Olić: "A great honour to return to Croatia national team"

One of six Croatia internationals with 100 or more caps, Ivica Olić, joins the national team coaching staff following the appointment of Zlatko Dalić as Croatia head coach.

"It is a great honour to return to Croatia national team, this time a new role. I want to express my gratitude to head coach Dalić for believing in me, and I will do anything to contribute to our common objective, the 2018 FIFA World Cup berth", says Olić.

"I believe that my playing career experience, including the knowledge obtained through working with great coaches, can help the national team, as well as knowing the specific details inside the squad. The national team is sacred to me and I look forward to be a part of it. As a coach, I can promise that I will continue to respect everything that I have respected as a player - a dedicated effort and a fair approach is the key to success", he added.

His confirmation was good news to head coach Zlatko Dalić:

"I am very happy that Ivica Olić accepted my invitation. We have been quick to agree, since we share the same opinion on what Croatia national team represents. Ivica knows the squad very well, he has been through almost everything with his clubs or with the Vatreni, and his fighting spirit, optimism and contagiously positive approach will benefit the entire locker room. This weekend, Olić begins to analyze the matches, and the rest of the coaching staff will be appointed before the November challenges". 

Former Croatia international Ivica Olić (104 caps) will take on a role of an assistant coach in Croatia national team. Welcome back Ola! pic.twitter.com/0SL8OzNmN0

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) 19. listopada 2017.

Olić was capped 104 times, and his 20 goals put him at No. 5 on Croatia's all-time goalscorers list. During his impressive club career, Olić played for Marsonia, Hertha Berlin, Zagreb, Dinamo, CSKA Moscow, HSV, Bayern, Wolfsburg, again HSV, and 1860 Munich, where he retired in 2017. He retired from international duty in March 2016.

With Zagreb and Dinamo he became the champion of Croatia, and his further honours include three Russian league titles, one Bundesliga title, UEFA Cup, two Russian Cups, one German Cup, Supercups in Croatia, Russia, and Germany, and two Champions League final appearances.

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