NK Istra 1961

Not to be confused with NK Istra.

NK Istra 1961

Full name	Nogometni klub Istra 1961
Nickname(s)	Verudeži, Zeleno-žuti ("green-yellow")
Founded	1948
Ground	Stadion Veruda Pula, Croatia (Capacity: 3,000)
Chairman	Darko Jergović
Manager	Elvis Scoria
League	Prva HNL
2008–09	Druga HNL, 1st (promoted)
Home colours Away colours

NK Istra 1961 is a football club from Pula, Croatia. It currently plays in the Croatian First Division, after wining the promotion from Second Division in 2008-09.

The football club NK Uljanik from which the club was made was founded in 1948. In 1961 it joins with another local club NK Pula into NK Istra, the same year is considered the club's founding year. The greatest club success was in the season 2002-2003 against Hajduk Split when it competed in the finals of the Croatian Cup. In the season 2004-2005 the club changes its name into NK Pula 1856, because in the year 1856, the Austro-Hungarian Empire made Pula the port of its arsenal, and the shipyard Uljanik was opened. It competes in the First Croatian League that year. In 2005 it was renamed again to NK Pula Staro Češko due to a sponsorship contract with the brewery Daruvarska pivovara - Staro Češko is a beer brand. A year later the name was once again changed to NK Pula. In summer 2007 the club changed its name once again, to NK Istra 1961, fifth year in a row. The change of name came after an ultimatium from the local fans Demons who said the club will have their support only if the club changes its name and club colors to colors of city of Pula (yellow and green).

Its crest features the city's Roman Arena, as well as the old team crest.

Pula play their home matches at Stadion Veruda which has a capacity of 3,000.

League and Cup results

• ¹ In seasons 1995/96 and 1996/97 Druga HNL was the third highest league in Croatia

Matches in Prva HNL

Source^[1]

All-time total in the Prva HNL

Current squad

Istra 1961 in action at Stadion Veruda

No. Position Player 1 GK Robert Lisjak 3 DF Hasan Kacić 5 DF Andro Švrljuga 7 MF Mislav Anđelković 8 MF Paolo Grbac 9 FW Goran Roce 10 MF Marko Kepčija 12 GK Igor Lovrić 13 DF Dalibor Božac 14 DF Dalibor Pauletić 15 DF Goran Barišić

No. Position Player 19 FW Marijan Nikolić 21 GK Dean Perković 22 FW Ševko Okić 24 MF Dragan Tadić 25 DF Nikola Prelčec 27 FW Asim Šehić 28 MF Mohamed Kalilou Traoré TBD DF Dario Mijatović TBD MF Dragan Župan TBD FW Tonći Kukoč

Honours

• Croatian Second Division:
  • Winners (2): 2003-04, 2008-09

• Croatian Third Division:
  • Winners (1): 2000-01

• Croatian Cup:
  • Runners up: 2002-03

References

External links

• Official Website (Croatian)
• Soccerway profile (English)