Hajduk homecoming for Pudar
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Article summary
After Zoran Vulić brought an end to his fourth spell in charge of the Croatian Prva Liga club, Ivan Pudar has been unveiled as head coach of HNK Hajduk Split.
Article body
After Zoran Vulić brought an end to his fourth spell in charge of the Croatian club, Ivan Pudar has been unveiled as head coach of HNK Hajduk Split.
Pula surprise
Vulić parted company with Hajduk in the wake of a surprise 1-0 home defeat by NK Pula 1856 for the Prva Liga's second-placed team on Saturday - a reverse that was all the more keenly felt following the recent Croatian Cup semi-final loss to NK Dinamo Zagreb. The board of directors moved quickly to replace Vulić on Tuesday, unanimously voting in HNK Šibenik boss Pudar.
Hajduk homecoming
Pudar, a celebrated goalkeeper with Hajduk during the 1980s, returns to the side he served both as youth coach (from 1998-2002) and as assistant coach for a season during Slaven Bilić's reign. In his first campaign as a head coach in the Croatian top flight, the 45-year-old has guided little-known Šibenik to fourth place in the table. "It would be great if I could repeat my achievements with Šibenik at Hajduk," he said. "Everything happened very quickly but I am sure I can pull Hajduk out of their crisis." Pudar has been succeeded at Šibenik by his No2 Anel Karabeg.
