Dismissed from Hajduk Without Explanation
Mišo Krstičević opened up in the podcast 'Istinom do gola' about his sudden dismissal at Poljud, shortcomings in youth development, and the sensational success with Jadran from Ploče.
Mišo Krstičević opened up in the podcast 'Istinom do gola' about his sudden dismissal at Poljud, shortcomings in youth development, and the sensational success with Jadran from Ploče.
The story of Mišo Krstičević has taken on two completely different dimensions over the past year. On one hand, he was dismissed from his position as head of Hajduk's youth academy without clear justification, and on the other, he led his hometown club Jadran Luka Ploče to a sensational promotion to the top flight. In the podcast "Istinom do gola" for Sportske novosti, the 67-year-old expert spoke about details that were previously unknown.
Krstičević returned to Poljud on July 4 last year at the invitation of sporting director Goran Vučević. He says he was honored, aware of his abilities and the vast experience gained alongside legends like Tomislav Ivić, Ante Mladinić, and Stanko Poklepović. His dedication was absolute.
"I was on the pitch every day, I followed over four hundred training sessions, I was always present, monitoring the coaches' work. I even slept at the stadium," Krstičević recounted. Just a few days before New Year's, at a meeting with Vučević and supervisory board president Ljubo Pavasović Visković, he received positive evaluations of his work. However, on January 29, shock followed.
"I was surprised, primarily because Vučević, as sporting director, had not given me a single piece of criticism. He came to me, said the president wanted Viko Lalić and me to leave, I asked him for the reason, he replied: 'I don't know,' and that was the end of the conversation," Krstičević recalled. He signed the mutual termination of his contract "by force" on March 12, after 42 days of waiting, in order to return to the Jadran bench as soon as possible.
Although he was hurt by the president's unprofessional behavior, Krstičević emphasizes that his conscience is clear: "Hajduk is my club, my love is pure, without self-interest, so I can look anyone in the eye. That makes me content."
As someone who went through the famous Ivić school, Krstičević is convinced that the indoor football hall is a key incubator for talent, which has been neglected at Poljud. He recalled the time when, as a player from the summer of 1978, he trained in the substandard "Partizan" hall, measuring 20 by 20 meters.
"We had mandatory morning sessions every day: a million passes, receptions, shots, duels, 1-on-1 dribbling, or 2-on-1 combination play. All at high intensity; we could lose up to three kilograms per session," Krstičević described, adding that Igor Tudor also emphasized in a lecture to academy coaches that "the hall is the law for training."
Today, he claims, the situation is completely different. "They've set up another hall for fitness, while this one, which is like the lifeblood of preparation, remains empty and unused. I was in a dispute with our fitness coach; I doubt that approach will bring results."
Krstičević also touched on current events in the first team, specifically the situation with Marko Livaja. Although he says it's not his job, he is clear that the coach is the one who must sort out the relationships within the dressing room.
"There's no big dilemma; the coach is the one who has to sort out the relationships within the team. So, Garcia had to resolve that problem. Another thing: Hajduk had Livaja, Rebić, Almen, and Šego-four strikers, the best in Croatia, all together. He didn't integrate them..." Krstičević analyzed.
After the turbulent episode at Poljud, Krstičević returned to where he is highly valued. His Jadran Luka Ploče experienced an explosion in results. From 7th place with 30 points after 18 rounds, the team soared to 3rd place with 59 points in the final stretch of the championship, securing promotion to the higher league.
The statistic that best illustrates this surge: in the last twelve rounds, Jadran won 29 out of a possible 36 points. In the same period, Segesta won 28, Mladost Ždralovi 22, Uljanik 21, Kustošija 19, Radnik 15, and Uskok 12 points.
Krstičević, whom Ivić once described as a "true football intellectual," played 206 matches for Hajduk in his career and scored 34 goals, and in just seven months after arriving at Stari plac, he became a national team player. As an assistant to Igor Štimac, he participated in winning the last championship title in 2004/05.
