the show, five matches were broadcast combined on Sunday afternoons, while the derby match was on program at 20:15 CET, so viewers could watch all the matches. There were also experts in the studio, commenting on matches and other things non-related to football. Main initiator of the project was famous Croatian football player and then president of T-Com 1. HNL organisation Igor Štimac.[8] Most of the clubs weren't satisfied with the scheduling of fixtures and demanded a move from Sunday afternoon to Saturday evening. This was done at the start of the following season and the only match played on Sunday was the derby match.[9] [10] However, during the mid-season project was cancelled and the old system with one broadcast per round was returned.[11]

In November 2010, broadcasting rights were sold to marketing agency Digitel Komunikacije for a period of five years, beginning with 2011–12 season. After the negotiations fell through with public broadcasting television HRT, which covered Prva HNL for the past twenty seasons, Digitel signed a deal with Hrvatski Telekom. The matches were broadcast on Arenasport, a cable television network with five channels, available to subscribers of MAXtv, IPTV solution from T-HT subsidiary T-Com. All matches were broadcast live every week on Arenasport. All highlights are displayed on Sunday evening on RTL 2 and HRT 2.[12] [13]

From 2022–23 season the matches are broadcasting on the Hrvatski Telekom channels MAX Sport,[14] while the one match per round will be broadcast on the Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), again after 11 years (from September 2022, mainly on Sunday at 15:00 CET).[15] For the other Ex-Yugoslav republics the league will still be broadcast on Arena Sport.

Attendance

Season
Total attendance
Number of
matches
Average attendance
per match
Ref
1992376,4351322,896 [16]
1992–931,006,3502404,264
1993–94851,6003062,820
1994–95879,4002403,664
1995–96940,2703642,612
1996–97687,9502402,903
1997–98684,4001923,602
1998–99745,7281923,884 [17]
1999–00515,7901982,605
2000–01546,6241922,847
2001–02573,8402402,391
2002–03635,5201923,310
2003–04570,8161922,973
2004–05541,4401922,820
2005–06633,7921923,301
2006–07622,9081983,146
2007–08616,5721983,114
2008–09617,0501983,116 [18]
2009–10500,0022402,083
2010–11458,7462401,911 [19]
2011–12482,0022402,087
2012–13497,1881982,511
2013–14573,0701803,202
2014–15489,1591802,733
2015–16442,9521802,461
2016–17492,0411802,734
2017–18530,6381802,948
2018–19478,7601802,660
2019–20510,6741802,837
2020–2126,509180147
2021–22502,0121802,789[20]
2022–23735,2191804,085

Champions

Key
League champions also won the Croatian Football Cup, they completed the domestic Double
+Player received award in front of Mijo Caktaš and Mirko Marić based on least playing minutes
SeasonChampions Runners-upThird placeTop league scorer
width=230Player width=50Nat.Goals
1992NK ZagrebOsijek12
1992–93Hajduk SplitNK Zagreb23
1993–94NK ZagrebCroatia Zagreb29
1994–95Hajduk SplitCroatia ZagrebOsijek23
1995–96Croatia ZagrebHajduk SplitVarteks19
1996–97Croatia ZagrebHajduk SplitHrvatski Dragovoljac20
1997–98Croatia ZagrebHajduk SplitOsijek18
1998–99RijekaHajduk Split21
1999–2000Hajduk SplitOsijek21
2000–01Dinamo ZagrebOsijek20
2001–02Dinamo Zagreb21
2002–03Varteks16
2003–04Dinamo ZagrebRijeka18
2004–05Inter ZaprešićNK Zagreb17
2005–06Varteks22
2006–07Dinamo ZagrebHajduk SplitNK Zagreb34
2007–08Dinamo ZagrebSlaven BelupoOsijek21
2008–09Dinamo ZagrebHajduk SplitRijeka16
2009–10Hajduk SplitCibalia18
2010–11Dinamo ZagrebHajduk SplitRNK Split19
2011–12Dinamo ZagrebHajduk SplitSlaven Belupo15
2012–13LokomotivaRijeka19
2013–14RijekaHajduk Split22
2014–15Dinamo ZagrebRijekaHajduk Split21
2015–16Dinamo ZagrebRijekaHajduk Split Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of25
2016–17RijekaDinamo ZagrebHajduk Split Hungary18
2017–18Dinamo ZagrebRijekaHajduk Split17
2018–19RijekaOsijek19
2019–20LokomotivaRijeka + 20
2020–21Dinamo ZagrebOsijekRijeka Argentina22
2021–22Hajduk SplitOsijek28
2022–23Hajduk SplitOsijek19
2023–24Dinamo ZagrebRijekaHajduk Split Argentina19
Notes on name changes:

Performance by club

ClubChampionsRunners-upThird placeLast best place
scope=rowDinamo Zagreb2542Champions 2022–23
scope=rowHajduk Split6147Champions 2004–05
scope=rowRijeka185Champions 2016–17
scope=rowNK Zagreb123Champions 2001–02
scope=rowLokomotiva2Runner-up 2019–20
scope=rowOsijek19Runner-up 2020–21
scope=rowSlaven Belupo11Runner-up 2007–08
scope=rowInter Zaprešić1Runner-up 2004–05
scope=rowVarteks3Third place 2005–06
scope=rowCibalia1Third place 2009–10
scope=rowHrvatski Dragovoljac1Third place 1996–97
scope=rowRNK Split1Third place 2010–11

All-time HNL table

All-time HNL table (end of 2022–23 season)[21] [22]

(by)
Win%
1 GNK Dinamo Zagreb32 2375 1047 727 194 126 2550 890 24 4 2 30 1992 19921 69,43%
2 HNK Hajduk Split32 1968 1047 577 240 230 2053 1096 6 14 6 26 1992 19921 55,10%
3 HNK Rijeka32 1700 1051 476 272 303 1723 1328 1 7 5 13 1992 19921 45,29%
4 NK Osijek32 1535 1047 421 272 354 1602 1482 0 1 9 10 1992 19922 40,21%
5 NK Slaven Belupo26 1100869 281 253 335 1120 1270 0 1 1 2 1997–98 1997–982 32,33%
6 NK Zagreb24 1043 759 286 185 288 1163 1160 1 2 3 6 1992 2015–161 37,68%
7 NK Varaždin (1931–2015)21 870 654 243 142 269 1047 1076 0 0 3 3 1992 2011–123 37,15%
8 HNK Cibalia22 818 699 210 188 301 848 1101 0 0 1 1 1992 2017–183 30,04%
9 HNK Šibenik21 766 670 199 169 302 796 10350 0 0 0 1992 2020–214 29,70%
10 NK Inter Zaprešić20 739 647 193 160 294 783 1045 0 1 0 1 1992 2019–202 29,82%
11 NK Lokomotiva14 657 483 180 117 186 643 653 0 2 0 2 2009–10 2009–102 37,26%
12 NK Zadar20 649 597 169 142 286 741 1159 0 0 0 0 1992 2014–156 28,30%
13 NK Istra 196117 586 580 141 172 276 603 875 0 0 0 0 2004–05 2009–105 24,31%
14 NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac10 360 319 90 80 149 355 494 0 0 1 1 1995–96 2021–223 28,21%
15 RNK Split7 312 237 81 69 87 253 262 0 0 1 1 2010–11 2016–173 34,17%
16 HNK Gorica5 248 180 65 49 66 204 191 0 0 0 0 2018–19 2018–195 36,11%
17 NK Istra7 243 215 65 48 102 215 312 0 0 0 0 1992 1999–20006 30,02%
18 NK Kamen Ingrad6 217 191 59 40 92 314 386 0 0 0 0 2001–02 2006–074 30,89%
19 HNK Segesta5 207 160 55 42 63 197 206 0 0 0 0 1992–93 1996–978 34,37%
20 NK Marsonia6 202 190 53 43 94 269 416 0 0 0 0 1994–95 2003–045 27,89%
21 NK Međimurje5 150 160 40 30 90 227 390 0 0 0 0 2004–05 2009–109 25,00%
22 HNK Suhopolje4 128 108 34 26 48 119 149 0 0 0 0 1995–96 1998–999 31,48%
23 NK Karlovac3 112 90 29 26 35 82 103 0 0 0 0 2009–10 2011–126 32,22%
24 NK Varaždin (2012)3 110 108 27 29 52 100 131 0 0 0 0 2019–20 2020–218 25,00%
25 NK Belišće3 93 94 24 21 49 115 170 0 0 0 0 1992–93 1994–9512 25,53%
26 HNK Dubrovnik 19193 77 86 18 23 45 54 133 0 0 0 0 1992 1993–9411 20,93%
27 NK Pomorac Kostrena2 72 62 19 15 28 78 93 0 0 0 0 2001–02 2002–037 30,64%
28 NK Čakovec2 71 62 19 14 29 78 109 0 0 0 0 2000–01 2001–027 30,64%
29 NK Pazinka2 65 64 15 20 29 71 95 0 0 0 0 1992–93 1993–9411 23,43%
30 NK Primorac 19292 60 64 18 17 29 69 103 0 0 0 0 1993–94 1994–9514 28,12%
31 NK Rudeš2 54 72 13 15 44 67 142 0 0 0 0 2017–18 2018–198 18,00%
32 NK Croatia Sesvete2 39 63 9 13 41 61 147 0 0 0 0 2008–09 2009–1012 14,28%
33 NK Radnik Velika Gorica2 33 64 12 9 43 47 161 0 0 0 0 1992–93 1993–9413 18,75%
34 NK Samobor1 32 32 9 5 18 34 55 0 0 0 0 1997–98 1997–9812 28,12%
35 NK Lučko1 31 30 6 13 11 29 36 0 0 0 0 2011–12 2011–1213 20,00%
36 HNK Vukovar '911 30 33 7 9 17 32 56 0 0 0 0 1999–2000 1999–200012 21,21%
37 NK Dubrava1 30 34 7 9 18 28 63 0 0 0 0 1993–94 1993–9417 20,58%
38 HNK Orijent 19191 2630 5 11 14 28 53 0 0 0 0 1996–97 1996–9714 16,67%
39 NK Neretva1 23 30 4 11 15 20 44 0 0 0 0 1996–97 1994–9515 13,33%
40 NK TŠK Topolovac1 14 30 4 2 24 31 95 0 0 0 0 2001–02 2001–0216 13,33%
League or status for 2022–23 season
2022–23 HNL
2022–23 Prva NL
2022–23 Druga NL
Lower leagues
No longer exists

Top scorers

Players in the Prva HNL compete for the Prva HNL Top scorer trophy, awarded to the top scorer at the end of each season. Former Dinamo Zagreb striker Igor Cvitanović held the record for most Prva HNL goals with 126 until April 2012. Cvitanović finished among the top ten goal scorers in 7 out of his 11 seasons in the Prva HNL and won the top scorer title two times. During the 1997–98 season, he became the first player to score 100 Prva HNL goals. On 14 April 2012, Davor Vugrinec scored his 127th goal and surpassed Cvitanović's record.[23] Vugrinec retired in May 2015 with 146 goals on his tally. Only three other players have reached the 100-goal mark, Ivan Krstanović, Joško Popović and Miljenko Mumlek.

Since the first Prva HNL season in 1992, 26 different players have won the top scorers title. Goran Vlaović, Robert Špehar, Igor Cvitanović, Tomislav Šokota and Ivica Olić have won two titles each. Dinamo Zagreb provided most top scorers in Prva HNL with 13. Eduardo holds the record for most goals in a season with 34, done with Dinamo Zagreb in the 2006–07 season.[24] Six goals is the record individual scoring total for a player in a single Prva HNL match, held by Marijo Dodik.[25]

Dinamo Zagreb became the first team to have scored 1,000 goals in the league after Etto scored in a 4–0 victory over NK Zagreb in the 2005–06 season.[26] The highest-scoring match to date in the Prva HNL occurred on 12 December 1993 when Dinamo Zagreb defeated minnows NK Pazinka 10–1.[27]

All-time top scorers in the HNL

RankPlayerGoals
1 146
2 126
3 Ivan Krstanović123
4 111
5 Miljenko Mumlek106
6 Mijo Caktaš 101
7 98
8 89
9 88
10 85
Updated 31 January 2024
(Bold denotes players still playing in the Prva HNL,
italics denotes players still playing professional football).

Most appearances in HNL

RankPlayerAppearances
1 478
2 399
3 372
4 368
5 346
6 340
7 338
8 318
9 315
10310
Updated 31 January 2024
(Bold denotes players still playing in the Prva HNL,
italics denotes players still playing professional football).[28]

Transfers records

Transfers from HNL

PlayerFromToSeasonFee
1 2021/2022 36,80 mln €
2 2016/2017 29,40 mln €
3 2019/2020 29,00 mln €
4 2008/2009 22,50 mln €
5 AFC Ajax2023/2024 20,50 mln €
6 Leicester City F.C.2018/2021914,50 mln €
7 Tottenham Hotspur F.C.2023/202413,80 mln €
8 Marko Rog SSC Napoli2017/2018 13,50 mln €
9 Arsenal F.C.2007/200813,50 mln €
10 Manchester City F.C.2007/200813,00 mln €

Transfers to HNL

PlayerFromToSeasonFee
1 2015/2016 5,00 mln €
2 2022/2023 4,05 mln €
3 2022/2023 3,00 mln €
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb2019/2020
2020/2021
6 Petar Bočkaj2021/2022 2,70 mln €
7 Iyayi Atiemwen2018/2019 2,65 mln €
8 2021/2022 2,50 mln €
Bayer 04 LeverkusenDinamo Zagreb2014/2015
2018/2019

Awards

There are three awards for best players in the Croatian First League:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elitni nogometni rang od naredne sezone zvat će se SuperSport Hrvatska nogometna liga. 3 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Croatia - List of Champions. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 1992. 2 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Fabijan Hrnčić . HNL still remains, and the second league is now the first . 24 Sata . 24 July 2022 . 6 June 2022.
  4. News: Prva HNL Ožujsko . . 19 September 2003 . 3 December 2009 . hr .
  5. News: Prva HNL promijenila ime u T-Com Prva hrvatska nogometna liga . . 24 May 2007 . 3 December 2009 . hr.
  6. News: MAXtv PRVA LIGA službeni naziv lige. 9 September 2011. Prva-HNL.hr. hr. 10 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110925052815/http://prva-hnl.hr/blog/2011/09/maxtv-prva-liga-sluzbeni-naziv-lige/. 25 September 2011. dead.
  7. Web site: 6 June 2022 . Održana sjednica izvršnog odbora HNS-a . A session of the HNS executive board was held . 9 June 2022 . HNS . hr.
  8. News: HTV i HNL spremni za nogometnu nedjelju . 16 September 2008 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 21 May 2011 . 26 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123019/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/365349/nogomet-1-hnl/htv-i-hnl-spremni-za-nogometnu-nedjelju/ . dead .
  9. News: Klubovi ne dobivaju dovoljno za Volim nogomet . 17 June 2009 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 21 May 2011 . 26 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123040/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/378621/nogomet-1-hnl/klubovi-ne-dobivaju-dovoljno-za-volim-nogomet/ . dead .
  10. News: HNL opet u subotnjem terminu . Vuković . Marin . 3 July 2009 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 21 May 2011 . 26 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123051/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/379526/nogomet-1-hnl/hnl-opet-u-subotnjem-terminu/ . dead .
  11. News: Jukić: Gotovo je s Volim nogomet . Strahija . Ivana . 22 January 2010 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 21 May 2011 . 5 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121005025951/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/390286/nogomet-1-hnl/jukic-gotovo-je-s-volim-nogomet/ . dead .
  12. News: HRT ove sezone bez HNL-a . 6 July 2011 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 8 August 2011.
  13. News: Laljak: Klubovi su zadovoljni . Štrbinić . Lovro . 19 July 2011 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 8 August 2011 . 10 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141110013926/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/421325/nogomet-1-hnl/laljak-klubovi-su-zadovoljni/ . dead .
  14. News: Dva nova kanala prenosit će HNL od ljeta: Evo detalja tko će i kako moći gledati prvenstvo . Buškulić . Ante . 4 May 2022 . . hr . 16 July 2022.
  15. News: Prijenosi utakmica HNL-a vraćaju se na program HTV-a! . 7 June 2022 . . hr . 16 July 2022.
  16. News: Statistika prvenstava . HRnogomet.com. hr. 2 February 2014.
  17. News: 6 April 2010. Jutarnji list. 97. Not supplied. hr.
  18. News: 2.092 gledatelja po utakmici: Nas je sramota, srami li se i HNS?. Redžić. Dea. 14 May 2010. Index.hr. hr. 14 May 2010.
  19. News: Prva HNL 10/11: Broj gledatelja po klubovima - Domaći. 23 May 2011. Prva-HNL.hr. hr. 23 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110814105946/http://prva-hnl.hr/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Broj-gledatelja-po-klubovima-Domaci.pdf. 14 August 2011. dead.
  20. News: Broj gledatelja. 30 May 2022. prvahnl.hr. hr. 30 May 2022.
  21. News: All time 1.HNL table. worldfootball.net. en. 4 June 2019.
  22. News: Ukupna tablica klubova. HRnogomet.com. hr. 4 June 2019.
  23. News: Vugrinec: Ne razmišljam o umirovljenju . Zovko . Ante . 15 April 2012 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 8 September 2013 . 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051008/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/438404/nogomet-1-hnl/vugrinec-ne-razmisljam-o-umirovljenju/ . dead .
  24. News: Eduardo osvojio Trofej T-Com najbolji strijelac . 26 April 2008 . Prva-HNL.hr . hr . 10 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101224071932/http://prva-hnl.hr/blog/2007/05/eduardo-osvojio-trofej-t-com-najbolji-strijelac/ . 24 December 2010 . dead.
  25. News: Dodik: Jurčec i ja najbolji smo dvojac Lige! . So. . D. . 26 October 2000 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 10 April 2011 . 14 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140514155651/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/2791/intervju/dodik-jurcec-i-ja-najbolji-smo-dvojac-lige/ . dead .
  26. News: Zagreb - Dinamo: Et(t)o tisućitog pogotka . Pacak . Tomislav . 18 September 2005 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 10 April 2011 . 9 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141109055808/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/279133/nogomet/zagreb-dinamo-etto-tisucitog-pogotka/ . dead .
  27. News: Bez kormilara . Bariša . Mladen . 24 September 2001 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 10 April 2011.
  28. Web site: Igrači. hrnogomet.com. hr. 23 June 2021.