Legendary player on new coach: He will continue on Dalić's path, he certainly won't make a mistake

Slaven Bilić is poised to officially take the helm as the new coach of the Croatian national football team, succeeding the highly successful Zlatko Dalić. The appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Croatian football, following Dalić's remarkable tenure.

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Zlatko Dalić in his era did something unforgettable. I can't really find a word to describe the results he achieved.

Former Croatian international Dario Šimić spoke highly of Zlatko Dalić's legacy, describing his achievements as "unmatched and unrepeatable." Šimić emphasized Dalić's success in fostering a strong team culture and maintaining stability within the squad. "Zlatko Dalić in his era did something unforgettable," Šimić stated, adding that Dalić "raised the cult of the national team, everyone played with special energy, there was always peace." He noted that while people come and go, the standard set by Dalić is exceptionally high, akin to the 1998 generation's impact.

When discussing the key qualities for leading the national team, Šimić highlighted "man management" and leadership skills as paramount. He believes Zlatko Dalić possessed these attributes, implementing a successful formula that yielded outstanding results. Šimić expressed confidence that Slaven Bilić, known for his similar leadership style, is a fitting choice to continue this successful trajectory.

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He raised the cult of the national team, everyone played with special energy, there was always peace.

"I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be like that with the new coach," Šimić said regarding Bilić's potential success. "Slaven Bilić is that type of person and he certainly won't make a mistake." He stressed the importance of continuity and maintaining the values that defined Dalić's successful period.

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I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be like that with the new coach. Slaven Bilić is that type of person and he certainly won't make a mistake.

Šimić advised Bilić to uphold the "cult of the national team" and focus on integrating new players while maintaining team balance. He cautioned against underestimating opponents, citing Italy's struggles to qualify for World Cups as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. "I don't want that to happen to us, only then would we understand the greatness of what Zlatko Dalić did," Šimić concluded, expressing hope that Bilić will build upon Dalić's foundations.

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I don't want that to happen to us, only then would we understand the greatness of what Zlatko Dalić did.