Pro-government says Croatia gives Mišo Kovač a final farewell at Poljud

Pro-government says Croatia gives Mišo Kovač a final farewell at Poljud
On November 3, residents of Split gathered to say farewell to Mišo Kovač, who died on Saturday in Podstrana near Split at the age of 86. The main ceremony was held at Poljud stadium, chosen in part because Kovač was a devoted supporter of Hajduk Split.

The coffin was brought into the stadium and then carried around the pitch, allowing mourners to pay their respects. His photographs and emotional moments from his career were displayed on the stadium’s video screen as the ceremony unfolded.

Musicians and longtime friends performed some of Kovač’s best-known songs. The lineup included Mladen Grdović, Dražen Zečić, Jole, Klapa Rišpet, Alen Nižetić and Đulijano. Grdović was among the first performers to arrive at the stadium, where he was scheduled to sing several of Kovač’s hits.

Kovač, born in Šibenik on July 16, 1941, had a career spanning more than five decades. His songs, including “Ostala si uvijek ista,” “Dalmacija u mom oku,” “Ako me ostaviš” and “Poljubi zemlju,” became familiar across generations.

The farewell coverage described his music as “part of Croatia’s musical and cultural heritage,” while also identifying him as one of the most recognizable figures in the country’s music scene. His death prompted a public tribute that combined personal mourning, popular music and the symbolism of Split’s football stadium.