World Cup 2018: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic eyes Premier League move after masterminding downfall of England
Focus for now remains winning tomorrow's World Cup final but a stint on these shores is not being ruled out
CROATIA coach Zlatko Dalic is eyeing a potential move to the Premier League.
For now his focus remains on winning tomorrow's World Cup final against France.
But the 51-year-old, who took charge of the Croatia team in October last year, has refused to rule out a possible stint on these shores.
Dalic worked his way up the ranks in the Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabian professional leagues and is in his 13th season as a manager after making his name as a defensive midfielder in his playing days.
Asked about a switch to the Prem, he said: "I can't really think about that now because it may give the wrong message to some Croatian people when we are about to try to become to the best team in the world.
"But maybe. Now we have to try to do something big."
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And the Daily Mail highlight Dalic's desire to prove himself and be respected by the game's elite.
That longing is something gained through grit and trophies in other parts of the world.
He said: "Throughout my career and my life I've always taken the hardest path and had to fight.
"I didn't want to stay in Croatia, be a middling coach and live off handouts. So I went abroad.
"We are not respected in Europe, even though Croatian coaches like Slaven Bilic and Niko Kovac [manager of Bayern Munich] have great results.
"I started at the bottom of the ladders and in a year I was the best coach in Asia.
"I managed the best club in Asia. I reached the final of the Champions League in Asia. You cannot sneeze at that. That brought me huge experience.
"I was there seven years and it was a hard path but I believed in myself."