Dalic Steps Down After 9 Years As Croatia Coach
Zlatko Dalic stepped down as Croatia's head coach after nine years, ending his tenure following the team's World Cup qualifying elimination to Portugal. Under his leadership, Dalic guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a 2022 third
Zlatko Dalic has officially stepped down as head coach of the Croatian national team after nine years in charge, during which the team achieved unprecedented success. Dalic's exit comes after Croatia's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the round of 32, following a 2-1 defeat to Portugal on July 2. Since taking the role in 2017, Dalic built a legendary record, leading Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, a third-place finish in 2022, and the UEFA Nations League runner-up position in 2022-23. The Croatian Football Federation issued a statement saying: "After nearly 9 years, Zlatko Dalic has decided to end his incredibly successful role as head coach of the Croatian national team. We thank you for everything—the victories, achievements, tournament runs, medals, unity, respect, and your unwavering commitment to fight for Croatia both on and off the pitch."
