HNK Rijeka confirmed the return of Matjaž Kek as the new coach. Kek signed a two-year contract with an option for another year.

How did the return happen?

Matjaž Kek replaced Victor Sanchez, who led the team in the 2025/2026 season and finished fourth in the standings.

What awaits him in his new mandate?

Kek achieved 165 wins in 274 official matches during his first term as HNK Rijeka's coach. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Wins | 165 | | Matches | 274 |

What was his first term like?

Kek took over a club that was searching for its identity and turned it into a machine that broke Dinamo's 11-year dominance.

HNK Rijeka finished the 2025/2026 season in fourth place with 41 points, including 11 wins, 8 draws, and 10 losses in 29 matches. The last match was a 2-0 win against HNK Gorica (2026-05-23).

When does the new season start?

The first training session under Kek's leadership is scheduled for June 15.