Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic has stepped down, bringing to an end a successful tenure that saw him lead the national team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final and the 2022 semi-finals.
Dalic announced his resignation in a statement on Wednesday, saying the time had come to conclude his spell with the national team.
“As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to achieve new successes with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this incredible era to a close,” he said.
“I am leaving with a full heart and proud that I have made my contribution to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football,” the 59-year-old added.
Dalic took charge of Croatia in October 2017 and guided the team to the 2018 World Cup final in Russia, where they lost to France. He also led the Croatians to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the last 16 of Euro 2020.
Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustic paid tribute to the departing coach.
“Zlatko’s name will remain forever written in golden letters in the history of Croatian football,” Kustic said.
Croatia’s latest World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after a 2-1 defeat to Portugal earlier this month prevented them from reaching the Round of 16.
Local media have identified former Croatia international Slaven Bilic as the leading candidate to replace Dalic.
Bilic, 57, has managed several clubs, including West Ham United, and was most recently in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Fateh during the 2023–24 season.
Dalic has previously described managing Croatia as the “biggest privilege and pleasure a coach can have”.
Before taking over the national team, he coached clubs in Saudi Arabia, including Al-Faisaly and Al-Hilal. He also managed Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he won the league’s Coach of the Year award twice and led the club to the 2016 AFC Champions League final.
