Zlatko Dalic has left his role as Croatia head coach, bringing an end to one of the most successful managerial spells in the nation's history.
After guiding Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, the Euro 2020 last 16, a third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 UEFA Nations League final, Dalic leaves following Croatia's Round of 32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Croatian Football Federation Pays Tribute To Dalic
"Following nearly nine years, head coach Zlatko Dalic has decided to close his incredibly successful chapter with Croatia... Under his leadership, Croatian football has written the most beautiful pages of its history. Silver in Russia, bronze in Qatar, the Nations League final… And it's not just medals and results; those are memories that millions of Croats will carry their whole lives
"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. 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."
Dalic Thanks Players, Staff And Supporters
"It's impossible to achieve such successes without quality, invested effort, and belief in what you do. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who poured their knowledge and energy into all this we've accomplished together—my coaches and collaborators at headquarters, doctors, physiotherapists, economists, and the entire HNS logistics team that always supported us brilliantly.
"Thank you to the Union's leadership for their support, thank you to the fans for the incredible backing we've had on this journey, and thank you to all those media outlets that helped create a positive atmosphere around the national team while constructively criticizing us. And ultimately, thank you to my family, without whose support none of this would have been possible for me."
How Zlatko Dalic Changed Croatian Football
In Dalic's 111 games as Croatian manager, he has brought success only previously imaginable to his nation. A World Cup final appearance which saw Croatia take silver. During their knockout run at the World Cup in 2018, the only game that was finished in 90 minutes was the final against France.
During the 2023 UEFA Nations League, Dalic guided Croatia to the final, where they lost 5-4 on penalties to Spain.
Dalic followed Croatia's 2018 success by leading them to another remarkable World Cup campaign in Qatar. After losing to Argentina in the semi final, Croatia defeated Morocco to secure the bronze medal, becoming one of only a handful of nations to win medals at consecutive World Cups.
Dalic continued to elevate the performance of those on the pitch which led to Croatia's best footballing decade. He leaves behind not only unprecedented success, but memories that Croatian supporters will cherish for generations.
