About NK Istra 1961

NK Istra 1961 is a Croatian football club based in Pula, founded in 1961 through the merger of NK Uljanik and NK Pula. The club’s origins go back to 1948 with the shipyard team NK Uljanik, which later combined with NK Pula to form the first version of NK Istra. After several reorganisations and brief dissolutions, the club was revived in the mid-1960s and gradually developed within the Yugoslav and later Croatian football systems. It plays its home matches at Stadion Aldo Drosina.

In the Croatian era, Istra mostly competed between the second and third divisions until achieving promotion to the top flight for the first time in 2004–05. One of its earliest major achievements came in the 2002–03 season, when the club reached the Croatian Cup final, a rare feat for a second-division team. Over time, Istra established itself as a regular First League side, with periods of relegation and promotion reflecting its fluctuating sporting stability.

In modern years, NK Istra 1961 has become a stable top-flight club in Croatia, especially after returning permanently to the First League in 2009. The club is currently owned by the Baskonia-Alavés Group and continues to compete in the Croatian top division, occasionally achieving strong mid-table finishes and cup runs. It is also known for its developing squad and recent competitiveness in league play, including reaching another Croatian Cup final in 2021.