HNK Hajduk Split is preparing for their first season in the top tier of Croatian futsal, and after a series of reinforcements, the right move was saved for the end of the transfer window. The contract was signed by the 'ten' of the Croatian national team, Josip Jurlina, which is considered one of the most significant transfers in the history of domestic futsal. The news of Jurlina's arrival in Hajduk comes shortly after he terminated his contract with Italian first-division club Sporting Sala Consilino.
From Zadar to the national team
Josip Jurlina, born on January 13, 2000, in Zadar, with just 26 years old, has an impressive career behind him. It is interesting that he made his first football steps in Hajduk, only to later switch to the field. He started his professional futsal career in MNK Split, where he spent two and a half years.
Successes with Olmissum and Italian episode
After impressive performances, he became a standard member of the A national team and moved to the ranks of the Omis-based Olmissum, for whom he scored 180 appearances and 43 goals from the 2019/2020 season onwards. In that period, he won two Croatian league titles, the Croatian Cup, and the Super Cup.
Bronze with the Vultures and return to Split
The crown of his career came this year, when he won the bronze medal with the Croatian national team at the European Championship, and in the match for third place against France, he also scored among the strikers. Before the official confirmation of his arrival in Hajduk, Jurlina bid farewell to the Italian club with an emotional message on his Instagram profile:
"The chapter of my sports journey has come to an end. I would like to thank everyone who was part of this experience in any way: teammates, coaches, and people in the club. Thank you for the support, joint work, and all the moments we shared. In life and sports, every experience carries a lesson, and I will take and remember only the beautiful memories from this period. I wish the club a lot of luck and success in the future, and for me, it's time for new challenges and a new chapter."
