football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
. The club was established under the name ''Orient'' in 1919. They compete in the
Croatian Second Football League
The Druga nogometna liga ( eng, Second football league), commonly Druga NL or 2. NL) is the third tier of the football league system. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Cro ...
. It is a
phoenix club
The Phoenix Building and Cincinnati Club are two historic buildings in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The membership of these two clubs was chiefly Jewish.
Located at 812 Race Street, the Phoenix Building was constructed in 1893, desi ...
of NK Orijent which ceased activities in 2014 due to financial difficulties. The club is resurrected the same year under the new name, HNK Orijent 1919, but in September 2022 club assembly decided to bring back an old name, HNK Orijent.
History
''Orient''
The club was founded in 1919 in Sušak, eastern part of the present day city of
Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
, under the name ''Jugoslavenski Športski Klub Orient''.At the time, Sušak was predominantly Croatian, while
Fiume
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
, the western part of the city, was predominantly
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
. According to the legend, during his time on journey to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, one of the club's founders saw a ship named ''Orient'' in the
New York Harbor
New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...
. After he came back, he suggested the new club to be named ''Orient'', a suggestion which was later accepted. Although Orijent spent most of its history in lower tiers of Yugoslav and Croatian football, it was and still is popular among Sušak's population.
The club's greatest success came in 1969 when they were the champions of
Yugoslav Second League
Yugoslav or Yugoslavian may refer to:
* Yugoslavia, or any of the three historic states carrying that name:
** Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a European monarchy which existed 1918–1945 (officially called "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes" 1918–1 ...
's Division West but were unable to win promotion through playoff. Orijent and city rivals
Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
contested numerous derbies during the early 1970s. Other notable successes were quarter-finals of
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup ( hr, Pokal Jugoslavije; sr, Куп Југославије; sl, Pokal Jugoslavije, mk, Куп на Југославија), officially known between 1923 and 1940 as the King Alexander Cup ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Kup kralja Aleksandra, ...
in 1980–81 and 1982–83. Orijent played top tier football only once, during the season 1996–97 when they finished 14th and were relegated.
In June 2014, the club was liquidated due to its inability to service mounting debts. Shortly thereafter, the club was re-established and admitted to the fifth tier of the
Croatian football league system
The Croatian football league system is a series of connected leagues for club football in Croatia. This system has hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels. Last revision of league system was made in 2 ...
for the start of the 2014–15 campaign. Over the following five seasons, they gained promotion on three occasions, reaching the
Croatian Second Football League
The Druga nogometna liga ( eng, Second football league), commonly Druga NL or 2. NL) is the third tier of the football league system. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Cro ...
As regimes changed, Orijent was often forced to change its name. At various stages of its history the club was known as ''Jedinstvo'', ''Primorac'', ''Primorje'' and ''Budućnost''. Finally, from 1953 onwards, the club carries the original name, ''Orijent'' in various forms (NK Orijent, HNK Orijent 1919, HNK Orijent).
In June 2014, the club was liquidated and shortly thereafter re-established under the new name, HNK Orijent 1919. In September 2022 club assembly decided to rename the club by leaving out 1919 as a year of its original formation, while the club emblem was decided to remain the same. The new name entered official HNS register on 6 October 2022.
Honours
*
Yugoslav Second League
Yugoslav or Yugoslavian may refer to:
* Yugoslavia, or any of the three historic states carrying that name:
** Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a European monarchy which existed 1918–1945 (officially called "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes" 1918–1 ...
Winner (1):
**1968–69 (West)
*
Croatian Republic Football League
Croatian Republic Football League ( hr, Hrvatska republička nogometna liga) was the highest football league in Croatia within the Yugoslav football system. During the time of SFR Yugoslavia, it was third level league for most of the time and the ...
Druga HNL
The Prva nogometna liga ( en, First football league), commonly Prva NL or 1. NL, is the second tier of the football league system in Croatia. The league was formed in 1991 with the breakup of Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Yugoslav Second ...
First League of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
The First League of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County or Prva županijska nogometna liga Primorsko-goranske županije (Croatian), or simply 1. ŽNL Primorsko-goranska, is the sixth level league in the Croatian football league system. The league was f ...
Winner (1):
**2014–15
*
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup ( hr, Pokal Jugoslavije; sr, Куп Југославије; sl, Pokal Jugoslavije, mk, Куп на Југославија), officially known between 1923 and 1940 as the King Alexander Cup ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Kup kralja Aleksandra, ...
Croatian Football Cup
The Hrvatski nogometni kup ( eng, Croatian football cup), also colloquially known as Rabuzinovo sunce (), is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after th ...
Marcel Žigante
Marcel Žigante (1929 – 8 March 2015) was a Yugoslav and later Croatian professional football manager and former player.
Playing career
Born in Rijeka, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, present day Croatia, Žigante's football career began in a small cl ...
(1973 – 74)
*
Josip Skoblar
Josip Skoblar (born 12 March 1941) is a Croatian former professional football player and manager. He was primarily a forward, and also capable of playing on both wings.
He played for Zadar, OFK Belgrade, Hannover 96, Marseille and NK Rijeka. W ...
Miloš Hrstić
Miloš Hrstić (born 20 November 1955) is a Croatian football coach and former player. During his club career he played for HNK Rijeka, Deportivo de La Coruña and Olimpija Ljubljana. He earned ten caps for the Yugoslavia national team, and ...
(1988 – 89)
*
Velimir Naumović
Velimir Naumović Serbian Cyrillic: Beлимиp Haумoвић (19 March 1936 in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia – 19 December 2011) was a Serbian striker who played for SFR Yugoslavia national football team, SFR Yugoslavia. He was often call ...
(1989 – 91)
*
Mladen Vranković
Mladen Vranković (2 July 1937 – 11 February 2021) was a Croatian football player and manager.
Career
Born in Rtina, he played for his hometown club, HNK Rijeka, for eight seasons, collecting 350 caps. He also spent three years in the North A ...
(1991 – 92)
*
Ivica Šangulin
Ivica Šangulin (20 April 1937 – 5 May 2012) was a Croatian football player and manager.
Career
Born in Biograd na Moru, he spent his early years with Šibenik, before moving on to Dinamo Zagreb for one season. He left a big mark with HNK Rije ...
(1992 – 94)
* Predrag Stilinović (1995 – 96)
*
Boris Tičić
Boris Tičić (born 22 May 1957) is a Croatian football defender and later manager.
Playing career
Tičić played for HNK Orijent, Orijent before joining local rivals HNK Rijeka, Rijeka. He played for them in the famous home win over Real Madrid ...
(July 1996 – March 97)
*
Drago Mamić
Drago Mamić (born February 9, 1954) is a Serbian-born Croatian retired football player and manager.
Managerial career
He last managed Bangladesh Premier League side Saif Sporting Club. He is also the former manager of Maldives. He has a UEFA ...
(July 1997 – March 97)
*
Ilija Lončarević
Ilija Lončarević (born 8 October 1944) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Croatian Second Football League club Kustošija.
Managerial career
Lončarević led Inker Zaprešić to t ...
(March 1997 – June 97)
*
Rodion Gačanin
Rodion Gačanin is a Croatian association football coach.
Managerial statistics
Honours
;Bahrain Riffa Club
*Bahraini Premier League: 2002-03 2004-05
*Bahraini FA Cup: 2004
*Bahraini Crown Prince Cup: 2002, 2003, 2004
;Al Kuwait Kaifan
* ...
Fausto Budicin
Fausto Budicin (born 1 May 1981) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who was most recently manager of Croatian First Football League club Rijeka
Managerial career
On 27 March 2019, Budicin was appointed new manager ...