Big Revelation About Dalić: 'He Told Me It Was Over Back in Madrid'

Croatian national football team coach Zlatko Dalić may have decided to step down long before the World Cup concluded, according to an analysis by HRT expert commentator and Sportske novosti journalist Robert Matteoni. Matteoni stated that Dalić revealed his intention to leave his post to him during Luka Modrić's farewell event at Real Madrid.

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I think I can say this now because it's not a secret, but I spoke with Dalić in Madrid at Luka Modrić's farewell from Real and he told me that the World Cup would be his last campaign and that he was leaving. He said he no longer had the freshness, so I think he had already made the decision earlier.

Matteoni acknowledged Dalić's undeniable success as Croatia's most accomplished coach but suggested that the role carried a significant burden. He believes Dalić is bothered by the lack of unanimous public support, a sentiment he finds common in coaching roles worldwide. "I have the impression that he is bothered that he does not have unison support, but the coach's job is like that in all countries. Croatia is not a different country from others, the coach is questioned everywhere," Matteoni commented.

"I think I can say this now because it's not a secret, but I spoke with Dalić in Madrid at Luka Modrić's farewell from Real and he told me that the World Cup would be his last campaign and that he was leaving. He said he no longer had the freshness, so I think he had already made the decision earlier," Matteoni revealed. He added that Dalić cited a lack of "freshness" as his reason for wanting to depart.

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I have the impression that he is bothered that he does not have unison support, but the coach's job is like that in all countries. Croatia is not a different country from others, the coach is questioned everywhere.

Matteoni anticipates that Dalić's upcoming meeting with the Croatian Football Federation leadership will likely not alter his decision. He suggested that fatigue from his eight-year tenure might be the decisive factor. "This job consumes terribly, I have the impression that he is tired. Those things that bother him about pressure, questioning, and family, they won't disappear even after tomorrow's conversation, and I believe that it seems to me that he is leaving," Matteoni explained. He also noted that Marijan Kustić, head of the federation, has reportedly already spoken with Slaven Bilić, who has expressed his availability for the role.

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This job consumes terribly, I have the impression that he is tired. Those things that bother him about pressure, questioning, and family, they won't disappear even after tomorrow's conversation, and I believe that it seems to me that he is leaving.