Istra 1961 represents Pula and the wider Istrian football tradition in Croatia. Founded in 1964, the club is associated with the green and yellow colors of the region and plays at Stadion Aldo Drosina. Its profile combines local identity with an international outlook, shaped by a youthful development model and links to the Baskonia-Alavés Group. This team page brings together the club’s recorded squad, coaching timeline, player movement, competition history and enduring cultural context.
Istra 1961 Upcoming matches by league
HNL
-
- Regular Season - 8
Istra 1961
HNK Gorica
Stadion Aldo Drosina -
- Regular Season - 9
NK OsijekNo H2HIstra 1961
Opus Arena -
- Regular Season - 10
NK Lokomotiva ZagrebNo H2HIstra 1961
Stadion Maksimir -
- Regular Season - 11
Istra 1961No H2HHNK Hajduk Split
Stadion Aldo Drosina
Istra 1961 Last matches by league
HNL
Cup
Friendlies Clubs
Istra 1961 Team Roster
The recorded roster contains 29 players: 10 midfielders, eight attackers, eight defenders and three goalkeepers. Goalkeeping depth includes F. Kolić, J. Paus-Kunšt and R. Banovac. The defensive group features A. Kadušić, M. Nasraoui, R. Hrvatin and S. Miettinen, while the midfield includes A. Maurić, D. Ahmeti, D. Doumbia, E. Frederiksen and J. Radošević. Attacking options include S. Goričan, V. Rozić, H. Jaganjac and S. Bangura. Shirt numbers range from 1 to 97, with several positions represented by a broad spread of squad numbers.
position Goalkeeper
position Defender
Mohamed Nasraoui
R. Kumar
Niko Šepić
Samuli Rasmus Miettinen
Rene Hrvatin
Filip Taraba
M. Momoh
Advan Kadušić
position Midfielder
Josip Radošević
Antonio Maurić
Dukan Ahmeti
Emil Frederiksen
S. Ukich
Gustavo Hidalgo Albarracín
N. Skafar Zuzic
M. Kablar
Daouda Doumbia
position Attacker
Vinko Rozić
Isaac Aguiar Tomich
Silvio Goričan
E. Sama
Dominik Celija
T. Brajkovic
Ivan Šaranić
Hamza Jaganjac
Last Istra 1961 Coachs
Gonzalo García is the most recent recorded coaching appointment, beginning on 1 January 2025; the available timeline does not establish that he holds the role. Earlier entries include Paolo Tramezzani from February to December 2024 and David Català from August 2023 to February 2024, with Sergej Banović and Mislav Karoglan also recorded in 2023.
Gonzalo Manuel García García
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzalo Manuel García García | Uruguay | 1 January 2025 | |
| Paolo Tramezzani | Italy | 1 February 2024 | 1 December 2024 |
| Sergej Banović | Croatia | 1 August 2023 | 1 August 2023 |
| David Català Jiménez | Spain | 1 August 2023 | 1 February 2024 |
| Mislav Karoglan | Croatia | 1 June 2023 | 1 August 2023 |
| Gonzalo Manuel García García | Uruguay | 1 June 2021 | 1 June 2023 |
| Fausto Budicin | Croatia | 1 August 2020 | 1 February 2021 |
| 1 August 2020 | |||
| Ivan Prelec | Croatia | 1 June 2019 | 1 August 2020 |
| Igor Cvitanović | Croatia | 1 March 2019 | 1 June 2019 |
| Krunoslav Rendulić | Croatia | 1 October 2018 | 1 March 2019 |
| Cristóbal Emilio Torres Ruíz | Spain | 1 September 2018 | 1 October 2018 |
| Manuel Márquez Roca | Spain | 1 June 2018 | 1 September 2018 |
| Darko Raić Sudar | Germany | 1 May 2017 | 1 June 2018 |
| Marijo Tot | Croatia | 1 February 2017 | |
| Darko Raić Sudar | Germany | 1 November 2016 | 1 December 2016 |
| Goran Tomić | Croatia | 1 July 2016 | 1 January 2017 |
| Andrej Panadić | Croatia | 1 February 2016 | 1 July 2016 |
| Zoran Vulić | Croatia | 6 October 2010 | 22 March 2011 |
| Robert Jarni | Croatia | 1 August 2010 | 1 September 2010 |
| Ante Miše | Croatia | 1 May 2010 | 1 August 2010 |
| Zoran Vulić | Croatia | 1 February 2010 | 20 May 2010 |
Istra 1961 Transfers
The recorded arrivals show a mix of recruitment and returning loan players. D. Doumbia joined from Feirense on 16 July 2026, while I. Šaranić arrived from Sesvete as a free agent on 30 June. B. Ilievski also arrived from Struga on that date. Loan returns included V. Koski from Alaves, S. Bangura from Siroki Brijeg and H. Jaganjac from Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, all recorded on 29 June. Earlier entries include E. Sama from Steve Biko, L. Štulac from Reggiana and S. Miettinen from KuPS, alongside loan activity. No fees are recorded for these moves.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac |
Hellas Verona
|
Loan | 19 August 2026 |
| D. Doumbia |
Feirense
|
Transfer | 16 July 2026 |
| B. Ilievski |
Struga
|
- | 30 June 2026 |
| I. Šaranić |
Sesvete
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| M. Bangura |
Siroki Brijeg
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| D. Rossi |
Uljanik
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| H. Jaganjac |
Zeljeznicar Sarajevo
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| S. Bangura |
Siroki Brijeg
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| V. Koski |
Alaves
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
Steve Biko
|
- | 28 February 2026 | |
| A. Obando |
Inter Miami
|
Loan | 16 February 2026 |
| A. Obando |
Barcelona SC
|
Loan | 16 February 2026 |
| L. Štulac |
Reggiana
|
Free agent | 16 February 2026 |
| G. AlbarracÃn |
Alaves
|
Loan | 3 February 2026 |
| S. Miettinen |
KuPS
|
Free agent | 28 January 2026 |
The recorded departures include transfers, free-agent exits, loans and loan-return entries. I. Ayuma went to Maritimo on loan on 1 August 2026, while Vigo Vujanic joined Jarun as a free agent on 29 July. S. Prevljak moved to Dinamo Zagreb and M. Heister to NK Osijek in July, both listed as transfers. L. Tomić moved to Torino U20, and L. Štulac joined Koper as a free agent. Ivan Bikic went to Primorje, while D. Marešić moved to HNK Hajduk Split and L. Róbertsson to IFK Varnamo. Loan-return entries also include A. Obando and Alejandro Agustín. No fees are recorded for these moves.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Bangura |
Radomlje
|
Transfer | 18 August 2026 |
| S. Bangura |
Radomlje
|
Transfer | 18 August 2026 |
| S. Bangura |
Radomlje
|
Transfer | 17 August 2026 |
| C. Agada |
Orijent 1919
|
Loan | 2 August 2026 |
| I. Ayuma |
Maritimo
|
Loan | 1 August 2026 |
| Vigo Vujanic |
Jarun
|
Free agent | 30 July 2026 |
| Vigo Vujanic |
Jarun
|
Free agent | 29 July 2026 |
| S. Prevljak |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
Transfer | 26 July 2026 |
| M. Heister |
NK Osijek
|
Free agent | 23 July 2026 |
| L. Tomić |
Torino U20
|
- | 19 July 2026 |
| L. Štulac |
Koper
|
Free agent | 16 July 2026 |
| L. Štulac |
Koper
|
Free agent | 15 July 2026 |
Primorje
|
Transfer | 13 July 2026 | |
| A. Obando |
Inter Miami
|
Return from loan | 12 July 2026 |
| A. Obando |
Barcelona SC
|
Return from loan | 12 July 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
Across the recorded movements available, Istra 1961 shows a busy period of squad change involving permanent transfers, free-agent arrivals, loans and returns from loan. The incoming list combines players arriving from Croatian and overseas clubs, with D. Doumbia, I. Šaranić, S. Miettinen and E. Frederiksen among the named additions, while several returning loanees add another route back into the squad. Departures include loans, free-agent exits and transfers to clubs in Croatia and abroad, including I. Ayuma, S. Prevljak, M. Heister and D. Marešić. The movement record therefore reflects several transaction types rather than a single pattern. The available list is not exhaustive, so the listed arrivals and departures should be treated as a dated selection of recorded activity, not a complete transfer balance. No amounts are recorded for the listed movements, preventing a meaningful financial comparison.
Leagues Istra 1961 has participated in
The club’s recorded competition profile includes HNL from 2016 through 2025 and Cup from 2018 through 2025. Both are recent entries, while no newer season is recorded. Friendlies Clubs appears from 2020 through 2025 as a recurring non-competitive fixture category. HNL is the league record and Cup the cup record; the participation history places Istra 1961 in Croatia’s senior club football structure without asserting a specific 2026-27 schedule or standing. The recorded competitions provide context for the club’s national schedule across recent seasons.
More about Istra 1961
Istra 1961, formally Nogometni klub Istra 1961, is a football club from Pula in Istria, Croatia. Founded in 1964, it belongs to a mid-century regional football tradition shaped by the peninsula’s local clubs and supporters. Its historical continuity is associated with predecessor institutions including NK Uljanik, while the Istra 1961 name gives the club a clear municipal and regional identity. Green and yellow are the defining colors, commonly expressed through the crest and the club’s match kits as a visual link with Pula and Istria.
The club’s home is Stadion Aldo Drosina in Pula. Named after a respected local player and manager, the stadium features a covered main stand and serves as a central football venue for the city. It is also the setting for the Demoni, Istra 1961’s committed supporter group. Their presence in the North Stand gives match days a strong local character and reinforces traditions around the club’s colors, symbols and representation of Istria.
Istra 1961 operates within the Baskonia-Alavés Group, a Basque football consortium that adds an international dimension to the club while its public identity remains rooted in Pula. The club is associated with a youthful squad model and a broad mix of international players, creating a developmental environment for emerging talent. Its regional youth academy provides a competitive pathway within Croatian age-group football.
In competition, HNL participation is recorded from 2016 through 2025 and Cup participation from 2018 through 2025, with club friendlies also recorded between 2020 and 2025. These entries reflect sustained involvement in Croatia’s national football ecosystem without establishing a specific 2026-27 standing or fixture list. Istra 1961’s enduring profile therefore rests on the combination of regional belonging, a distinctive stadium culture, youth development and international football links.
Last matches statistics for Istra 1961
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Istra 1961
2 - 1
Milton Keynes Dons
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Lecce
2 - 2
Istra 1961
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Istra 1961
2 - 3
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb
|
8 / 23 |
|
83 | 10 | - | 2 |
|
HNK Hajduk Split
2 - 2
Istra 1961
|
2 / 7 |
|
82 | 17 | 2 | 6 |
|
Istra 1961
3 - 0
NK Slaven Belupo
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
HNK Rijeka
3 - 2
Istra 1961
|
3 / 11 |
|
84 | 11 | 1 | 6 |
|
Istra 1961
2 - 2
Dinamo Zagreb
|
3 / 4 |
|
65 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
|
NK Varazdin
0 - 0
Istra 1961
|
2 / 9 |
|
0% | 14 | 3 | 4 |
|
Zagorec
0 - 5
Istra 1961
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Istra 1961
3 - 2
Rudes
|
4 / 11 |
|
0% | 13 | 1 | 3 |
Detailed statistics Istra 1961
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).