Cacic takes over as Dinamo Zagreb coach

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Friday appointed Ante Cacic as their new coach nearly three weeks after Krunoslav Jurcic's sacking in the wake of a crushing 7-1 home defeat to Lyon in the Champions League.Jurcic was sacked within an hour of the December 7 match against former French champions Lyon -- Dinamo's worst ever defeat in European competition and one of the largest winning margins in the Champions League.Zagreb-born Cacic, who has coached several Croatian first and second division clubs in a two-decade long career, moves from Lokomotiva Zagreb."Cacic is a great coach and has achieved good results with all Croatian clubs," Dinamo official Zoran Mamic told media."He has never won a championship since he did not have a chance to lead Dinamo or Hajduk" Split, he said in a reference to the top flight's long-time rivals."This is a great honor and the high point in my career," said the 58-year-old Cacic."I believe I can improve (Dinamo's) game and I'm certain that I will succeed."Dinamo finished bottom of Group D without a point after conceding 22 goals over six matches -- also a record since the Champions League competition started in 1992.Dinamo Zagreb ended the first half of the season top of the league with points, six more than the second-placed Hajduk Split. Lokomotiva Zagreb sit in sixth, 17 points behind the leaders.

Source: AFP