Otto Baric Yugoslav footballer, Austrian and Croatian coach Date of Birth: 19.06.1933 Country: Austria

1. Early Coaching Career
2. Stints in Austria and Croatia
3. Success in Austria
4. International and Further Club Coaching
5. Return to Dinamo Zagreb and Turkish Adventure
6. Austrian National Team and Later Managerial Roles
7. Croatian National Team Glory and European Championship
8. International Coaching Continuation

Early Coaching Career

Zeljko Baric began his coaching journey in 1969 with German club Germania Wiesbaden, spending just one season before moving to Austrian side Wacker Innsbruck in 1970. With Innsbruck, Baric achieved success, winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles in two seasons.

Stints in Austria and Croatia

After his time at Innsbruck, Baric joined LASK Linz in 1972, and then Croatian club Zagreb in 1974. In 1976, he took over at Dinamo Zagreb, where he also served as head coach of the Yugoslav amateur national team.

Success in Austria

Baric returned to Austria in 1980, taking charge of Sturm Graz. In 1982, he moved to Rapid Vienna, where he enjoyed great success. He led Rapid to three Bundesliga titles and guided them to the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1985, which they lost to Everton.

International and Further Club Coaching

Baric briefly coached Stuttgart in 1985 before returning to Rapid Vienna a year later. He left the club in 1988 and had further stints at Sturm Graz and Vorwärts Steyr before taking over at Austria Salzburg in 1991. With Austria Salzburg, Baric won two more Bundesliga titles and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

Return to Dinamo Zagreb and Turkish Adventure

In 1996, Baric returned to Dinamo Zagreb, where he led the team to an impressive 81 points out of a possible 90 in the Croatian Championship. A year later, he moved to Turkey to coach Fenerbahce.

Austrian National Team and Later Managerial Roles

Baric was appointed coach of the Austrian national team in 1999, but failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After a brief return to Austria Salzburg in 2002, he took over as coach of the Croatian national team.

Croatian National Team Glory and European Championship

Under Baric, Croatia qualified for the 2004 UEFA European Championship after defeating Slovenia in a thrilling playoff. At the tournament, Croatia narrowly missed out on reaching the quarter-finals, finishing third in their group behind England and France.

International Coaching Continuation

Baric's success with Croatia earned him the Albania national team job in 2006. However, Albania failed to qualify for the 2008 UEFA European Championship. Despite this setback, Baric's legacy as a respected coach in Austria, Croatia, and beyond remains intact.