"Croatians will finally benefit from Dalić’s arrival"

Zlatko Dalić and his coaching staff recently visited Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates, creating a gathering of Croatian football professionals working in the country. Romeo Jozak, who recently became the club’s sporting director, described the meeting from Dubai.

The club brought together its key officials, including the president and vice president of the Sharjah sports organization, the football club president and head coach José Manuel Ferreira de Morais. Jozak said Dalić would visit clubs across the Emirates, especially those with players he may consider for the national team. Sharjah could provide around five such players.

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Of course I am proud. I have a long-standing relationship with Dalić, both friendly and personal.

Jozak said he felt proud to welcome Dalić, whom he described as a longtime friend with a world-level coaching reputation. Croatian staff members at the club include Vedran Gerc, Fausto Budicin, Borimir Perković, Davor Lješević and Antonio Rukavina. The group took a photograph together to mark the visit.

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The entire football development strategy starts with the coach, in this case our Croatian.

Most of the discussion focused on players’ form, profiles and tactics. Jozak said players registered as residents can obtain an Emirati passport after three years if the national coach wants that option, and he and Dalić also discussed how such possibilities could broaden the team’s choices.

The UAE is in a transitional phase as it builds its national team, Jozak said. Foreign players are gradually taking a larger role, although the team would also include the best domestic talents. He said the long-term ambition was qualification for the World Cup, while the immediate focus was building the squad ahead of the Gulf Cup. Jozak said he saw no pressure on Dalić for that first challenge.

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I think the long-term goal and ambition is qualification for the World Cup.