Leaving with a World Cup runner-up title: Zlatko Dalic resigns from Croatia's bench | Cooperativa (CL) | Zlatko Dalić | Croatia | Football | National Team | Coach | Resignation | World Cup | Sports | Neutral | News | Named Sources | Announced | null | 01KX141K5X654WX8PBXSPFDN9H
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Zlatko Dalić has resigned as the head coach of the Croatian national football team.
- His tenure, which began in October 2017, concluded after 111 matches.
- Dalić cited the difficulty of the decision but expressed immense honor in leading his national team.
Zlatko Dalić has stepped down as the head coach of the Croatian national football team, concluding a significant chapter that began in October 2017. His departure comes after 111 matches at the helm, during which he led the team to considerable success, including a World Cup final appearance. Dalić formally communicated his decision to the Croatian Football Federation, stating that his tenure would end after the 2026 World Cup. In a statement released on the federation's website, Dalić described his resignation as one of the most difficult decisions he has ever made. He emphasized the unparalleled honor and responsibility he felt while coaching his country's national team. "When I took charge of the national team, I believed so much in the quality of the players as well as in myself, but I didn't even dare to dream that..." Dalić stated, reflecting on his journey and the team's achievements under his guidance. His departure marks the end of an era for Croatian football, leaving a legacy of strong leadership and memorable performances.
The role of coach requires many difficult decisions, but this was undoubtedly the most complicated for me.
Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.