GNK Dinamo Zagreb
Croatian football team.
GNK Dinamo Zagreb is a professional football club based in Zagreb, Croatia. The club, officially known as Građanski nogometni klub Dinamo Zagreb, plays its home games at Stadion Maksimir, which has a capacity of 35,123 spectators. Dinamo's colors are royal blue, earning them the nickname "Modri" (The Blues).
Dinamo Zagreb was founded in 1911, although there is some controversy surrounding its exact foundation date. The club claims lineage to pre-WWII clubs Građanski Zagreb and HAŠK, but was officially established in its current form in 1945. They have been a dominant force in Croatian football since the country's independence in 1991.
Throughout their history, Dinamo Zagreb has won an impressive 23 Croatian First League titles, 16 Croatian Cups, and 8 Croatian Super Cups. In the former Yugoslav First League, they claimed 4 titles and 7 Yugoslav Cups. Their most significant European success came in 1967 when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (a predecessor to the UEFA Cup/Europa League) by defeating Leeds United in the final.
Dinamo Zagreb has a rich tradition of producing talented players through their youth academy. Many of these players have gone on to have successful careers in top European leagues and represent the Croatian national team. Notable academy graduates include Luka Modrić, Mario Mandžukić, and Mateo Kovačić.
The club's biggest rivalry is with Hajduk Split, with their matches known as the "Eternal Derby" of Croatian football. These encounters are highly charged affairs that often have significant implications for the league title race.
In European competitions, Dinamo Zagreb has been a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. They have achieved some notable results, including victories over Arsenal and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League in the 2020-21 season.
Dinamo Zagreb has faced some controversies over the years, including allegations of corruption and match-fixing. The club's supporters, known as the Bad Blue Boys, are renowned for their passionate support and impressive choreographed displays. In recent seasons, Dinamo Zagreb has continued to dominate domestically while striving to make a bigger impact in European competitions.