HNK Hajduk Split knocked Raków Częstochowa out of European competition this week. The Polish club subsequently plunged into a deep crisis that resulted in the sacking of coach Dawid Kroczek.
A report from Index.hr Sport details Raków's collapse. Hajduk drew 2:2 with Raków at Poljud, but the Polish champions advanced after extra time with a 3:2 aggregate score. Three days later, Raków suffered a heavy 5:2 defeat to Jagiellonia in their domestic league, which proved to be the final straw. Kroczek was dismissed after recording six wins, two draws, and six losses in 14 matches in charge of Raków.
What caused the crisis at Raków?
The problems at Raków Częstochowa run much deeper than a few poor results. As noted by the Polish outlet Interia, "elimination by Hajduk and the heavy defeat to Jagiellonia are not the cause of the crisis, but only revealed problems that have existed for a longer time". Raków was for years one of the best-organized clubs in Poland, built around long-time coach Marek Papszun. After his departure, the club attempted to develop young coaches, but without success.
Player quality has declined, and young players were not ready for the first team. Transfer policy, squad composition, and the entire club model are under scrutiny. An example is their most expensive summer signing, 20-year-old Montenegrin international Marka Perović, who according to Transfermarkt cost one million euros but currently only plays for the reserves. A similar situation exists with young forward Bogdan Mirčetić, who gets limited playing time. Raków is currently in last place in the Polish Ekstraklasa without any points.
How is Hajduk performing in the HNL?
While Raków falls apart, Hajduk turns its focus back to the domestic championship. According to our live data, the team is in 4th place in the HNL table with 10 points from five matches played. They have three wins, one draw, and one loss, with a recent form of WWWDL. Hajduk has scored 11 goals, conceded five, for a goal difference of +6. They trail league leaders NK Osijek by just two points in the title race.
What's next for the Split club?
Hajduk's next challenge is an away fixture against Rudes on September 6, 2026. Rudes currently sits in 8th place in the table, offering an opportunity for the Split squad to continue its push towards the top. The full schedule of matches can be followed on our fixtures page. The current league standings can be checked on the standings page.
Following the dismissal of Dawid Kroczek, Raków Częstochowa temporarily appointed assistant coach Dawid Szulczek to the executive role. Hajduk, on the other hand, has a concrete goal in the HNL and aims to leverage its positive goal difference of six.
