Matjaž Kek and Radomir Đalović, the coaches who led HNK Rijeka to historic domestic doubles, were the guests of honour at a Rijeka sports legends evening. The event, titled 'Sports Evening, A Meeting of Rijeka's Sporting Greats', was held on Tuesday at the Innova Lab on the Trsat Campus as part of the Brdo kulture festival.
The Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka organised the gathering, which brought together numerous sports workers, former players, and connoisseurs of the city's history. Alongside Kek and Đalović, the stage featured water polo players Zoran Roje, an Olympic gold medallist from Los Angeles 1984, and Damir Glavan, a silver medallist from Atlanta 1996. The conversation was moderated by Robert Ferlin.
Emotional return for former coaches
Matjaž Kek, who guided the Kantrida side to the double crown in 2017, recalled his arrival in the city. He mentioned coming in 2013 with Damir Mišković and his wife to watch a water polo match featuring Primorje. “He described his connection to the city with emotional words, emphasising how much every visit to Rijeka means to him,” the organisers relayed.
Radomir Đalović, a former Rijeka striker who repeated Kek's feat as a coach by winning the league and cup in 2025, also shared his experiences. His success is particularly cherished by supporters who remember him as a player.
Painful memory and lessons from defeat
Damir Glavan opened the other major sports chapter of the evening, speaking about water polo. “Remembering the Olympic final against Spain, he admitted that the defeat remains a painful memory even after three decades,” he said. He added that losses in sport can sometimes be more instructive than victories.
Zoran Roje, who continued his career with Italy's Canottieri Napoli, discussed his rich experiences both as a player and a coach. Project author Denis Nepokoj greeted attendees and stressed the importance of preserving sporting heritage for the identity of Rijeka and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, which holds the title of European Region of Sport this year.
Present-day context
While the past was celebrated, the present brings challenges for HNK Rijeka. The team currently sits 5th in the HNL with 14 points from eight matches, five points behind leaders Hajduk Split. The last result was a heavy 4-1 defeat to Slaven Belupo last week. Also, the team has conceded 10 goals in its last three matches, a trend visible in the detailed team stats. The next step is an away fixture against Rudes on Saturday, an opportunity to break the negative streak.
Musical accompaniment for the evening was provided by the Mystic Rose Ensemble with performances of jazz standards, bossa nova, and Latin rhythms. The event once again confirmed how sporting achievements are inextricably linked to the local community and the city that created them.
Read the full report at torpedo.media
