Split Students Claim European Gold
The University of Split futsal team triumphed at the European University Games in Salerno, and Split will soon take over as host city for 2028.
The University of Split futsal team triumphed at the European University Games in Salerno, and Split will soon take over as host city for 2028.
On Friday, July 31, 2026, the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect, Blaženko Boban, hosted a ceremonial reception for the University of Split futsal team, which won the gold medal at the European University Games in Salerno, Italy. Željko Primorac, head of the Administrative Department for Culture, Technical Culture, and Sport, was also present at the event.
Prefect Boban congratulated the players, coaching staff, and university leadership on their exceptional achievement, noting that their results promoted Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and Croatia in the best possible way.
The reception was held at a symbolic time, just before the handover of the European University Games flag, as Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and the University of Split will host this major sporting event in 2028.
"Today we had the special pleasure of welcoming the futsal team from our University, the gold medal winners at the European University Games in Salerno. It is particularly symbolic that this reception takes place just before the day when representatives of the University of Split and the City of Split will take over the flag of the European University Games, as in 2028 Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and our University will host this major sporting event," said Prefect Boban.
He highlighted that the students from Split achieved a historic triumph by winning the European title, defeating the strongest university teams. Captain Ante Crnjac was named the best player, while goalkeeper Roko Marin Stojkić was recognized as the best in his position.
The Prefect noted that the students have become the flagship of university sports and an example of how to successfully balance academic and athletic commitments, promising continued support from Split-Dalmatia County.
"They are now the flagship of university sports and an example of how to successfully balance academic and athletic commitments. Through their results, they are promoting our University, our city, our county, and Croatia even more strongly. Split-Dalmatia County will continue to support their athletic development, and I believe they will continue their winning streak at the next European competitions and confirm it in 2028 in front of the home crowd in Split," Boban said.
Team captain Ante Crnjac thanked the hosts and described the path to the title as the realization of a long-held dream. He recalled the bronze medal won in 2023 in Split, after which they knew they had the quality to reach the top.
"Ever since I became part of this team, we dreamed of winning European gold. After the bronze medal in Split in 2023, we knew we had the quality to go all the way. The path to the title was extremely difficult, especially the semifinal against the University of Zagreb and the final against a strong team from Azerbaijan, but unity, desire, and quality brought us victory. Now our goal is to stay at the top, and our biggest wish is to win the European title in 2028 in front of the home crowd in Split," Crnjac said.
Best goalkeeper of the tournament, Roko Marin Stojkić, emphasized that the greatest value of the entire success lies in the team's unity. He described ten very demanding days filled with training, preparation, and sacrifice.
"Behind us are ten very demanding days, lots of training, preparation, and sacrifice. I am proud of the whole team and everything we achieved together. Individual awards are certainly nice, but the gold medal and the European champion title are worth more than any individual award," Stojkić said.
Thanks to winning the European title, the University of Split futsal team has secured a spot at the next European tournament. There is hope that the winning streak will continue at the 2028 European University Games, which will be hosted by Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and the University of Split.
Attending the reception were members of the coaching staff: head coach Duško Martinac, his assistant Ivan Ribičić, fitness coach Bruno Majić, and Ivan Tustonjić as delegation head. The team roster included Duje Krivošija, Roko Marin Stojkić, Mate Pleština, captain Ante Crnjac, Antonio Kolovrat, Josip Govorko, Marijan Tunjić, Nikola Anić, and Marko Gašpar.
