2017–18 Croatian First Football League


The 2017–18 Croatian First Football League was the 27th season of the Croatian First Football League, the national championship for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 14 July 2017 and ended on 19 May 2018.
The league was contested by 10 teams.

Teams

On 21 April 2017, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2017–18 season was complete. For the 2017–18 Prva HNL, only seven clubs were issued a top level license: Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Inter Zaprešić, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka and Slaven Belupo. All of these clubs except Inter Zaprešić were also issued a license for participating in UEFA competitions. In the second stage of licensing, clubs that were not licensed in the first stage can appeal on the decision. On 23 May 2017, it was announced that all remaining Prva HNL clubs except RNK Split were granted top level license. Four teams from Druga HNL acquired the top level license: Gorica, Rudeš, Solin and NK Zagreb.

Stadia and locations

RankCounties of CroatiaNumber of teamsClub
1 City of Zagreb3Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva, and Rudeš
2 Istria1Istra 1961
2 Koprivnica-Križevci1Slaven
2 Osijek-Baranja1Osijek
2 Primorje-Gorski Kotar1Rijeka
2 Split-Dalmatia1Hajduk Split
2 Vukovar-Srijem1Cibalia
2 Zagreb County1Inter Zaprešić

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Each team plays home-and-away against every other team in the league twice, for a total of 36 matches each played.

First round

Second round

Positions by round

Relegation play-offs

At the end of the season, ninth placed team Istra 1961 will contest a two-legged relegation play-off tie against Varaždin, runners-up of the 2017–18 Croatian Second Football League.

First leg

Second leg

Istra 1961 won 3–2 on aggregate.

Statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 El Arabi Hillel SoudaniDinamo Zagreb17
2 HéberRijeka16
3 Mario GavranovićRijeka, Dinamo Zagreb 15
3 Mirko IvanovskiSlaven Belupo15
5 Mario BudimirRudeš, Dinamo Zagreb 14
6 Jakov PuljićInter Zaprešić, Rijeka 12
7 Lovro MajerLokomotiva11
7 Said Ahmed SaidHajduk Split11
9 Ante ErcegHajduk Split9
9 Haris HajradinovićOsijek9
9 Franck OhandzaHajduk Split9