HNK Rijeka will host Union Berlin at Kantrida in a friendly match to honour the retirement of club legend Damir Kreilach. The game is scheduled for September 26 with a 19:17 kick-off and will be broadcast on MAXSport.
The match serves as a formal farewell to Kreilach, who retired from playing at the start of this year. A native of the Kvarner region, he progressed through Rijeka's entire youth system from the pioneer to junior levels before making his first-team debut in 2008 under coach Zlatko Dalić. He made 146 appearances for the Whites before transferring to Union Berlin in 2013.
The then-second division club became his home for the next five years, where he played 157 matches. His move to MLS and Real Salt Lake in 2018 was preceded by a farewell event in Berlin. In the US, Kreilach became a key figure, named club MVP three times and the top scorer for three consecutive seasons. He returned to his parent club last summer, where he now works as the manager for loans and player development.
Return of a Changed Union
For Union Berlin, this is a chance to return to a stadium Kreilach remembers from the second division. The German club has since broken into the Bundesliga, achieving promotion for the first time in 2019, and has remained in the top flight uninterrupted for seven consecutive seasons. For Rijeka, this is a valuable test ahead of the resumption of league duties.
The team currently sits 5th in the HNL with seven points from four matches. They last beat Istra 1961 3-2, and face an away fixture against Slaven Belupo in the next league round. Details of the upcoming schedule can be found on the fixtures page, and the current league standings are on the table.
The match against Union Berlin will be an emotional evening for the fans at Kantrida and the final act in the career of one of the club's most beloved players.
Read the full report at Index.hr Sport
