CORNERFLICK
Slaven Bilic has officially replaced Zlatko Dalic as Croatia head coach, returning to a job he first held between 2006 and 2012.
Bilic takes over after a run that brought Croatia World Cup runners-up in 2018 and bronze in 2022, but also included disappointments at Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and in the Nations League in 2025. Croatia did finish second in the 2023 Nations League, yet the search for continental success continues.
His first matches in charge will come against the Czech Republic, Spain and England. The transition also comes as Croatia’s golden generation nears the end of its cycle, with Luka Modric now retired from international football and Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric approaching the closing stages of their careers. Ante Budimir and Mateo Kovacic could also be nearing their final major tournament campaigns.
Bilic said he will first build his staff and speak to the players, with Modric the main topic of discussion. He praised Dalic’s record and said Euro 2028 is his biggest target, while stressing that he also wants Croatia to treat the Nations League as a serious competition.