The history of Hajduk on the bench of the Croatian national football team is almost as long as the history of Dinamo. Thus, the blue colored selectors were Jerković, Marković, Blažević, Barić, Kranjčar and Čačić, while Hajduk’s masters at the head of the Fire were Jozić, Poklepović, Bilić, Štimac and, of course, the silver and bronze selector Zlatko Dalić.
It is right now Zlatko Dalićalong with the then executive director of HNS Marijan Kustić, was the biggest proponent of the return of the national team to Poljud in 2019, which is not a surprise because Dalić, as a hero of the nation and the most beloved coach in history, has always advocated in his public activities the unification of soccer CroatiaTomislav Dasović writes for Vecernji.hr.
Of course, Dalić’s lobbying for Split also hides his own undisguised sympathy for SplitHajduk and the Poljud atmosphere, in which this year they will lead the Flames in the League of Nations match against Spain. And get a standing ovation from the audience. Namely, Livnjak Dalić was attached to Hajduk as a boy and his dream has always been to play for the Split club.
Yes, Zlatko was a hooligan as a boy, and I was a dynamo. Boy role modelas well as other boys who cheered for the whites, he was Jurica Jerković. Like his idol, he always wore a jersey with the number ten in Troglav, Livno. the selector’s brother Miran told us.
Zlatko Dalić at the age of 16 the wish came true – he moved to Hajduk.
It happened thanks to cooperation between Troglav and Hajduk. At the head of our club at that time was a member and fan of Hajduk Milan Mihaljevićso some other gifted players moved to Hajduk, adds Miran Dalić.
Zlatko Dalić is in Hajduk played for juniors for two years. Brother Miran remembers that in the second season he was also the captain of the team. His peer and teammate from those days Josko Španjić in an interview with Dalmatinski portal, he recalled some of the most outstanding offspring of the generation born in 1966 and 1967.
We didn’t win the state and national championships, but we did win numerous tournaments and a lot of good players came out. I remember the junior tournament in Duisburg, where we won first place, and the goalkeeper played for Hajduk Mario Kovač, Zlatko Dalić, Ante Miše, Marin Galić, Igor Štimac, Frane Bućan, Željko Šimičić, Goran Mladina, Mladen Jurić, Stipe Andrijašević, Franko Bogdan, Vlado Vladislavić, Zlatko Vidan, Tonći Mrduljaš, me..., said Španjić, who Zlatko Dalić once hired as an assistant at Al Ain.
Zlatko Dalić for the first white team he made his debut at the tender age of 19, in a very strong white team led by Stanko Poklepović. It was on August 21, 1985, in the 3rd round of the Yugoslav Championship, when the Whites were away in Pristina with a 0:1 defeat. In addition to Dalić, Igor Štimac also made his debut for the Whites in that match.
The following players played for Hajduk in that match: Pudar, Miljuš, Petrović, Gudelj (Štimac), Andrijašević, Petrinović, Dalić (Milanko), Tipurić, Španjić, Miše, Čelić. Coach Poklepović wanted to spare Slišković, Vulić and Zlatko Vujović in Priština, so in the next round he put them in the team against Dinamo and won the derby with 1:0. Zlatko Dalić then disappeared from the coach’s plans and in that season he made only four first-team appearances. He also played against Budućnost in Podgorica (0:0) and against Vojvodina (2:0) and Dinamo Vinkovac (6:1) in Split. He entered the game instead of Ante Miša, Josip Weber and Zoran Vujović.
Dalić performed in that season and in Cirin’s native Travnikin the round of 16 match of the Yugoslav Cup, where Hajduk defeated the home team Borac with 4:1. The selector entered the game instead of Gudelj.
Considering the strong competition in Hajduk, Zlatko Dalić was sent in 1986, together with Igor Štimecon loan at the time Vinkovac Dinamowhere as a player he was trained by the masterful hands of the legendary coach Đalma Marković.
After that, Dalić served his military service in Samobor, so there were episodes in Podgorica’s Budućnost i Mostar’s Veležand the return to Hajduk took place in 1992.
The defense commander of Livna was from Split and read Hajduk Špaco’s coach in Slobodna Poklepovićwho knew me as a junior, asks: “Where is that Dalić?”
The commander then asked me if I would go to Hajduk. So how could I not go?!
I got a permit, started training with Hajduk, but I didn’t sign the contract, Anđelko Herjavec appeared and I went to VarteksDalić revealed to us by chance.
Dalić made his comeback appearance in Hajduk’s jersey on August 6, 1996, in the match of the 2nd preliminary round. UEFA Cup against Moscow Torpedoes in Split. Hajduk won 1:0 under the leadership of coach Ivan Buljan, and the following players played: Gabrić, Butorović (Vuica), Jozinović, Sedloski, Čeko, Tudor, Dalić, Jurić, Skoko (Leko), Vučko, Sarr (Nuhiu).
Zlatko also played in Moscow, where Hajduk was defeated 0:2. The following summer, the same thing happened with Schalke. Then his coach was Luka Bonačić, and after him, three games between Hajduk and Dalić were led by the legendary Tomislav Ivić.
Zlatko Dalić played with me defensive midfielder. He was very hardworking, responsible, disciplined. I can say the best about him both as a player and as a person. There was never a problem with him. On the contrary, such an obedient and hardworking person was an encouragement to his teammatessaid his coach at the time, Ivan Buljan.
Was Dalić a fan favorite? He was not a local player after all.
The audience will always love the one who stands up, plays fair, fights for 90 minutes, regardless of where he is from, whether he is a child of Hajduk or not. As soon as he behaves like that on the field, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a crowd favorite.
And his teammate from that time, Tomislav Erceg, praises Dalić’s work ethic.
Zlatko was a solid player and nothing more. He could play, but maybe he was a little slower. However, as a teammate he was extremely fair, you could always rely on him.
What impressed me about him was that he was very persistent and ambitious, that despite his shortcomings he did not give up but tirelessly searched for his own way.
He really wanted to play for Hajduk, and he made it happen, said the legendary white centre-forward.
Dalić, who clearly has Hajduk in his blood, was a candidate for the Whites’ sports director in 2013. Then he stated in Slobodna Dalmacija:
It is a great honor and pleasure to be in the combinations for the sports director of Hajduk. My sporting goal in my career is Hajduk, either in coaching or in the role of sports director. Hajduk would definitely be a big challenge for me. Once I come to Hajduk, it will be the crowning glory of my career.
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Vecernji.hr)
