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Dalić Takes UAE Coaching Job, Bids Croatia 'Goodbye'
🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

Dalić Takes UAE Coaching Job, Bids Croatia 'Goodbye'

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Zlatko Dalić was introduced as the new coach of the United Arab Emirates national football team.
  • He signed a four-year contract, aiming to build a competitive team for the 2030 World Cup.
  • Dalić stated his departure from the Croatian national team was timely, expressing optimism for both his new role and Croatia's future.

Former Croatian national team coach Zlatko Dalić has officially taken the helm of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) football team, signing a four-year contract that extends through the 2030 World Cup. Dalić described his move as a challenging but motivated decision, emphasizing that financial gain was not the primary driver. Instead, he cited the opportunity for a long-term project and the chance to assemble a squad for the upcoming World Cup as key factors.

Nine years is a long time. The time has come for the national team to go its own way, and for me to go mine. The departure was timely.

— Zlatko DalićExplaining his decision to leave the Croatian national team.

Dalić acknowledged the difficulty of leaving the Croatian team after nine years, a tenure marked by two World Cup medals. He expressed that the timing of his departure was appropriate, allowing both him and the Croatian team to pursue new paths. He conveyed a sense of farewell, not goodbye, to Croatia, leaving the door open for future possibilities.

Croatia is above all, it was difficult for me after the contract expired, but I decided on this challenge. The motivation was not financial, but a four-year contract, independence, and assembling the national team for the 2030 World Cup.

— Zlatko DalićDiscussing his motivations for taking the UAE coaching job.

He announced that former Croatian national team players Ivica Olić, Mario Mandžukić, and Danijel Subašić will join his coaching staff in the UAE. Dalić also expressed confidence in Slaven Bilić, who is reportedly set to take over the Croatian national team, wishing him success.

We will replicate the unity that characterized us; we will work exactly as we did in Croatia. I really can't wait to start, we have a lot of work ahead of us in these four years.

— Zlatko DalićDescribing his plans for the UAE team.

Dalić plans to replicate the strong sense of unity that characterized his time with Croatia in his new role with the UAE. He anticipates a significant amount of work over the next four years to build a competitive team, stating his eagerness to begin the project.

I told Croatia goodbye, not farewell. Who knows what will happen in the future.

— Zlatko DalićReflecting on his departure from the Croatian national team.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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