Marin Brbić

Marin Brbić (born 16 April 1962 in Makarska, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia) was a Croatian football administrator and former president of the Croatian football club Hajduk Split.

Marin Brbić started his career in tourism. He was the hotel director and board member of the major hotel company "Bluesun" in his native Tučepi. In June 2012, he applied for the job as chairman of Hajduk Split. He got the job thanks to his connections with Jako Andabak, who was the owner of "Bluesun" and board member of the Hajduk Split supervisory board. Also a major stockholder.^[1]

Brbić became president at a time when the club suffered an economic crisis and owned more than 13 million euros of debt. Brbić managed to get a loan from the banks for an amount of almost 4 million euros with the City Of Split as bondsman for the loan. He managed to sell the clubs most worthy players and lowered the wages drastically. During his time, Anton Maglica was the only player in which Hajduk paid money for a transfer deal in July 2012. Until 2016, Hajduk only got players who were free of contract.^[2]

Brbić managed to close the economic gap and in recent years Hajduk started doing financially positive. It was revealed in 2016 that Hajduk was no longer in a financial crisis but a small debt to the City of Split still exists.^[3]

Regarding the football spectrum, Hajduk suffered a decline in under Brbić. During his presidency, he changed 4 managers and 2 sporting directors in 4 years. During that time, Hajduk won only 1 trophy (2012–13 Croatian Football Cup), finished 2 times as 3rd and once as 4th in the Croatian First Football League and made it 2 times to the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League in 2014 and 2015.

Brbić was strongly criticised for the transfer policy he maintained. During the 4 year period he served as president, quality players such as Josip Radošević, Mario Pašalić, Antonio Milić, Dino Mikanović, Andrija Balić and Mijo Caktaš were sold for very mediocre money.^[4]

In June 2015, Brbić was elected for a new 3 years term as president.^[5]

On 4 June 2014, at a parking lot in Dugopolje, Marin Brbić was attacked by Alojzije Šupraha, the referee chairman of the Split-Dalmatia County. The incident happened after Brbić attended a Hajduk Split youth match where they won a trophy. It was rumored that Šupraha attacked him because he thought that his son was neglected in the Hajduk Split youth ranks. Marin Brbić suffered a strong punch to the head and medical assistance was needed. The incident went to court and Šupraha was convicted. He was sentenced to 7 days in prison and a 6-month probation.^[6]

On 1 April 2016, the supervisory board of Hajduk voted 5-to-4 for the resignation of Marin Brbić due to a series of negative results and for not being able to consolidate the club's sporting policy.^[7]

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