Zlatko Dalić has left his position as Croatia national team coach following the country’s elimination from the World Cup, reports HNS.
The 57-year-old made the decision to step down after nine years in charge, a role he has held since 2017. Croatia’s tournament in the United States came to an end in the round of 32, beaten 2-1 by Portugal in regular time.
It was the first World Cup under Dalić’s stewardship that Croatia returned without a medal. After silver in Russia in 2018 and bronze in Qatar in 2022, the defeat to Portugal brought the curtain down on the most successful era in the history of Croatian football.
“The role of national team coach demands many difficult decisions, but this one was without doubt the hardest I have ever had to make. I have always said that there is no greater honor than leading your own national team, and that I could not have a more important, more responsible, or more beautiful job than this. When I took charge of the team, I believed in the quality of the players and in myself, but I did not dare dream that we would achieve everything we have achieved in these almost nine years. I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of every victory, every qualification for a major tournament, the three medals, the great nights of Croatian football, like when we beat England and Brazil at World Cups, but above all, I am proudest of the unity we built within the squad and with the Croatian people, something we witnessed most powerfully in those unforgettable homecoming celebrations after winning our World Cup medals.”
“It is impossible to achieve results like these without quality, hard work, and belief in what you are doing. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who invested their knowledge and energy into everything we achieved together — my coaching staff and colleagues, the doctors, physiotherapists, kit men, and the entire HNS logistics team who supported us brilliantly throughout. Thank you to the Federation’s leadership for their support. Thank you to the fans for the incredible backing we had every step of the way. Thank you to the media outlets that helped create a positive environment around the team while also holding us to account with constructive criticism. And finally, thank you to my family — without whose support, none of this would have been possible for me.”
Dalić took charge of Croatia during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, stepping in to replace Ante Čačić following a draw with Finland at a moment when Croatia’s qualification hopes were in serious jeopardy. He steered the team to Russia, and on his very first major tournament as coach, delivered the greatest achievement in Croatian football history — a silver medal at the World Cup.
To that, he added bronze at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and a runners-up finish in the 2023 Nations League, cementing his place as the most decorated coach in Croatian football history. Dalić began his managerial career at Varteks before going on to manage Rijeka and Slaven Belupo. He then moved east, taking up positions in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where he managed Al-Faisaly, Al-Hilal and Al-Ain — the latter being his longest posting before taking the Croatia job.
“Of course, in all of these successes, the most important people are those on the pitch. I am deeply privileged to have had the opportunity to manage such outstanding footballers and such quality human beings, from our captain Luka Modrić, through all of the senior players who were with me from Russia onwards, to the young players we brought into the squad along the way, who have gradually taken on and continue to take on increasingly important roles. I am enormously grateful to all of them for always putting Croatia above everything else, for consistently showing through their behavior, their commitment, and their attitude what the Croatia national team culture truly means. Croatia has a bright future in all of them, and as long as the national team remains as sacred to them as it has been to generations before, Croatia will be strong, competitive, and a match for anyone.”
“I would like to thank President Kustić for his exceptional support and the excellent working relationship we have had, as well as for his trust in me to continue. The support I have received over these past few days prompted me to reconsider my decision to leave, but the time has come. As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to write new chapters of success with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this remarkable era to a close. I leave with a full heart and proud of the contribution I have made to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football. To my successor, to the Croatian national team, and to Croatian football as a whole — I wish nothing but continued success, in which I have complete and unwavering belief.”
