Overview
- The Croatian Football Federation appointed Slaven Bilic as head coach on Monday, approving president Marijan Kustic’s proposal after Zlatko Dalic resigned following Croatia’s World Cup loss to Portugal.
- The federation confirmed the unanimous board decision but did not disclose the length or terms of Bilic’s contract.
- Bilic returns to the post he held from 2006 to 2012 and brings wide club experience most recently with Saudi side Al-Fateh, and he said he feels honored and aware of the high expectations.
- Observers expect Bilic to oversee a generational transition as veterans such as Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić and Mateo Kovačić near the end of their international careers while younger players like 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic are being positioned for larger roles.
- Bilic’s first competitive assignment will be UEFA Nations League matches in September and October against the Czech Republic, Spain and England, a sequence that will force early selection choices and could speed decisions about veteran retirements and squad direction.