From second division to the European stage: The rise of ŽNK Hajduk Split
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
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Five years ago, women's football in Split was sustained by a small group of dedicated enthusiasts operating on modest resources. Today, ŽNK Hajduk Split are Croatian champions and competing on the European stage for the first time.
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It has been a remarkable rise for a team that, until 2021, competed as ŽNK Marjan. That year, HNK Hajduk Split officially integrated the club into its family, beginning a new chapter for women's football in the city.
Due to league regulations regarding club restructuring, the team was required to restart from the second division. Far from being a setback, it fuelled a story of impressive growth.
A rapid rise to the top
After securing promotion to the top tier in 2022, the team rapidly elevated its standard, carefully crafting a group built on character and team chemistry.
"Going from the second division to national champions and Europe in just five years is amazing," said Ozren Maršić, outgoing club director and former prominent sports journalist. "The turning point was the arrival of head coach Damir 'Šeki' Matulović two years ago, who brought high-level standards from the men's game.
"People often asked who our best player was, but we realised we don't have just one star – our best player is the team. It is a finely tuned machine that works impeccably."
Last season, the Split side accomplished the historic milestone of winning their first Croatian championship title, breaking years of dominance by established powerhouse such as ŽNK Osijek, who have won the top flight 25 times.
"Winning the league with Hajduk was a dream come true for all of us," team captain Ana Bakalar said. "Every coffee, every conversation outside the pitch was centred around that one goal: what if we actually do it?
"When we mathematically secured the title, a huge weight lifted off our shoulders. We wrote history for this club, and anyone who understands what Hajduk means to this region knows how deeply special that moment was."
A new challenge in Europe
That domestic crown paved the way for Hajduk's debut on the continental stage.
After gaining invaluable experience in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifiers, Hajduk now continue their campaign in the UEFA Women's Europa Cup, which launched last season. The new competition offers emerging champions a platform to measure themselves against top international opposition.
For Bakalar, playing in Europe is the culmination of years of hard work, but the team's core identity remains unchanged.
"The introduction of the UEFA Women's Europa Cup is a massive step forward for the women's game," she said. "It bridges the gap by giving clubs like ours continuous European fixtures against high-level opponents.
"Even with better conditions and infrastructure now, the bond that drives us is still that same love for Hajduk and our togetherness. It allows us to keep testing our limits and show that Croatian clubs can compete on this stage."
One club, one identity
Behind this progress lies a clear organisational vision from the club's leadership.
"Our goal was never just to field a team, but to build a sustainable, respected professional environment," said Marinka Akrap, HNK Hajduk board member and marketing director.
"We provide equal structural support, healthcare, and marketing visibility because we believe in the genuine value of the women's game. We don't view our women's section as a side project, but as a core pillar of Hajduk's sporting identity."
Akrap highlights that true growth comes from creating lasting conditions for players to thrive.
"To narrow the gap in women's football, we must build a system where female athletes can focus entirely on their performance," Akrap added. "By fully integrating our marketing and commercial channels, we give these women the platform they deserve.
"When our players feature prominently in club campaigns and fan shops alongside the men's team, it sends a powerful message about equality and respect."
Indeed, the rise of ŽNK Hajduk has sparked a visible surge of interest across Dalmatia and Croatia. Match attendance is growing, and the club's visibility has reached new heights, further boosted by high-profile signings like Croatian national team forward Ana Maria Marković.
"The passion for Hajduk in Split is legendary, and seeing that same love now expanding to the women's team is incredible. We are helping inspire a whole new generation of young girls across Croatia to pick up a football."
Setting the standard
Looking to the future, Akrap underlines the ambition to establish Hajduk as a regional benchmark.
"We want ŽNK Hajduk to become a fully self-sustaining model and a beacon for women's sports across Southeast Europe," Akrap noted. "Our success isn't measured solely by trophies, but by the doors we open for future generations.
"When young girls see that they can pursue their football dreams right here in Split with full professional support, we know we are on the right path."
Hajduk's journey from the second tier to European nights stands as a lighthouse for Croatian football as a whole. In just five years, ŽNK Hajduk Split has proved that with vision, structure and unyielding passion, a local football dream can turn into a European reality.