The Rijeka–Pula derby (), also called Derby della Učka (Derby del Monte Maggiore) is the name given to matches between

Rijeka Rijeka (; Fiume ( �fjuːme in Italian and in Fiuman dialect, Fiuman Venetian) is the principal seaport and the List of cities and towns in Croatia, third-largest city in Croatia. It is located in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County on Kvarner Ba ...

and Istra 1961. It is a regional derby between football clubs from Croatia's two largest northern coastal cities,

and

Pula Pula, also known as Pola, is the largest city in Istria County, west Croatia, and the List of cities and towns in Croatia, seventh-largest city in the country, situated at the southern tip of the Istria, Istrian peninsula in western Croatia, wi ...

. The teams are supported by their fanbases called

's Armada and

's Demoni.

History

The rivalry between Rijeka and Pula dates back to the days of

Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...

in the early 1920s, when numerous clubs from ''Fiume'' (Rijeka) and ''Pola'' (Pula) met at various levels of the Italian league system. The first official match between Rijeka and Pula took place on 25 June 1920, between ''Juventus Enea Fiume'' and ''US Polese''. While numerous Rijeka/Fiume (''Juventus Enea'', CS ''Olympia'', CS ''Gloria'', CS ''Fiume'', ''Veloce'', ''Magazzini Generali'') and Pula/Pola (''Polese'', ''Grion'', ''Edera'') regularly met during this period, the most notable rivalry existed between the leading club of each city,

U.S. Fiumana Unione Sportiva Fiumana or U.S. Fiumana was an Italian football club based in the present-day Croatian city of Rijeka and the predecessor of HNK Rijeka. The club was active between 1926 and 1945, at the time when the city was part of the Kingdom ...

(successor of Olympia and Gloria after 1926) and G.S.F. Giovanni Grion Pola. Between 1930 and 1943, these two clubs played 20 official matches, with

Fiumana Unione Sportiva Fiumana or U.S. Fiumana was an Italian football club based in the present-day Croatian city of Rijeka and the predecessor of HNK Rijeka. The club was active between 1926 and 1945, at the time when the city was part of the Kingdo ...

winning 11 and Grion 5 matches, alongside 4 draws. Following the end of World War II, the two cities became part of the

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

. Like all clubs in Yugoslavia, U.S. Fiumana got restructured into the more proletarian-friendly brand S.C.F. Quarnero in July 1946. The new regime decided to invite a club from the occupied

Julian March The Julian March ( Croatian and ), also called Julian Venetia (; ; ; ), is an area of southern Central Europe which is currently divided among Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia.

for the

1946–47 Yugoslav First League The 1946–47 Yugoslav First League season was the first season of the First Federal League ( sh-Latn, Prva savezna liga), the top level association football competition of SFR Yugoslavia, which ended the six-year period in which national footbal ...

and Quarnero was admitted after beating the short-lived Pula-based club USO (Unione Sportiva Operaia) in a two-legged play-off in August 1946. In late 1947 USO merged with another local club to form NK Pula, which survives today as

NK Istra Nogometni Klub Istra (), commonly referred to as NK Istra or simply Istra, is a Croatian football club based in the city of Pula. The club currently plays in the fifth level of the Croatian league system but Istra has also played in the Prva HNL ...

. The Quarnero was renamed to

NK Rijeka Hrvatski nogometni klub Rijeka (), commonly referred to as HNK Rijeka, is a Croatian professional association football club from the city of Rijeka. HNK Rijeka competes in Croatia's top division, Supersport HNL, of which they have been members ...

in June 1954. During this period Rijeka spent most seasons playing in the

Yugoslav First League The Yugoslav First League ( Bosnian: Prva savezna liga u fudbalu, sr-Cyrl-Latn, Прва савезна лига у фудбалу, Prva savezna liga u fudbalu, , , , , ) was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941) ...

, while Pula clubs played in the lower tiers. Until the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991, Rijeka played 21 official fixtures against Istra and Uljanik, mainly during its stay in the lower divisions in the 1950s and early 1970s, and in the

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

and 1978–79

Yugoslav Cup The Yugoslav Cup (; ; , ), officially known between 1923 and 1940 as the King Alexander Cup (; , and between 1947 and 1991 as the Marshal Tito Cup (; ; ; ), was one of two major association football, football competitions in Socialist Federal Re ...

. Two other clubs from Rijeka,

NK Orijent HNK Orijent is a football club from Sušak, the eastern part of the city of Rijeka, Croatia. The club was established under the name ''Orient'' in 1919. They currently compete in the 1. NL, the second tier of the Croatian football league syst ...

and NK Lučki Radnik met more frequently Istra and Uljanik in the lower tiers of Yugoslav football. Since

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

n independence, Istra joined Croatia's top tier, and local derbies became a regular feature. Between 1992 and 2000,

and Istra met on 17 occasions, with Rijeka winning on eight and Istra on six occasions, while three matches finished in a draw. Pula did not have a top-tier club between 2000 and 2004. In 2004, ''NK Pula 1856'', former ''Uljanik'', was promoted to

Prva HNL The Hrvatska nogometna liga (; ), abbreviated as HNL and also known for sponsorship reasons as the SuperSport HNL, is a professional association football league in Croatia and the highest level of the Croatian football league system. Establish ...

. In 2005, the club was renamed to ''NK Pula Staro Češko'', in 2006 to ''NK Pula'' and, finally, in summer 2007 to NK Istra 1961. Since July 2004, Istra 1961 and Rijeka have played 68 regional derbies, with Rijeka winning 44 and Istra 1961 8 games, while 16 matches ended in a draw.

Results

Last updated on 19 April 2025.

List of matches

Key

Note: Home team's score always shown first

1992–2000

2004–present

Players

Top scorers

''Updated up to the last derby played on 2 April 2025.'' ;9 goals *

Antonio Čolak Antonio-Mirko Čolak (; born 17 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian club Spezia. Born in Germany, he plays for the Croatia national team. Čolak began his senior career in the lower divisions of Ge ...

(Rijeka) ;7 goals *

Robert Murić Robert Murić (born 12 March 1996) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Slovenian club NŠ Mura. Club career Murić played youth football in Croatia for Lepoglava, Schiedel Novi Golubovec, Ivančica Ivanec, Z ...

(Rijeka) ;6 goals *

Franko Andrijašević Franko Andrijašević (; born 22 June 1991) is a Croatian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for and Captain (association football), captains Chinese Super League club Zhejiang Professional F.C., Zhejiang FC. ...

(Rijeka) *

Andrej Kramarić Andrej Kramarić (; born 19 June 1991) is a Croatian professional association football, footballer, who plays as a Forward (association football), forward or attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, TSG Hoffenheim and the Cr ...

(Rijeka) ;5 goals * Alexander Gorgon (Rijeka) * Borimir Perković (Rijeka) ;4 goals * Gedeon Guzina (Istra 1961) * Niko Janković (Rijeka) * Ivan Krstanović (Rijeka) *

Domagoj Pavičić Domagoj Pavičić (born 9 March 1994) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League Greece club Aris. Career Pavičić joined Lokomotiva on two loans from Dinamo Zagreb in order to get first team chances. He ...

(Rijeka) *

Marin Tomasov Marin Tomasov (born 31 August 1987) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Kazakhstan Premier League club Astana. Club career Coming from the village of Dobropoljana, on the island of Pašma ...

(Rijeka) *

Haris Vučkić Haris Vučkić (born 21 August 1992) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Domžale. Vučkić represented Slovenia internationally at youth level, before making his senior debut against Scotl ...

(Rijeka) ;3 goals * Leon Benko (Rijeka) *

Roman Bezjak Roman Bezjak (born 21 February 1989) is a Slovenian footballer who plays as a forward for Austrian side USV Wies. He made his debut for the Slovenia national team in 2013, making a total of 33 appearances and scoring 5 goals. Club career C ...

(Rijeka) *

Senad Brkić Senad Brkić (born 3 September 1969) is a Bosnian former professional footballer and current football manager who is in charge of the Čelika Zenica under-19 team. Club career In his career Brkić played for Bosnian club Čelik Zenica on two o ...

(Rijeka) * Josip Drmić (Rijeka) * Toni Fruk (Rijeka) * Héber (Rijeka) * Franjo Ivanović (Rijeka) * Josip Jerneić (Istra 1961) *

Zoran Kvržić Zoran Kvržić (; born 7 August 1988) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Bosnian Premier League club Borac Banja Luka. Kvržić started his professional career at Proleter Teslić, before joining HAŠK in 2009. ...

(Rijeka) * Dean Ljubančić (Rijeka) * Asim Šehić (Istra 1961)

Players who have scored in Rijeka–Pula derby for both clubs

Sandi Križman Sandi Križman (; born 17 August 1989) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a forward for Žminj. Club career Born in Pula, Križman started his career in his hometown club NK Žminj, where he scored seven goals in 22 matches, aged 17. In the ...

(2 goals, 1 for ''Rijeka'' and 1 for ''Istra 1961'')

Players who have played for both clubs (senior career)

* Boško Anić * Mateo Bertoša * Dario Bodrušić * Fausto Budicin * Denis Bušnja * Igor Čagalj * Mladen Devetak *

Matko Djarmati Matko Djarmati (born 24 February 1982) is a Croatian football club manager. He is a UEFA Pro certified coach who currently is with out team,his last club was Al-Arabi Sporting Club from Kuwait. Club career Djarmati previously played for NK Rij ...

*Sandi Dobrić *

Mate Dragičević Mate Dragičević (born 19 November 1979) is a Croatian retired association football, football Striker (association football), striker. Club career He has enjoyed successful stints at several clubs, with Croats, Croatian giants Hajduk Split and ...

* João Escoval * Marin Grujević *

Nedim Halilović Nedim Halilović (born 1 July 1979) is a Bosnian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He made 14 appearances for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Club career Halilović was born in Brčko. He played for NK Varteks ...

* Darko Horvat *

Dani Iglesias Daniel "Dani" Iglesias Gago (born 17 July 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Liga II club Sepsi OSK. Club career Born in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Iglesias was a youth prod ...

*Elmir Imširević * Vanja Iveša * Sergej Jakirović *Josip Jerneić *

Redi Jupi Redi Bashkim Jupi (born 31 May 1974) is an Albanian retired footballer. He played in the central midfield for KS Dinamo Tirana and has 19 caps for the Albania national team since his debut in 1995. Jupi is currently the manager of Albania U21 ...

*Irenko Jurić *Jurica Karabatić *Ilija Kljajić *Damir Knežević *Saša Kolić * Fabijan Komljenović *Ljupko Kontešić *

* Ivan Kurtović *

Siniša Linić Siniša Linić (born 23 August 1982) is a Croatian retired football midfielder who last played for Grobničan. Club career After joining NK Rijeka in 1999, he played for two seasons, but limited playing time saw him moving to NK Orijent in 200 ...

* Robert Lisjak *

Stjepan Lončar Stjepan Lončar (; born 10 November 1996) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Croatian Football League club Istra 1961. Lončar started his professional career at Široki Brijeg, before joining Rijeka in 2018. Th ...

*Josip Lukunić * Ante Majstorović *Admir Malkić * Ivan Mance * Luka Marić * Bernardo Matić * Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo * Marin Mikac *

Mato Miloš Mato Miloš (; born 30 June 1993) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for I liga club Odra Opole. Club career Born in Pula, Miloš went through the ranks of his hometown club NK Jadran Poreč, before moving to NK ...

* Ivan Močinić *

Alen Pamić Alen Pamić (15 October 1989 – 21 June 2013) was a Croatian professional footballer who last played for NK Istra 1961. Personal life Alen was the son of Croatia international Igor Pamić, his younger brother Zvonko is also a professional ...

Manuel Pamić Manuel Pamić (born 20 August 1986) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a left back and is the current player-manager of Smoljanci Sloboda. Club career Early career Pamić started his career in the youth ranks of local club NK Žminj, whe ...

Branko Panić Branko Panić (born 24 November 1977) is a retired Croatian footballer. Career Panić previously played for HNK Rijeka and NK Pomorac in the Croatian Prva HNL The Hrvatska nogometna liga (; ), abbreviated as HNL and also known for sponso ...

* Goran Paracki * Dalibor Pauletić *

Renato Pilipović Renato Pilipović (born 14 January 1977) is a Croatian retired footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently working as an assistant manager of the Croatia national under-21 team. Career He was also capped for Croatia once at full inter ...

* Andrej Prskalo * Natko Rački * Josip Radošević *Dragan Raković * Zedi Ramadani * Ivan Rodić *

Elvis Scoria Elvis Scoria (born 5 July 1971) is a Croatian former football player and manager. He played for HNK Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb (then called Croatia Zagreb), NK Istra, NK Zagreb and for Spanish club UE Lleida. Playing career As a player, Scoria appe ...

Ahmad Sharbini Ahmad Sharbini (; born 21 February 1984) is a Croatian football former professional player who is playing as a striker, and working as a sporting director for OŠK Omišalj. Club career Ahmad Sharbini began his professional career with HNK Ri ...

*Dalibor Starčević * Valentino Stepčić *

Andro Švrljuga Andro Švrljuga (born 24 October 1985) is a Croatian football midfielder who plays for HNK Orijent. Club career Švrljuga previously played for Pomorac Kostrena, Istra 1961, Rijeka and Žalgiris . In 2017 and 2018 Švrljuga became Lithuania ...

Dragan Tadić Dragan Tadić (born 12 February 1973) is a Croatian retired football midfielder and manager. Club career He spent the peak years of his career playing for various clubs in Croatia’s Prva HNL, including close to 200 official games for HNK Rije ...

* Goran Vincetić *

Luka Vučko Luka Vučko (born 11 April 1984) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a defender. Career Club A product of HNK Hajduk Split, Vučko had stints with Prva HNL sides Hajduk Split and NK Rijeka, after before moving to Süper L ...

Matej Vuk Matej Vuk (born 10 June 2000) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Croatian First Football League club Varaždin and the Croatia national under-21 team. Club career Born in Čakovec, Međimurje County, growing up ...

Neven Vukman Neven Vukman (born 11 April 1985) is a Croatian football midfielder, who is currently playing for hometown club Ivančica. Club career A product of the NK Varteks youth academy (a club which folded in 2015, and is not associated with his 2019 ...

* Ivor Weitzer *

Zoran Zekić Zoran Zekić (; born 29 April 1974) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Bosnian Premier League club Sarajevo. Managerial career In July 2010, Zekić was appointed manager of Zagreb-based ...

* Damir Zlomislić *

Andrej Živković Andrej Živković (born 21 August 1970) is a retired Croatian football midfielder. Career As a player, he spent most of his career playing with Rijeka, Orijent, Istra and Pomorac, either in the Croatian First Football League or the Croatian ...

Managers who have managed both clubs

Milivoj Bračun Milivoj Bračun (born 22 April 1958) is a Croatian football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Slovenian First League side FC Koper. Born in Zagreb, SR Croatia, back then within Yugoslavia, Bračun played for Dinamo ...

Nenad Gračan Nenad Gračan (born 23 January 1962) is a Croatian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the coach of the Croatia women's national football team. Club career Born in Rijeka, SFR Yugoslavia, Gračan started playing ...

Srećko Juričić Srećko Juričić (born 30 December 1954) is a Croatian former professional association football, footballer, who is currently the sporting director for HNK Rijeka. Juričić has also had a career as a manager (association football), manager coac ...

Robert Rubčić Robert Rubčić (born 2 November 1963) is a Croatian retired footballer and manager. Playing career Rubčić played for HNK Rijeka for much of his career, collecting 183 league caps between 1982 and 1996. He was the team captain for five years, ...

Zoran Vulić Zoran Vulić (; born 4 October 1961) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is notable for having managed Hajduk Split five separate times between 1998 and 2018, which is a record among all Ha ...

* Fausto Budicin

Prva HNL results

The table lists the place each team took in each of the seasons.

References

External links

*''History of Rijeka's participation in championships'' a
NK-Rijeka.hr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Istra 1961-Rijeka rivalry

derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

NK Istra 1961 Football derbies in Croatia

History

Results

List of matches

Key

1992–2000

2004–present

Players

Top scorers

Players who have scored in Rijeka–Pula derby for both clubs

Players who have played for both clubs (senior career)

Managers who have managed both clubs

Prva HNL results

See also

References

External links