Few people become as much a symbol of their city as Ivan Gudelj

The cinema hall at Hajduk Split’s Poljud stadium could not accommodate everyone who came to say farewell to Ivan Gudelj, the club legend who died after a short and serious illness. Family, friends, former and current Hajduk figures, and people from across football and public life gathered for the commemoration.

Gudelj died on Tuesday at the age of 66. Among those present were Hajduk president Ivan Bilić, Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustić, coach Gonzalo Garcia, former players Aljoša Asanović, Stipe Pletikosa, Zlatko Vujović and Igor Tudor, and many other familiar names from the club’s history.

Bilić said Gudelj had become part of a generation remembered by Hajduk supporters and had long been part of the club’s identity. “Ivan Gudelj never left his club,” Bilić said, describing a player respected by opponents and supporters who wore the white shirt with pride and responsibility.

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Ivan Gudelj never left his club.

Split Mayor Tomislav Šuta said it was difficult to speak of Gudelj in the past tense. He called him a captain whose name had grown alongside generations of Hajduk supporters. Illness ended Gudelj’s playing career prematurely, Šuta said, but it did not sever his connection with football or Hajduk.

Šuta also recalled Gudelj’s interest in culture and his habit of looking ahead. “Few people experience during their lifetime that their image becomes part of the city where they live,” he said. Other speakers included Tourism and Sports Minister Tonči Glavina, Kustić and Hajduk veteran Vedran Rožić.

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Few people experience during their lifetime that their image becomes part of the city where they live.