The friendly match between Rijeka and Union Berlin is scheduled for September 26, 2026, at Kantrida, and will be dedicated to Damir Kreilach's retirement from professional football.
The fan group Armada has released a mysterious video on their social media channels, announcing a major event beneath the cliffs of Kantrida. It's a friendly match between HNK Rijeka and Germany's 1. FC Union Berlin, set for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The same video has also appeared on the official channels of Rijeka and Union Berlin, and it mentions the name of Damir Kreilach. The kickoff is scheduled for an unusual time of 19:17, which further hints at the special nature of this encounter. The timing holds particular significance as these are the two numbers he wore on his jersey at both clubs: 19 at Union Berlin and 17 during his first stint at Rijeka, while upon his return to Kvarner he took the number 87.
According to information released by the German club and reported by Fiuman.hr, the match will be dedicated to Kreilach, the former captain of Rijeka and a long-time player for Union Berlin. He will thus officially bid farewell to his playing career in front of the Rijeka faithful. Union Berlin has commented on social media with a brief message: "Hello, Croatia! In September, we're traveling to Croatia for a friendly against HNK Rijeka, and this match is very special: It will be a farewell match for our club member Damir Kreilach."
The significance of this fixture is even greater because it will not take place at Rujevica, where Rijeka currently plays its home matches, but at the legendary Kantrida stadium. It is precisely this venue where Kreilach took his first major steps in football and wore the Rijeka jersey for years.
Kreilach came through the youth ranks at Rijeka, established himself in the first team, and eventually became its captain. In the summer of 2013, he left Kantrida and moved to Berlin, where he quickly became a fan favorite at Union.
He played for the German club until 2018, and according to information released by Union ahead of the match, he made 157 appearances in official matches, scoring 33 goals and providing 18 assists. Most of his Berlin career was spent in the 2. Bundesliga before the club experienced a surge and became a permanent fixture in the Bundesliga. For Rijeka, he played 135 matches, scored 19 goals, and provided three assists. To this day, he is highly regarded in Berlin for his immense fighting spirit and dedication to the club.
The arrival of Union Berlin is expected to draw some of their supporters to Kantrida as well. Union has announced that their fan group, Eiserne V.I.R.U.S., is organizing a special travel package to Croatia, which will likely include a round-trip flight, hotel accommodation, and a match ticket.
Details regarding ticket sales for the Rijeka vs. Union Berlin clash have not yet been released, but the German club has stated that pre-sale information will be available soon. More details about the event itself are expected in the coming weeks, concludes Novi list.
Throughout his career, Kreilach also played in Major League Soccer for Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps and the United States' Real Salt Lake. The Vukovar-born player ended his rich career back at Rijeka, deciding to return to Kvarner after 12 long years, and in January of this year, he hung up his boots. At the club level, his only major trophy was the Canadian Championship, and he earned individual recognition at the U.S. Open Cup as the tournament's top scorer with four goals.
