NK Istra 1961

Not to be confused with NK Istra.

Istra 1961

Full name	Nogometni klub Istra 1961
Nickname(s)	Verudeži, Zeleno-žuti ("green-yellow")
Founded	1961
Ground	Aldo Drosina Pula, Croatia (Capacity: 10,000)
Chairman	Mikhail Shcheglov
Manager	Igor Pamić
League	Prva HNL
2010–11	Prva HNL, 15th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

NK Istra 1961 is a football club from Pula, Croatia, currently playing in the Croatian First Division.

The football club NK Uljanik from which the club originates from was founded in 1948. In 1961 it joined with another local club, NK Pula, to form NK Istra. For this reason, 1961 is occasionally considered as the clubs founding year. The greatest club success was in the 2002-2003 season when they finished runners up in the Croatian Cup, losing to Hajduk Split 4-1 on aggregate. In the 2004-05 season the club changed its name into NK Pula 1856, because the year 1856 was the year that the Austro-Hungarian Empire made Pula the port of its arsenal and the shipyard Uljanik was opened. Also in the same year, in competed in the Prva Liga for the first time. In 2005 it was renamed again to NK Pula Staro Češko due to a sponsorship contract with the brewery Daruvarska pivovara (Staro Češko is a beer brand). Just one year later the name was once again changed, this time to NK Pula. Again, just a year later in summer 2007, the name was changed for the fifth time in as many years, to NK Istra 1961. The change of name came after an ultimatium from the local fans Demons who said the club will have their support only if the club changes its name and club colours to the traditional city colours (yellow and green).

Its crest features the city's Roman Arena in Pula, as well as the old team crest.

Pula play their home matches at the recently renovated Stadion Aldo Drosina, which has a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators.

Recent seasons

Season	League									Cup	Top goalscorer
	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos		Player	Goals
1992
1992–93										R1
1993–94	2. HNL South	30	7	7	16	21	43	21	14th
1994–95	2. HNL West								13th
1995–96	2. HNL West	34	18	8	8	58	36	62	5th
1996–97	2. HNL West	30	19	6	5	65	21	63	3rd
1997–98	2. HNL West	30	12	7	11	42	31	43	6th
1998–99	3. HNL West	30	13	7	10	33	35	46	3rd
1999–2000	3. HNL West	30	17	6	7	56	30	57	3rd	R1
2000–01	3. HNL West	30	17	11	2	73	26	62	1st ↑
2001–02	2. HNL South	30	17	8	5	57	26	59	2nd	PR
2002–03	2. HNL South	32	20	7	5	63	31	67	2nd	RU
2003–04	2. HNL South	32	18	8	6	59	33	62	1st ↑	QF
2004–05	1. HNL	32	7	14	11	28	31	35	10th	QF	Josip Jerneić, Vedran Stošić	6
2005–06	1. HNL	32	13	6	13	44	36	45	7th	R1	Stiven Rivić	12
2006–07	1. HNL	33	6	11	16	28	40	29	11th ↓	R1	Marko Radas, Almir Halilović	5
2007–08	2. HNL	30	17	7	6	42	14	58	3rd	R1	Saša Šest	8
2008–09	2. HNL	30	18	6	6	46	20	60	1st ↑	R1	Mohamed Kalilou Traoré	9
2009–10	1. HNL	30	9	8	13	31	40	35	11th	R2	Asim Šehić	15
2010–11	1. HNL	30	9	4	17	24	44	31	15th	QF	Siniša Linić	5

Key

1st	2nd	↑	↓
Champions	Runners-up	Promoted	Relegated

Top scorer shown in bold when he was also top scorer for the division.

• P = Played
• W = Games won
• D = Games drawn
• L = Games lost
• F = Goals for
• A = Goals against
• Pts = Points
• Pos = Final position

• 1. HNL = Prva HNL
• 2. HNL = Druga HNL
• 3. HNL = Treća HNL

• PR = Preliminary round
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals
• RU = Runners-up
• W = Winners

Current squad

As of 26 February 2012

Istra 1961 in action at Stadion Aldo Drosina

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Ivan Mance 3 DF Hrvoje Milić 4 DF Slobodan Stranatić 5 DF Mateo Sušić 6 DF Nikola Prelčec 7 MF Mislav Anđelković 8 MF Stipe Bačelić-Grgić 9 MF Vedran Jerković 10 FW Sandi Križman 11 FW Goran Roce 12 GK Andrej Prskalo 13 MF Kristijan Batelić 14 FW Henry Belle

No. Position Player 16 DF Fausto Budicin (captain) 17 DF Ivan Zgrablić 18 MF Ante Batarelo 19 MF Alen Pamić 20 MF Andrea Ottochian 22 DF Ivor Horvat 23 MF Luka Marić 25 DF Tomislav Barbarić 26 FW Karlo Primorac 28 DF Jurica Karabatić 29 MF Tomislav Havojić MF Stiven Rivić

Honours

• Croatian Second Division:
  • Winners (2): 2003-04, 2008-09
• Croatian Third Division:
  • Winners (1): 2000-01
• Croatian Cup:
  • Runners up: 2002-03

Notable players

• Asim Šehić
• Nikola Kalinić
• Manuel Pamić
• Stiven Rivić
• Mohamed Kalilou Traoré
• Marjan Marković

Managers

• Krunoslav Jurčić (2005–06)
• Nenad Gračan (2007)
• Elvis Scoria (2007–09)
• Milivoj Bračun
• Zoran Vulić (February 2010–May 10)
• Ante Miše (May 2010–August 10)
• Robert Jarni (August 2010–September 10)
• Zoran Vulić (September 2010–March 11)
• Igor Pamić (2011–)

External links

• Official website (Croatian)
• Istra 1961 profile at UEFA.com
• Istra 1961 profile at Sportnet.hr (Croatian)
• Istra 1961 profile at Nogometni magazin (Croatian)