Zlatko Dalic Leaves Croatia as a Champion, Not a Casualty

Zlatko Dalic has resigned as Croatia manager after nine years in charge, ending an era that took a talented but chronically underachieving nation to two World Cup medals and a Nations League final. The 59-year-old's final match came in a 2-1 round-of-32 defeat to Portugal, a game Croatia had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out for offside.

That result made Dalic the 12th manager to leave a national team job during this World Cup, the highest number of managerial exits at a single tournament in recent memory. But unlike almost everyone else on that list, Dalic isn't being pushed out after humiliation. He's walking away as the greatest coach in his country's history.

The End of Croatia's Most Successful Era

Dalic took charge of Croatia in October 2017 and oversaw 111 matches, transforming a golden generation of players into serial overachievers on the biggest stage. His first World Cup, in 2018, remains the defining campaign of his tenure.

Beating the world to reach a first final

Croatia beat Argentina, Denmark, Russia and England en route to the country's first ever World Cup final, eventually losing 4-2 to France. It was a run that turned a nation of 3.8 million people into the story of the tournament, and it set the template for everything that followed.

Four years later in Qatar, Dalic went even further. Croatia became the first team in the country's history to reach back-to-back semi-finals, beating Japan and Brazil on penalties in the knockout rounds before losing to Argentina in the last four. They then secured bronze by beating Morocco in the third-place play-off, a second successive World Cup medal.

A near-miss with silverware

Dalic also came close to ending Croatia's wait for a major trophy in the 2023 Nations League final, only for his side to lose to Spain on penalties. His two Euros in charge were comparatively modest, with Croatia exiting at the last-16 stage on both occasions, but it's the World Cup exploits that define his reign.

“I did not dare dream that we would achieve everything we have achieved in these almost nine years,” Dalic said in his resignation statement. “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.”

He added that above all, he was proudest of “the unity we built within the squad and with the Croatian people”, something he said was most visible during the homecoming celebrations after Croatia's World Cup medals. That sentiment, more than any tactical detail, explains why this departure feels different from the other 11.

A World Cup That Has Devoured Its Managers

This tournament has been unusually brutal on head coaches, and Dalic is only the latest name on a growing casualty list. The exits began early and never really stopped.

• Sabri Lamouchi was sacked by Tunisia after a 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden
• Herve Renard quit after losing both his games in charge of Tunisia
• Steve Clarke stepped down after Scotland failed to reach the knockout stage
• Hong Myung-bo resigned after South Korea were eliminated in the groups
• Miroslav Koubek left after Czech Republic's early exit
• Ronald Koeman departed after the Netherlands lost to Morocco on penalties in the round of 32
• Julian Nagelsmann stepped down at Germany following a round-of-32 loss to Paraguay
• Carlos Queiroz quit after Ghana's 1-0 defeat to Colombia at the same stage
• Sebastian Beccacece resigned after Ecuador's 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico
• Javier Aguirre left Mexico following a 3-2 defeat to England in the last-16
• Roberto Martinez stepped down at Portugal after a 1-0 last-16 loss to Spain

Why this exit reads differently

Every one of those departures followed a defeat that felt like underperformance relative to expectation, or worse. Dalic's exit follows a narrow, controversial defeat to a Portugal side that needed a disputed offside call to survive, from a nation a fraction of the size of most on that list. The context matters. This World Cup has chewed through managers at an unprecedented rate, but Dalic is the rare case leaving on his own terms after nearly a decade of overdelivering.

Who Replaces a Legend? Croatia's Next Move

The Croatian Football Federation, known as HNS, has not named a successor. Dalic informed federation president Marijan Kustic of his decision in a private meeting before going public, and his statement offered no hint of a preferred replacement.

An ageing golden generation complicates the rebuild

The bigger question facing Croatia isn't just who takes the job, it's what they're inheriting. The core of Dalic's success was built around one extraordinary generation, headlined by Luka Modric, alongside long-serving figures such as Ivan Rakitic in the earlier years. That generation is now well past 35 in Modric's case, and any incoming coach must decide whether to lean on continuity with the World Cup's most decorated modern midfielder or begin a rebuild around the heirs to that golden crop.

Dalic himself seemed alive to that tension in his farewell message, wishing his successor “continued success, in which I have complete and unwavering belief,” while acknowledging the era had reached its natural end. Whoever takes over won't just be replacing a manager. They'll be managing the handover from one Croatian footballing generation to the next.

What Happens Next

HNS is expected to move relatively quickly to identify Dalic's successor, given Croatia's qualifying commitments for the next major tournament cycle will begin soon. Expect the conversation to centre on whether the federation wants a steady hand capable of managing Modric and the remaining senior players through one final push, or a longer-term appointment willing to blood the next generation immediately.

Dalic leaves having redefined what's possible for a nation of Croatia's size, turning three major tournaments into three genuine deep runs and two medals. Whether his successor can even approach that standard, with a squad now visibly transitioning, will shape Croatia's status as a tournament dark horse for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Zlatko Dalic resign as Croatia manager?

Dalic resigned after nine years in charge following Croatia's 2-1 round-of-32 defeat to Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, a game in which a stoppage-time equaliser was ruled out for offside. He described it as the hardest decision of his career, framing it as the natural end of an era rather than a reaction to failure.

What did Zlatko Dalic achieve with Croatia?

Dalic led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, beating Argentina, Denmark, Russia and England along the way, before losing to France. He also guided Croatia to third place at the 2022 World Cup and a runner-up finish in the 2023 Nations League final against Spain.

How many managers have left their jobs at the 2026 World Cup?

Dalic is the 12th head coach to leave a national team role during the 2026 World Cup, following departures including Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Javier Aguirre (Mexico) and Roberto Martinez (Portugal). It marks one of the most volatile managerial cycles in recent World Cup history.

Who will replace Dalic as Croatia manager?

No successor has been confirmed. The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has not announced a name, and the decision is expected to hinge on whether Croatia prioritise continuity with senior players like Luka Modric or begin a broader rebuild.

How did Croatia's Portugal defeat happen?

Croatia lost 2-1 to Portugal in the round of 32, with a stoppage-time equaliser disallowed for offside. The result ended Croatia's tournament and proved to be Dalic's final match, his 111th in charge since October 2017.

Is Croatia's golden generation finished after Dalic's exit?

Not immediately, but the squad is visibly ageing, with key figures like Luka Modric well into their late thirties. Dalic's departure is widely seen as coinciding with the natural winding down of the generation that carried Croatia to two World Cup finals and semi-finals since 2018.

Did Croatia win any trophies under Dalic?

Croatia did not win an outright trophy under Dalic but claimed two World Cup medals, a runner-up finish in 2018 and third place in 2022, plus a runner-up finish in the 2023 Nations League after losing to Spain on penalties.