Marko Šapit Leaves HRT to Host HNL Monday
After years at public television and the 2026 World Cup, one of the most recognizable faces of sports journalism moves into digital waters and takes over a popular football podcast.
After years at public television and the 2026 World Cup, one of the most recognizable faces of sports journalism moves into digital waters and takes over a popular football podcast.
Marko Šapit, a longtime sports journalist and former editor of HTV's sports desk, made his debut in a new role as host of the podcast Tribina on Monday, August 10, 2026. The news of his arrival at the HNL Monday show was announced the same day, marking a significant transition from traditional television to a digital platform.
Šapit spent years at HRT covering major sporting events, and in 2022 he took over as editor of HTV's sports desk. After successfully completing the project covering the 2026 World Cup and the Americana show, he decided to seek a new professional challenge.
"After completing the 2026 World Cup project and the Americana show, I needed a new challenge, something new and different. With this, I get that, and again in a familiar environment, with top-quality colleagues. Add to that our Monday theme, domestic football, which I love, and the package is truly perfect," Šapit told Tportal.
The journalist emphasized that what won him over about the Tribina team was precisely their expertise and approach to sports. Although the podcast is known for detailed statistics and analytics, Šapit stresses the human factor as crucial for the collaboration.
"Their numbers, data, and analytics aside, the Tribina crew had already won me over long ago with their expertise, knowledge, and fair approach. These are people who love, live, and understand sports," Šapit said, adding that things simply had to fall into place after his several guest appearances on the podcast.
Tribina has established itself as the most-watched and most famous Croatian sports podcast, combining expert analysis, an authorial stance, and a relaxed atmosphere. The trust it enjoys among athletes and coaches is particularly notable. As the first podcast to win the prestigious Večernjakova ruža award, Tribina has long since moved beyond the confines of alternative media and become a relevant platform for sports conversations.
Šapit's arrival further cements that position, and his recognizable voice will now gather the Croatian football public every Monday in a show dedicated to domestic football. Šapit himself said: "On a personal professional level, I still have some unknowns, but one thing is certain, we'll see each other and hang out on Tribina on Mondays!"
