Croatian Season 2014-2015

Dinamo Zagreb have their "la decima" amid fan indifference

2 June, 2015

Ozren Podnar

GNK Dinamo Zagreb have made it! As the chief executive Zdravko Mamic promised in May 2005, his team have won their tenth consecutive Croatian League title, seventeenth in all since independence was declared in 1991.

Not only have Dinamo won the Division One again, but they have done it in style, without defeat in 36 matches. The Blue Lions have also picked up the FA Cup, collecting their sixth "double" in the past ten years, nine in the independent Croatia.

The trophies represent a total triumph for Mamic and his younger brother Zoran, who has managed the team since August 2013. Ten years ago Dinamo finished seventh, their poorest placement ever in the Croatian league, while the title went to bitter rivals Hajduk Split. It was then when Mamic pledged to form an unbeatable squad - at least within the national borders.

Hajduk slip to third

In the meantime, Hajduk have seen the ambitious Rijeka overtake them as the second strongest club in the country. Under the Italian tycoon Gabriele Volpi since 2012 Rijeka have finished second twice in a row, winning an FA Cup and a Supercup last year.

Hajduk on the other hand have managed just two FA Cups since 2005, ending this season in third spot, 38 points adrift of the champions. The Dalmatians have also struggled financially and suffered from mismanagement both in the dressing room and in the office. This season Hajduk have used four coaches and have just named the fifth, Damir Buric, for the next campaign.

Downside of superiority

Still, in spite of Dinamo's overwhelming superiority, not all is roses at Maksimir Stadium, where England knew defeat in 2006 before scoring a famous 4-1 win two years later. The problem is the fans. Or rather their absence. Although Dinamo are easily the best supported team in the country, ahead of Hajduk, the gates have been dwindling over the past six years.

One of the reasons may be the lack of uncertainty regarding the outcome of the title race. The Croats don't have the same fan culture as Celtic Glasgow fans who are happy to fill Celtic Park regardless of the rival or the team's position in the table.

Too powerful for comfort

Another reason is the "colourful personality" of the boss Zdravko Mamic, who is by far the most influential individual in Croatian soccer. Mamic, the FA vice-president, allegedly controls the Federation and has the final say over who's elected chairman and the national team manager.

The FA is packed full of former Dinamo Zagreb-related personnel. The chairman Davor Suker is the team's legendary ex-striker while the executive director Damir Vrbanovic used to be Dinamo's director. The Division One commissioner Josip Brezni and the National team director Zorislav Srebric also worked at Dinamo for many years.

Star on YouTube

Hajduk Split and their fans are obviously the most fervent opposition to such a set up, but many of Dinamo's followers also seem to resent their club's CEO's all-encompassing influence in all soccer-related matters.

Even though there have been no formal complaints about the regularity and integrity of the competition, some fans have turned their backs on Dinamo believing their team have an unfair advantage over their rivals.

Then there's the problem of Mamic's aggressive public outbursts. The big boss has frequently foul-mouthed journalists who write critically about his activities. Some of his "performances" have earned cult status on YouTube and many soccer fans use the key parts from his monologues in everyday life - for comic purposes, obviously.

Sell or go bust

Mamic, who has headed the club since 2000, is often criticised for selling the best players too early, which has prevented Dinamo for achieving any notable results in Europe. On the other hand, he claims that selling is the only way for the club to survive. He set up a very efficient youth academy which has regularly been producing first rate players.

The proof is the Croatian national team, which consists of about 70 percent of current and former Dinamo players. Key components of the present team, such as Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Badelj, Domagoj Vida, Vedran Corluka, Dejan Lovren, Ivica Olic and Andrej Kramaric all played in Dinamo at some point.

Today's team features a new wave of phenomenal homegrown talents such as Marko Pjaca, Ante Coric, Domagoj Antolic and Josip Pivaric. The fans fear that, unfortunately, they will all be transferred abroad within 18 months if not earlier.

Top scorers

Half a season enough for Kramaric

Rijeka's Andrej Kramaric finished the season on top of the scoring chart with 21 goals, although he was transferred to Leicester in January! Dinamo's Chilean international Angelo Henriquez notched 20 goals and was fancied to overtake Kramaric. However, the striker on loan from Manchester United left with two matches to join his national team's preparations for Copa America on home soil.