More than eight and a half years after his last appearance for Union, Damir Kreilach will receive his well-deserved farewell match as HNK Rijeka host 1. FC Union Berlin. 

The opponents

The anticipation of one last performance from their hero aside, the Rijeka side are heading into Saturday's game with plenty of momentum, having defeated rivals Hajduk Split 3-0 last weekend, thereby maintaining their position in fifth place and keeping in touch with the top of the table. Double winners Dinamo Zagreb sit just two points ahead in first place and could be overtaken by Rijeka when they meet. 

In 2017, the club, founded in Croatia’s third largest city in 1946, won their first title in the SuperSport HNL, with their second coming in 2025. With the Cup win in the same year, it marked the second double secured after 2017, joining five more national cups in the trophy cabinet. 

Rijeka, who, like many Croatian clubs, focus primarily on bringing through their own young players, are currently coached for the second time by Matjaz Kek. The Slovenian was active in the Kvarner Bay from 2013 to 2018 and today counts on the support of Kreilach in his staff, among others. 

The player

Kreilach not only played 157 times in the Union shirt, he often did so as captain and was voted into the legends XI chosen by Union fans to celebrate the club’s anniversary. 

Since the end of his active career at the beginning of 2026, the 37-year-old, who will come on for both teams in a brief appearance on Saturday, has been working in Rijeka's management. In his first off-pitch role, he is responsible for the development of young players and also looks after the club’s loan players. 

As an organising presence in central midfield, the four-time Croatian U-21 international was distinguished not only by his vision and aggression during four and a half years at Union, but his attacking qualities are also illustrated by his 33 goals and 18 assists. Alongside Christopher Trimmel and Marvin Friedrich, whom Kreilach will reunite with in the match, the long-standing captain laid the foundation for the later Bundesliga promotion and much more – as another line in "his" song goes: “Today all of Europe knows our songs.” 

In order to honour his contributions to the hosts (56 goals and 19 assists in 168 competitive matches for Rijeka), kick off on Saturday is at 19:17, the shirt numbers that Kreilach wore at both clubs. 

The coach's view before the match 

“Farewell matches for deserving players of a club are always something special. They show that even in the fast-paced football business of today, achievements are remembered. We want to give Damir a worthy farewell, while also keeping in mind the sporting aspect of the match and giving our players time on the pitch,” said head coach Mauro Lustrinelli ahead of the encounter. 

Service information 

At least 850 Unioners will be in Croatia on Saturday; guidelines for attending the stadium can be found here. 

Union will provide information about the match in their live ticker.