Ivica Olić leaves CSKA Moscow head coach role after just two months in charge

Former Croatia international and assistant coach Ivica Olić is no longer the head coach of Russian club CSKA Moscow.

After just a few months in charge, Olić has left the club, CSKA Moscow confirmed on Tuesday. 

“Today, we ended cooperation with head coach Ivica Olić. We are grateful to him for the work done and we wish him success in the continuation of his career,” the club said. 

The 41-year-old Croatian returned back to the club in March after 15 years.  

Olić, who played 116 matches for CSKA from 2003 to 2006, in which he scored 44 goals, said this for the club’s website. 

“Today I arrived in Moscow and had a meeting with the management. After our conversation, the club decided to end the cooperation, the main reason was a different vision of the work and future of the first team. I regret this outcome because I was preparing and waiting for the new season. I also take this opportunity to thank the club and the fans for the great experience and the pleasant two months I spent with them. I wish everyone at CSKA and all the fans health, happiness and success in the future.”

🇭🇷 Ivica Olic has left the position of #CSKA head coach. The interim head coach will be Aleksey Berezutskiy pic.twitter.com/Bdb2R0q5Gv

— PFC CSKA Moscow (@PFCCSKA_en) June 15, 2021

During his playing career, he also played for German Bundesliga clubs Hamburger SV, VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. 

Olić started his career in coaching in 2017 when he was named Croatia’s assistant coach under Zlatko Dalić. Olić’s four-year-stint with Croatia saw him earn a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.