Victor Sanchez leaves role as head coach of Croatian club HNK Rijeka

HNK Rijeka confirmed that Spanish manager Victor Sanchez has departed after a single season, ending their partnership by mutual agreement. Sanchez took over the team in early September 2025, succeeding Radomir Đalović, and guided Rijeka to a fourth‑place finish in the SuperSport Hrvatski nogometni liga, securing a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. During his tenure he oversaw 30 league matches (13 wins, nine draws, nine losses) and led the side to notable European results, including progression to the knockout phase of the Conference League and a 5‑0 victory over Hajduk Split. The club also reached the Croatian Cup final under his leadership, where they were defeated by Dinamo Zagreb. While a permanent replacement has not yet been announced, former national team coach Matjaž Kek has been mentioned as a leading candidate to take over.