| |
The first edition of the Laws of the Game in the Croatian language were published in 1896 in Zagreb. While composing newer and more sufficient rules, Dr. Milovan Zoricic directly approached the English Football Association asking for some professional assistance.
Hence, the Rules were published in 1908, together with the explanations and directions obtained.
In the beginning, football was played in the frame of gymnastics organization called “Croatian Hawk”. The first Croatian sports club that emphasized the word “football” in its name was the First Football and Sports Club (PNISK – FF&SC) “Zagreb”, founded in 1903.
|
| |
 |
Even before the World War I, in 1913, team of English Northern Universities “Northern University” toured the continental part of Europe and played in Bohemia, Hungary, Germany and Croatia. The team won first three matches, but in Zagreb, where they played against Croatian Academic Club HASK, they were defeated with the result of 0:1!
Immediately after the end of the World War I, team of “Hajduk” from Split played several football matches against teams of sailors from the English military ships, anchored in the Adriatic. In the first half of the year 1918, the club from Split defeated the team from the English military ship “Shelldracke”. Moreover, they scored favorable results against other teams, although there where even professional football players among English sailors. Out of four matches against “Diamond”, “Hajduk” ended three in its favour.
In 1914, professional coaches from England came to Croatia. James Donelly and Arthur Gaskhell, who were the coaches in “Gradanski”, club that in 1936 defeated famous Liverpool with the result of 5:1, under the guidance of Hungarian coach Martin Bukovi, are certainly worth mentioning. |
