The 2012–13 Druga HNL (also known as 2. HNL) is the 22nd season of Croatia's second level football competition since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 18 August 2012 and is expected to end on 1 June 2013.
NK Dugopolje were league champions and earned a place in Croatia's first division, but were unable to complete all the requirement necessary for top league license. None of the teams from 2011–12 season were promoted to 1. HNL.
Format The league is contested by 16 teams (one more than in the previous season). Only three teams from Treća HNL were granted license for competing in the Druga HNL, but only Primorac 1929 and Zelina were promoted.
Lučko, Šibenik and Karlovac were relegated from 2011–12 Prva HNL and were supposed to participate in the 2012–13 Druga HNL season. But only Lučko and Šibenik fulfilled all the requirements necessary for the second level license, while Karlovac was relegated to Treća HNL. A fourth team, the financially troubled Varaždin, was suspended from the 2011–12 Prva HNL mid-season for not paying its players, and was immediately relegated to the lowest football level possible of the Croatian football league system, being the seventh-tier Third County League.
Changes from last season The following clubs have been promoted or relegated at the end of the 2011–12 season:
From 2. HNL Promoted to 1. HNL none
Relegated to 3. HNL Marsonia 1909 (12th place) Međimurje (13th place) Croatia Sesvete (15th place)
To 2. HNL Relegated from 1. HNL Lučko (13th place) Šibenik (14th place)
Promoted from 3. HNL Primorac 1929 (3. HNL South runners-up) Zelina (3. HNL West winners)
Clubs
Club City / Town Stadium 2011-12 result Capacity Dugopolje Dugopolje Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi1st in 2. HNL5,200 Gorica Velika Gorica Stadion Radnika7th in 2. HNL8,000 HAŠK Zagreb Stadion na Peščenici14th in 2. HNL800 Hrvatski Dragovoljac Zagreb Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić8th in 2. HNL5,000 Imotski Imotski Stadion Gospin dolac5th in 2. HNL4,000 Junak Sinj Sinj Gradski stadion Sinj10th in 2.HNL3,000 Lučko Zagreb Stadion Lučko13th in 1. HNL1,500 Mosor Žrnovnica Stadion Pricvić3rd in 2. HNL2,000 Pomorac Kostrena Stadion Žuknica2nd in 2. HNL3,000 Primorac 1929 Stobreč Stadion Poljud2nd in 3. HNL South35,000 Radnik Sesvete Zagreb Sv. Josip Radnik9th in 2. HNL1,200 Rudeš Zagreb ŠC Rudeš6th in 2. HNL1,000 Solin Solin Stadion pokraj Jadra11th in 2. HNL4,000 Šibenik Šibenik Stadion Šubićevac14th in 1. HNL8,000 Vinogradar Jastrebarsko Stadion Mladina4th in 2. HNL2,000 Zelina Sv. Ivan Zelina SRC Sveti Ivan Zelina1st in 3. HNL West1,000
League table
Results
Top goalscorers The top scorers in the 2012–13 Druga HNL season were:
Rank Name Club Goals Apps Minutes played1 Dražen PilčićPomorac182316242 Željko SablićMosor, Lučko142824293 Ivica ŽuljevićDugopolje132621644 Franjo TepurićŠibenik12252104 Vedran MesecZelina12282437 Domagoj AbramovićGorica122925577 Alen GućSolin11161440 Anto GudeljRudeš11221569 Elvis SarićVinogradar, Lučko1123201710 Miro SlavicaŠibenik10261816
See also 2012–13 Prva HNL 2012–13 Croatian Cup
References
External links Official website