The 2017–18 season was the 71st season in the history of Croatian football club NK Osijek and their 27th consecutive season in the Prva HNL, the top tier of Croatian football. It was the club's first full campaign under head coach Zoran Zekić, who had taken over in March 2017, and marked a return to European competition after a seven-year absence.
Season overview Osijek finished 4th in the league table with 57 points (17 wins, 6 draws, 13 defeats), qualifying for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. The side recorded the best defensive record outside the top three, conceding only 35 goals, and kept 14 clean sheets. Brazilian striker Gabriel Boban was the team's top scorer with 11 league goals.
Cup run In the Croatian Cup Osijek reached the quarter-finals, eliminating NK Rudeš on penalties in the round of 32 before losing 3–2 on aggregate to eventual winners Hajduk Split.
European campaign Osijek entered the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League in the first qualifying round and eliminated UE Santa Coloma (Andorra) 8–1 on aggregate. In the second qualifying round they defeated PFC Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) 2–1 on aggregate, earning their first group-stage berth since 2011–12. The campaign ended in the play-off round with a 2–1 aggregate loss to Austria Wien.
Stadium and finances All home European ties were played at the renovated Stadion Gradski vrt, capacity 17 061. The club's operating budget for the season was €6.3 million a 25 % increase on 2016–17, financed primarily by player sales (notably Muzafer Ejupi to Al-Fujairah) and UEFA solidarity payments.
Squad statistics
(appearances = league + cup + Europe)
The 2017–18 season is the 71st season in NK Osijek's history and their 27th in the Prva HNL.
Season review
Kit information Supplier: Nike, Inc. / Sponsor: Osječko 1664
First-team squad
Out on loan
Matches
HT Prva liga
DateVenueOpponentsScoreOsijek goalscorer(s)Report16 July 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Rudeš1–1 Muzafer Ejupi23 July 2017Stadion Aldo Drosina, Pula Istra 19611–1 Petar Bočkaj30 July 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Dinamo Zagreb1–1 Alen Grgić7 August 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Rijeka1–0 Borna Barišić12 August 2017Stadion Kranjčevićeva, Zagreb Lokomotiva3–2 Domagoj Pušić, Antonio Perošević, Gabrijel Boban20 August 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Inter Zaprešić3–0 Andrej Šimunec, Muzafer Ejupi, Vedran Dalić (o.g.)27 August 2017Stadion Cibalia, Vinkovci Cibalia1–2 Antonio Perošević9 September 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Hajduk Split2–1 Haris Hajradinović, Eros Grezda16 September 2017Stadion Gradski, Koprivnica Slaven Belupo1–1 Mile Škorić25 September 2017Stadion Kranjčevićeva, Zagreb Rudeš1–1 Alen Grgić1 October 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Istra 19612–1 Haris Hajradinović (2)14 October 2017Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Dinamo Zagreb1–1 Eros Grezda22 October 2017Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka Rijeka2–1 Eros Grezda, Petar Bočkaj28 October 2017Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek Lokomotiva3–0 Andrej Lukić, Mirko Marić, Haris Hajradinović
Croatian Cup
DateVenueOpponentsScoreOsijek goalscorer(s)Report
UEFA Europa League
DateVenueOpponentsScoreOsijek goalscorer(s)Report
Player seasonal records Updated 28 October 2017. Competitive matches only.
Goals Name 1. HNL Europe Cup Total1. Muzafer Ejupi 2 0 4 6 Petar Bočkaj 2 1 3 6 Eros Grezda 3 2 1 64. Mirko Marić 1 3 0 4 Haris Hajradinović 4 0 0 4 Andrej Lukić 1 2 1 47. Borna Barišić 1 0 2 38. Gabrijel Boban 1 0 1 2 Antonio Perošević 2 0 0 2 Domagoj Pušić 1 1 0 2 Alen Grgić 2 0 0 212. Benedik Mioč 0 0 1 1 Andrej Šimunec 1 0 0 1 Mile Škorić 1 0 0 1 Nikola Jambor 0 1 0 1 TOTALS 19 10 13 42 Source: Competitive matches
Clean sheets Rank Name 1. HNL Europe Cup Total1. Marko Malenica 3 0 6 92. Marijan Antolović 0 2 0 2 UKUPNO 2 2 6 10 Source: Competitive matches
Disciplinary record NumberPositionPlayer1. HNLEuropeCup TOTALS 20 MF Robert Mudražija 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 7 0 0 10 MF Dmytro Lyopa 3 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 7 0 0 11 FW Eros Grezda 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 12 FW Petar Bočkaj 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 28 DF Andrej Lukić 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 25 MF Milovan Petrović 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 7 FW Gabrijel Boban 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 DF Borna Barišić 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 17 MF Tomislav Šorša 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 DF Mateo Barać 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 5 MF Benedik Mioč 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 26 DF Nikola Matas 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 30 MF Haris Hajradinović 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 9 FW Muzafer Ejupi 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 21 MF Mile Škorić 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 19 DF Zoran Lesjak 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 10 FW Antonio Perošević 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 23 MF Alen Grgić 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 24 FW Mirko Marić 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 18 DF Nikola Jambor 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals 30 0 0 4 0 0 19 0 0 53 0 0
References