Zagreb Resident Explains Why Dinamo Is More Than a Club
A new mural in Botinec has reignited the debate about Zagreb's identity, with Reddit comments revealing deep divisions among residents.
A new mural in Botinec has reignited the debate about Zagreb's identity, with Reddit comments revealing deep divisions among residents.
A new mural dedicated to GNK Dinamo, which appeared in Betlehem Park in Zagreb's Botinec neighborhood, has sparked a heated debate among Zagreb residents. While some are thrilled, others are asking questions like "Dinamo again?", "Does it always have to be Dinamo?", and "Is there anything in Zagreb besides Dinamo?".
One Reddit user was clearly bothered by such reactions and decided to explain in detail why, in his opinion, Dinamo is not just a football club but an indispensable part of the city's and the nation's history. "Those people simply don't understand the connection between this city and Dinamo, not just Dinamo, but the entire history of Zagreb and Croatia. Dinamo has been ingrained in us from the very first day of our lives," he wrote.
The post's author also touched upon the turbulent political times of the former state, emphasizing that for many, the club represented much more than sports back then. "During the height of the communist regime and the 'Croatian Spring' attempts in the seventies, Dinamo was the greatest symbol of resistance to the regime and everything that was wrong with the state at the time," he claimed.
To those who are bothered by Dinamo murals, he suggested they get active themselves. "And I believe you would love a European Zagreb with graffiti of your favorite fictional characters, so my message is: grab a paint bucket and roller and paint whatever you want, just as we paint for our Dinamo," he wrote, concluding his post with the words: "Zagreb = Dinamo."
It was that last sentence that triggered an avalanche of reactions. While some defended the mural and pointed out that it was an aesthetically pleasing wall, others expressed dissatisfaction with the omnipresence of fan motifs. "Dinamo is just a football club, nothing more," one user briefly stated.
Another was even more direct. "It bothers normal people because you've saturated all of Zagreb with this Dinamo thing. We're not Benkovac, where there's nothing besides love for a football club. Everywhere you turn, Dinamo," he wrote. One Zagreb resident admitted that the new mural in Botinec didn't bother him, but he didn't feel the same about all fan works. "I have nothing against Dinamo murals, and this one is cool. But most murals are total crap," he commented, adding that he finds "the Baltazar on the transformer station a thousand times better."
On the other hand, some users believe that such murals are far better than chaotic scribbles and insults. "It's better to see a thousand graffiti in honor of Dinamo, our club, than everything covered in insults and nonsense. Besides, who's stopping you guys from going out and painting whatever you want instead? Get active and show us," one user wrote.
Meanwhile, GNK Dinamo posted several photos on their official Twitter profile on August 10, 2026, featuring Luka Stanzl, with comments like "Too good 🖼️ not to share" and "Can we get one 😁 for the camera." On the same day, the club officially confirmed the departure of striker Mounsef Bakrar, who scored 18 goals in the season. "It's now official: Mounsef Bakrar is no longer a GNK Dinamo player, and he will continue his career at Egypt's Al Ahly. We wish him luck in his new environment, lots of success, and plenty of goals. Dear Baki, thank you for everything! 💙", the post read.
