What Hajduk’s Conference League Qualification Brings Beyond the €8.5 Million Prize

After waiting 16 years for a European autumn, Hajduk Split has finally secured a place in the main phase of the Conference League. For the Croatian club, the financial prize is only the most obvious part of what changes with the return to Europe.

Based on an analysis of the competition’s revenues and costs, including the qualifying rounds, Hajduk could earn around €8.5 million net if it collects some points but fails to advance to the knockout phase. That money would be especially important because it could close the club’s negative working capital, which stood at about €9 million in its previous report.

European football also functions as a shop window for players. Even with scouting systems offering more detailed information and longer-term monitoring, outstanding performances in European matches can still raise a player’s price and attract interest. The article uses 18-year-old winger Bruno Durdov as a hypothetical example. Had he stayed at Hajduk and produced a brilliant match against a club such as Ajax, it would be difficult to imagine him later moving for only the €900,000 paid this summer for his transfer to Poland’s Górnik.

European competition can also make Hajduk more attractive to potential signings. After financial terms, players generally consider a club’s sporting and competitive prospects. For players comparing clubs from leagues outside the world’s strongest dozen, a team playing in Europe will usually be more appealing than one without European football, even if that means accepting a slightly lower salary.

The qualification therefore gives Hajduk a boost in both buying and selling players. It may also help remove the reputational stain created by years of being portrayed in international media, social networks and other channels as a major club that regularly falls in qualifying rounds and disappoints. The long-awaited result gives the club the chance to change that image on the field.