Dinamo Zagreb have terminated the contract of their coach after the club was humiliated by German giants Bayern Munich.
Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb have terminated the contract of their coach, Sergej Jakirovic, following a devastating 9-2 loss to Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday.
The decision comes as a swift response to what the club described as a "scandalous defeat" at the hands of the German powerhouse.
14:10 - 03.08.2024
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The match saw Bayern Munich, led by a four-goal performance from Harry Kane, dominate Dinamo Zagreb in every aspect of the game.
Additional goals from Raphael Guerreiro, Michael Olise, who netted twice, Leroy Sane, and Leon Goretzka contributed to the overwhelming scoreline, leaving Dinamo shell-shocked and their fans dismayed.
Just over 24 hours after the embarrassing defeat, Dinamo Zagreb announced the departure of 47-year-old Jakirovic.
The decision comes as a surprise to some, given Jakirovic's impressive 68% win rate during his tenure with the club.
However, the magnitude of the loss to Bayern Munich, coupled with a recent defeat to Hajduk Split that ended a 21-match unbeaten run in the league, appears to have sealed the coach's fate.
Dinamo Zagreb released an official statement on their X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasising that the termination was mutual:
"GNK Dinamo would like to inform the public that an amicable termination of the contract with the current coach of the Blues, Sergej Jakirović, has been agreed,” the club’s statement read.
The club also expressed gratitude towards Jakirovic, stating, "We thank Sergej Jakirović from the bottom of our hearts for everything he has given to our club and we wish him a lot of luck and success in the continuation of his career."
Dinamo Zagreb's president, Velimir Zajec, commented on the situation:
"First of all, I want to thank Sergej Jakirović for all the results he has achieved. We had a pleasant cooperation, he left an impression on me of a quality person and I wish him good luck in his future career.”
“The most important thing in situations like this is to stay human and to put the interest of Dinamo first. It is now up to all of us to make a quality decision about a new coach at this inconvenient moment for Dinamo and to return to winning ways."
The club has appealed to the media and public for understanding towards Jakirovic and his family during this challenging time.
As Dinamo Zagreb looks to regroup and salvage their Champions League campaign, they face the immediate challenge of finding a new long-term coaching solution.
In the interim, Sandro Perković, a current member of the coaching staff, will lead the team. The first team will be led in the short term until a decision on a new long-term coaching solution is made by the current member of the coaching staff, Perković.
This coaching change comes at a crucial juncture for Dinamo Zagreb, as they aim to bounce back from not only the Champions League humiliation but also their recent domestic setback.
The club's management will be under pressure to make a swift and effective appointment to steer the team back to its winning ways both in Europe and the Croatian league.