The earthquake at Rujevica echoed stronger than any victory song from the stands. Radomir Đalović, a man who, as a player, assistant coach, and finally strategist, wrote some of the most brilliant pages in the club's history, is no longer the coach of HNK Rijeka. The decision, which surprised many, although a simmering nervousness due to weaker results had been felt in recent weeks, marks an abrupt end to an exceptionally successful, yet brief era. The Montenegrin expert, who instilled his fighting and passionate mentality into Rijeka, leaves the bench after just over a year, leaving behind a legacy that will be long remembered – the historic double crown and a European breakthrough.

End of collaboration after historic successes

The management of the club from Kvarner decided to take a radical step and thank the coach who achieved in just over twelve months what many fail to achieve in their entire careers. Radomir Đalović's episode at the head of Rijeka's coaching staff concluded after 52 official matches. Statistics show that under his leadership, the team achieved 23 victories, drew 15 times, and recorded 14 defeats. Although the numbers do not seem spectacular at first glance, they do not tell the whole story. Behind these numbers lies a dream season, a season in which Rijeka became the champion of Croatia for the second time in its history, and confirmed its dominance on home turfs by also winning the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup trophy.

Đalović's journey in Rijeka was intertwined with a deep connection to the club. Many fans remember him as an uncompromising forward who left his heart on the field. His return to the club as an assistant coach was a logical sequence, and he got the opportunity to lead the team independently at the beginning of last season. Few could have predicted then that he would be the architect of one of the most successful seasons in the club's history.

A season to remember: The double crown and European glory

Last season was a true football fairy tale for all Rijeka fans. Under Đalović's leadership, the team breathed with new lungs. They played attractive, attacking, and aggressive football that broke down opponents. The fight for the championship title was uncertain and exhausting, but Rijeka showed character and mental strength, withstanding all pressures and ultimately deservedly lifting the trophy intended for the best team in the country. The celebration spilled over from Rujevica onto the city streets, and Kvarner once again breathed for its club.

As if the championship title was not enough, Đalović's team added the "icing on the cake" by winning the Cup. In the final match, in a tactically flawlessly played encounter, Rijeka confirmed its dominance and secured the historic double crown. It was the pinnacle for a generation and a confirmation of the correctness of the management's vision, which placed its trust in its former player. Successes on the domestic scene were upgraded with a significant European result – qualification for the group stage of the Conference League. European nights at Rujevica became a reality again, and Rijeka presented itself on the big stage as an organized and dangerous opponent.

What went wrong?

The question that inevitably arises is how is it possible for a coach with such results to be dismissed after only a few months? The answer, as usual in football, lies in recent results. The start of the new season was not in line with the enormous expectations that had been created after the historic success. The team fell into a crisis of play and results, and the impression was that Đalović had lost control of the dressing room. The play became predictable, lacking the energy and fervor that characterized the team last season, and several unexpected stumbles, especially on home ground, set off alarms at Rujevica.

The straw that, by all accounts, broke the camel's back for the management was the latest league failure. Criticism from the public and fans became louder, and the pressure reached a point where a change on the bench became the only logical option in the eyes of the club's leadership. It seems that in modern football, credit earned in the past disappears very quickly in the face of the imperative of results in the present.

From adored hero to former coach

The case of Radomir Đalović is yet another proof of the harshness of the coaching profession. In just a few months, he went from a hero who brought immense joy to the fans to a coach the club thanks for his collaboration. His name will remain written in golden letters in the history of HNK Rijeka as the man who brought the club its second double crown. The fans will remember the passion with which he led the matches, the energy he transferred to the players, and, of course, the trophies that arrived in the club's display cases.

In its official statement, the club thanked Đalović and his coaching staff for everything they had done, emphasizing their contribution and the results achieved, and wished them luck in their future careers. However, behind the courteous phrases, a bitter taste remains due to the way this beautiful story ended. Now follows a new period for the club from Kvarner, a period of searching for a new solution on the bench that will return the team to winning ways and try to continue where Đalović left off with historic successes.