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Croatian Football Federation name Cacic as new head coach

Xinhua, September 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Croatian Football Federation (CFF) announced on Monday that 61-year-old Ante Cacic is new head coach of Croatian national team.

"The decision of the Executive Board was unanimous. I think that we've come to the best solution. I am satisfied. We have a head coach that can lead the team to the final tournament of European championship or World Cup," said Davor Suker, president of Croatian Football Federation, during the press conference on Monday in Zagreb.

Ante Cacic succeeded Niko Kovac on the Croatian bench despite strong opposition from the representatives of Croatian media and general public.

Their main argument against Cacic are the lack of playing or coaching experience on the highest level and his connection with Zdravko Mamic, vice president of CFF and Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, who is regarded as the most influential person in Croatian football. Despite that, Davor Suker is convinced that Cacic is the right person for the job.

"He has strong reference for this position. He lead teams in 220 matches in Croatian First Division. He lead Dinamo and Maribor in European club competitions and he coached nine players from our national team which is very important now when he doesn't have too much time to make some big changes," Suker said.

"Croatian Football Federation and its Executive Board always hit a bull-eye with their choice of national head coach. I hope that it will be the same this time. Euro 2016 is around the corner and I hope that our team will be in France."

Cacic will sign a 3-year contract with CFF that will expire on July 31, 2018 after the conclusion of World Cup in Russia.

He will have his first media conference in his new role on Tuesday in Zagreb, when he will present his list of candidates for two decisive matches in Euro 2016 qualifiers that Croatia will play at home against Bulgaria on October 10 and on the road against Malta on October 13.

Cacic became the 11th national head coach since 1990 when Croatia gained it's independence.

Cacic will be under pressure to improve the form of the team that have international stars like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic and Mateo Kovacic.

Croatia didn't score in its last two away matches against Azerbaijan in Baku (0-0) and Norway in Oslo (0-2) and Cacic will need his strikers to be on target in the remaining two qualifying matches. Only two victories and strong performance from the team could turn the public opinion.

If he fails to lead Croatia to success in those two games his reign at Croatian bench could be the shortest in the history of Croatian national team. Endit