Traditionally lower-level minnows, the club's most successful period in the Yugoslav football league system was in the 1970s when they competed in the
Yugoslav Second League. After the
breakup of Yugoslavia and the formation of the
Croatian football league system in 1992 Karlovac spent most of the time playing in
Druga HNL and
Treća HNL, second and third levels. Led by manager
Igor Pamić, Karlovac won consecutive promotions in the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons, which saw them join the
top level for the first time in their history. After a sixth-place finish in
debut season in 1. HNL and equally good
second season, financial troubles during
2011–12 season hit Karlovac hard. They faced relegation to second division but due to financial irregularities, Karlovac was suspended by
Croatian Football Federation. In summer of 2012, NK Karlovac 1919 was founded as a successor club but the two clubs' track records and honors are kept separate by the Croatian Football Federation.
Former names Founded in 1919 as
NK Borac, they changed their name in 1920 to
NŠK Karlovac. This lasted until 1941 when they merged with several local sides to form
ŠK Velebit. Following
World War II Velebit was disbanded and re-established as
FD Udarnik, which was then renamed in 1948
SD Slavija before adopting their current name
NK Karlovac in 1954. •
Borac (1919–1920) •
NŠK Karlovac (1920–1941) •
HŠK Velebit (1941–1945) •
Udarnik (1945–1948) •
Slavija (1948–1954) •
Karlovac (1954–1958) •
KSD (1958–1960) •
Karlovac (1960–2012) ==Honours==