Abu dhabi: The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has announced the appointment of Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic as the head coach of the senior national team for the next phase, succeeding Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAEFA made the announcement on X, stating, “Welcome, Zlatko Dalic. The UAE Football Association is pleased to announce the appointment of the Croatian as the new Head Coach of the UAE National Team.” The association plans to reveal details of Dalic’s contract on Thursday during a press conference at its Dubai headquarters. This event will be attended by association officials and media representatives and is expected to cover contract duration, coaching staff, and the national team’s preparation programme for upcoming competitions.
The 59-year-old coach returns to a country where he previously enjoyed a successful spell at the club level. From 2014 to 2017, Dalic managed Al-Ain, leading the club to the UAE league title and the final of the AFC Champions League. Following his time in the UAE, Dalic took charge of Croatia in October 2017, marking the most successful coaching period in the country’s history. Under his leadership, Croatia reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, winning silver, and later secured a bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup. Dalic stepped down from his role as Croatia’s coach in July after their World Cup campaign concluded in the round of 32 with a 2-1 defeat by Portugal.