Sociology of sport in Croatia

Sociology of sport, one of the more recent sociology disciplines, started developing in the world in the sixties. In Croatia at that time (and earlier) there was Miro Mihovilovic whose work, its volume and content made him the founder of the discipline in this country In the next phase of development, Kreso Petrovic and Ankica Hosek-Momirovic in their remarkable work linked up the new discipline more closely with kinesiology. Before the third stage of development there was a certain discrepancy between theoretical work (among which Srdan Vrcan's contribution was the most thorough, systematic and clear-cut) and empirical research directed at applicability. Football hooliganism and sociological research of the phenomenon in the late eighties and early nineties marked the third stage of development, which united theoretical and empirical part equally using quantitative and qualitative research methodology. At this stage of development, sociology of youth (sub)cultures proved very inspiring in trying to understand new agents of stadium rituals, who created a specific subcultural style in the early eighties. Since there has been no systematic research into the subject in the last fifteen years, contacts have been made with some influential agents of football hooliganism for the purpose of this paper, in order to test some theses in present day conditions (Such as Lalic's different types of football supporters from earlier time). Prospects are good and diverse for sociology of sport if sociologists continue their research, because sport plays an important role in everyday life of a large number of people in Croatia. It is also necessary to explain excellent sport results of a small country such as Croatia, as well as a number of other aspects of sport as a social phenomenon.