Ante Čačić Explained

Ante Čačić
Birth Date:29 September 1953
Birth Place:Zagreb, FPR Yugoslavia
Managerclubs1:Prigorje Markuševec
Managerclubs2:TPK
Manageryears1:1986–1987
Manageryears2:1988–1989
Manageryears3:1989–1992
Managerclubs3:Zadar
Manageryears4:1992–1993
Managerclubs4:Dubrava
Manageryears5:1993–1995
Managerclubs5:Inter Zaprešić
Manageryears6:1994–1998
Managerclubs6:Croatia U21 (assistant)
Manageryears7:1995–1996
Managerclubs7:Osijek
Manageryears8:1996–1997
Managerclubs8:Zadar
Manageryears9:1998
Managerclubs9:Slaven Belupo
Manageryears10:1998–2000
Managerclubs10:Croatia Sesvete
Manageryears11:2002–2003
Managerclubs11:Inter Zaprešić
Manageryears12:2005–2006
Managerclubs12:Libya (assistant)
Manageryears13:2005
Managerclubs13:Libya U23
Manageryears14:2006–2007
Managerclubs14:Kamen Ingrad
Manageryears15:2007
Managerclubs15:Inter Zaprešić
Manageryears16:2011
Managerclubs16:Lokomotiva Zagreb
Manageryears17:2011–2012
Managerclubs17:Dinamo Zagreb
Manageryears18:2013
Managerclubs18:Radnik Sesvete
Manageryears19:2013
Managerclubs19:Maribor
Manageryears20:2014–2015
Managerclubs20:Slaven Belupo
Manageryears21:2015
Managerclubs21:Lokomotiva Zagreb
Manageryears22:2015–2017
Managerclubs22:Croatia
Manageryears23:2019–2020
Managerclubs23:Pyramids FC
Manageryears24:2022–2023
Managerclubs24:Dinamo Zagreb

Ante Čačić (pronounced as /hr/;[1] [2] born 29 September 1953) is a Croatian professional football manager who was most recently manager of Croatian Football League club Dinamo Zagreb.

Čačić graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Zagreb. He was one of the first ten football coaches in Croatia to get the UEFA Pro Licence.[3]

Managerial career

During his career, Čačić successfully achieved promotion to the top division with Inter Zaprešić and Dubrava. He also managed Zadar, Osijek, Slaven Belupo, Kamen Ingrad, Croatia Sesvete and Lokomotiva Zagreb.[4]

Inter Zaprešić

In the 2002–03 season, Čačić was at the helm of Inter Zaprešić in the south division in Druga HNL. In March 2003, he resigned after losing to the first-placed team Uljanik, leaving Inter at the second place in the table and five points behind the leaders. He was replaced with Ilija Lončarević, who achieved promotion to Prva HNL.[5]

Libya

When Lončarević was appointed manager of the Libya national football team, he named Čačić as his assistant. During his time at Libya, he was chosen to lead their under-20 squad at the 2005 Mediterranean Games held in Spain. After losing to the hosts in the semi-finals, they won the bronze medal after defeating Morocco in the penalty shoot-out.[6]

Kamen Ingrad

In June 2006, Čačić returned to Croatia and was appointed manager of Kamen Ingrad, but after only three months he terminated his contract.[7]

Return to Inter Zaprešić

In October 2006, he again took over the helm of Inter Zaprešić after they sacked Srećko Bogdan.[8] Čačić led Inter to the first place in the 2006–07 Druga HNL and the team was promoted to Prva HNL. After a disappointing start in the following season, he was sacked in August 2007.[9]

Lokomotiva

In October 2011, Čačić was appointed manager of Lokomotiva Zagreb.[10] They finished in the sixth place at the winter break, undefeated in four games led by Čačić.[11]

Dinamo Zagreb

On 23 December 2011, it was announced that Čačić had signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Dinamo Zagreb.[12] He was sacked from Dinamo in November 2012.[13]

Radnik Sesvete

Čačić was without assignment until April 2013 when he took over as manager of Radnik Sesvete.[14]

Maribor

Čačić left Radnik Sesvete in early June 2013, when he accepted an offer from Slovenian champions Maribor.[15]

Slaven Belupo

Čačić became manager of Slaven Belupo on 4 November 2014[16] and the club finished sixth in his only season at the helm of the club.

Return to Lokomotiva

Čačić again became manager of Lokomotiva on 3 June 2015[17] and was with the club for only three months before being selected as head coach of the Croatia national football team.

Croatia

Euro 2016: Qualifying and finals

Following the sacking of Niko Kovač,[18] which was caused due to a poor run in the Euro 2016 qualifying, Ante Čačić was appointed as head coach of the Croatia national team.[19] His appointment was very controversial and left fans of the national team in shock.[20] Croatia finished second in their qualifying group, securing a place in the group stages of Euro 2016 in France. Croatia enjoyed a memorable group stage run, topping their group after beating European champions Spain by a scoreline of 2–1 on 21 June,[21] despite key-player Luka Modrić not playing due to injury problems.[22] However, Croatian fans had earlier sparked controversy during a match against the Czech Republic, which finished 2–2, when flares were lit at the near end of the match.[23] After beating Spain, Croatia were tipped as one of the favorites to win the tournament,[24] but they were knocked out by future winners Portugal in the round of sixteen.[25]

Čačić was voted as the 7th Best National Team Coach by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.[26]

FIFA World Cup 2018: Qualifying and sacking

Čačić took Croatia to a strong start in their qualifying campaign, with Croatia leading their group and remaining undefeated. However, defeats to Iceland and Turkey,[27] [28] [29] as well as a draw to Finland[30] threatened their progression and caused a public outcry against Čačić, who was criticized for his poor team selection, decreasing player morale and losing support from players and fans.[31] Čačić was also criticized by former Croatia head coach Miroslav Blažević.[32]

He was sacked on 7 October 2017, with Zlatko Dalić being named as his successor.[33] [34]

Pyramids

On 27 December 2019, he was appointed manager of Egyptian club Pyramids FC.[35] He led his team to reach the 2020 CAF Confederation Cup Final, which they lost 0–1 against RS Berkane.[36] Later on, Pyramids decided to find a new coach, after they finished third in the 2019–20 Egyptian Premier League.[37]

Return to Dinamo Zagreb

On 21 April 2022, Čačić became the manager of Dinamo Zagreb by the end of the 2021–22 season,[38] in which he eventually led them to win their 23rd league title.[39]

Čačić successfully guided Dinamo back into the Champions League group stages the following season, beating Shkupi, Ludogorets and Bodø/Glimt in the qualification rounds. Dinamo won their opening match in the group stage against Chelsea at the Maksimir, thanks to a goal from Mislav Oršić. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was subsequently sacked the following day.

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord
23 June 20053 July 2005
Inter Zaprešić28 October 200618 August 2007
Lokomotiva Zagreb31 October 201123 December 2011
Dinamo Zagreb23 December 201126 November 2012
Radnik Sesvete14 April 20135 June 2013
Maribor5 June 201329 September 2013
Slaven Belupo4 November 20143 June 2015
Lokomotiva Zagreb3 June 201521 September 2015
Croatia21 September 20157 October 2017
Pyramids26 December 20191 November 2020
Dinamo Zagreb21 April 20225 April 2023
Total

Honours

Manager

Dinamo Zagreb

2011–12, 2021–22

2011–12

2022

Maribor

2013[40]

Pyramids

Libya U20

Individual

2016

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Àntūn. Ánte. Hrvatski jezični portal. 17 March 2018. sh. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111223848/http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id. live.
  2. Web site: Čàslav. Čȁčić. Hrvatski jezični portal. 17 March 2018. sh. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111223848/http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id. live.
  3. Web site: Tko je Ante Čačić? Trener koji već odudara od ostatka HNL-a. 24sata. 23 December 2011. hr. 24 June 2016. 16 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816013719/http://www.24sata.hr/sport/tko-je-ante-cacic-trener-koji-vec-odudara-od-ostatka-hnl-a-247265. live.
  4. News: Novi strateg Modrih: Čovjek koji je Hajduku donio dva prvenstva! . Lipovac . Nikola . 23 December 2011 . Jutarnji list . hr . 24 December 2011 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220119/http://www.jutarnji.hr/novi-strateg-modrih--covjek-koji-je-hajduku-donio-dva-prvenstva-/995519/ . live .
  5. News: Ččć otišao, "uskače" Lončarević . Purić . Bojan . 11 March 2003 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 9 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009062056/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/202641/nogomet/cacic-otisao-uskace-loncarevic/ . live .
  6. News: Le bronze à La Libye aux Jeux méditerranéens en football . . 11 July 2005 . 12 June 2016 . fr . 1 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701015419/http://www.panapress.com/Le-bronze-a-La-Libye-aux-Jeux-mediterraneens-en-football--13-619776-17-lang1-index.html . live .
  7. News: Čačić preuzeo Kamen Ingrad . Zdelar . Zoran . 26 June 2006 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 10 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810125512/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/310514/nogomet/cacic-preuzeo-kamen-ingrad/ . live .
  8. News: Inter opet smijenio Srećka Bogdana . Tomičić . Goran . 23 October 2006 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 10 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810122809/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/319968/nogomet-hnl/inter-opet-smijenio-srecka-bogdana/ . live .
  9. News: Čačić smijenjen, Bračun pred vratima . Lešković . Mario . Hohnjec . Kristian . 18 August 2007 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 10 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810143856/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/348575/nogomet-hnl/cacic-smijenjen-bracun-pred-vratima/ . live .
  10. News: Potvrđen novi trener Lokomotive . Štrbinić . Lovro . 31 October 2011 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 9 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009064053/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/427812/nogomet-1-hnl/potvrdjen-novi-trener-lokomotive/ . live .
  11. News: Čačić: Veliki poticaj za Lokomotivu . Rupnik . Borna . 5 December 2011 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 9 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009064108/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/430040/nogomet-1-hnl/cacic-veliki-poticaj-za-lokomotivu/ . live .
  12. News: Amte Ččć preuzima Dinamo . 23 December 2011 . Sportnet.hr . hr . 24 December 2011 . 19 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120119212234/http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/431170/nogomet-1-hnl/ante-cacic-preuzima-dinamo . live .
  13. Web site: Šnidarić. Marko. Mamić smijenio Čačića! Kruno Jurčić je opet na klupi Dinama. 24sata. 15 April 2013. 30 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121230134021/http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/treci-put-kruno-jurcic-novi-je-trener-dinama-sluzbena-vijest-291102. live.
  14. Web site: Guberina. Kazimir. Amte Ččć novi trener Radnika Sesvete. SportNews. 15 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160204040631/http://www.sportnews-hr.info/2-hnl/seniori/vijesti/1336-ante-cacic-novi-trener-radnika-sesvete.html. 4 February 2016. dead.
  15. News: Čačić: Ponosen sem, ker sem v Mariboru . Cacic: I am proud to be in Maribor . 5 June 2013 . Dario Dotto . . sl . 28 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204030858/http://www.siol.net/sportal/nogomet/slovenija/novice/2013/06/novi_trener_maribora.aspx . 4 February 2016 . dead.
  16. News: Prva HNL: Ante Čačić novi trener Slaven Belupa. Narodni list. 2 June 2018. 5 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230405190540/http://www.narodni-list.hr/posts/60495001. live.
  17. Web site: Ante Čačić novi trener NK Lokomotive - Prigorski.hr. prigorski.hr. hr. 2 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604015307/http://prigorski.hr/ante-cacic-novi-trener-nk-lokomotive/. 4 June 2015. dead.
  18. News: NIKO KOVAČ DOBIO OTKAZ, ŠUKER OTKRIO TKO ĆE BIRATI IZBORNIKA 'Ovo si više ne smijemo dozvoliti!'. Jutarnji list. 2 June 2018. hr.
  19. News: Ante Čačić novi izbornik, a pomoćnik mu je Joe Šimunić! - 'Do sada smo svaki put pogodili'. Gol.hr. 2 June 2018. hr-HR. 29 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151229013327/http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/nogomet/ceka-se-potvrda-ono-cega-smo-se-svi-bojali-cacic-postaje-izbornik-hrvatske---409401.html. live.
  20. News: NAVIJAČI U ŠOKU: Ante Čačić novi je izbornik hrvatske reprezentacije!. 21 September 2015. Dnevno.hr. 2 June 2018. hr-HR. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013423/http://www.dnevno.hr/sport/nogomet/ceka-se-objava-ante-cacic-novi-je-izbornik-hrvatske-reprezentacije-832570. live.
  21. News: Croatia 2 Spain 1: Late Perisic strike wins Group D as Italy await La Roja. FourFourTwo. 2 June 2018. 10 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160710185257/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/croatia-2-spain-1-late-perisic-strike-wins-group-d-italy-await-la-roja. live.
  22. News: Luka Modrić gotovo sigurno neće igrati protiv Španjolske!. N1 HR. 2 June 2018. hr. 23 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623020029/http://hr.n1info.com/a131331/Sport-Klub/Nogomet/Luka-Modric-gotovo-sigurno-nece-igrati-protiv-Spanjolske.html. dead.
  23. News: Czech Republic 2-2 Croatia. 17 June 2016. BBC Sport. 2 June 2018. en-GB. 17 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180717170248/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36496116. live.
  24. Web site: Ivan Perisic stunner for Croatia leaves Spain to face Italy in last 16. Lowe. Sid. 21 June 2016. The Guardian. en. 2 June 2018. 18 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181118122750/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/21/croatia-spain-euro-2016-match-report. live.
  25. News: UEFA EURO 2016 - History - Croatia-Portugal – UEFA.com. 25 June 2016. UEFA.com. 2 June 2018. 28 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528054859/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/matches/round=2000744/match=2017998/index.html. live.
  26. News: THE WORLD'S BEST NATIONAL COACH 2016 : Fernando Santos IFFHS. 27 December 2016. IFFHS. 2 June 2018. en-US. 19 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171219124058/http://iffhs.de/the-worlds-best-national-coach-2016-fernando-santos/. live.
  27. News: VIDEO: MAKSIMIR U EUFORIJI, HRVATSKA SLAVI VELIKU POBJEDU Kalinić spektakularnim golom vodi Vatrene na SP, navijači opet najbolji na svijetu!. Sportske novosti. 2 June 2018. hr. 6 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706215128/https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/nogomet/reprezentacija/video-maksimir-u-euforiji-hrvatska-slavi-veliku-pobjedu-kalinic-spektakularnim-golom-vodi-vatrene-na-sp-navijaci-opet-najbolji-na-svijetu/5807551/. live.
  28. News: Island šokirao Hrvatsku golom u 90. minuti! Prvi poraz naših u kvalifikacijama. Večernji list. 2 June 2018. hr. 6 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706215133/https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/hrvatska-bez-cetvorice-standardnih-po-pobjedu-protiv-islanda-1175934. live.
  29. Web site: SP 2018. KVALIFIKACIJE Turska – Hrvatska 1-0. Nacional. 5 September 2017 . hr. 2 June 2018. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707005903/http://www.nacional.hr/sp-2018-kvalifikacije-turska-hrvatska-1-0/. live.
  30. News: [VIDEO] Šok na Rujevici: Finska uzela bod protiv Hrvatske]. Croatian Radiotelevision. 2 June 2018. 14 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614125308/http://sport.hrt.hr/408913/htv-1-2045-imperativ-pobjede-protiv-finske-uoci-puta-u-kijev. live.
  31. News: MODRIĆ KONAČNO PROGOVORIO O RASULU "Ne znam je li Čačić izbornik za Hrvatsku". Index.hr. 2 June 2018. hr. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707034343/https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/modric-konacno-progovorio-o-rasulu-ne-znam-je-li-cacic-izbornik-za-hrvatsku-ali-sto-da-sad-radimo/999288.aspx. live.
  32. News: "Rat" u Hrvatskoj: Ćiro bez ustezanja kritizirao Čačića, bivši selektor udario po njemu i Subašiću. Avaz.ba. 2 June 2018. bs-BA. 30 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180430154904/http://sport.avaz.ba/nogomet/321335/rat-u-hrvatskoj-ciro-bez-ustezanja-kritizirao-cacica-bivsi-selektor-udario-po-njemu-i-subasicu. live.
  33. News: ČAČIĆ DOBIO OTKAZ! Hrvatska traži novog izbornika. Index.hr. 2 June 2018. hr. 4 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190704082622/https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/cacic-dobio-otkaz-hrvatska-trazi-novog-izbornika/999303.aspx. live.
  34. News: Čačić smijenjen, Zlatko Dalić novi je izbornik!. Večernji list. 2 June 2018. hr. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143004/https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/zlatko-dalic-novi-je-izbornik-vodi-hrvatsku-vec-protiv-ukrajine-1199449. live.
  35. News: Ante Čačić ima novi angažman, bivši izbornik preuzeo egipatski Pyramids . sportnet.rtl.hr . 27 December 2019 . 27 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191227192919/https://sportnet.rtl.hr/vijesti/532960/nogomet-nogometni-svijet/ante-cacic-ima-novi-angazman-bivsi-izbornik-preuzeo-egipatski-pyramids/ . live .
  36. Web site: Pyramids FC 0–1 RS Berkane . CAF . 25 October 2020 . 1 November 2020 . 20 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020092158/https://www.cafonline.com/total-confederation-cup/matches/2019/2056712/ . live .
  37. Web site: Pyramids FC confirm appointment of new head coach . kingfut.com . 1 November 2020 . 1 November 2020 . 26 January 2021 . https://archive.today/20210126055355/https://www.kingfut.com/2020/11/01/pyramids-confirm-new-head-coach/ . live .
  38. Web site: Ante Čačić privremeni trener Dinama . index.hr . hr . 21 April 2022 . 6 September 2022 . 30 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220430045805/https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/ante-cacic-privremeni-trener-dinama/2358065.aspx . live .
  39. Web site: Dinamo Zagreb claims Croatian league title for 23rd time . croatiaweek.com . 15 May 2022 . 6 September 2022 . 26 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926203444/https://www.croatiaweek.com/dinamo-zagreb-claims-croatian-league-title-for-23rd-time/ . live .
  40. News: Matej . Leskovšek . Superpokal Mariborčanom, v Celju pometli z Olimpijo . . 6 July 2013 . 12 June 2016 . sl . 13 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160613150857/http://siol.net/sportal/nogomet/superpokal-mariborcanom-v-celju-pometli-z-olimpijo-5385 . live .