ZAGREB: Slaven Bilic will return as head coach of Croatia, the national football federation announced on Monday, replacing Zlatko Dalic, who resigned after the country’s World Cup exit.

Dalic stepped down last week after a tenure that included a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup. Croatia failed to move into the last 16 of this year’s World Cup, losing 2-1 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Former Croatian international defender Bilic previously coached Croatia between 2006 and 2012.

The 57-year-old, who also coached English clubs West Ham, West Brom­wich Albion and Watford, was “unanimously appointed” as head coach, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) said.

“It is not easy to succeed Zlatko, but we are convinced that Slaven is the right person for this role,” HNS president Marijan Kustic said, praising Bilic’s “extensive coaching and managerial experience”.

Bilic recorded a higher winning percentage than Dalic during his last tenure, with 42 wins, 15 draws and eight defeats in 65 matches.

But his side’s best result was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championships, which they lost on penalties to Turkiye.

“I am extremely excited about this challenge, which I feel completely ready for as a more mature and experienced coach than I was in 2006, but with the same motivation and desire for Croatia to be strong, bold and successful,” Bilic told a press conference.

The Split-born Bilic said he took the post to “achieve a great result, above all at the European Championship” in 2028.

Asked about whether veteran captain Luka Modric would retire from international football, Bilic said the decision was up to the former Ballon d’Or winner, who will turn 41 in September.

“He is much more to Croatia than just the best player. Modric has been asked whether he is retiring since 2018 ... I would like him to continue playing for the national team.”

With 44 caps for Croatia, Bilic’s club career was mostly spent at Hajduk Split with stints in England at West Ham and Everton in the mid-1990s.

Bilic’s last coaching position was at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Fateh, during the 2023-2024 season.

Modric’s Croatia lost the 2018 World Cup final to France in Russia.

Dalic also guided the nation to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the last-16 at Euro 2020.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2026