Croatia has confirmed Zlatko Dalic will not continue as head coach.

Dalic’s contract expired once the nation’s World Cup journey came to an end and there had been suggestions Croatia wanted him to stay on.

Instead, Dalic opted to bring his nine-year stint to a close.

“Head coach, thank you for everything – the victories, the achievements, the qualifying berths, the medals, the unity, the respect, and your unwavering commitment to fight for Croatia, both on and off the pitch,” a Croatian Football Federation statement read.

“The results speak of your coaching virtues. The respect you’ve earned from your players, staff, and opponents speaks volumes about the person you are.”