Overview
- Zlatko Dalic announced he is stepping down after nearly nine years and 111 matches, a move the Croatian Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday.
- Under Dalic Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final, finished third in 2022 and contested the 2023 Nations League final, making his spell the country’s most successful modern era.
- The federation said it will not renew his contract, which expires at the end of the month, and media report Dalic received a lucrative offer from the United Arab Emirates before the tournament.
- Potential successors reported in the press include Ivica Olić and Slaven Bilić, and the new coach will be tasked with rebuilding the squad ahead of September and October Nations League fixtures.
- Croatia faces a generational transition as veterans such as Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić and Mateo Kovačić approach the end of their international careers and younger players like Luka Vušković are expected to take larger roles.