Slaven Bilic is determined to return with his old club after a two-year suspension
Slaven Bilic has agreed a deal to return as Croatia manager, TalkSPORT understands.
The former manager of West Ham, West Brom and Watford is expected to sign a two-year contract to replace Zlatko Dalic at the helm.
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This will represent Bilic’s first managerial job in just two years with his latest gig seeing him leave Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh in August 2024.
Fits Bil
The 57-year-old is eyeing a second spell in charge of the Croatian national team after leaving the position in 2012.
In six years in charge of Croatia, which was his first 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.
As for his predecessor, Dalic enjoyed nine years in charge of the national team, the highlight of which 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 knocked out by the eventual winners of the 2022 World Cup in Argentina, although this reached the semi-final stage.
Regarding the 2026 World Cup, Croatia was beaten 2-1 by Portugal in the round of 32 when Dalic announced his resignation after the match.
In an emotional statement, he commented: “The role of national team coach requires many difficult decisions, but this was undoubtedly the most difficult one I have ever had to make.”
“I have always said that there is no greater honor than leading your national team, and I could not have had a more important, responsible, or beautiful job than this.
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“When I managed the team, I believed in the quality of the players and myself, but I never dared to dream that we would achieve everything we have achieved in the past nine years.
“I can’t begin to explain how proud I am of all the victories, all the qualifiers for the big tournament, the three medals, the great night of Croatian football, like when we beat England and Brazil in the World Cup.
“But most of all, I am proud of the unity we have built in the team and the people of Croatia, something we saw strongly in those homecoming celebrations that we will never forget after winning our World Cup medals.”
Dalic signed off by saying: “Even though I still have a feeling of desire and desire to write new chapters of success with Croatia, I feel that this is the right time to end this wonderful period.
“I am leaving with a full heart and I am proud of the role I played in achieving the greatest success 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 faith.”
They have struggled to find the same kind of success in the European Championship under Dalic as they reached the Last 16 at Euro 2020 and did not even make it out of their group at Euro 2024.
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