Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic resigns after World Cup exit

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has tendered his resignation after nine years in charge, following the nation’s World Cup exit against Portugal in the Round of 32 last week.

Croatia lost a controversial 2-1 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a game which saw them have a stoppage time equaliser chalked off for offside.

The fixture has proven to be the 59-year-old Croatian manager’s final match in Croatia’s dugout, since his appointment in October 2017, ending his tenure as the Checkered Ones’ most successful manager in history.

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Dalic’s departure brings an end to an illustrious managerial career which lasted 111 games in charge, with his first World Cup in 2018 proving to be a historic one.

Croatia beat Argentina, Denmark, Russia and England en route to the country’s first final.

They will later fall to a 4-2 defeat to France in the final, however, they further established themselves as a new powerhouse of world football four years later in Qatar.

For the first time in their history, they reached back-to-back semi-finals, with Japan and Brazil defeated on penalties in the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, Argentina would exact their revenge in the last four following their Group D loss in the previous edition. Croatia secured the bronze medal by beating Morocco in the third-placed play-off.

Under Dalic, Croatia also competed in two consecutive European Championships, though they failed to progress beyond the last-16.

Croatia came close to ending their wait for silverware in the Nations League, but their side lost to Spain on penalties in the 2023 final.

Having informed Croatian Football Federation (HNS) president Marijan Kustić of his decision to step down during a recent meeting, Dalić has now issued an emotional farewell message to the fans who have supported him throughout his tenure.

“The role of national team coach demands many difficult decisions, but this one was without doubt the hardest I have ever had to make.

“I have always said that there is no greater honour than leading your own national team, and that I could not have a more important, more responsible, or more beautiful job than this.

“When I took charge of the team, I believed in the quality of the players and in myself, but I did not dare dream that we would achieve everything we have achieved in these almost nine years.

“I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of every victory, every qualification for a major tournament, the three medals, the great nights of Croatian football, like when we beat England and Brazil at World Cups.

“But above all, I am proudest of the unity we built within the squad and with the Croatian people, something we witnessed most powerfully in those unforgettable homecoming celebrations after winning our World Cup medals.”

Dalic further stated: “As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to write new chapters of success with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this remarkable era to a close.

“I leave with a full heart and proud of the contribution I have made to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football.

“To my successor, to the Croatian national team, and to Croatian football as a whole — I wish nothing but continued success, in which I have complete and unwavering belief.”

Dalic has become the 12th manager to have parted ways with their nation at the World Cup so far.

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