The club was formed in July 1946 as NK Kvarner, and played its first unofficial match on 7 August 1946 against Hajduk Split, winning 2–0.
The first official game was played in the qualifiers for the 1946–47 Yugoslav First League against Unione Sportiva Operaia (Pula), losing 2–1 in Rijeka.
[1] This article lists various records and statistics related to the club and individual players and managers.
Source: hrnogomet.com 1This was the first ever match in a well-known competition that used the penalty shootout procedure to decide a tie.
Sources: List of HNK Rijeka seasons, Glasilo Hrvatskog nogometnog saveza