Hajduk's Drama: Coach Rushed to Hospital After Heart Attack
As the Split Whites await a new European test against Žalgiris, we recall the most painful eliminations of the past 20 years, including Ivica Kalinić's life-threatening ordeal.
As the Split Whites await a new European test against Žalgiris, we recall the most painful eliminations of the past 20 years, including Ivica Kalinić's life-threatening ordeal.
Hajduk is gearing up for a new European challenge, a clash against Lithuanian side Žalgiris in the race for the fourth qualifying round of the Conference League. The team led by Gonzalo Garcia hopes to avoid the stress that has been a recurring theme in recent years, with one of the most dramatic moments occurring in 2009 when then-coach Ivica Kalinić was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack.
A string of painful European memories began in the summer of 2005, just months after Hajduk clinched their last Croatian league title. Under Miroslav Blažević, the Split Whites suffered a catastrophe in the second qualifying round of the Champions League against Hungary's Debrecen. First, they lost 3-0 away in late July, only to suffer an even heavier 5-0 defeat at Poljud a week later. The aggregate 8-0 for the Hungarian club marked the end of Ćiro's brief tenure on the Hajduk bench, and they finished the season in fifth place in the HNL, with Ivan Gudelj and Luka Bonačić taking turns at the helm.
In the following years, eliminations came at the hands of demanding European hurdles, such as Sampdoria and Deportivo La Coruña in qualifying rounds for European competitions.
The summer of 2009 brought another shock. In the third qualifying round for the Europa League, Hajduk was eliminated by Slovakia's Žilina after the visitors celebrated a 1-0 win at Poljud, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Slovakia. Coach Ante Miše was sacked before the return leg, and Ivica Kalinić led the team in that fateful match. But the real drama unfolded after the final whistle.
Kalinić was rushed to the hospital in Križine, where he was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. "Immediately upon arrival, we identified acute coronary syndrome accompanied by chest pain, and ECG changes in heart function were also noted," explained the on-duty physician, Dr. Ratko Ermacora, at the time. "A stent was inserted; he already had one from before, and if there are no complications, he will be released next week," he added. Due to doctors' advice to avoid stress, Kalinić could no longer continue his coaching career. Edoardo Reja and Stanko Poklepović finished the season on the bench, with Hajduk ending up second in the league, four points behind Dinamo, and winning the Croatian Cup.
A bright spot in European campaigns came in the summer of 2010, when Hajduk, under Stanko Poklepović, overcame two Romanian clubs, Dinamo Bucharest and Unirea Urziceni, to reach the Europa League group stage. It was the last time the Split Whites played in the group stage of a European competition, and although they finished last in that group, the 1-0 victory over Anderlecht at Poljud is still remembered. Two years later, in the summer of 2012, came the famous 2-0 win against Inter at San Siro, with goals from Ante Vukušić from a penalty in the 23rd minute and Ivan Vuković in the 58th minute. However, that wasn't enough to advance, as Inter had won 3-0 in the first leg at Poljud.
The series of painful eliminations also included defeats to Georgia's Dila Gori, Kazakhstan's Tobol, and Slovakia's Ružomberok.
The heaviest blow came in the summer of 2019. Siniša Oreščanin led Hajduk in the first qualifying round of the Europa League against Malta's Gzira United. After a 2-0 away win, a cold shower awaited at Poljud. Jradi gave them the lead in the seventh minute, but the Maltese side turned the game around to 3-1, with the decisive goal scored by Kone in the sixth minute of stoppage time. "I'm not running from responsibility, but we didn't underestimate Gzira. We'll talk in the coming days; for now, I can't say anything else," Oreščanin stated the day before he was sacked. Damir Burić and Igor Tudor finished the season on the bench, with Hajduk ending up fifth, 20 points behind Dinamo.
Two seasons ago, under Gennaro Gattuso, Hajduk was eliminated by Slovakia's Ružomberok thanks to an own goal by Zvonimir Šarlija in the seventh minute at Poljud, which was the only goal in the two legs. Last season, elimination came at the hands of Albania's Dinamo City after extra time, and last week, Cyprus's Pafos dealt another painful blow, winning 4-0 in the second leg of the Europa League second qualifying round, overturning Hajduk's 2-0 from the first leg.
