2025–26 NK Istra 1961 season
NK Istra 1961 2025–26 football season
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The 2025–26 NK Istra 1961 season was the club's 65th season in existence and the 17th consecutive season in the top flight of Croatian football.
OwnerBaskonia - Alavés Group
ManagerGonzalo García (until 13 June 2025)
Goran Tomić (13 June 2025 - 13 September 2025)
Oriol Riera (17 September 2025 - 19 April 2026)
Krešimir Režić (since 20 April 2026)
Goran Tomić (13 June 2025 - 13 September 2025)
Oriol Riera (17 September 2025 - 19 April 2026)
Krešimir Režić (since 20 April 2026)
StadiumStadion Aldo Drosina
| 2025–26 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Baskonia - Alavés Group |
| Manager | Gonzalo García (until 13 June 2025) Goran Tomić (13 June 2025 - 13 September 2025) Oriol Riera (17 September 2025 - 19 April 2026) Krešimir Režić (since 20 April 2026) |
| Stadium | Stadion Aldo Drosina |
| HNL | 6th |
| Croatian Cup | Second Round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Smail Prevljak (14) All: Smail Prevljak (15) |
| Highest home attendance | 8,124 v Hajduk Split (19 October 2025) |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,063 v Slaven Belupo (4 May 2026) |
| Average home league attendance | 2,912 |
First-team squad
- As of 14 March 2026[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
In
| Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Back from loan | 10 June 2025 | [2] | ||
| DF | €200,000 | 13 June 2025 | [3] | ||
| GK | Back from loan | 29 June 2025 | |||
| DF | Back from loan | 30 June 2025 | |||
| DF | €340,000 | 30 June 2025 | [4] | ||
| FW | Undisclosed | 3 July 2025 | [5] | ||
| MF | €300,000 | 9 July 2025 | [6] | ||
| DF | Loan | 11 July 2025 | [7] | ||
| FW | Free | 11 July 2025 | [8] | ||
| DF | Free | 4 January 2026 | [9] | ||
| DF | Undisclosed | 16 January 2026 | [10] | ||
| DF | Undisclosed | 16 January 2026 | [11] | ||
| DF | Free | 29 January 2026 | [12] | ||
| MF | €150,000 | 29 January 2026 | [13] | ||
| MF | Loan | 4 February 2026 | [14] | ||
| MF | Free | 16 February 2026 | [15] | ||
| FW | Loan | 12 March 2026 | [16] | ||
| FW | Recalled from loan | 13 March 2026 | [17] | ||
| FW | Undisclosed | 14 March 2026 | [18] |
Out
| Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | €200,000 | 10 June 2025 | [2] | ||
| DF | Back from loan | 11 June 2025 | [19] | ||
| DF | Free | 11 June 2025 | [19] | ||
| FW | Loan | 11 June 2025 | [19] | ||
| FW | €1,300,000 | 11 June 2025 | [20] | ||
| DF | €1,350,000 | 24 June 2025 | [21] | ||
| GK | Undisclosed | 26 June 2025 | [22] | ||
| MF | No team | Retired | 28 June 2025 | [23] | |
| GK | €200,000 | 1 July 2025 | [24] | ||
| GK | Free | 18 July 2025 | [25] | ||
| MF | Free | 22 July 2025 | [26] | ||
| FW | Free | 22 July 2025 | [27] | ||
| FW | €200,000 | 24 July 2025 | [28] | ||
| DF | Dual registration | 19 August 2025 | [29] | ||
| MF | Dual registration | 19 August 2025 | [29] | ||
| MF | Dual registration | 19 August 2025 | [29] | ||
| FW | Dual registration | 19 August 2025 | [29] | ||
| FW | Dual registration | 19 August 2025 | [29] | ||
| MF | Free | 1 September 2025 | [30] | ||
| FW | No team | Free | 3 September 2025 | [31] | |
| FW | €2,400,000 | 27 January 2026 | [32] | ||
| DF | Loan | 31 January 2026 | [33] | ||
| FW | Loan | 31 January 2026 | [34] | ||
| DF | Recalled from loan | 2 February 2026 | [35] | ||
| DF | Loan | 5 February 2026 | [36] | ||
| MF | Free | 7 February 2026 | [37] | ||
| DF | Dual registration | 16 February 2026 | [38] | ||
| FW | Loan | 16 February 2026 | [38] | ||
| DF | €175,000 | 17 February 2026 | [39] | ||
| MF | €200,000 | 17 February 2026 | [40] | ||
| FW | €125,000 | 13 March 2026 | [17] |
Source: Glasilo Hrvatskog nogometnog saveza
Total spending:
€990,000
Total income:
€6,150,000
Total expenditure:
€5,160,000
Competitions
Overview
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| SuperSport HNL | 3 August 2025 | 23 May 2026 | Matchday 1 | 6th | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 33.33 |
| Croatian Cup | 16 September 2025 | 5 November 2025 | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 50.00 |
| Total | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 34.21 | ||||
Last updated: 24 May 2026
Source: Soccerway
Croatian Football League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Rijeka | 36 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 49 | 36 | +13 | 53 | Qualification to Conference League second qualifying round[a] |
| 5 | Lokomotiva | 36 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 40 | 52 | −12 | 44 | |
| 6 | Istra 1961 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 43 | |
| 7 | Gorica | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 41 | |
| 8 | Slaven Belupo | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 61 | −15 | 41 |
Source: SuperSport HNL
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).[41]
Notes:
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).[41]
Notes:
- The 2025–26 Croatian Football Cup winners qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners (Dinamo Zagreb) qualified based on league position, the Europa League spot was passed to the second-placed team, and the second Conference League spot passed to the fourth-placed team.
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 43 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 26 | −6 |
Last updated: 24 May 2026.
Source: SuperSport HNL
Results by round
Updated to match(es) played on 24 May 2026. Source: SuperSport HNL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
| 3 August 2025 1 | Hajduk Split | 2–1 | Istra 1961 | Split |
| 21:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Poljud Attendance: 25,501 Referee: Patrik Kolarić |
| 9 August 2025 2 | Istra 1961 | 2–2 | Lokomotiva | Pula |
| 18:15 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 3,483 Referee: Zdenko Lovrić |
| 15 August 2025 3 | Vukovar 1991 | 1–1 | Istra 1961 | Vinkovci |
| 18:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion HNK Cibalia Attendance: 1,235 Referee: Ivan Vukančić |
| 23 August 2025 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 3–0 | Istra 1961 | Zagreb |
| 21:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Maksimir Attendance: 11,461 Referee: Duje Strukan |
| 29 August 2025 5 | Istra 1961 | 1–0 | Gorica | Pula |
| 20:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 2,437 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 12 September 2025 6 | Slaven Belupo | 2–1 | Istra 1961 | Koprivnica |
| 20:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Gradski stadion Attendance: 1,513 Referee: Zdenko Lovrić |
| 21 September 2025 7 | Istra 1961 | 2–1 | Osijek | Pula |
| 19:15 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 2,519 Referee: Patrik Kolarić |
| 27 September 2025 8 | Rijeka | 0–0 | Istra 1961 | Rijeka |
| 16:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Rujevica Attendance: 5,369 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 3 October 2025 9 | Istra 1961 | 1–0 | Varaždin | Pula |
| 18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,959 Referee: Patrik Pavlešić |
| 19 October 2025 10 | Istra 1961 | 0–3 | Hajduk Split | Pula |
| 16:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 8,124 Referee: Patrik Kolarić |
| 25 October 2025 11 | Lokomotiva | 1–2 | Istra 1961 | Zagreb |
| 15:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion Maksimir Attendance: 305 Referee: Ivan Vukančić |
| 1 November 2025 12 | Istra 1961 | 1–1 | Vukovar 1991 | Pula |
| 18:45 CET (UTC+01:00) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 2,209 Referee: Zdenko Lovrić |
| 9 November 2025 13 | Istra 1961 | 2–1 | Dinamo Zagreb | Pula |
| 16:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 5,241 Referee: Duje Strukan |
| 23 November 2025 14 | Gorica | 1–0 | Istra 1961 | Velika Gorica |
| 18:15 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Radnik Attendance: 463 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 29 November 2025 15 | Istra 1961 | 1–1 | Slaven Belupo | Pula |
| 18:15 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,574 Referee: Patrik Kolarić |
| 7 December 2025 16 | Osijek | 1–5 | Istra 1961 | Osijek |
| 17:30 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Opus Arena Attendance: 2,734 Referee: Igor Pajač |
| 19 December 2025 18 | Varaždin | 1–3 | Istra 1961 | Varaždin |
| 16:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Varteks Attendance: 956 Referee: Igor Pajač |
| 20 January 2026[n 1] 17 | Istra 1961 | 1–2 | Rijeka | Pula |
| 16:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 3,386 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 25 January 2026 19 | Hajduk Split | 1–2 | Istra 1961 | Split |
| 15:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Poljud Attendance: 11,925 Referee: Mateo Erceg |
| 30 January 2026 20 | Istra 1961 | 1–1 | Lokomotiva | Pula |
| 18:00 CET (UTC+01:00) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,757 Referee: Ivan Vukančić |
| 7 February 2026 21 | Vukovar 1991 | 3–2 | Istra 1961 | Osijek |
| 15:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Gradski Vrt Stadium Attendance: 556 Referee: Ante Terzić |
| 14 February 2026 22 | Dinamo Zagreb | 4–0 | Istra 1961 | Zagreb |
| 15:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Maksimir Attendance: 5,600 Referee: Mateo Erceg |
| 21 February 2026 23 | Istra 1961 | 0–2 | Gorica | Pula |
| 15:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,673 Referee: Ivan Vukančić |
| 27 February 2026 24 | Slaven Belupo | 1–0 | Istra 1961 | Koprivnica |
| 18:00 CET (UTC+01:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Gradski stadion Attendance: 923 Referee: Ante Terzić |
| 6 March 2026 25 | Istra 1961 | 0–1 | Osijek | Pula |
| 18:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,457 Referee: Duje Strukan |
| 15 March 2026 26 | Rijeka | 0–2 | Istra 1961 | Rijeka |
| 17:45 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Rujevica Attendance: 5,897 Referee: Ante Terzić |
| 20 March 2026 27 | Istra 1961 | 2–1 | Varaždin | Pula |
| 18:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,572 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 7 April 2026 28 | Istra 1961 | 1–3 | Hajduk Split | Pula |
| 18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 6,028 Referee: Mateo Erceg |
| 11 April 2026 29 | Lokomotiva | 2–0 | Istra 1961 | Zagreb |
| 16:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Maksimir Attendance: 240 Referee: Ante Terzić |
| 18 April 2026 30 | Istra 1961 | 1–2 | Vukovar 1991 | Pula |
| 18:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,255 Referee: Ante Čulina |
| 22 April 2026 31 | Istra 1961 | 0–2 | Dinamo Zagreb | Pula |
| 20:15 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 3,438 Referee: Ante Terzić |
| 27 April 2026 32 | Gorica | 1–0 | Istra 1961 | Velika Gorica |
| 18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Stadion Radnik Attendance: 742 Referee: Patrik Kolarić |
| 4 May 2026 33 | Istra 1961 | 3–1 | Slaven Belupo | Pula |
| 18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Attendance: 1,063 Referee: Filip Dragašević |
| 10 May 2026 34 | Osijek | 0–1 | Istra 1961 | Osijek |
| 16:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Opus Arena Attendance: 2,859 Referee: Igor Pajač |
Croatian Football Cup
Player seasonal records
Updated 22 June 2026
Goals
| Rank | Name | League | Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | 1 | 15 | |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| 3 | 4 | – | 4 | |
| 4 | 3 | – | 3 | |
| 3 | – | 3 | ||
| 6 | 2 | – | 2 | |
| 2 | – | 2 | ||
| 8 | 1 | – | 2 | |
| 1 | – | 1 | ||
| 1 | – | 1 | ||
| 1 | – | 1 | ||
| 1 | – | 1 | ||
| 1 | – | 1 | ||
| TOTALS | 39 | 3 | 42 | |
Source: Competitive matches
Clean sheets
Source: Competitive matches
Disciplinary record
| Number | Position | Player | HNL | Croatian Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | FW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | MF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | DF | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 29 | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 38 | DF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 77 | FW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 97 | DF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 71 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | ||
Appearances and goals
| Number | Position | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | HNL[n 2] | Croatian Cup[n 2] | ||||||
| 1 | GK | 35 | 0 | 35+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | 7 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 21 | 0 | 15+4 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | 21 | 1 | 20+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | 33 | 1 | 32+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | 11 | 0 | 2+7 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
| 7 | FW | 27 | 3 | 17+10 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | 31 | 2 | 22+7 | 2 | 2+0 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | 34 | 15 | 29+3 | 14 | 2+0 | 1 | |
| 10 | MF | 33 | 3 | 32+1 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | 14 | 2 | 2+10 | 2 | 0+2 | 0 | |
| 11 | MF | 11 | 0 | 4+7 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | 13 | 0 | 6+7 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | 11 | 0 | 9+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | 34 | 4 | 28+5 | 4 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | 17 | 1 | 9+7 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | 14 | 0 | 6+7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 21 | DF | 18 | 0 | 18+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 22 | FW | 10 | 0 | 1+8 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 23 | DF | 11 | 0 | 3+7 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | 10 | 0 | 8+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 24 | DF | 24 | 0 | 10+12 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |
| 25 | MF | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 26 | DF | 31 | 1 | 24+7 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 29 | FW | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 30 | MF | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 32 | MF | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 38 | DF | 21 | 0 | 20+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 40 | GK | 3 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |
| 41 | MF | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 44 | DF | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
| 70 | FW | 19 | 7 | 16+1 | 5 | 2+0 | 2 | |
| 77 | FW | 15 | 1 | 0+14 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 97 | DF | 30 | 1 | 21+8 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | |