Slaven Bilic set for return with former team after two-year managerial hiatus
Slaven Bilic has agreed a deal to return as Croatia manager, talkSPORT understands.
The former West Ham, West Brom and Watford boss is set to sign a two-year deal to replace Zlatko Dalic at the helm.
This will represent Bilic’s first managerial job in just shy of two years with his most recent gig seeing him leave Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh in August 2024.
Fits the Bil
One of Bilic’s first matches in his second spell in charge of Croatia will see them face England in the Nations League.
Croatia entertain the Three Lions in a behind-closed-doors clash on October 3 with the reverse fixture taking place on November 12. Spain and Czechia are the other teams in the group.
The 57-year-old is primed for his second spell in charge of the Croatia national team having left the post in 2012.
In his six-year spell in charge of Croatia, which was his first permanent managerial role, Bilic could only guide them to the quarter-finals and group stage of Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 respectively.
They failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Since leaving Croatia, Bilic has gained a wealth of experience as a manager, including in the Premier League.
His most notable period in charge of an English club came at West Ham in 2015 – whom he also used to play for – the highlight coming in his first season as the Hammers qualified for the Europa League.
Bilic was sacked in November 2017 after a poor start to what was his third season as their manager.
Bilic told talkSPORT in November that he was a contender to come back to West Ham following the sacking of Graham Potter in the early stages of last season.
A new era
As for his now predecessor, Dalic enjoyed a positive nine-year spell in charge of the national team, the best moment saw them reach the final of the 2018 World Cup, beating England along the way.
However, they were well beaten by France in the final in Moscow.
Croatia were undone by the eventual winners of the 2022 World Cup in Argentina, although this came at the semi-final stage.
As for the 2026 World Cup, Croatia were beaten 2-1 by Portugal in a pulsating round of 32 clash with Dalic announcing his resignation after the game.
He remarked in an emotional statement: “The role of national team coach demands many difficult decisions, but this one was without doubt the hardest I have ever had to make.
“I have always said that there is no greater honour than leading your own national team, and that I could not have a more important, more responsible, or more beautiful job than this.
“When I took charge of the team, I believed in the quality of the players and in myself, but I did not dare dream that we would achieve everything we have achieved in these almost nine years.
“I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of every victory, every qualification for a major tournament, the three medals, the great nights of Croatian football, like when we beat England and Brazil at World Cups.
“But above all, I am proudest of the unity we built within the squad and with the Croatian people, something we witnessed most powerfully in those unforgettable homecoming celebrations after winning our World Cup medals.”
Dalic signed off by saying: “As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to write new chapters of success with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this remarkable era to a close.
“I leave with a full heart and proud of the contribution I have made to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football.
“To my successor, to the Croatian national team, and to Croatian football as a whole — I wish nothing but continued success, in which I have complete and unwavering belief.”
They struggled for success at the European Championship under Dalic’s stewardship having only got to the last 16 at Euro 2020, while failing to even get out of their group at Euro 2024.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
