HNK Gorica
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| Full name | Hrvatski Nogometni Klub Gorica |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 (as merger of NK Radnik and NK Polet Buševec) |
| Ground | Stadion Radnik |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Chairman | Nenad Črnko |
| Manager | Davor Mladina |
| League | Druga HNL |
| 2015–16 | Druga HNL, 4th |
| Website | www |
Hrvatski Nogometni Klub Gorica (English: Croatian Football Club Gorica), commonly referred to as HNK Gorica or simply Gorica, is a Croatian football club based in the town of Velika Gorica, located just south of the Croatian capital Zagreb. They play their home matches at the Stadion Radnik, which has a capacity of 8,000. They won the 2010–11 Croatian Second Football League title and were initially promoted to Croatian First Football League, but their top license was revoked. The club regard themselves as the spiritual continuation of the former Prva HNL members NK Radnik, who went bankrupt and were dissolved in 2009. However, legally HNK Gorica is a distinct and separate club, and is not entitled to claim the history of the old NK Radnik.
There is a long lasting tradition of football in Velika Gorica and region of Turopolje. First organized clubs were founded during the 1930s but the most prominent football club, NK Radnik, was created in 1945, just after the end of World War II.
Radnik enjoyed average success during Yugoslavia, and its most impressive results came with a birth of free Croatia. With a newly built stadium for 1987 Summer Universiade Radnik was included into premier season of highest level Croatian league. It competed there for two seasons, 1992–93 and 1993–94. After being relegated in 1995, Radnik started with his downfall and mediocre results, even playing in the fourth tier of Croatian league football for four seasons (from 2002 till 2006).
During 2009 Radnik got into serious financial troubles and only solution for preserving Velika Gorica's top and most popular football team was a merger with one of financially stable local football clubs. A perfect partner was found in NK Polet from nearby village Buševec. NK Polet had a long lasting football tradition and was a competitive member of Treća HNL. In summer of 2009, merging between Radnik and Polet was agreed and HNK Gorica was formed. As a primal mission club stated winning the league title and reaching Croatian Second Football League after many years of absence. The goal was reached during the first season, Gorica won the Treća HNL West and achieved promotion to the Druga HNL for the 2010–11 season.
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