Two days after the 2:9 loss to FC Bayern in the Champions League opener, Dinamo Zagreb parted ways with coach Sergej Jakirovic. The Croatian champions have also stumbled nationally recently.
One game, one defeat, nine goals conceded: that is Sergej Jakirovic’s Champions League record as a coach. And it will remain that way for a while. Two days after the 9-2 defeat that he and Dinamo Zagreb suffered at Bayern Munich at the start of the new league phase, the 47-year-old Bosnian has lost his job. The joint contract was terminated “by mutual agreement”, according to the club statement.
“We had a pleasant working relationship, he left me with the impression of a good person and I wish him good luck in his future career,” said President Velimir Zajec. “The most important thing in such situations is to remain human and put Dinamo’s interests first. It is now up to all of us, in this difficult moment for Dinamo, to make a good decision about a new coach and get back on the road to victory.”
Before a new head coach is found, Jakirovic’s former assistant Sandro Perkovic will step in on an interim basis. Jakirovic took over in August 2023, shortly after Dinamo failed in the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens (1:2/2:2). He led the club to the round of 16 in the Conference League (2-0 and 1-5 against PAOK Saloniki) and to the national double in Croatia.
In November, Dinamo will host BVB
Currently, the record champions are just behind HNK Rijeka and Hajduk Split in third place after 13 points from six match days. Dinamo had already failed to win twice before the debacle in Munich. “Bayern is in a league of its own,” said Jakirovic after the “difficult” Tuesday evening, even though his team came within a whisker of equalizing to make it 3-3 in the period after the half-time break: “We were punished harshly for every mistake.” In the league phase, Dinamo will face Borussia Dortmund (November 27), among others.
