Zlatko Dalic Resigns as Croatia Coach After Nine Years

Zlatko Dalic has resigned as the head coach of the Croatia national football team after a tenure of nearly nine years, which began in 2017. His departure follows Croatia's defeat against Portugal in the World Cup.

During his time, Dalic led Croatia to the finals of the 2018 World Cup, where they finished as runners-up, and secured a third-place finish in the 2022 World Cup. However, Croatia's performance in subsequent tournaments was less successful, with an exit in the last 16 of the 2020 European Championship and failure to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2024.

Despite these challenges, Dalic expressed gratitude for the victories and achievements during his tenure, including qualification for major tournaments and a commitment to the team. The Croatian Football Federation acknowledged his contributions, marking the end of an era as the team prepares for a new chapter, particularly with veteran captain Luka Modric, aged 40, nearing the end of his international career.