Mario Mandzukic will become assistant to national coach Zlatko Dalic at the Croatian national team, the Football Association has communicated through its official channels. The former attacker of Juventus, among others, ended his football career at the beginning of September after playing half a season at AC Milan.
“We believe that you will be just as successful in the role of a coach as you are in the role of a player,” the Croatian Football Association said at Mandzukic’s presentation. The former professional football player is delighted with his new position as assistant to the national team. “Thanks to national coach Dalic and chairman Kustic for the trust”, he responds. “I am looking forward to the collaboration. I know how much the national team has meant to me as a player and I want to pass on that passion, but also my experience, to the new generation.”
Mandzukic, 35, joins Dalic’s staff after finishing an impressive career as a professional footballer this summer. He played 89 times for Croatia and scored 33 times. He is Croatia’s all-time top scorer after Davor Suker, who scored 45 goals. Mandzukic has scored some important goals for Croatia in his professional career. The most important was undoubtedly his goal in extra time against England in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. He also scored in the final of the World Cup in Russia.
Mandzukic started his professional career in 2004 with Marsonia and went on to play for NK Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Al-Duhail and AC Milan. In total, the attacker scored 228 goals in 582 official club matches. With the Croatian national team, he can look forward to participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Thanks to a 1-0 win over Russia, Croatia finished as the winner in Group H of the qualifying series.
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