HNK Hajduk Split has advanced to a European group stage for the first time in 16 years, setting up an opening fixture against AFC Ajax at Stadion Poljud, according to reports. Tickets for the match sold out within an hour of release, marking a high-demand return to continental group competition for the Croatian club.
Ajax Arrives in Split Following Historic Milestone
The upcoming fixture brings a storied Dutch opponent to Split, contrasting with Hajduk’s previous runs in Europe that included notable home victories over clubs such as VfB Stuttgart, Torino, Dnipro, PSV Eindhoven, and Hamburger SV. Club history records the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal run as the institution’s highest post-independence achievement in continental competition.
Mornar Secured Rare Win During 1993 Meeting
Previous encounters between the two clubs date back to the autumn of 1993 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. On September 17, 1993, Hajduk hosted Ajax in the first leg of the opening round at Bežigrad Stadium in Ljubljana, Slovenia, because UEFA restrictions prevented matches from taking place in Croatia amid the ongoing Homeland War. Ivica Mornar scored the only goal of the match to hand manager Ivan Katalinić’s side a 1-0 victory.
That result handed a rare defeat to an Ajax side that dominated European football during that era. Hajduk’s lineup for that tie featured players such as Milan Rapaić, Mirko Hibić, Ardian Kozniku, and Nenad Računica.
Amsterdam Second Leg Brought Heavy Defeat
The return leg in Amsterdam delivered a sharp reversal for the Croatian side. Ajax recorded a 6-0 victory in the second leg to eliminate Hajduk from the competition. A year and a half later, the clubs met again in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
After a 0-0 draw in a packed atmosphere at Poljud, where Hajduk held a side that would go on to defeat AC Milan in the final, the Dutch team won the return leg 3-0. Nwankwo Kanu opened the scoring with a header from a Jari Litmanen cross, while Frank de Boer added two goals—one directly from a corner kick and another from a free-kick—past goalkeeper Tonći Gabrić.
Van Gaal Squad and the Ivić Connection
Louis van Gaal managed that Ajax squad, which combined younger talents with experienced figures like Danny Blind and Frank Rijkaard. The most prominent personal link between the two clubs remains Tomislav Ivić, who managed Hajduk’s golden generation before taking his first foreign managerial role with Ajax.
Hajduk Waited 16 Years for Another Group Stage Appearance
That era defined a distinct chapter in European football before Hajduk entered a 16-year wait for another group-stage appearance in UEFA competition.
Related reading
