Zlatko Dalic’s Saudi Arabian coaching stint serving Croatia well in Russia

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic also coached in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal. (AFP)
Updated 30 June 2018
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Zlatko Dalic’s Saudi Arabian coaching stint serving Croatia well in Russia

  • Croatian coach has impressed with his man-management at this year's World Cup
  • Dalić’s performances attracted attention from league champions Al-Hilal, who recruited him in 2012

LONDON: On the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, the Croatian city of Split is swimming in a little extra pride at this summer’s World Cup. So too is the Saudi Arabian metropolis of Riyadh. The common bond? A 51-year-old who likes nothing more than to ride his bike and gorge on octopus salad.
Zlatko Dalić is arguably as understated as he is underrated. A former defensive midfielder with local side Hadjuk Split, he was never capped by his country and remained relatively unknown by his compatriots until last year. In October, however, that all changed. With Croatia precariously close to failing to qualify for the World Cup, coach Ante Čačić was ousted and Dalić — a close associate of Croatian football’s “Mr Big,” Zdravko Mamić — was installed as head coach.
Dalić had worked with some of the players during a stint as assistant coach of Croatia’s U21s. He masterminded a 2-0 win over Ukraine to secure a play-off spot, before beating Greece 4-1. Luka Modrić, the Real Madrid midfielder, called his new national coach “phenomenal.”
Much of Dalić’s earlier anonymity is down to him having not worked at home for close to a decade. Now, having navigated his country to the round of 16 with minimal fuss and maximum points — topping a group that included Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland — Croatia are just 90 minutes away from a place in the quarter-finals. Against Denmark tonight, they are undoubtedly favorites.
Unsurprisingly, Croatians are now more familiar with Dalić and his work.
“For me, Zlatko is one of the best coaches we’ve ever had,” said Ivan Vojković, a local fan out shopping in Split’s central market. “He’s a good person, a clever guy and leads Croatia like we have never been led before. All I really know is that he was in the Middle East for many years, but I think with him we can win the World Cup now.”
Many years is correct. In 2010, after cutting his teeth with sides in Croatia and Albania, Dalić accepted a coaching offer from newly promoted Al-Faisaly in Riyadh. After leading them to a seventh-place finish in his first year in charge, Al-Riyadhi newspaper elected him Manager of the Season with 58 percent of readers’ votes, 43 percent more than second-placed Gabriel Calderon.
Dalić’s performances attracted attention from league champions Al-Hilal, who recruited him in 2012. While he would only stay for two years before switching to Al-Ain, he remains popular in the Saudi Arabian capital having led Al-Zaeem to the Crown Prince Cup. When Croatia confirmed their place in the last 16 with a resounding 3-0 defeat of Argentina last week, Riyadh’s Kingdom Tower was lit up in Croatia’s famous red and white. An image of the building, tweeted by Dalić, was shared 7,400 times.
“Zlatko remains very popular there,” said Khalid Ghadin, who works for the Saudi Professional League.
“When he left Hilal he had many lucrative offers from clubs smaller than Hilal, but he rejected them all. It was the same when he left Al-Ain. He always said he would not be guided by money, and now he is coach of his national team.”
Despite Dalić having led Al-Ain to the UAE league title in 2015 and the Asian Champions League final the following season, there was speculation he was merely another yes-man for Mamić, the most powerful man in Croatian football. Yet, the talented tactician has shown in Russia that he calls the shots. When AC Milan’s Nikola Kalinić refused to enter the field in their opening game against Nigeria, citing lower-back pains, his furious coach sent him home.
“He has a good sense of things and is great with the players, which is important nowadays,” Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren told FIFA.com. “He concentrates on our psyche; that’s his big strength. We respect and admire him and without this togetherness and mutual respect, there would be no success.”
That quest for glory reconvenes tonight in Nizhny Novgorod. Croatia finished third at the 1998 World Cup, but Lovren believes they can eclipse that this month. With Dalić at the helm, the cities of Split and Riyadh also expect. The top response to Dalić’s Kingdom Tower tweet came from Saudi Arabia and includes a photo of the manager wearing an Al-Hilal scarf.
“The best coach in the world,” it reads. “Good luck and win the World Cup.”


Mitchell Starc shows class as Kolkata Knight Riders notch IPL win in Mumbai

Updated 03 May 2024
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Mitchell Starc shows class as Kolkata Knight Riders notch IPL win in Mumbai

  • Kolkata's first win at the Wankhede ground in 12 years and seventh from 10 games this season

MUMBAI: Mitchell Starc picked up four wickets as a disciplined bowling performance helped Kolkata Knight Riders seal a 24-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Chasing a below-par 170, Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 145 off 18.5 overs at the Wankhede Stadium.
Suryakumar Yadav raised hopes with a 35-ball 56 but his dismissal in the 16th over tilted the scales in favour of Kolkata.
This was Kolkata's first win at the Wankhede ground in 12 years and seventh from 10 games this season.
Mumbai slumped to ninth position in the 10-team competition after their eighth loss in 11 games.
Kolkata are placed second and well poised to make it to the play-offs.
"Obviously we couldn't form partnerships and kept losing wickets," said Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya.
"There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say."
Mumbai were off to a shaky start, with Starc flattening the leg-stump of Ishan Kishan (13) and Varun Chakravarthy sending back Naman Dhir (11).
The home team got another big jolt when Rohit Sharma, who came in as an impact sub, miscued a shot to be caught off Sunil Narine for 11.
Pandya's poor run of form continued as he was out for one, much to the disappointment of the strong home crowd.
Yadav hit his third half-century of the season and Tim David chipped in with 24 but Kolkata did well to rein in the five-time champions.
Earlier, Kolkata lost five quick wickets including that of the prolific Phil Salt (five) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (six) after being put in to bat.
Tottering at 57-5, Venkatesh Iyer (70) and impact sub Manish Pandey (42) steadied Kolkata with an 83-run stand and ensured a respectable total on the board.
Iyer, who hit a century at the same ground last season, hit three sixes and six fours in his fighting 52-ball knock.
"It's an extremely good feeling, because we haven't won at Wankhede for 12 years," said Kolkata's Varun Chakravarthy.
"This is a very special win because we were down and out in the first innings. The way Venkatesh and Manish pulled it back was great."
Jasprit Bumrah and Sri Lanka's Nuwan Thushara were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets each and troubling the batsmen with their line and length on a lively wicket.


Saudi table tennis players ‘happy’ to compete against world’s best

Updated 03 May 2024
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Saudi table tennis players ‘happy’ to compete against world’s best

  • Fast-rising stars speak ahead of Saudi Smash 2024, the Kingdom’s first professional table tennis event
  • Competition will feature a 64-player men’s and women’s singles main draw alongside a 24-pair main draw for men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s table tennis stars of the future, Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi and Ali Alkhadrawi, have voiced their appreciation after being given a platform to showcase their talent and compete against the best in the world.
The two spoke on Friday at a press conference ahead of Saudi Smash 2024, the Kingdom’s first professional table tennis event.
Hassan Hayyan, a board member of the Saudi Table Tennis Federation, and head of the competitions and referees committee, attended the conference along with Bu Shulaybi and Alkhadrawi.
Bu Shulaybi said: “It’s a great feeling that a major table tennis event is happening in Saudi Arabia. I have been to many tournaments around the world, but this one really has impressed me — the level of organization is unbelievable, and thanks must go to everyone who has worked hard to make it happen.
“With 20 of the greatest players in the world all involved, going head-to-head with them is an opportunity to compete with the best, learn from them, and ultimately improve.”
Alkhadrawi said: “It’s a dream for any Saudi player to play this tournament. We were very happy to be chosen for this opportunity and to compete against very high-level players.”
“We have received great support,” he said. “We’re very lucky to have the Saudi Table Tennis Federation supporting us.”
He had inspirational words of encouragement for the Kingdom’s emerging talent.
“My message to the next generation of professional Saudi players is that the possibilities are endless. So long as they are disciplined, dedicated, and listen to their coaches, the opportunity and potential are there to reach new heights and make it far in this sport.”
Hayyan said: “Hosting such a major international table tennis event is a testament to the unwavering support we’ve received from the Kingdom’s leadership.”
He said that Saudi Smash “represents the latest chapter in Saudi Arabia’s sports evolution, and we’re sure it will be remembered for many years to come.”
Following three days of qualifying matches from Wednesday to Friday, the main competitions get underway on Saturday, with eight days of world-class table tennis action in store for spectators.
The event consists of a 64-player men’s and women’s singles main draw alongside a 24-pair main draw for men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles.
A series of thrilling showdowns are locked in across each competition after Thursday’s draw, with some of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-rising table tennis stars in action.


World Endurance Championship camel race starts Saturday at AlUla

Updated 03 May 2024
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World Endurance Championship camel race starts Saturday at AlUla

  • Event has a prize pool of more than SR2 million
  • 20 male and 15 female jockeys from the first stage will qualify for the final

ALULA: The Saudi Camel Federation and the Royal Commission of AlUla Governorate are co-organizing the first edition of the World Endurance Championship camel race on Saturday at AlUla Camel Track.
The event has a prize pool of more than SR2 million ($533,000), and the results for the men and women riders will be calculated separately, according to a media statement on Friday.
The championship event includes a 16 km race split into two stages of 8 km each, with a 30-minute break in between.
Twenty male and 15 female jockeys from the first stage qualify for the final. The results will be calculated according to the best timings in the two stages.
The winners in each of the categories will be awarded SR500,000 while the remainder of the prize pool will be distributed between 10 riders in the men’s category and 10 in the women’s category.
All federations are permitted to participate with 10 male and five female riders.
Riders whose countries are not members of the International Camel Racing Federation will be allowed to participate under the ICRF’s flag with a maximum of three participants and the option to borrow camels.
According to the ICRF, participating camels must be over 18 years old and registered by and type.
In September, the General Assembly of the ICRF, chaired by Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, approved the launch of the first edition of this championship.


Man City’s Foden wins football writers’ award

Updated 03 May 2024
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Man City’s Foden wins football writers’ award

  • Foden is the third City player in the past four years to win football’s oldest individual award
  • The 23-year-old Foden received 42 percent of the votes, heading off competition from Arsenal’s Declan Rice and his teammate Rodri

LONDON: Manchester City’s Phil Foden was Friday named Footballer of the Year by the English Football Writers’ Association, with the club’s Khadija Shaw scooping the women’s award.
England attacking midfielder Foden joins a roll call of famous names including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best and Kenny Dalglish.
Foden is the third City player in the past four years to win football’s oldest individual award, following Ruben Dias in 2021 and Erling Haaland last year.
The 23-year-old Foden received 42 percent of the votes, heading off competition from Arsenal’s Declan Rice and his teammate Rodri, who came third in a ballot of the FWA’s near 900-strong membership.
Foden has scored 24 goals this season as Pep Guardiola’s City chase a Premier League and FA Cup double.
“Being named the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year is a huge honor,” said Foden. “I’m very, very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.”
Guardiola praised his player but said he could get even better.
“The impact in the final third is really good, the work ethic,” he said. “Every year, due to the amount of games he’s playing, the minutes he’s playing, he’s more mature and he understands the game but he has to continue. He’s still young.”
“Depends on him, simple as that,” Guardiola added. “I promise you, it depends on him. Mentality, want more, do it again, do it again, be better in this department, I will live 24 hours for my game and for my profession. It depends on him, like all the players.”
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, who has scored 21 goals in the Women’s Super League, pipped Chelsea’s Lauren James, with the two taking a combined 80 percent of the vote.
Jamaica international Shaw will miss City’s final two games of the Women’s Super League season with a foot injury but is almost certain to finish as the top-scorer in the WSL as Gareth Taylor’s side close in on the title.
“I am very proud and privileged to have received this award and to be recognized in this way is a special honor,” said Shaw, 27.
“I want to also thank all of my teammates. They provide me with the chances to score goals and I could not have won this award without them.”


Real Madrid’s Courtois to return after nine-month injury layoff

Updated 03 May 2024
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Real Madrid’s Courtois to return after nine-month injury layoff

  • Belgian international Courtois, 31, has missed the entire season with a knee ligament injury
  • “Yes, Thibaut is fine. He will play tomorrow (Saturday) after a long period of absence,” said Ancelotti

MADRID: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will play his first match for the Spanish club after a nine-month injury layoff against Cadiz this weekend, coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Friday.
Belgian international Courtois, 31, has missed the entire season with a knee ligament injury and suffered a further setback in March which required another knee operation.
“Yes, Thibaut is fine. He will play tomorrow (Saturday) after a long period of absence,” said Ancelotti.
“He’s looking forward to playing. We’re delighted to see him return.”
La Liga leaders Real Madrid have their first chance to be crowned champions this weekend, although they need a helping hand from this season’s shock title challengers Girona.
Madrid host Cadiz on Saturday and if they win and Girona take any points off defending champions Barcelona immediately afterwards, Los Blancos will earn a record-extending 36th Spanish title.
Courtois has been back in team training for several weeks, and was part of the Madrid group to travel to Germany this week to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal first leg 2-2 draw.
Asked about a possible start for Courtois in the Champions League final if they reach it, Ancelotti replied: “The final we have in mind is Wednesday against Bayern, in which (Andriy) Lunin will play, and then we will see.”
In 2022, Courtois was the prime architect of Real’s Champions League triumph, proving himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.