2018–19 Croatian First Football League
The 2018–19 Croatian First Football League was the 28th season of the Croatian First Football League, the national championship for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 27 July 2018 and finished on 26 May 2019.
The league is contested by 10 teams.
Teams
On 23 April 2018, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2018–19 season was complete. For the 2018–19 Prva HNL, only eight clubs were issued a top level license: Dinamo Zagreb, Gorica, Hajduk Split, Inter Zaprešić, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka and Slaven Belupo. All of these clubs except Gorica were also issued a license for participating in UEFA competitions. In the second stage of licensing, clubs that were not licensed in the first stage can appeal on the decision.Stadia and locations
- 1 Lokomotiva and Rudeš host their home matches at Stadion Kranjčevićeva as their own ground failed to get license for top level football. The stadium is originally the home ground of third-level side NK Zagreb.
Rank | Counties of Croatia | Number of teams | Club |
1 | City of Zagreb | 3 | Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva, and Rudeš |
2 | Zagreb County | 2 | Gorica, Inter Zaprešić |
3 | Istria | 1 | Istra 1961 |
3 | Koprivnica-Križevci | 1 | Slaven Belupo |
3 | Osijek-Baranja | 1 | Osijek |
3 | Primorje-Gorski Kotar | 1 | Rijeka |
3 | Split-Dalmatia | 1 | Hajduk Split |
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
League table
Results
Each team plays home-and-away against every other team in the league twice, for a total of 36 matches each played.First round
Second round
Relegation play-offs
At the end of the season, ninth placed team Istra 1961 will contest a two-legged relegation play-off tie against Šibenik, runners-up of the 2018–19 Croatian Second Football League.First leg
Second leg
Istra 1961 won 3–1 on aggregate.Statistics
Top scorers
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
1 | Mijo Caktaš | Hajduk Split | 19 |
2 | Mirko Marić | Osijek | 18 |
3 | Jakov Puljić | Rijeka | 16 |
4 | Komnen Andrić | Inter Zaprešić, Dinamo Zagreb | 14 |
4 | Łukasz Zwoliński | Gorica | 14 |
6 | Jairo | Hajduk Split | 13 |
6 | Ivan Krstanović | Lokomotiva, Slaven Belupo | 13 |
8 | Antonio Čolak | Rijeka | 12 |
9 | Kristijan Lovrić | Gorica | 10 |
10 | Mario Gavranović | Dinamo Zagreb | 9 |
10 | Héber | Rijeka | 9 |
10 | Ramón Mierez | Istra 1961 | 9 |
10 | Bruno Petković | Dinamo Zagreb | 9 |