Thunder from the north! Igor Štimac, the legendary former Croatian national team coach and current manager of HNK Zrinjski, has unleashed a verbal assault on his old rivals. The target? Hajduk Split. The verdict? Devastating. In a recent interview, Štimac didn't just criticize; he dismantled the entire philosophy of the Split giants, labeling their current era a disaster of marketing over merit.

The Garcia Delusion

Let’s talk about the man in charge. Gonzalo Garcia. Štimac’s question echoes through the stadium: "What has he actually achieved?" The Spanish coach’s resume? Sixth place in the league with Istra. Is that the golden ticket to the most demanding job in Croatia? Štimac scoffs at the notion. "He claims no one told him the ambition was to win," Štimac says, highlighting the absurdity. "It’s normal for him because he knows the club lacks the courage to fire him and pay the €1.5 million penalty. He’s a safe bet for cowardice, not a champion for glory."

Livaja: The Last Stand

Amidst the wreckage, one name shines. Marko Livaja. Štimac hails the striker as the sole reason for any euphoria surrounding the club. "The club must be grateful he stayed. He is the phenomenon. Without him, there is nothing." Štimac argues that every other move—the return of veterans like Subašić, Kalinić, Rakitić, and Rebić—was a marketing stunt, not a sporting decision. "Where is the sporting efficiency? Where is the value added to the players? It’s all smoke and mirrors."

A Model for Failure

The former coach doesn’t mince words about the hierarchy. He questions why the supervisory board president, Ljubo Pavasović-Visković, is handling sponsor talks instead of club president Ivan Bilić. "I have no intention of ever stepping foot in the club again," Štimac declares, cutting ties with the fanbase that turned on him years ago. "Fear is the devil. They who lost their privileges hate me. I told them their place. They don’t forget."

And the outlook? Bleak. "Hajduk will wander. The model has failed for 20 years. They care more about marketing than results. GNK Dinamo Zagreb has no one to stop them now." Štimac even jokes about the day Hajduk’s second team might play in the fourth tier, imagining the "joy" of parents and agents. Meanwhile, he offers genuine congratulations to Dinamo for their double, praising Zvonimir Boban and coach Kovačević. "I predicted this. The path was clear. Now, watch the circus continue."