The throne in Rijeka has a new king. Matjaž Kek is back. The 64-year-old Slovenian maestro has officially returned to the club he defined, taking the helm from Victor Sanchez. The Spanish coach departed at the end of May, paving the way for a homecoming that feels less like a hiring and more like a coronation. For the fans of the Kvarner coast club, this isn't just a transfer; it's a restoration of order.

A Legacy Carved in Stone

Let’s talk numbers, because they tell a story of dominance. From February 2013 to October 2018, Kek was the architect of an era. In 274 matches, he delivered 165 victories, 65 draws, and only 44 defeats. The crown jewel? The 2017 double. He didn’t just win; he conquered, adding the 2014 Cup and the 2015 Super Cup to the trophy cabinet. Since he left, his name has been whispered in every boardroom in Croatia, linked to Dinamo Zagreb and HNK Hajduk Split, yet he always returned to his roots. Now, he’s back where he belongs.

Ending the Carousel

Since Kek’s exit in 2018, the bench at Rujevica has been a revolving door. Ten coaches. Ten different faces. Igor Bišćan won the Cup in 2019. Simon Rožman did the same in 2020. Then came the parade: Goran Tomić, Dragan Tadić, Fausto Budicin, Serse Cosmi, Sergej Jakirović, Željko Sopić, and Radomir Đalović, who secured another double last year.

Victor Sanchez was the latest in this cycle. He guided the team to European football for the first time in 46 years and reached the SuperSport Hrvatski Kup final. But fourth place in the league, trailing Dinamo by 33 points, was deemed unacceptable. The board wanted stability. They wanted history. They got Kek. After managing Maribor to titles in 2000 and 2003, leading the Slovenian national team until December 2025, and coaching Al-Ittihad, the legend has chosen his final destination. The experiment is over. The era of Kek begins again.