After yet another disappointing season in which Hajduk failed to win the Croatian league title and made no significant impact in the Croatian Cup—not to mention Europe—it’s time to take stock. Questions are now being raised about the club’s short- and long-term future. It’s clear that the club’s sporting policy is flawed, as Hajduk hasn’t won the HNL title in two decades and consistently crashes out of European competitions early. A change in ownership structure is unlikely any time soon, with the City of Split formally in control, but the association “Naš Hajduk” effectively running things. Presidents, sporting directors, and coaches will come and go—but most importantly, so will players.
The future of Hajduk’s star player, Marko Livaja, is the central question. Should Hajduk’s top scorer remain for a fifth season at a club that shows no signs of progress, or is it time for him to seek opportunities abroad? As strong as the fans’ emotions may be, rational arguments point to the fact that Livaja, now 32, should take the next step in his career and leave his hometown club.
Phenomenal Stats
Once again this season, Livaja has been brilliant. At the time of writing, he has made 33 appearances (almost always as a starter), scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists. He was involved in 61% of Hajduk’s goals and picked up just five yellow cards. Despite these phenomenal stats, Hajduk’s season has been poor. Had Dinamo played at their usual level, the gap would likely have been 15–20 points. At first glance, one might say the season would’ve been even worse without Livaja—perhaps, assuming the rest of the squad remained the same. And that’s where the problem lies.
An Invisible Brake
Hajduk’s crucial issue is its overreliance on its main man—Livaja serves as the playmaker, top scorer, locker-room leader, and on-field commander. Everything revolves around him, one way or another. All of Hajduk’s opponents know this well and are adept at neutralizing Hajduk’s attacks as a result. The stats don’t show how many times the ball didn’t reach Livaja, how often he was blocked by defenders, or when he failed to pass. Hajduk’s play is 100% centered on Livaja. The entire offensive tactic would breathe more freely if it wasn’t built around a single player. This is the first reason why Livaja should leave.
There’s no shortage of examples of clubs improving after their biggest star departs. When Fernando Torres left Atletico Madrid in 2007, the club used the money to bring in Diego Forlán, Simão Sabrosa, and others. Atletico went on to win the Europa League twice (2010 and 2012), La Liga (2014), and reached the Champions League final twice (2014 and 2016). A similar boost happened at Tottenham after Gareth Bale left in 2013. The club quickly rebounded and became successful. Without a doubt, Hajduk could experience the same kind of resurgence after the departure of its star player.
Financial Burden on the Club
Although Livaja is a valuable player, he represents a major financial burden for Hajduk, a club currently facing serious financial difficulties. The official deficit last year stood at €10 million, though in reality, it might be even higher. It may even be for the best that Hajduk didn’t win the league title, as it would have triggered massive bonus payouts. The club is in a dire situation and will need to clean out the locker room this summer. Some players will need to be offloaded, others will face pay cuts, and new faces will arrive. Naturally, Livaja is unlikely to accept a salary reduction—his 2024 salary was €1.32 million annually, or €110,000 per month.
Livaja is under contract until the summer of 2027, which is beneficial for both Hajduk and the player, as it means the club could secure a significant transfer fee. According to Transfermarkt, his market value is €5 million. However, reports suggest that Beşiktaş may be willing to pay around €7 million, and similar offers could come from other Turkish or Greek clubs. This kind of money is essential for Hajduk to restructure its squad for the upcoming season. The club needs to build a hardworking team, get rid of arrogant foreign players (such as Nazariy Rusyn, Rokas Pukštas, Abdoulie Sanyang Bamba), and give a chance to talented young players from its academy or elsewhere in Croatia. This would be a financially smart move.
Preserving Legendary Status
If Livaja were to stay at Hajduk without accepting a pay cut (which is likely, as he has earned his salary), he could become a target for the fans. Overnight, he could go from being the fan favorite to the club’s most criticized figure. Something similar happened to Ivan Perišić, though for different reasons. That’s why it would be best for Livaja to leave at the peak of his success—he’s scored 79 goals in four seasons. He should be thinking about life in Split after his playing career ends.
Avoiding Stagnation
Even if he were to stay, stagnation would inevitably follow. Why? Because of burnout. Playing in the same stadiums, against the same opponents, cannot elevate the game of a serious footballer—HNL is a very weak league. It’s clear that Hajduk will need to wait a while before winning the league or making a meaningful European run. These are not the right conditions for a player of Livaja’s caliber, who deserves more—something even his wife has recently hinted at.
A New Step in His Career
In recent weeks, Beşiktaş has been mentioned as the most likely club to sign Livaja after their disastrous season. The Turkish side needs a goal machine, and Livaja seems like the ideal candidate. Not only would he play in the Turkish league, one of Europe’s top 10, but he would also have the chance to appear in European competitions against elite teams. It would be a chance to showcase his talent and skill against top defenders and goalkeepers. The defenders and keepers of Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Freiburg, Lille, or Porto are far superior to those of Dinamo, Rijeka, or Gorica. Additionally, he would work with excellent coaches who are several classes above Hajduk’s staff (with all due respect to Gennaro Gattuso), and could learn something new tactically.
Return to the National Team
If Livaja were to light up the Turkish league against high-quality opponents, it would be an ideal preparation for a return to the Croatian national team—which he clearly desires. Matches against Villarreal, Lazio, Roma, or Aston Villa would be a good warm-up for facing Portugal, France, Germany, and other top national teams. All of this would serve as a major motivation for the Split striker, who could enter the golden age of his career and become Croatia’s first-choice striker. He could still play in at least two major tournaments (a World Cup and a European Championship), contributing crucial goals and assists that the Croatian team desperately needs.
Better Sporting and Media Environment
Although Split is often referred to as “the most sports-oriented city in the world,” when it comes to Hajduk, it’s more like “the most chaotic city in the world.” Few fanbases are as impatient and hungry for success as Torcida. Two decades without a title have made them extremely tense. High expectations from fans put even more pressure on the players—especially stars like Livaja, who is expected to single-handedly bring trophies to Hajduk. But that’s not how it works. While Turkish fans are also passionate about football, Livaja wouldn’t face the same level of pressure there (especially as a foreigner), allowing him to focus more on the game itself rather than on fan expectations and media headlines. He would also avoid the toxic effects of rivalries and historical baggage, such as that between Hajduk and Dinamo.
Livaja’s Potential Renaissance
Marko Livaja’s departure wouldn’t tarnish his status as a Hajduk icon—on the contrary, it could help preserve it. He would leave as a legend, not burdened by unfulfilled dreams, but with the hope that maybe his departure is exactly what Hajduk needs for a fresh start. A change of environment is also necessary for Livaja to truly showcase his full potential, which he has unfortunately not yet been able to demonstrate on the European stage.
Author: Matija Šerić
Featured image: Instagram
