NK Lokomotiva Zagreb

Lokomotiva

Full name	Nogometni klub Lokomotiva Zagreb (Lokomotiva Zagreb Football Club)
Nickname(s)	Lokosi
Short name	LOK
Founded	1 May 1914;110 years ago (1914-05-01) as ŽŠK Victoria
Ground	Stadion Kranjčevićeva
Capacity	5,350 [1]
President	Miroslav Gluhinić
Head coach	Silvijo Čabraja
League	SuperSport HNL
2022–23	SuperSport HNL, 7th of 10
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Nogometni klub Lokomotiva Zagreb (English: Lokomotiva Zagreb Football Club), commonly known as Lokomotiva Zagreb or simply Lokomotiva, is a Croatian professional football club based in Zagreb. It competes in the Croatian First Football League, the country's top division. Founded in 1914, the club's only period of success came in the late 1940s and early 1950s before spending most of the following five decades in lower-level leagues.

Between 2007 and 2009 they won three consecutive promotions to rise from the fourth level to the first in the Croatian football league system. They hosted their home matches at Stadion Maksimir for a couple of years before moving to Stadion Kranjčevićeva, as their own ground Igralište na Kajzerici in the Novi Zagreb's Kajzerica neighbourhood is unsuitable for the top-level football.

History

NK Lokomotiva was founded as ŽŠK Victoria (Željezničarski športski klub "Victoria") in 1914.

After World War I, the name of the club was changed to Željezničar, under which they competed between the two wars. At that time, they were mostly in the shadow of the city's bigger clubs Građanski, Concordia and HAŠK. They played in the first level only in the 1940–41 season.

In 1945, the club was renamed Lokomotiva and soon their most productive years followed. They continuously played for 8 seasons (1947–1955) in the Yugoslav First League with the best league result in 1952, when they finished third, behind Hajduk Split and Red Star Belgrade. ^[2] Some of the players at that time were Vladimir Čonč, Vladimir Firm, Drago Hmelina, Franjo Beserdi and Oto Bobek, younger brother of legendary Stjepan Bobek. They won Yugoslav Second League in 1956, but were relegated again from the First League in the summer of 1957 and never returned to the Yugoslav top flight again. They played in the Yugoslav Second League until 1970 and then also in the Yugoslav Inter-Republic League in the last years before the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

After Croatian independence and the formation of the Prva HNL in 1991, Lokomotiva played in the lower leagues of Croatian football, mostly spending their time in the Treća HNL. In 2006, before relegation to the fourth division, Lokomotiva became the feeder team for Dinamo Zagreb. This sparked a story of one of the most incredible rises through the leagues in Croatian football. Lokomotiva gained promotion in each of the next three season, finishing first in the Četvrta HNL in the 2006–07 season, second in the Treća HNL in the 2007–08 season, and third in the Druga HNL in the 2008–09 season.

The promotion from the second to the first division of Croatian football in 2009 meant that in the 2009–10 season, Lokomotiva would be back in the top flight for the first time after 52 years. The side recovered from a poor start in the league and finished in a respectable 8th position out of 16 teams, with notable victories 4–2 away against NK Zagreb, home 3–0 over Rijeka, and 2–1 over Hajduk Split. Their top scorer, Nino Bule, finished with 14 goals.

Due to rules against second sides being in the same division, they legally split their connection to Dinamo Zagreb. To meet the criteria for the Prva HNL, they played their games at Stadion Maksimir before moving on to Stadion Kranjčevićeva which is now the club's home. ^[3] The club's base and youth teams area are located in Kajzerica neighborhood, at a ground known as Igralište na Kajzerici, which itself was a prominent motorcycle speedway stadium in the 1960s. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The 2012–13 season was one of the best in recent history for Lokomotiva. They finished in second place ahead of clubs such as Rijeka, Hajduk Split and RNK Split. Young star Andrej Kramarić, on loan from Dinamo Zagreb, finished second in the scoring charts with 15 goals. With the second-place finish, Lokomotiva qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. In their first European encounter, the side faced FC Dinamo Minsk, losing on the away goals rule after winning 2–1 away from home, but losing 3–2 at home.

Lokomotiva established itself as a 1. HNL side, finishing between 4th and 6th place for the next six seasons. The club managed its first European aggregate victory over Airbus UK Broughton F.C. in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League and navigating three stages of qualifying rounds in the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League, before losing 4–2 to Belgian Pro League side K.R.C. Genk in the playoff round.

In the 2019–20 season, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lokomotiva had the best season in its history, finishing in second place in the league ^[7] and finishing as runners-up in the Croatian Football Cup, losing 1–0 to Rijeka in the final. ^[8] With Croatia's improved UEFA Ranking, this meant that Lokomotiva went into the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time in its history, where it drew SK Rapid Wien in the second qualifying round. ^[9]

Name changes

• ŽŠK Victoria (1914–1919)
• ŠK Željezničar (1919–1941)
• HŽŠK (1941–1945)
• FD Lokomotiva (1945–1946)
• FD Crvena Lokomotiva (1946–1947)
• NK Lokomotiva (1947–present)

Honours

Croatian football league system

• Croatian First League
  • Runners-up (2): 2012–13, 2019–20
• Croatian Second League
  • Third place (1): 2008–09
• Croatian Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2012–13, 2019–20

Yugoslav football league system

• Yugoslav First League
  • Third place (1): 1952
• Yugoslav Second League
  • Champions (1): 1955–56
  • Runners-up (2): 1957–58, 1958–59

Crest and colours

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor	Ref
2014-15	Nike	-	[10]
2015-17		Crodux
2017-19		-
2019-22	Adidas	-
2022-23	Macron	-
2023-24		Favbet

Players

Current squad

As of 16 March 2024 ^[11]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   CRO Nikola Čavlina 3 DF   CRO Matej Matić 4 DF   CRO Marin Leovac 5 DF   ALB Jon Mersinaj 7 MF   CRO Silvio Goričan 8 MF   CRO Robert Mudražija 9 FW   CRO Duje Čop 10 MF   CRO Fabijan Krivak 12 GK   CRO Krunoslav Hendija 13 MF   BIH Blaž Bošković 14 MF   BIH Mateo Marić 15 DF   KOS Art Smakaj 16 FW   KOS Lirim Kastrati (on loan from Fehérvár) 17 FW   MKD Dashmir Elezi

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 FW   CRO Antonio Baždarić 19 FW   CRO Marin Šotiček 20 DF   CRO Branimir Kalaica 21 FW   CRO Viktor Kanižaj 22 DF   CRO Karlo Bartolec 23 MF   ALB Feta Fetai 24 FW   MNE Balša Tošković 26 DF   CRO Fran Žilinski 27 DF   CRO Marko Vranjković 28 FW   CRO Ivan Canjuga 29 MF   MNE Vladan Bubanja 30 DF   CRO Ivan Kukavica 31 GK   CRO Zvonimir Šubarić

Dual registration

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF   CRO Matej Matić(at Jarun) 10 MF   CRO Fabijan Krivak(at Jarun) 13 MF   BIH Blaž Bošković(at Jarun) 26 DF   CRO Fran Žilinski(at Jarun)

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK   CRO Duje Biuk(at Jarun) — DF   CRO Ivor Ribar(at Karlovac 1919) — FW   CRO Marko Batur(at Karlovac 1919) — FW   CRO Lovro Stanić(at Karlovac 1919)

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 11 MF   CRO Lukas Kačavenda (at Dinamo Zagreb until 20 June 2024) 21 MF   CRO Gabriel Groznica(at Koper until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF   CRO Vinko Bičanić(at Jarun until 14 June 2024) — MF   CRO Luka Išlić(at Kustošija until 14 June 2024)

Recent seasons

Season	League									Cup	European competitions		Top league scorer
	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos				Player	Goals
2006–07	4. HNL	30	25	2	3	94	31	77	1st ↑				Jurica Jeleć	16
2007–08	3. HNL	34	28	2	4	105	32	86	2nd ↑				Robert Mesić	34
2008–09	2. HNL	30	18	5	7	50	30	59	3rd ↑				Mateo Poljak	8
2009–10	1. HNL	30	12	6	12	35	38	42	8th				Nino Bule	14
2010–11	1. HNL	30	8	9	13	24	37	33	14th	R1			Nino Bule	11
2011–12	1. HNL	30	12	8	10	33	33	44	7th				Andrej Kramarić	5
2012–13	1. HNL	33	16	9	8	54	38	57	2nd	RU			Andrej Kramarić	15
2013–14	1. HNL	36	15	7	14	57	59	52	5th		Europa League	QR2	Ante Budimir	14
2014–15	1. HNL	36	13	7	16	59	68	46	4th	QF			Domagoj Pavičić	8
2015–16	1. HNL	36	16	4	16	56	53	52	4th	QF	Europa League	QR2	Franko Andrijašević	12
2016–17	1. HNL	36	12	8	16	41	38	44	5th	QF	Europa League	PO	Josip Ćorić	6
2017–18	1. HNL	36	14	9	13	47	48	51	5th	SF			Lovro Majer	11
2018–19	1. HNL	36	13	10	13	51	43	49	6th	QF			Dejan Radonjić	8
2019–20	1. HNL	36	19	8	9	57	38	65	2nd	RU			Lirim Kastrati Marko Tolić	11
2020–21	1. HNL	36	7	9	20	29	60	30	8th	R2	Champions League	QR2	Josip Pivarić	6
											Europa League	QR3
2021–22	1. HNL	36	12	13	11	55	50	49	5th	QF			Marko Dabro	13
2022–23	1. HNL	36	11	10	15	45	50	43	7th	QF			Sandro Kulenović	9

European record

Summary

Competition	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Last season played
UEFA Champions League	1	0	0	1	0	1
UEFA Cup UEFA Europa League	15	7	4	4	27	28
Total	16	7	4	5	27	29

Source: uefa.com, Last updated on 7 September 2022
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.

Record by season

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Agg
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	QR2	Dinamo Minsk	2–3	2–1	4–4 (a)
2015–16	UEFA Europa League	QR1	Airbus UK Broughton	2–2	3–1	5–3
		QR2	PAOK	2–1	0–6	2–7
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	QR1	UE Santa Coloma	4–1	3–1	7–2
		QR2	RoPS Rovaniemi	3–0	1–1	4–1
		QR3	FC Vorskla Poltava	0–0	3–2	3–2
		PO	KRC Genk	2–2	0–2	2–4
2020–21	UEFA Champions League	QR2	Rapid Wien	0–1
	UEFA Europa League	QR3	Malmö FF		0–5

Personnel

Coaching staff

Position	Staff
Coach	Silvijo Čabraja
Assistant coaches	Damir Ferenčina Renato Šaka
Goalkeeping coach	Darko Horvat
Fitness Coach	Marko Sukreški
Doctors	Miroslav Gluhinić Frane Bukvić
Technical director	Igor Cvetković
Physiotherapists	Igor Bartolović Marko Grubić Ivan Rendulić

Last updated: 31 July 2021
Source: NK Lokomotiva official website

Historical list of coaches

• Bogdan Cuvaj (1946–1952)
• August Bivec
• Slavko Kodrnja
• Mirko Kokotović
• Hermenegildo Kranjc
• Ivan Medarić
• Sreten Ćuk (2007 – Dec 30, 2008)
• Ilija Lončarević (Jan 1, 2009 – Mar 6, 2009)
• Željko Pakasin (C) (Mar 7, 2009 – Apr 29, 2009)
• Roy Ferenčina (Apr 29, 2009 – Oct 3, 2010)
• Ljupko Petrović (Oct 3, 2010 – Mar 14, 2011)
• Krunoslav Jurčić (Mar 14, 2011 – May 26, 2011)
• Marijo Tot (Jun 1, 2011 – Oct 29, 2011)
• Ante Čačić (Oct 31, 2011 – Dec 23, 2011)
• Tomislav Ivković (Dec 23, 2011 – May 11, 2015)
• Marko Pinčić (C) (May 11, 2015 – Jun 3, 2015)
• Ante Čačić (Jun 3, 2015 – Sep 21, 2015)
• Sreten Ćuk (Sep 21, 2015 – May 30, 2016)
• Valentin Barišić (May 30, 2016 – Jul 6, 2016)
• Mario Tokić (C) (Jul 6, 2016 – Jul 25, 2016)
• Tomislav Ivković (Jul 25, 2016 – Nov 14, 2016)
• Mario Tokić (Nov 14, 2016 – Dec 5, 2017)
• Draženko Prskalo (C) (Dec 5, 2017 – Dec 27, 2017)
• Goran Tomić (Dec 27, 2017 – Jan 9, 2021)
• Jerko Leko (Jan 9, 2021 – Mar 13, 2021)
• Samir Toplak (Mar 14, 2021 – May 28, 2021)
• Silvijo Čabraja (Jun 8, 2021 –

References

1. "Stadion Kranjčevićeva". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
2. "Povijest" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva.
3. "Kranjcevic's no longer mocked, to the delight of Lokomotiva, Rudeš and all our first team players" (in Croatian). tportal.hr/. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
4. "Igralište Na Kajzerici". Play Maker Stats. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
5. "1960 World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
6. "1960 World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
7. "Arhiva sezone 2019/20 - Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga". prvahnl.hr. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
8. "Rijeka - Lokomotiva 1:0 - Hrvatski nogometni savez". hns-cff.hr. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
9. UEFA.com. "Draws | UEFA Champions League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
10. "NK Lokomotiva Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
11. "1. momčad – igrači" [First squad – players] (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

External links

• Official website (in Croatian)
• Lokomotiva profile at UEFA.com
• Lokomotiva profile at Sportnet.hr (in Croatian)