Slaven Bilic, the former technical director of Saudi Al-Ittihad and Al-Fateh, is close to returning to take over the technical leadership of the Croatia national team, succeeding Zlatko Dalic, who ended his journey with the team after exiting in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup against Portugal.
According to the British talkSPORT website, Bilic has agreed to coach his country's national team with a two-year contract, and the official announcement of his appointment is expected during Monday, to begin a second term with the Croatian national team.
Journalist Ben Jacobs had previously revealed that Bilic expressed his approval to return to coaching Croatia, after previously leading the national team during the period between 2006 and 2012.
This step will represent Bilic's first coaching experience since his departure from Al-Fateh Saudi two years ago, and it also returns him to the national team with which he began his first coaching stations.
During his first term, Bilic led the Croatian national team to the quarterfinals of the 2008 European Nations Cup, but he failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
After leaving the Croatia national team, the 57-year-old coach underwent several experiences, most notably in the English Premier League, where he led West Ham United to qualify for the Europa League, and also took charge of West Bromwich and Watford.
The Croatian Football Association hopes that Bilic will lead a new phase with the national team, by building a generation capable of continuing the successes achieved during Dalic's era, which led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, then finishing third in the 2022 edition.
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