Vrhovac marks 50 years of sports as Ivan Gudelj's legacy is remembered

In Vrhovac, near Ozalj, the local community is marking 50 years of sporting history. The legacy traces back to the mid-1960s when football was played on dirt fields, often interrupted by agricultural work. The football club ‘Polet’ was conceptualized in 1975, though early registration faced political hurdles regarding the club's emblem. The Vrhovac Sports Society was eventually officially registered in 2022.

Separately, the passing of former Hajduk player Ivan Gudelj at age 67 has brought attention to historical controversies in Yugoslav football. Gudelj recalled how a contract dispute between the Yugoslav Football Association and Adidas negatively impacted the national team during the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He noted that players faced threats of removal from the squad if they did not comply with the agreement, causing significant distraction during the tournament.