World Cup coaching exits: Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic quits as ninth manager to leave after elimination

World Cup coaching exits continued on Wednesday after Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic resigned following his side’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup, becoming the ninth manager to leave his position after crashing out of the tournament.

The World Cup coaching exits gathered pace after Croatia suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the Round of 32. The Croatian Football Federation confirmed that the 59-year-old had decided to end his nearly nine-year spell in charge.

In a statement, the federation said Dalic had chosen to “close his incredibly successful chapter with Croatia” after leading the national team through one of the most successful periods in its history.

Meanwhile, Dalic’s resignation came just two days after Roberto Martinez stepped down as Portugal manager. Consequently, the growing number of departures highlights the intense pressure national team coaches face after disappointing World Cup campaigns.

Several other high-profile managers have also left their roles following early exits from the competition. They include Carlos Queiroz (Ghana), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Miroslav Koubek (Czechia), Steve Clarke (Scotland), and Hong Myung-bo (South Korea).

Furthermore, the latest World Cup coaching exits could trigger major rebuilding efforts as national football federations begin preparations for future international competitions. Many of the affected teams are now expected to launch searches for new managers in the coming weeks.