NK Olimpija Ljubljana, eight-time Slovenian champions, is in the throes of a severe financial and organizational crisis. Director Igor Barišić from Osijek bears the brunt of fan and media criticism, while the club president blames the former financial director for the cash shortage.
Slovenian football powerhouse Olimpija Ljubljana is going through one of the most severe crises in its history. The club, which last won the title in the 2024/2025 season, has only three points after four rounds of the new PrvaLiga season, and the situation off the pitch is even more alarming, taking on elements of a full-blown financial collapse.
According to Slovenian outlet Sportklub, the Ljubljana club is so strapped for cash that it cannot provide all players with spare jerseys. This culminated in Saturday's derby against Celje, which Olimpija lost 0-1, when goalkeeper Matevž Vidovšek was forced to play in a training top.
Sportklub asks "can the club sink any lower" and notes: "Ljubljana's Olimpija has fallen so low that it's actually a question of where the capital's club can sink further. However, we're talking about a symbol of Slovenian football, whose state must worry the entire Slovenian football audience. Olimpija's image on the pitch mirrors what's happening within the club."
Fan discontent has escalated this season. As reported by Ekipa24, they have organized themselves into a "traveling circus," with some arriving at the stadium wearing clown masks. Although they initially targeted only president Adam Delius, a banner appeared in early August reading: "Traveling Circus Presents Igor."
The message is aimed at director Igor Barišić, a Croatian from Osijek who joined the club in 2021. He took over Olimpija when financial losses amounted to as much as €25 million. Slovenian media refer to his business methods as "Barišić's modus operandi," noting that the club does not pay bills on time, but only when there is no other option left.
The internal situation at the club is chaotic. According to Sportklub, the club's offices are becoming increasingly empty day by day as disgruntled employees leave their posts. The PR department has already given up on the whole situation, so an external agency now handles the club's public image. In April this year, sporting director Goran Boromisa also left the club after four years, joining Croatian side Kustošija.
Amid an investigation into money leaking from club accounts, president Adam Delius spoke out, placing all blame on former financial director Tina Tkalec. "It has been established that she fraudulently withdrew large sums of money from the club, so a report has already been filed. The full extent of the fraud and those involved will be investigated, and the probe will extend to all employees under the former president, the late Milan Mandarić," Delius stated.
Tkalec quickly fired back, asserting that the accusations are false and unfounded, and that she always acted in accordance with the law and on the orders of her superiors. The two sides are thus presenting completely contradictory versions of events, and the investigation is ongoing.
Adding to the tension is the club's relationship with the media. Sportklub writes that "journalists investigating the flow of money are receiving (nonsensical) legal notices to cease those activities." Olimpija then issued an official statement announcing legal action "due to the repeated publication of unverified and false accusations."
"In several cases, information was not verified with the club or other directly involved parties before publication. Nevertheless, the accusations were presented as facts, even though they could have been quickly and unequivocally refuted by basic journalistic verification. We will no longer tolerate the publication of false and unverified information that harms the reputation of the club, employees, players, fans, and business partners," NK Olimpija stated.
