NK Pazinka
Encyclopedia
NK Pazinka is a Croatia
n football club based in the town of Pazin
in Istria
. Founded in 1948, their greatest success was competing in the Croatian top flight 1. HNL for two seasons between 1992 and 1994. They are currently members of 4. HNL West, one of the eight regional fourth level groups.
n regional league competitions within the Yugoslav league system. In 1970 the club was renamed NK Pazinka, after the local textile factory which began sponsoring the club after it had ran into financial difficulties. In 1985 they won promotion to Croatian League West, one of several regional fourth level divisions in SR Croatia. In spite of winning the division in 1989–90 Pazinka failed to progress further up the football pyramid and remained at fourth level until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991.
Following Croatia's independence in 1991 Pazinka entered one of the three regional divisions of the newly formed 2. HNL in the shortened 1992 season and finished top, thus gaining promotion to top level in 1992–93. They finished their debut top level season in 11th place but were then relegated in the 1993–94 season.
Notable players who appeared for Pazinka during this spell included Dado Pršo
(later with Monaco
and Rangers
), Zoran Škerjanc
(formerly of Dinamo Zagreb
and Recreativo Huelva
) and Damir Desnica
(one of the very few deaf professional footballers, formerly with Rijeka
and Kortrijk
).
The club then spent several seasons in second level before slipping down to 3. HNL
in the 1997–98 season which coincided with the bankruptcy of the Pazinka textile factory. After spending a few years struggling to stay in third level they slipped down to fourth level in 2003 and then again to fifth level in 2004. However, Pazinka won the fifth level Istria Group and earned promotion back to 4. HNL in 2007–08.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n football club based in the town of Pazin
Pazin
Pazin is the administrative seat of Istria County in Croatia. The town has a population of 4,986 , the total Pazin municipality population is 9,227...
in Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
. Founded in 1948, their greatest success was competing in the Croatian top flight 1. HNL for two seasons between 1992 and 1994. They are currently members of 4. HNL West, one of the eight regional fourth level groups.
History
The club was established in 1948 as part of the SD Pazin sports society. They spent the next few decades in relative obscurity contesting IstriaIstria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n regional league competitions within the Yugoslav league system. In 1970 the club was renamed NK Pazinka, after the local textile factory which began sponsoring the club after it had ran into financial difficulties. In 1985 they won promotion to Croatian League West, one of several regional fourth level divisions in SR Croatia. In spite of winning the division in 1989–90 Pazinka failed to progress further up the football pyramid and remained at fourth level until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991.
Following Croatia's independence in 1991 Pazinka entered one of the three regional divisions of the newly formed 2. HNL in the shortened 1992 season and finished top, thus gaining promotion to top level in 1992–93. They finished their debut top level season in 11th place but were then relegated in the 1993–94 season.
Notable players who appeared for Pazinka during this spell included Dado Pršo
Dado Pršo
Miladin "Dado" Pršo is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a striker.Pršo played for seven different teams and made over 300 league appearances as a professional...
(later with Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
), Zoran Škerjanc
Zoran Škerjanc
Zoran Škerjanc is a retired Croatian football player who played for Rijeka, Dinamo, Recreativo Huelva, Orléans US, Pazinka and Göttingen 05.-External links:* http://www.bdfutbol.com/j/j11995.html...
(formerly of Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
GNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...
and Recreativo Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
) and Damir Desnica
Damir Desnica
Damir Desnica is a former Croatian and Yugoslav association football player. He got 1 cap for Yugoslavia. Although he was an excellent footballer, he is best known for being one of the very few deaf pro footballers.-External links:...
(one of the very few deaf professional footballers, formerly with Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
and Kortrijk
K.V. Kortrijk
Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk is a Belgian professional football club based in Kortrijk, West Flanders. They have been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2008-09 season, and they achieved they best ranking ever during the 2009-10 season, finishing 4th after the play-offs...
).
The club then spent several seasons in second level before slipping down to 3. HNL
Treća HNL
The Croatian Third Football League is the third tier of the football league system in Croatia. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Croatian Football Federation.-Subdivisions:...
in the 1997–98 season which coincided with the bankruptcy of the Pazinka textile factory. After spending a few years struggling to stay in third level they slipped down to fourth level in 2003 and then again to fifth level in 2004. However, Pazinka won the fifth level Istria Group and earned promotion back to 4. HNL in 2007–08.
External links
- Official website
- NK Pazinka at Nogometni leksikon