February 26, 2022 - Zlatko Dalić and the Croatia coaching staff are preparing for the upcoming national team gathering in March, when Croatia will play a friendly tournament in Doha against Slovenia and Bulgaria. 

Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić held a meeting with members of his professional staff on Thursday at the HNS headquarters, reports HNS.

In addition to coach Dalić, the meeting was attended by technical director Stipe Pletikosa, assistants Ivica Olić, Mario Mandžukić, and Dražen Ladić, goalkeeper coach Marjan Mrmić, fitness coach Luka Milanović and team manager Iva Olivari, while Vedran Ćorluka and Marc Rochon were justifiably absent.

Dalić spoke with his associates about the upcoming national team gathering in March, the first after November 2021 when Croatia successfully qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. In March, Croatia will travel to Doha to play friendly matches against Slovenia and Bulgaria.

"Although we are in constant contact, it is good when we manage to gather live and talk about what awaits us. I am glad to see all staff members full of energy, enthusiasm, and optimism ahead of the March gathering, which everyone is very excited about. We are following our players in detail, we are thinking about how to make the most of this gathering in Doha both on and off the pitch, and I believe that we will lay a good foundation there for everything that awaits us later in the year," said coach Dalić.

Recall, the Croatian Football Federation management agreed that the Croatia national team would play a friendly tournament in Qatar in March, with two matches in Doha.

Croatia will face Slovenia on March 26 and play Bulgaria three days later. The national team of Qatar will also play in the tournament against Bulgaria (March 26) and Slovenia (March 29). The matches will be played at the stadiums in Doha, where the FIFA World Cup matches will be played. The exact timetables and stadiums will be defined later, and HNS will inform fans promptly about the possibilities of buying tickets.

The Croatia coach and the staff members also watched the Europa League match between Dinamo and Sevilla. The Croatian champion was eliminated after a 3:2 aggregate for the Spanish side.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

November 22, 2021 - Mario Mandžukić has been added to the Croatia national team coaching staff ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar! 

After agreeing in principle with coach Zlatko Dalić on joining the Croatia national team coaching staff, Mario Mandžukić today formally agreed to cooperate with the president of the Croatian Football Federation Marijan Kustić and was appointed a coach in Croatia's professional staff, reports HNS.

Mandžukić joins Zlatko Dalic's professional staff after ending an impressive playing career this summer, including 89 appearances and 33 goals for Croatia and a silver medal at the World Cup in Russia. His outstanding club career was especially marked by periods at Bayern and Juventus, with which he won eight big titles each, a total of 23 in his prosperous career. With Bayern, he won the Champions League in 2013, scoring a goal in the final, while in 2017, his spectacular scissor-kick goal was not enough for Juventus in the final.

"Thanks to coach Dalić and President Kustić for the trust - we easily agreed on cooperation, which I am extremely looking forward to. I know how much the national team meant to me as a player, and I want to pass that passion and experience to the new generation. It's great that we have secured a direct spot in Qatar; we now have a year to peacefully prepare well for the World Cup through friendly matches and the Nations League. I enter this job with a lot of responsibility, desire, and ambition, and I will do my best to help the coach, colleagues in the staff, and, of course, the entire national team in the coming period," said Mandžukić.

"I always say that Croatia players should stay close to the national team, and that is why I am thrilled that Mario is with us again. In talking to him, I was convinced of how dedicated, interested, and willing he is to help, and I think his exceptional experience will be beneficial. I think we got a valuable reinforcement in the staff because I know with how much effort and commitment Mario approaches everything in life, and that is why I look forward to working again," said coach Zlatko Dalić.

"Of course, as a federation, we supported the agreement between the coach and Mario, which will certainly make an important contribution to the work of the professional staff. His playing career, both the national team and the club, can be a role model for every young player, and I do not doubt that everyone will learn a lot from him. As a player, he was a symbol of fighting spirit, hard work, winning guard, and unwavering character, and I am glad that he will be able to promote these values as a coach in the A national team," said the president of the Federation Marijan Kustić.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

October 15, 2021 - Former Croatia striker Mario Mandžukić has taken the first steps in his new career outside the pitch and enrolled in the HNS coaching academy. 

Mario Mandžukić announced the end of his great career in September in an emotional Instagram post addressed to his younger self. 

"Dear little Mario,

While you put on these boots for the first time, you can't even imagine what you will get to experience in football. You'll score goals at the biggest stages and you'll win the biggest trophies with the biggest clubs. Proudly representing your nation, you will help write the history of Croatian sports.

You'll succeed because you'll have good people around you – teammates, coaches, fans, and family, agents and friends who will always be there for you. You'll be forever grateful to all of them!

Above all, you'll succeed because you'll always give your best. At the end, that's what you'll be most proud of. You'll sacrifice a lot, but you'll know it was worth it because of all the amazing moments.

You'll recognize the moment to retire, to put these boots in a cabinet and you'll have no regrets. Football will always be a part of your life, but you'll look forward to a new chapter.

Enjoy!
Your big Mario

P.S. If you happen to play vs England in the World Cup, just be ready around 109th minute"

But it was clear that he wouldn't rest for long.

The legendary Croatian striker has enrolled in the HNS coaching academy and is attending a competition for the UEFA B license, which is the beginning of the road to the UEFA PRO license required to run clubs in, say, the Croatian First League, reports Index.hr.

Mandžukić will have 160 hours of classes, after which he will have to pass the exams with, on average, very good results. If he decides to enroll in a course for a UEFA A license, which is expected, he will have to do a year of coaching practice, which he could do in the professional coaching staff of the national team if there is the will on both sides.

The road to obtaining a PRO license is very long and for Croatian footballers much longer than for former professionals in some other countries, such as Germany. If he continues with his exams, Mandžukić could get a PRO license in six to seven years, and then theoretically he could become a "real" coach. Lectures for the B, A, and PRO categories will cost around 20,000 kuna.

Mandžukić is just one in a series of former Croatia national team players and professionals who have decided to take up a coaching job in recent years. Vedran Ćorluka, Ivica Olić, Ognjen Vukojević, Jerko Leko, Mihael Mikić, Mario Carević, and many others attend the HNS academy, which is known as very good.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE.

September 3, 2021 - Mario Mandžukić retires from football after 17 years on the pitch. The Croatian footballer announced the news with an emotional post on his Instagram profile today. 

Mario Mandžukić announced the end of his playing career on Friday. One of the greatest Croatian footballers of all time said goodbye to his beloved sport after seventeen years on the pitch. 

Mario announced the news in an emotional Instagram post on Friday. 

"Dear little Mario,

While you put on these boots for the first time, you can't even imagine what you will get to experience in football. You'll score goals at the biggest stages and you'll win the biggest trophies with the biggest clubs. Proudly representing your nation, you will help write the history of Croatian sports.

You'll succeed because you'll have good people around you – teammates, coaches, fans, and family, agent and friends who will always be there for you. You'll be forever grateful to all of them!

Above all, you'll succeed because you'll always give your best. At the end, that's what you'll be most proud of. You'll sacrifice a lot, but you'll know it was worth it because of all the amazing moments.

You'll recognize the moment to retire, to put these boots in a cabinet and you'll have no regrets. Football will always be a part of your life, but you'll look forward to a new chapter.

Enjoy!
Your big Mario

P.S. If you happen to play vs England in the World Cup, just be ready around 109th minute"

Mario most recently played for AC Milan, and news of a new transfer covered headlines in recent months. Mario, however, decided it was time, ending his career at 35 years old. 

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE.

April 17, 2021 - Mario Mandžukić donates his March salary to the Milan Club Foundation, which encourages projects that help vulnerable youth.

Mario Mandžukić has proven himself countless times as a great humanitarian, and with his last move, he's done it again.

The 2018 World Cup finalist with Croatia is on contract with AC Milan until the end of the season, according to which he earns 1.8 million euro. Mario arrived in Milan in January, when he signed the six-month contract, and has been out of action for two months due to an injury he suffered in late February.

Thus, the former Croatia striker decided to waive his salary for the month of March because he was injured. Club President Paolo Scaroni confirmed the news on Friday, saying that the Croatian striker gave up his salary for March. He did not play anyway and donated it to the club's organization instead. 

"An extraordinary gesture that shows the professionalism and ethics of Mario Mandzukić. With this, he showed how much he respects the club. Thus, Mandžukić gave up his salary in favor of the Milan Club Foundation, which finances projects related to young people in difficult social and property status. The foundation promotes sports as an element of social inclusion for youth," Scaroni told the Italian news agency ANSA.

"Fondazione Milan is a public charity linked to the wider scope of AC Milan’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. The Foundation was set up in 2003 with the simple aim of doing something good for the community and expressing solidarity with those in difficulty. Since then, Fondazione Milan has supported many needy situations, both in Italy and abroad. We share the values of sport with youngsters, to help them have a positive attitude to life. We play the game of life with them as pro-active players of change. Over the years, thanks to all those who have made donations and the commitment of those in the AC Milan group—First Team, Glories and Staff—we have raised over 10 million euros and put in place more than 160 projects," reads the Milan Club Foundation website.

Mandžukić has nine more games to prove himself by the end of the season. It is not certain that Milan will use the option to extend his contract to next season. If that happens, Mandžo will have another 3.6 million euro at his disposal. 

Source: Jutarnji List

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

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January 19, 2021 - Exciting Croatian football transfer news, as Mario Mandzukic signs with AC Milan. 

Mario Mandzukic has become a player of AC Milan! This will be the case at least until the end of the current competition season, for which the former Croatia national team player will receive 1.8 million euros. If Milan qualifies for the Champions League, Mario will stay at San Siro next season, and should earn twice as much - 3.6 million, reports Jutarnji List.

"AC Milan is delighted to announce the signing of Mario Mandžukić. The Club and the striker have agreed on a deal until the end of the current season with an option to extend the contract for the next one.

Born in Slavonski Brod (Croatia) on May 21, 1986, Mario Mandžukić started his professional career in 2004 with NK Marsonia before joining NK Zagreb and GNK Dinamo Zagreb. In Summer 2010, he moved to Germany to play for VfL Wolfsburg (60 appearances and 20 goals) and Bayern Munich (88 appearances and 48 goals). In the 2014/15 season, he went on to play for Atletico Madrid, scoring 20 goals in 43 appearances before joining FC Juventus. In his five seasons with FC Juventus, he made 162 appearances and scored 44 goals. In January 2020, he joined Qatari side Al-Duhail with one goal in 7 appearances.

Mandžukić has won 24 trophies, including 1 UCL, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Cup World Cup, 9 championships, and 12 between national Cups and Super Cups. He is the second-best scorer ever on the Croatian national team with 33 goals in 89 appearances.

Mario Mandžukić will wear the number 9 jersey," the club released in a statement on Tuesday morning.  

After arriving from Zagreb on a private flight on Sunday night, Mario spent Monday performing medical examinations and was flawless both at the doctor’s and in the physical endurance test. He spent the afternoon and evening in a hotel in Milan and left for AC Milan Tuesday morning to sign the contract. 

Recall, Mandzukic could not sign on Monday because Milan played (and won) a Serie A game away in Cagliari. After the match, Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke about Mario's arrival:

"I am very happy. There will be two of us to scare the opponents now!"

Milan's next match is against Atalanta at San Siro on Saturday at 6 pm, which could be the debut match for Mario and his return to Serie A. Interestingly, Mario played his last minutes in the Italian championship against Atalanta, on May 19, 2019. Mandzukic scored 44 goals in 162 games for Juventus between 2015 and 2019.

Mandzukic will have his first training session in Milan immediately after signing the contract around 11:30 am. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

No matter how the semifinals end, Croatia will have one representative in the Champions League final on June 1st in Madrid.

Former Croatia national team player Mario Mandžukić has finally removed all doubts about his career after Juventus. It’s official, Mandžo has signed a new contract with 'The Old Lady' until 2021. 

The famous Spanish sports daily Marca has conducted a major poll among its readers to choose the top 100 footballers in 2018. Six Croatian footballers made the list. 

Mario Mandžukić, the legendary Juventus attacker and former Croatia national team representative, gave his thoughts on the topic hovering over Croatia since the bronze in 1998, and especially since the World Cup in Russia.