June 15, 2022 - The Croatian Association 'Nogometni Sindikat' announced the awards for the past football season, in which the best HT First League player, coach, young player, and team of the season were voted on by First League players and coaches. The best Croatian footballer overall was again awarded to Croatia captain Luka Modrić. 

For the tenth time, Nogometni Sindikat organized the Football Trophy Award, in which the best players of the past season are chosen by the players and the professional staff of Croatian Football League clubs. Due to the epidemiological situation, no awards ceremony was organized this year, but the laureates were announced via social networks.

The best player of the HT First League for the 2021/2022 season, voted on by the players and coaches in the First League, is HNK Hajduk Split player Marko Livaja. Note that Livaja finished the season as the league's top scorer with 28 goals in 34 appearances, and added seven assists. With his fantastic performances, he led Hajduk to win the Croatian Cup, and in the never more tense ending to the season, Hajduk finished in second place.

The captain of the Croatia national team, Luka Modrić, was chosen as the best Croatian football player last season. At the age of 36, he was one of Real Madrid's biggest assets on the way to a new Champions League title (fifth overall) and the Spanish championship. This is Luka's jubilee tenth award in this selection. Ivan Perišić (Inter) and Marko Livaja (HNK Hajduk) were also in the running. 

The best young player is Lokomotiva winger Lukas Kacavenda. Stipe Biuk (HNK Hajduk) and Dion Drena Beljo (NK Istra 1961 / NK Osijek) were also in the running. The goalkeeper of the current champion Dinamo, Dominik Livaković, was chosen as the best goalkeeper in the HNL. He won this title last season as well.

The former Rijeka coach, Goran Tomić, was named the best coach. He led his team to the Cup final and fourth place in the Championship. Rijeka last season was characterized by attacking football, and a slight drop in form in the second half of the season kept them away from the title race. Valdas Dambrauskas (HNK Hajduk) and Silvijo Čabraja (NK Lokomotiva) were also in the running. 

The best 11 players of the HT First League were also announced: 

Goalkeeper: Dominik Livaković (GNK Dinamo Zagreb)

Defenders: Stefan Ristovski (GNK Dinamo Zagreb), Josip Sutalo (GNK Dinamo Zagreb), Josip Elez (HNK Hajduk Split), Petar Bockaj (NK Osijek / GNK Dinamo Zagreb)

Midfielders: Arijan Ademi (GNK Dinamo Zagreb), Filip Krovinovic (HNK Hajduk Split), Domagoj Pavicic (HNK Rijeka)

Forwards: Josip Drmic (HNK Rijeka), Mislav Orsic (GNK Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Livaja (HNK Hajduk Split).

Rujevica in Rijeka was declared the best stadium. 

ŽNK Split player Aida Hadžić was chosen as the best female footballer.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

May 22, 2022 - Hajduk striker Marko Livaja is the top scorer of the 2021/22 HT First League competition season.

Hajduk's #10 scored a total of 28 goals in 34 championship appearances. The Croatian striker also added seven assists to his performance. Marko found himself in Hajduk's starting lineup 33 times, came off the bench once, and played the entire game 27 times. He played 2987 minutes in the championship this season.

He scored at least one goal against each of the teams competing in the HT First League. He scored six times against Istra 1961, five times against Rijeka, four times against Hrvatski Dragovoljac, three times against Gorica and Lokomotiva, twice against Dinamo, Šibenik and Slaven Belupo, and once against Osijek.

Recently, Marko Livaja entered the history of the Club, breaking the record from the 1934/1935 season, when the legendary Leo Lemešić scored 26 championship goals in one season. Lemešić is the second-top scorer in the history of the club behind Frane Matošić.

"Marko, congratulations once again on your outstanding achievements this season!" said Hajduk on their official website.

The top scorer in the HNL launched his professional career at Inter and continued in Atalanta, FC Rubin Kazan, Empoli, Las Palmas, AEK, and now Hajduk. His 26th goal against Istra in the 35th round was also the 100th goal of his career. 

Hajduk finished the 2021/22 HT First League in second place with 72 points. While they fell short of the title this year, they still have a chance to win a trophy this season in the Croatian Cup final against Rijeka on Thursday, May 26. Hajduk and Rijeka will meet at Poljud at 19:00. The last Croatian Cup title Hajduk won was in 2013. They lost to Dinamo in their last Cup final in 2018. 

Dinamo won the Croatian Cup last season, while Rijeka was the winner in the two seasons prior. 

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