The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has confirmed the unanimous appointment of Slaven Bilic as the national team's head coach. The 57-year-old returns to the position he previously held between 2006 and 2012, taking over from Zlatko Dalic, who stepped down last week.
Dalic’s tenure was highlighted by significant achievements, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where his team was defeated by France. He also guided the nation to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the last-16 at Euro 2020. However, the team recently struggled, failing to advance past the group stage of this year's World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Portugal.
During his previous stint as Croatia manager, Bilic oversaw 65 matches, recording 42 wins, 15 draws, and eight defeats—a winning percentage that surpassed that of Dalic. His most notable result during that period was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championships, where the team was eventually eliminated on penalties by Turkey.
Bilic, who earned 44 caps for Croatia as a player, spent much of his professional club career at Hajduk Split and enjoyed spells in England with West Ham and Everton during the mid-1990s. Beyond his international experience, he has managed several English clubs, including West Ham, West Bromwich Albion, and Watford. His most recent coaching role was with the Saudi Arabian side Al-Fateh during the 2023-2024 season.
