Former West Brom promotion-winning boss appointed national team head coach

Former Albion boss Slaven Bilic has been appointed Croatia’s new head coach.

Bilic, 57, has not managed in two years since a mutual consent exit from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Fateh, where he had worked for a year, in 2024.

He has replaced long-serving head coach Zlatko Dalic.

Dalic had managed Croatia since 2016 and took the nation to the World Cup final in 2018, with a defeat to France, and to the semi-final in 2022.

Bilic previously managed Croatia between 2006 and 2012, where he led the nation to Euro 2008 and 2012.

Croatia finished second in Group L, one point behind England, but were knocked out of the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the last 32.

“I have the complete confidence in our players, and it is my responsibility to bring energy, ambition, and determination to ensure that Croatia remains among football’s elite,” Bilic said in a post on the Croatian Football Federation’s X account.

“I am genuinely happy to start this challenge and I feel fully prepared for it – as a more mature and experienced coach than in 2006, yet with the same motivation and desire to see Croatia stay powerful, bold, and successful.

”Bilic won 44 international caps as a central defender, scoring three goals and featuring at Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup.

The Croat led the Baggies to their last promotion success in 2020 as runners-up in the Championship in the Covid-interrupted campaign.

The former West Ham and Everton defender was appointed in June 2019 and guided Albion back to the top flight after two seasons away.

Albion looked a strong bet for an automatic promotion place throughout the campaign under the passionate Bilic. Form wobbled after the project restart return to action but the Baggies secured promotion in a tense final-day draw against QPR at The Hawthorns.

Bilic was dismissed a few months into the following Premier League campaign after a 1-1 draw at Manchester City in December. Albion were 19th.

The Baggies turned to Sam Allardyce but the experienced Dudley chief was unable to keep the club in the top flight.

Since leaving The Hawthorns, Bilic has worked at three clubs and once back in England.

His first job was in China at the helm of Beijing Guoan just a month after his dismissal. He won just nine of 29 games in China and left the following January.

A move back to the Championship came in September 2022 as Watford appointed Bilic to replace Rob Edwards.

He lasted a little over five months at Vicarage Road where, after a run of one win in eight, Bilic was dismissed with the Hornets sitting ninth.

His most recent job was 12 months at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Fateh, who finished seventh in a league of 18.