"I could say a lot of things, I even slept in the stadium".

A former coach of Hajduk Split, Miso Krstičević, was dismissed from his role at the club without explanation, leading to his return to his native club, Jadran Luka Ploče. The move came after a period of uncertainty, during which Krstičević had been serving as head of the academy “Luka Kaliterna” at Hajduk. His departure was described as a relief for his home club, which he had helped elevate significantly in recent months. Over the past twelve rounds of the season, Jadran Luka Ploče climbed from seventh place with 30 points to third position in the final round, accumulating 59 points. This impressive rise saw them surpass all other second-tier clubs in the same timeframe. Among these teams were Segesta with 28 points, Mladost Ždralovi with 22, Uljanik with 21, Kustošija with 19, Radnik with 15, and Uskok with 12 points. These results underscored the impact of Krstičević’s coaching strategy and leadership. Krstičević, a 67-year-old seasoned coach with extensive experience, has long been recognized for his expertise and deep understanding of football. He reflected on his time at Hajduk, noting how the club's performance improved dramatically under his guidance. Despite being removed from his position at Poljud without prior explanation, Krstičević felt this decision was ultimately beneficial for both himself and his original club, Jadran. His journey began when he returned to Poljud on April 4th of last year at the invitation of Goran Vučević. He was honored and confident in his abilities, drawing upon years of experience and mentorship from notable coaches such as Tomislav Ivić, Ante Mladinić, Špace, and Stanko Poklepović. Krstičević emphasized the importance of close collaboration with the coaching staff and expressed a desire for greater access to training sessions. He believed that his approach aligned well with the team’s goals. During his tenure, Krstičević maintained a hands-on presence, regularly attending over four hundred training sessions and remaining consistently available to support the coaching team. In one instance, he even spent nights sleeping on the stadium grounds, highlighting his dedication to the club’s success. His efforts were acknowledged positively by club officials, including Vučević and president Ljubo Visković, who evaluated his work favorably. The training methods employed by the academy’s coaches varied, but Krstičević noted that there was a lack of focus on indoor training sessions, which he considered essential for developing young players. He recalled the rigorous training regimen established by Ivić and Poklepović, emphasizing the importance of disciplined indoor practice. Under their guidance, players trained in a small, 20x20 meter indoor space, engaging in intense drills that included thousands of passes, shots, duels, and dribbles. These sessions often resulted in weight loss due to the high intensity of the workouts. When transitioning to Poljud, the facilities improved further, offering better conditions for training. Krstičević remembered how Ivić and Poklepović meticulously prepared the indoor spaces, using artificial turf and ensuring optimal ball movement. Training sessions were conducted at high speeds, focusing on technique refinement, which remains a cornerstone of modern football. During the summer of 2012, Krstičević sought improvements in climate control, and the club promised to address these issues, implementing a sauna-like environment in the indoor facility during the summer months and a cold room in winter.