Ivan Gudelj, Hajduk legend, dies in Zagreb at 67
The former Hajduk star and youth coach died on September 2, 2026 after recent surgery; his playing career ended by hepatitis following a collapse in 1986.
Ivan Gudelj, a beloved figure of Hajduk Split and a prominent presence in Croatian football for decades, has died in Zagreb at the age of 67. He passed away on September 2, 2026, after a recent operation at Dubrava Hospital and a final battle with a malignant illness that doctors were unable to overcome.
Gudelj was born in Imotski on April 21, 1960, and began his playing career at the local club Mračaj from Runovići before joining Hajduk Split, where he became one of the most admired players of his generation. For Hajduk he appeared in 362 matches and scored 93 goals, and he won one national championship and two cup trophies with the club.
At the national level he earned 33 caps for Yugoslavia and scored three goals. His playing career was cut short after a collapse during the derby against Red Star Belgrade at Poljud on 13 September 1986, when he fell to the pitch in the 74th minute. He was later diagnosed with hepatitis; two premature returns to training harmed his health and ultimately forced him to retire early and turn to coaching.
From promising move to lifelong commitment to youth
At the peak of his career Gudelj had a lifetime contract waiting from one of Europe's richest clubs, Real Madrid, but at the time the Football Association of Yugoslavia rules forbade players from moving abroad before they turned 28. The illness erased that opportunity and transformed his path.
After his playing days Gudelj worked as a coach at Hajduk and at Zadar, and for many years he served as a selector for Croatia's younger national teams, guiding generations of players from the Dalmatian region. In recent years he was an instructor for the Croatian Football Federation in Dalmatia and took part in numerous humanitarian campaigns, often raising awareness among young people about hepatitis and its dangers.
News of his death prompted condolences across the region, remembering both his achievements on the field and his long-standing work with young players and charitable causes. He was a great footballer, but above all a great man.
Photo: press material from the event
