The Croatian Football Federation announced the appointment of coach Slaven Bilic as the technical director of the first team, by consensus of the members of the executive committee, based on the recommendation of the federation president Marijan Kustić, to begin a new era at the helm of the technical staff of the Croatia national team.

The appointment of Bilic comes after the Croatian Federation's decision to dismiss coach Zlatko Dalić, in a step aimed at rebuilding the team and continuing to compete at the highest international levels.

Bilic expressed his happiness at returning to lead his country's team, and affirmed his full confidence in the players, saying: 'I have full confidence in our players, and my responsibility is to bring energy, ambition, and determination to ensure Croatia remains among the elite teams of the world. I am very happy to start this challenge, and I feel more mature and experienced than I was in 2006, but with the same enthusiasm and desire to see Croatia strong, bold, and successful.'

Bilic is considered one of the most prominent coaches in the history of Croatian football, as he previously led the national team between 2006 and 2012, achieving a notable presence in European and international tournaments during that period.

It is worth noting that Bilic has previous experience in Saudi stadiums, as he coached Al-Ittihad during the 2018-2019 season, before later returning to lead Al-Fateh in the 2023-2024 season, gaining experience in the Saudi Roshn League before his return to lead his country's national team.