Zlatko Dalić signs deal to remain Croatia coach until 2024
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
ZAGREB, 8 December 2021 – Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić has signed a new contract with the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) that will see him remain in charge until EURO 2024, HNS confirmed on Wednesday.
Dalić signed the deal with HNS President Marijan Kustić at the federation’s headquarters in Zagreb.
Dalić took over the Croatian national team in October 2017 and managed to lead it to the FIFA World Cup in Russia where they finished runners-up.
Dalić then led the nation to EURO 2020, where they were knocked out by Spain in the Round of 16. He then became the first Croatian coach in history to qualify for three major competitions when they won Group H and qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Between those qualifiers, Dalić managed to keep Croatia in the elite group of the Nations League.
“I thank President Kustić and the leadership of the Federation for this expression of trust. I have said many times that for me there is no greater honour than leading the Croatian national team. Although this job comes with great responsibility and pressure, so the last few months have convinced me that we are on the right path, I feel great energy and ambition to continue to work with this refreshed Croatia team to achieve great results and thus make our people happy,” said Dalić, adding.
“I am convinced of our success in qualifying for EURO 2024, and given that the host is Germany, I am convinced that we will have an unforgettable atmosphere and the support of our fans, and this image is an incredible motivation for further work.”
President Kustić added:
“Of course, Zlatko should have unlimited credit with all of us on the basis of winning silver in Russia, but everything he did with the national team after that silver shows that he is the ideal man to lead Croatia. He really achieved all the goals, Zlatko is a man who unites, who promotes togetherness, who really gives his all in this business and for us it was only logical to offer him extension of this successful cooperation. Thank you for accepting our proposal and for agreeing on everything really easily. The federation will, as before, be a full support to the coach and the national team, we look forward to new challenges and new successes.”
