Speakers
Zlatko Dalić (Croatia)
BIO
Zlatko Dalić (born 26 October 1966 in Livno) has been Head Coach of the Croatia men’s national football team since October 2017 and is widely regarded as the most successful coach in the team’s history. Under his leadership Croatia reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (silver medal), finished third at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and reached the final of the 2023 UEFA Nations League (silver medal), in addition to qualifying for UEFA EURO 2020 and UEFA EURO 2024.
As a player he was a defensive midfielder, beginning his senior career at Hajduk Split in 1983 and later playing for Cibalia, Budućnost Titograd, Velež Mostar and Varteks, where he ended his playing career in 2000. He started his coaching path the same year as assistant coach at Varteks, also working with Croatia U-21. He led Varteks to a 3rd-place finish in the Croatian First League and a Croatian Cup final, then coached Rijeka, Albanian champions Dinamo Tirana (winning the 2008 Albanian Supercup), and Slaven Belupo.
Internationally, Dalić was named Coach of the Year in the Saudi Professional League while at Al-Faisaly (2010–11), won the Saudi Crown Prince Cup with Al-Hilal (2012–13), and during his spell at Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates won the Pro League (2014–15), the Super Cup and the President’s Cup, and reached the AFC Champions League final in 2016. His honours include the Order of Duke Trpimir with Neck Badge and Morning Star (2018), the Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport (2018) and the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the figure of Franjo Bučar (2024).
AFFILIATIONS
Head Coach, Croatia men’s national football team, Croatian Football Federation (HNS)
LECTURE TITLE
Croatian Football Federation Today — HNS Football Camp: The Foundation for Football Development and the Croatia National Team (joint lecture with Marijan Kustić)
The joint lecture connects the work of the federation to the daily life of the senior national team. Dalić outlines how cooperation between HNS infrastructure, club academies and the national-team staff translates into the on-pitch identity and continuity of Croatia’s senior side.
CONTACT
via Croatian Football Federation, Ulica grada Vukovara 269A, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia