Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic steps down after World Cup exit | OneFootball

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has stepped down following the nation’s World Cup exit, the Croatian Football Federation has announced.

The 59-year-old, who was appointed head coach in October 2017, has ended his near nine-year reign in the wake of his side’s last 32 defeat by Portugal.

A statement on the federation’s official X account said: “A humble arrival. An unforgettable journey. A proud farewell. Following nearly nine years, head coach Zlatko Dalic has decided to close his incredibly successful chapter with Croatia.

“Head coach, thank you for everything – the victories, the achievements, the qualifying berths, the medals, the unity, the respect and your unwavering commitment to fight for Croatia both on and off the pitch.

“The results speak of your coaching virtues. The respect you’ve earned from your players, staff and opponents speaks volumes about the person you are.”

Dalic led Croatia to the final of the 2018 tournament just months after taking charge, before recording a third-placed finish at the World Cup four years later.

He is widely regarded as the nation’s greatest coach in their history, winning more than half of his games in charge.

“When I took over the national team, ⁠I believed in the players' quality ​and ⁠in myself, but I didn't dare dream that we'd achieve everything we have over these nearly nine years," Dalic said.

"I can't describe how proud I am of every victory, of qualifying for major tournaments, of the three medals, of those great nights in Croatian football like when we beat England or Brazil at World Cups."