Zlatko Dalic has stepped down as head coach of Croatia’s national football team after nearly nine years at the helm, following the team’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup. Dalic’s departure was announced on Wednesday, less than a week after Croatia was eliminated in the round of 32 by Portugal.

Dalic’s tenure marked the most successful era in Croatian football history, overseeing the team across three World Cup tournaments. Under his guidance, Croatia finished as runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and secured third place at the 2022 edition in Qatar. However, the team was unable to secure a podium finish in this year’s tournament.

In his farewell remarks, Dalic expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved during his time with the national squad. “When I took over the national team, I believed in the players’ quality and in myself, but I didn’t dare dream that we’d achieve everything we have over these nearly nine years,” he said. He highlighted key victories and milestones, including notable wins over England and Brazil at past World Cups, as well as consistent qualifications for major international tournaments.

Since his appointment in 2017, Dalic managed Croatia in 111 matches, securing 62 victories. In addition to World Cup performances, his team was runner-up in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League. The Croatian Football Federation, in a statement, thanked Dalic for his leadership, referencing the “victories, the achievements, the qualifying berths, the medals, the unity, the respect, and your unwavering commitment to fight for Croatia, both on and off the pitch.”

At this year’s World Cup, Croatia advanced from Group L in second place despite a mixed group stage campaign, which included a 4-2 loss to England, a narrow 1-0 win over Panama characterized by limited offensive production, and a win against Ghana. Their journey ended after a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the knockout round.

Following the loss to Portugal, Dalic voiced criticism of certain referee decisions, pointing to a VAR-awarded penalty and a late offside call that disallowed Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time equalizer. Despite these complaints, he acknowledged that officiating was not the sole reason for Croatia’s elimination.

Before assuming the national team role, Dalic coached club sides including Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. His departure leaves the Croatian Football Federation with the task of selecting a successor to build on the foundation he established over nearly a decade.