Ex-Union coach Bjelica new coach at Dinamo Zagreb

Former Union coach Nenad Bjelica has a coaching job again and is returning to the traditional Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb after four and a half years. The 53-year-old signed a “multi-year contract,” as the third-placed Croatian league team announced, without giving any further details. The 25-time Croatian champion separated from coach Sergej Jakirovic (47) after the 9-2 defeat in the Champions League at FC Bayern.

Bjelica successfully coached the football club from Zagreb’s Maksimir district from 2018 to 2020 and won, among other things, two championships, the Supercup and the cup.

Short appearance in Berlin

Bjelica wanted to follow in the footsteps of club legend Urs Fischer at the Berlin Bundesliga club last season. After a good start, the Croatian, who never really got along with the Iron Men and was constantly alienating with his brittle, sometimes harsh manner, lost the support of the team.

Two days before the end of the season and in the middle of the relegation battle, Union parted ways with Bjelica. Under interim coach Marco Grote, the capital club managed to stay in the league on the last matchday.

According to “Bild” information, Bjelica’s new contract is also worthwhile for Union. Accordingly, the Croatian’s contract with the Berliners was automatically extended until 2026 due to his relegation. By returning to Zagreb, the Bundesliga club is now expected to save a low single-digit million amount in outstanding salary.