Football is the most popular sport, both in terms of participants and spectators, in Zagreb. Zagreb has several of Croatia's significant football clubs.
Introduction GNK Dinamo Zagreb is Zagreb's most successful club.
Maksimir Stadium, Dinamo's home ground is located in the city centre. It is also the home venue of the Croatia national football team.
History Football was popularized in Zagreb by Franjo Bučar in the late 19th century. The earliest clubs were founded before World War I - HAŠK and PNIŠK in 1903, Concordia in 1906 and Građanski in 1911. First league competition in Croatia started in Zagreb in 1912. After World War I Zagreb clubs joined the Yugoslav First League, with Građanski, Concordia and HAŠK becoming yugoslav champions. In 1945 old clubs were dissolved and new, the likes of Dinamo, Zagreb and Lokomotiva, were founded by the socialist regime. Dinamo later became four time champion of Yugoslavia.
Clubs The table below lists all Zagreb clubs.
Active Club Founded Dinamo 1945 Dubrava 1945 HAŠK 1990 Hrvatski Dragovoljac 1975 Jarun 1921 Kustošija 1929 Lokomotiva 1914 Lučko 1931 Rudeš 1957 Trešnjevka 1926 Zagreb 1908
Defunct Club Years Concordia 1906-1945 Croatia Sesvete 1957-2012 Croatia Zagreb 1907-1945 Ferraria 1922-1945 Građanski 1911-1945 HAŠK 1903-1945 Ilirija 1909-1941 PNIŠK 1903-1909 Viktorija 1907-1945 Zagrebački Plavi 1945-1980
Honours Croatian Football Champions (22) Dinamo (21) Zagreb (1) Yugoslav Football Champions (12) Građanski (5) Dinamo (4) Concordia (2) HAŠK (1) Croatian Cup (15) Dinamo (15) Yugoslav Cup (8) Dinamo (7) Građanski (1) Croatian Super Cup (6) Dinamo (6)
Zagreb derbies There were major Zagreb derbies before World War II between Građanski, HAŠK and Concordia. In the period from 1945 until 1960 the main city derby was between Dinamo and Lokomotiva.
Stadia Stadion Kranjčevićeva Stadion Maksimir Stadion Lučko Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić Stadion ŠC Rudeš
See also Football in Croatia
References Zagreb in Football Lexicon