Dinamo mutually terminated its contract with Marijo Kovačević on All Saints' Day. Kovačević thus became a former manager on Saturday around 20:00, after the team's away visit to Rudeš in Velika Gorica ended in a 0-1 defeat.
Jerko Leko has taken charge of Dinamo's first team at least until next Sunday. Leko entered this season as the head of the technical staff for the second team of the club based at Maksimirska 128. On Sunday, Leko told MAX Sport that he is ready for all the challenges awaiting him at Dinamo. His second team defeated Croatia in Zmijavci 3-2 on the same day.
Kovačević will receive a €180,000 severance package. He managed Dinamo for 17 months and won the double last season. His credit ran out on the last day of October this year, and Kovačević is 51 years old.
Zvonimir Boban has already chosen a new manager whose identity remains a secret. The inauguration of Boban's new favourite has been postponed until the start of next week, awaiting the break caused by the final two rounds of the Nations League so that the future head of the technical staff can have about 10 days for preparation. Boban places immense faith in Albert Capellas, the 59-year-old from Catalonia, who has been Dinamo's football director and head of the youth development programme since last summer.
Capellas's favourite for Kovačević's successor is Pol Planas. The names of Julián Belletti and Thiago Alcântara are also in the running, and all three are coaches within the Barcelona system. Kruno Jurčić is also mentioned as a fringe candidate. Kovačević's successor will have about 10 training sessions with the team behind them after the league break.
Dinamo play at Sunderland on Thursday in the fifth round of the Europa League, and travel to the City of Baroque on Sunday. This is followed by matches against Istra 1961 at the Maksimir stadium on 21 November and against Bayer Leverkusen five days later.
