The 2015–16 Croatian Second Football League (also known as Druga HNL or 2. HNL) is the 25th season of the Croatian Second Football League, the second level football competition for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 14 August 2015 and will end on 21 May 2016.
The league is contested by twelve teams and played in a triple round robin format, with each team playing every other team three times over 33 rounds. At the end of the previous season Inter Zaprešić were promoted, returning to the top flight after two seasons, while Bistra were relegated in their début season. Pomorac were also relegated due to financial insolvency. Bistra and Pomorac were replaced by Dinamo II and Šibenik, after winning their respective Croatian Third Football League divisions.
Teams On 20 April 2015, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2015–16 season was completed. For the 2015–16 Druga HNL, only nine clubs were issued a second level license: Dinamo II, Gorica, Hajduk Split II, Imotski, Istra 1961, Mosor, Rijeka II, Rudeš and Sesvete. In the second stage of licensing procedure clubs that were not licensed in the first round appealed the decision. On 20 May 2015, all remaining Druga HNL were granted second division license, along with third level clubs Šibenik and Dinamo II.
Stadia and locations
Club City / Town Stadium 2014-15 result Capacity Cibalia Vinkovci Stadion HNK Cibalia0266th10,000 Dinamo II Zagreb Stadion Hitrec-Kacian0411st (3. HNL West)5,000 Dugopolje Dugopolje Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi0277th5,200 Gorica Velika Gorica Stadion Radnika0233rd8,000 Hrvatski Dragovoljac Zagreb Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić03010th5,000 Imotski Imotski Stadion Gospin dolac0255th4,000 Lučko Zagreb Stadion Lučko0299th1,500 Rudeš Zagreb ŠC Rudeš0244th1,000 Segesta Sisak Gradski stadion Sisak0288th8,000 Sesvete Zagreb Sv. Josip Radnik0222nd1,200 Šibenik Šibenik Stadion Šubićevac0411st (3. HNL South)8,000 Zadar Zadar Stadion Stanovi01010th (1. HNL)6,000
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table Zadar Resigned (caretaker) Pre-season Zadar (caretaker) End of caretaker tenure Pre-season Gorica Mutual consent (caretaker) 11th Hrvatski Dragovoljac Signed by Celje 8th Cibalia Mutual consent 4th Gorica (caretaker) End of caretaker tenure 10th Cibalia Resigned 2nd Šibenik Sacked 1st Šibenik Sacked 2nd
League table
Results
Matches 1–22
Matches 23–33
Top scorers As of 21 May 2016; Source: Druga-HNL.com
RankPlayerClub(s)Goals1 Frane VitaićCibalia152 Igor PrijićDugopolje, Segesta143 Ivan PrskaloSesvete124 Theophilus SolomonŠibenik115 Ivan AntunovićSesvete10 Vlatko BlaževićZadar Ivan BubaloDugopolje
See also 2015–16 Croatian Football Cup 2015–16 Croatian First Football League 2015–16 Croatian Third Football League
References
External links Official website