The Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament, also known as Croatian Soccer Tournament () is an annual tournament run by the Croatian Soccer Federation of Australia and New Zealand, an organisation founded in 1974. The inspiration for the tournament came from the successful examples in North America with the Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament founded in 1964 and West Coast Croatian Soccer Tournament founded in 1973.
The Tournament kicked off in 1974 with a trial event staged in Melbourne where six soccer clubs participated at Melbourne Croatia's ground, Montgomery Park in Essendon. Only six clubs participated. The Tournament's beginning was spawned from Melbourne Croatia's expulsion from the Victorian Soccer Federation in 1972, with the clubs leadership including Tony Vrzina and Josip Solic together with Mirko Furjanic, the now Honorary President of the Tournament, being instrumental in getting the Tournament established.
The first official Tournament was staged in 1975, hosted by Sydney Croatia and won out by Canberra FC who defeated Sydney Croatia 3–1 in the Final. The Tournament has gone on to become the largest and oldest ethnic football tournament in Australia, having been hosted in every state and territory except for the Northern Territory. It also holds the honour of being the oldest national soccer competition still running in Australia.
Melbourne Knights and Sydney United are the only two clubs to hold Life Membership to the Australian Croatian Soccer Federation due to their pioneering in the early days in establishing the Tournament, as well as their success on the national footballing stage.
List of Tournaments YearHostDivision 1 WinnerWomen's WinnerDivision 2 WinnerMasters WinnerVeterans Winner2026St Albans Saints (4) /Strathmore SplitSydney United (12)Canberra Croatia FC (9)Melbourne KnightsGospić Bears (3)Gospić Bears (2)2025Gold Coast Knights (4)Gold Coast Knights Gold Coast KnightsGold Coast KnightsStrathmore Split (2)Gospić Bears2024St Albans Saints (3) Sydney United (11)North Geelong Warriors (5)Kralj Tomislav (2)Gospić Bears (2)Strathmore Split2023Adelaide Raiders (8) Sydney United (10)St Albans SaintsKralj TomislavGospić BearsMelbourne Knights2022Kralj Tomislav Sydney (3) St Albans Saints (10)North Geelong Warriors (4)Hurstville ZFC Sydney UnitedHurstville ZFC 2021 Gold Coast Knights (N/A) Cancelled due to COVID19 2020 North Geelong Warriors (N/A) Cancelled due to COVID192019Dandenong City Dandenong CityCanberra Croatia FC (8)HNK Edensor ParkDandenong City Gold Coast Knights2018Gold Coast Knights (3)Melbourne Knights (7)Canberra Croatia FC (7)Sunnyside CroataDalmacija Sydney (2)2017Canberra Croatia FC (5) St Albans Saints (9)Canberra Croatia FC (6)Brisbane KnightsHurstville ZFC 2016Adelaide Raiders (7) St Albans Saints (8)Canberra Croatia FC (5)Strathmore Split (2)Dalmacija Sydney2015Brisbane Knights (4)Melbourne Knights (6)North Geelong Warriors (3)Gospić BearsStrathmore Split2014South Coast United (2)North Geelong WarriorsCanberra Croatia FC (4)Strathmore SplitSouth Coast United 2013Melbourne Knights (5) Melbourne Knights (5)Canberra Croatia FC (3)NK BunkerMelbourne Knights2012Gold Coast Knights (2) Melbourne Knights (4)Auckland CroatiaMostar MelbourneGold Coast Knights2011Kralj Tomislav Sydney (2) Melbourne Knights (3)Canberra Croatia FC (2)South Coast United 2010Auckland Croatia Melbourne Knights (2)North Geelong Warriors (2)Luddenham Bosna2009Adelaide Raiders (6) Adelaide Raiders (5)North Fremantle Croatia (3)Auckland Croatia 2008North Geelong Warriors (4) St Albans Saints (7)North Fremantle Croatia (2)Melbourne Tornado2007Western Knights (2) Ljubuski FCNorth Fremantle Croatia2006Sydney United (3)Sydney United (9)Canberra Croatia FC 2005Melbourne Knights (4) Canberra Croatia FC (6)North Geelong Warriors 2004Canberra Croatia FC (4)O'Connor Knights 2003Luddenham Bosna Auckland Croatia2002Adelaide Raiders (5)Adelaide Raiders (4)2001Brisbane Knights (3) Canberra Croatia FC (5)2000St Albans Saints (2) St Albans Saints (6)1999Hurstville ZFC Hajduk Sydney1998North Geelong Warriors (3)St Albans Saints (5)1997Adelaide Raiders (4) Adelaide Raiders (3)1996Canberra Croatia FC (3) Sydney United (8)1995Gold Coast Knights Adelaide Raiders (2)1994South Coast United Canberra Croatia FC (4)1993Melbourne Knights (3) Melbourne Knights1992North Geelong Warriors Canberra Croatia FC (3)1991Adelaide Raiders (3) St Albans Saints (4)1990St Albans Saints St Albans Saints (3)1989Brisbane Knights (2) Sydney United (7)1988Canberra Croatia FC (2) Sydney United (6)1987Sydney United (2) Sydney United (5)1986Melbourne Knights (2) Canberra Croatia FC (2)1985Adelaide Raiders (2)St Albans Saints (2)1984Irymple Knights Adelaide Raiders1983North Geelong Warriors St Albans Saints1982Brisbane KnightsBrisbane Knights 1981Kralj Tomislav Sydney Sydney United (4)1980Glenorchy Knights Western Knights1979Western Knights Sydney United (3)1978Canberra Croatia FC Sydney United (2)1977Adelaide Raiders Whyalla Croatia1976Melbourne KnightsSydney United1975Sydney United Canberra Croatia FC 1974 ^Melbourne Knights Sydney United
^ 1974 Tournament was a trial event (unofficial)
Tournament Winners
Sydney United, 12 titles St Albans Saints, 10 titles Melbourne Knights, 7 titles Canberra FC, 6 titles Adelaide Raiders, 5 titles Gold Coast Knights 1 title Dandenong City, 1 title North Geelong Warriors, 1 title Whyalla Croatia, 1 title Western Knights, 1 title Ljubuski FC, 1 title Hajduk Sydney, 1 title O'Connor Knights, 1 title Auckland Croatia, 1 title Brisbane Knights, 1 title
Women's Tournament Winners
Canberra FC, 9 titles North Geelong Warriors, 5 titles North Fremantle 3 titles Gold Coast Knights 1 title St Albans Saints 1 title Auckland Croatia 1 title
See also
List of Croatian football clubs in Australia Croatian Australian
References Adelaide Advertiser "Raiders confident" 4 October 2002, page 103
External links Official website AusCroSoccer.com Croatian-Australian Soccer Tournament programs (1979-2013) in the Wayback Machine