Union Berlin will play a farewell match for former captain Damir Kreilach against HNK Rijeka in Croatia. The fixture takes place on Wednesday at the historic Stadion Kantrida, serving as a symbolic homecoming for the 37-year-old who retired from professional football in the winter of 2025.
Kreilach will make a brief appearance for both teams in a joint tribute. Kick-off is set for 19:17, referencing his shirt numbers 17 at Rijeka and 19 at Union. Around 850 to 1,000 Union fans are expected to travel for the supporter-organised tribute.
Retirement After Injuries
The midfielder ended his playing career following several injuries in a short period. “Many injuries within three months,” Kreilach said, “made me realise that it's a bit too much to keep playing football.” He is now involved in youth development and player recruitment for HNK Rijeka. For Union, he made 157 appearances, scoring 33 goals and providing 18 assists.
Union's Current Situation
The friendly fixture offers a welcome distraction for a club sitting 17th in the Bundesliga with just one point from four games. Recent form shows three consecutive defeats, including a 7-0 loss at Bayern Munich. The next league assignment is a home match against seventh-placed SV Elversberg on October 10th.
Kreilach recalled two special choreographies from Union fans during his time. “Twice there were choreos by the Union fans made for me: against Borussia Dortmund and at my farewell, when I moved to the USA,” he said. Stadion Kantrida previously hosted Union's Europa League match against Braga in 2023. Wednesday's farewell match marks the final act of a career that shaped the club for over a decade.
The report in full is at Bild Sport
