A New Era for Croatian Soccer
Zlatko Dalić's tenure as Croatia's coach has come to an end, marking the conclusion of an era that included two consecutive top-three finishes at the World Cup. His leadership will be remembered for the team's remarkable performances.
"I leave with a fulfilled heart, proud of my contribution to the greatest successes of Croatian soccer in history, and I wish my successor, the national team and Croatian soccer many new successes," Dalić said in a statement posted by the national soccer federation on Instagram on Wednesday.
The announcement of Dalić's departure comes less than a week after Croatia's 2-1 loss to Portugal in the round of 32 at the World Cup, a defeat that brought an end to their World Cup campaign.
"I have always said that there is no greater honor than leading my national team, and that I cannot have a more important, more responsible, and more beautiful job than this," Dalić said, reflecting on his time as coach.
"The support in recent days has prompted me to reconsider my decision to leave, but... it’s about time. As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to write new successes with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to conclude this incredible era."
The Croatian soccer federation praised Dalić's time at the helm, describing it as an "unforgettable journey" and his departure as a "proud farewell."
"Following nearly nine years, head coach Zlatko Dalić has decided to close his incredibly successful chapter with Croatia," the federation said on X. "Head coach, thank you for everything — the victories, the achievements, the qualifying berths, the medals, the unity, the respect, and your unwavering commitment to fight for Croatia, both on and off the pitch.
"The results speak of your coaching virtues. The respect you’ve earned from your players, staff, and opponents speaks volumes about the person you are."
Under Dalić's leadership, Croatia's so-called golden generation, which included star player Luka Modric, achieved significant success, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and a third-place finish at the 2022 edition in Qatar, as well as a runner-up finish at the 2023 Nations League.
The federation has not yet announced a new coach to succeed Dalić.
