Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić signs contract extension
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Zlatko Dalić
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has signed a contract extension after agreeing terms with Croatian Football Federation President Marijan Kustić.
Dalić and President Kustić agreed terms and signed the contract at the headquarters of the Croatian Football Federation in Zagreb meaning Dalić will remain coach of Croatia until after the FIFA World Cup in 2026, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
“Zlatko Dalić fulfilled absolutely all the goals that were set before him in these five and a half years, and at the same time he has two magnificent achievements at the World Cup in Russia and Qatar and led Croatia to silver and bronze medals, thus becoming our most successful coach in history,” said President Kustić for the Croatian Football Federation website.
“I am extremely pleased that we have agreed on the continuation of the cooperation that has been absolutely brilliant so far. Zlatko not only achieved outstanding results, but also created a fantastic atmosphere of togetherness within and around the team, and he also showed that he knows how to refresh the team and at the same time maintain continuity of results. As before, Zlatko and the national team will have maximum support from the Federation in their work, and I deeply believe that with him at the helm, we will continue to make Croatian fans around the world happy,” said HNS president Marijan Kustić.
Dalić took over Croatia at a difficult time in October 2017, and since then he has achieved a series of impressive results. The second and third places at the World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 stand out, but with Croatia, Dalić also reached the final four of the Nations League, which will be held in the Netherlands this year, as well as the round of 16 of Euro 2020.
#Croatia head coach @DalicZlatko has extended his contract until 2026! ✍️
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) March 18, 2023
We’re looking forward to the upcoming challenges with our @FIFAWorldCup silver- and bronze-winning head coach! 🇭🇷💪🥈🥉#Family #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/mCFE1Gnb1M
“I thank President Kustić and the entire HNS for the great trust, as well as the support I have in my work with the national team. I have pointed out many times that this job is the greatest honour and the greatest pleasure I can have as a coach, and I am truly looking forward to the future with the Croatian national team. Regardless of the wonderful successes we have already achieved, I have great passion and ambition to continue working with Croatia and I believe that there are still many great challenges ahead. In June we will try to win the Nations League, and next summer we want to be part of the spectacular Euro in Germany – the fulfilment of a dream to play in a big competition in front of tens of thousands of our fans. I enjoy working with our players and with my great staff, and I can’t imagine a more beautiful and honourable job than leading the Croatian national team,” coach Zlatko Dalić said.
