The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has announced the unanimous appointment of Slaven Bilic as the new head coach of the national team. The 57-year-old returns to the position he previously held between 2006 and 2012, succeeding Dalic, who stepped down from the role last week.
Dalic's tenure was highlighted by a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where his side lost the final to France. He also guided the nation to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and reached the last-16 stage at Euro 2020. However, the team's recent performance resulted in an early exit from this year's World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Portugal, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bilic, a former Croatian international defender who earned 44 caps, brings significant experience to the role. During his previous stint leading Croatia, he achieved a record of 42 wins, 15 draws, and eight defeats across 65 matches, maintaining a higher winning percentage than Dalic. His team's most notable result during that period was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championships, where they were eventually eliminated on penalties by Turkey.
Beyond his international coaching experience, Bilic has managed several English clubs, including West Ham, West Bromwich Albion, and Watford. His most recent coaching assignment was in Saudi Arabia with Al-Fateh during the 2023-2024 season. As a player, Bilic spent the majority of his career at Hajduk Split, with additional spells at West Ham and Everton in the mid-1990s.