Former Croatian international Niko Kovac, to date coach of national youth team, will take over the main football team of Croatia after the Croatian Federation accepted the resignation of Igor Stimac, informed uefa.com.
Niko Kovac, aged 42 years old, was appointed coach after a meeting of the Federation at which attended and the the president of the forum, Davor Suker.
With 83 selections in the Croatian national football team and scorer of 15 goals for his country, Kovac leading the national youth team from this year.
Croatia is one of the possible teams that will qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, and is seeded alongside Portugal, Greece and Ukraine. In the play-off they could meet Romania, Iceland, France and Sweden.
In the Croatian camp, the atmosphere is not very good. After defeats with Belgium and Scotland, tactician Igor Stimac resigned, disappointed that it was not ranked first in Group A.
“It’s a painful defeat. I resigned after I talked to the president of the Federation. We are all disappointed by the latest results.” said Stimac for Uefa website.
“Never mind that we have qualified for the playoffs, I want to give the Federation a chance to appoint another coach, if they didn’t trust in my work. We will see what will happen,” said former tactician of Croatia.