© EuroFootball.com
Just like their colleagues in Brazil, the Croatian Football Federation decided to appoint Slaven Bilić as the new head coach of the national team, who represented the team in the World Cup eight years ago.
The 37-year-old former defender S. Bilić, who helped the Croatians win bronze medals in the World Cup in 1998, already had coaching experience with the Split "Hajduk" club, and had been in charge of the Croatian youth national team since the summer of 2004. It was this latter role that likely led the executive committee of the Croatian Football Federation to unanimously decide on Tuesday to appoint him to replace Zlatko Kranjčar, who took over the position after the unsuccessful World Cup performance.
"He is a wonderful person who deserves this position after his excellent career as a player in the Croatian national team and after good work with the youth team," said Federation President Vlatko Marković.
"Being the coach of the Croatian national team is a great honor for me, and I will try to give everything I can. Kranjčar left the team in good shape and now I understand that my first goal will be to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. We all know that the qualifying group is very difficult, and I cannot guarantee that we will reach the final stage, but I will strive with all my might. My efforts will be based on hard work and discipline," said S. Bilić.
In the European Championship qualifying Group E, the Croatian team will have to face teams from England, Israel, Russia, Estonia, Macedonia, and Andorra. The Croatians played their first match on September 6 away against Russia, and on October 7 they will play at home against the Andorran team.
The center-back S. Bilić started his career at his hometown team, Split's "Hajduk," later playing for the German "Karlsruher," English "West Ham" and "Everton", and in 1999 he returned home and after playing for "Hajduk" he ended his career and became one of the team's coaches.
