Details emerge for the farewell to Croatian football legend Ivan Gudelj

Ivan Gudelj’s final farewell will take place across two days, with Hajduk Split first honoring its former star at Poljud and family, friends and others gathering afterward at the All Saints cemetery in Zmijavci.

Hajduk will hold the memorial on Friday at 11 a.m. Gudelj’s funeral will follow on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 4:30 p.m. The arrangements come after the death of one of the most respected figures in Croatian football, who died at 67 following a serious illness.

Gudelj’s reputation rested on more than trophies and statistics. He ranked among Hajduk’s finest players of the 1980s, represented Yugoslavia and served as the national team’s captain. His playing career ended at only 26 because of hepatitis B, just as he was at his peak. A proposed transfer to Real Madrid consequently fell through.

He spent his entire professional playing career with Hajduk, making 362 appearances and scoring 93 goals. After retiring, he remained involved in football, particularly youth development, and for a period served as coach of Croatia’s youth national team. His life and career have been remembered as an inspiration to many.