It’s about 7 km from Salona to Split, and every morning, holding Dad Jozo’s hand, the little boy Nikola Kalinić He set off from home to get to the training ground of the’Hajduk Split, the club where he grew up as a man and as a footballer, and from where he set out to become a champion whilst wearing other prestigious shirts. Several years have passed since then. Countless goals scored, countless experiences, countless personal and professional achievements, yet that first shirt has always remained close to his heart. Today, Nikola Kalinić, aged 36, has decided to don that shirt once more to help his first club achieve a goal that has eluded them for 19 years: winning the league title. It is a choice born of love for Hajduk’s colours. Love and passion for the club and for the game of football that go beyond financial considerations. Kalinić returns to the pitch in the ‘Bili’ shirt after signing a five-month contract (until the end of the season) for a truly symbolic fee.

From the pitch at Poljud: Europe and the return

A professional footballer’s career can easily be depicted on a map, which always has a starting point and a destination. For Nikola Kalinić, these two points coincide perfectly and lead to the pitch at Poljud, Hajduk’s stadium, where Croatian fans cheered on a young footballer who took flight across Europe from that very pitch. After Split, the ‘condor’ spread his wings towards England, where he wore the Blackburn Rovers shirt, then on to Ukraine with Dnipro, and subsequently to Italy – undoubtedly his most significant and longest spell. His two most intense seasons were spent in the purple of Fiorentina, followed by spells at Milan, Roma and Verona, with a stint in Spain’s La Liga with Atlético Madrid in between. After Verona, he chose to return home to likely bring his career to a close in Split. Following last season, he decided to call it a day. But his heart and passion for the colours of his first club were decisive in his decision to step onto the pitch at Poljud once more to help realise the dream of winning the league title.

The values of sport above all else

Kalinić’s decision shows that the passion of that little boy who, every day, would travel with his father from Salona to Split to chase his dream and wear a shirt that means everything to you, never changes and never fades. No transfer fee can compare when your love for this sport is stronger than anything else. Alongside that love is the dedication to the colours of a team that allowed you to fulfil your childhood dream. Today, Kalinić gives that love and passion back to Hajduk and puts himself at the service of his club without asking for anything in return.

A wonderful example

There are many ways to ‘become your own hero’ And Kalinić’s gesture also serves as a wonderful example for all those young lads who turn up at Hajduk Split’s training ground every day, put on their boots and their shirts, and start playing. Before fame, magazine covers and big contracts, there is a passion for the game of football, a sense of belonging to a group, team spirit, and a love for a shirt which, in the end, will always be part of you. Kalinić, wearing that Hajduk number 9 shirt, will emerge from the changing rooms, make his way to the centre of the pitch and, looking out at the stands at Poljud, realise that he has already scored his first goal – straight and true, right into the hearts of his supporters.