Despite the red hot start for Hajduk this season, apparently not all good things can las in Split. Ivan Leko has found this out the hard way and quite fast. After picking up three losses in his last five league games, Hajduk and Leko have parted ways. Leko was a familiar face to the fans of Hajduk. During his playing career, he made 157 appearances and scored 36 goals for Hajduk during two spells at the club. However, his playing status would not be enough to keep his job. Poor results and the fact that the fans had lost faith in Leko as manager showed that this decision was not far around the corner. Surprisingly though, Hajduk have already found a new manager. Mislav Karoglan has returned to Hajduk as their new manager since his last tenure back in 2022. The question on some peoples minds is: just exactly who is Karoglan?
Mislav Karoglan managed Hajduk briefly in the winter of 2022, where he went 7-3-0 in 10 matches. More recently Karoglan managed Istra this season for three matches. Notably during that reign, Istra got their only point with Karoglan in a 4-4 thrilling draw against Osijek. He also had odd-end managerial jobs with clubs like Zadar and Croatia Zmijavci.
Karoglan got his start with Hajduk in their academy system in 2019 when he was an appointed U-17 manager. He held this position for two years until he was promoted to assistant coach in 2021. He served this duty until the winter of 2022 where he was given the helm after Valdas Dambrauskas was sacked.
Karoglan had an unorthodox playing career. He struggled to find form in countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Israel and Slovakia. He never found his stride until late in his career where he became an influential player in Singapore. During his spell at Warriors FC in Singapore Karoglan scored 66 goals in 98 matches. Overall it seems Karoglan’s connections at Hajduk have paid off as he has been given a second chance to come back and manage the club; this time with far higher stakes. Karoglan will start his campaign off lightly with his opening three matches being against Slaven Belupo, NK Jadran Luka Ploče (Cup match), and Rudeš. The speed in which Karoglan was announced makes it seem as if he was a planned back-up for Leko. The only question for Karoglan: can handle the interim manager role this time around with a lot more riding on Hajduk’s success?
As I was calling before the last two matches for simic
As much as these losses sucked
It’s gonna push Dalić hand a bit
I just think he can bring that young energy
We need to get that hungry aggressive press as others have been doing that to us
I realize you need these kind of guys but that’s a young man’s game to press hard
I think simic is one of those types with a decent talent level
Great to hear sucic is back and let’s hope he is young enough, smart and lucky enough to recover from this injury fully one day
Luka Modric in the starting lineup.
Musa starting today! Musa will improve. Give him time. He is 25 but a late developer. Remember Jelavic or Prso. At 25 Jelavic was still playing in the Austrian Bundesliga. And Prso really didn’t get mins with Monaca until he was 25.
I’d be happy enough if he turned out somewhere like Them
Simic and Sucic looking good 15 minutes in vs Inter
Online (espnfc) it says Sucic is playing op top alongside Simic. Is that accurate?
Looks a bit more right wing and Simic alone up top
Agreed.
Simic looks great. Sucic with a long pass from halfway line. Simic somehow controlled it. And gets a hockey assist on the Salzburg goal. Love seeing Simic pressing. Mandzukic-like.
Sucic playing a bit more centrally now.
what game were you watching. Sucic was good but not great. Simic was one of the worst players for Salzburg.
Lost 4 of last 6. Yes they started 5-0, but wasn’t he suspended for 3 of those games?
Agree with the move
Roko Šimić and Luka Sučić both starting for RB Salzburg vs Inter today. Hopefully the boys do well…I’m sure Dalic will be watching.
The wheels have fallen off. It looked so promising for a while.
Leko had to go after 4 losses in last 6 matches. Should have been replaced a few weeks back when Hajduk lost to Istra at home. With Dinamo struggling this season, and beaten twice by Hajduk already one would think that Hajduk should have taken advantage of the situation and be leading the HNL by ten points or so.
Leko was a defensive coach and relying too much on Livaja who is in awful form at the moment. Good luck to Karoglan.
They should have gone after Goran Tomić
Livaja is injured and has been for more than a month. I think that is the reason for the poor form. Hajduk have no wings. The best wing is Livaja. He cant pass to himself.