Young gunman Franjo Ivanović’s goalscoring form has helped Union Saint-Gilloise end a nine-decade-long wait for the Belgian Pro League title.
Basking in celebrations in Brussels, Ivanović’s profile continues to grow as he attracts interest from Europe’s biggest leagues.
Meanwhile, an underdog wins a dramatic three-horse race for the HNL title on the final day, and two Aussie Cro’s find themselves in a first-ever Derby Grand Final.
Vjesnik’s Jake Holub wraps up the week in national and international football, through a Croatian lens, covering Aussie-Croats, Croats in Europe and the HNL.
Europe: Ivanović lifts historic Belgian league title
Joining Union Saint-Gilloise from Rijeka earlier this season, 21-year-old striker Franjo Ivanović helped his side end a 90-year wait for the Belgian league title.
Scoring 23 goals and providing six assists in a breakout 2024/25 campaign, Ivanović netted the opening goal in USG’s 3-1 win over Gent to secure the Championship.
Earning a second-straight call-up to Zlatko Dalić‘s 24-man squad for June’s qualifiers, the young centre-forward has attracted interest from various clubs across Europe.
Defeating Scottish Giants Celtic in a thrilling penalty shootout, Ante Palaversa scored the winning penalty to win Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup Final in 35 years.
Interviewed amid celebrations, Palaversa established himself as an Aberdeen cult hero after providing an expletive-filled answer to express the emotions of the incredible win.
A season with a myriad of history-defying title wins, Mile Jedinak celebrated Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph alongside Ange Postecoglou, lifting Spurs’ first trophy in over 17 years and European glory in 41 years.
Highly touted prospect Patrice Cović got his hands on the U19 DFB Pokal, scoring an extra-time winner for Werder Bremen in the Final.
Finishing the season with 14 goals and four assists in 28 appearances, the 17-year-old has been touted to make his senior debut for the Bundesliga club in 2025/26.
Modrić farewells the Bernabeu
Starting in his final La Liga game for Real Madrid, Luka Modrić was brought to tears in an emotional goodbye to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Helping Los Blancos to a 2-0 win against Luka Sučić‘s Real Sociedad, the Balon d’Or winner and legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti gave their farewells to the Spanish giants, moving on from the club.
Earning links from Premier League Champions Liverpool to the MLS, the race for the 39-year-old’s signature will be a big story over the off-season.
Here are some other events from Croats in Europe worth noting:
- Joško Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes in Manchester City’s 2-0 away win over Fulham, securing third in the Premier League and Champions League football next season.
- Mauro Perković scored in Cracovia’s 2-1 win in their final league game, finishing the season in Poland on hot form.
HNL: Rijeka win the race for HNL title
Hosting Slaven Belupo at a pumping Rujevica Stadium, Rijeka came out on top in a monumental race to be crowned Champions of Croatia.
With Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split also capable of taking out the title if Radomir Djalović’s men slipped on the final day, Rijeka lifted their second-ever HNL title.
Defeating Slaven 2-0 thanks to goals from Niko Janković and Toni Fruk, Rijeka prepare to face the Koprivnica-based club once again in the Croatia Cup Final on the 30th May, just one more game away from a domestic double.
Although Rijeka prevailed in the end, both Dinamo and Hajduk recorded 1-0 wins in their respective clashes with Varaždin and Šibenik respectively.
Despite receiving a red card shortly after taking the lead against Šibenik, Marko Livaja held out to claim the league’s Golden Boot, the third time he has taken out this honour.
A-League: A first-ever Melbourne Derby Grand Final
Trailing by a goal on aggregate with a difficult away league in New Zealand against the reigning Premiers, Melbourne Victory were not predicted by many to progress through the A-League Men‘s semifinals.
With Auckland FC only recording a single loss on home soil in their brief history, a quickfire double netted by Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli just before the hour mark stunned the packed Go Media Stadium.
Victory managed to hold on, progressing through to the Grand Final remarkably, while 17-year-old defender Luka Diduliča was on the bench for a second consecutive game for the Navy Blues.
Meanwhile, Steven Ugarković‘s Melbourne City managed to book their spot in the final dance after progressing past Western United 4-1 on aggregate, setting up the scene for an eye-watering Melbourne Derby Grand Final at AAMI Park – something that has never occurred before in the A-League Men’s history.
Ugarković was reinstated into the starting XI for Aurelio Vidmar’s side, while Noah Botić scored his 16th goal of the season for the Green and Black.
Postgame, head coach John Aloisi conceded that the 23-year-old striker is bound for an overseas move.
“I wish that he would stay but I don’t think he’s going to stay. I think that he’ll go.
“I think he’ll go overseas, I think his mind is set to go overseas and I wish him all the best.”