Zlatan Nalić

Zlatan Nalić (born 23 January 1969) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Bosnian Premier League club Sloboda Tuzla.

Zlatan Nalić

Personal information
Date of birth	(1969-01-23) 23 January 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth	Banja Luka, SFR Yugoslavia
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sloboda Tuzla (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1990	Sloboda Tuzla
1990–1992	Borac Banja Luka
1992–1993	Sloga Kraljevo
1993–1994	Panathinaikos
1993–1994	→ Mjällby (loan)
1994–1996	Mjällby
1996–1997	Motala
1997–1999	Kulladal
Managerial career
2015	Sweden U21 (assistant)
2017–2018	Prespa Birlik
2018–2019	Sloboda Tuzla
2020	Tuzla City
2023–2024	Sloboda Tuzla
2024–	Sloboda Tuzla
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

During his playing career, Nalić played for Sloboda Tuzla, where he started his career, Borac Banja Luka, Sloga Kraljevo, Panathinaikos, Mjällby, Motala and Kulladal.

Managerial career

Early career

Nalić started his managerial career as an assistant manager in the Sweden U21 national team. With them he won the UEFA Euro U21 in 2015.^[1] After Sweden, in November 2017, Nalić was named new manager of Swedish fourth tier club Prespa Birlik.^[2]

Sloboda Tuzla

On 31 July 2018, Nalić became the new manager of Bosnian Premier League club Sloboda Tuzla.^[3] His first win as the club manager came on 11 August 2018, in the Tuzla derby against Tuzla City, which Sloboda won 1–0.^[4] Nalić was praised for bringing a style in Bosnian football which it did not see before.

On 20 April 2019, Sloboda under Nalić also made a big result by beating Sarajevo 2–1 at home and getting back to the UEFA Europa League qualifying "picture".^[5] However, poor results during the ending of the season meant an 8th-place finish for Sloboda, only 5 points more than 11th placed and relegated Krupa.^[6]

On 3 June 2019, Nalić left Sloboda after his contract with the club expired.^[7]

Tuzla City

On 11 March 2020, Sloboda's city rival, Tuzla City, announced Nalić as the club's new manager.^[8] However, he did not get the chance to lead Tuzla in a match until 2 August 2020, because the 2019–20 Bosnian Premier League season was ended abruptly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[9] When the match did come, on 2 August, Nalić's first official game as manager of Tuzla City did not however go to plan as the team lost to Široki Brijeg.^[10] His first win as Tuzla City manager was a 1–0 league win against Krupa on 8 August 2020.^[11]

Nalić left Tuzla City on 16 October 2020, after a 4–0 away loss to Zrinjski Mostar.^[12]

Return to Sloboda Tuzla

Following Sloboda's relegation to the First League of FBiH in the 2022–23 Premier League season, Nalić returned to manage the club in July 2023.^[13] His first competitive game back in charge of Sloboda was a 3–2 home win against Rudar Kakanj on 12 August 2023.^[14] He guided the side to promotion to the Premier League after winning the First League of FBiH in the 2023–24 season.^[15]

On 25 July 2024, it was announced by Sloboda that Nalić had left the club by mutual consent, prior to the start of the 2024–25 Premier League season.^[16]

Second return to Sloboda Tuzla

In October 2024, it was revealed that Nalić returned to manage Sloboda for the third time, just three months after his sudden departure.^[17]

Personal life

Zlatan is the son of Sloboda Tuzla legend Mesud Nalić. Nalić's son, Adi, is also a professional footballer.

Managerial statistics

As of match played 30 October 2024^[18]

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Sloboda Tuzla	31 July 2018	3 June 2019	33	11	7	15	27	35	−8	033.33
Tuzla City	11 March 2020	16 October 2020	12	6	1	5	15	15	+0	050.00
Sloboda Tuzla	24 July 2023	25 July 2024	33	23	6	4	60	22	+38	069.70
Sloboda Tuzla	16 October 2024	Present	3	0	1	2	1	4	−3	000.00
Total			81	40	15	26	103	76	+27	049.38

Honours

Manager

Sloboda Tuzla

• First League of FBiH: 2023–24

References

1. Zlatan Nalić evropski prvak sa Švedskom at klix.ba, 1 July 2015
2. Zlatan Nalić postao trener švedskog niželigaša Prespa Birlika at klix.ba, 5 November 2017
3. Nalić zvanično preuzeo Slobodu: Radikalne promjene u klubu trenutno nisu realne at klix. ba, 31 July 2018
4. Sloboda sa igračem manje pobijedila Tuzla City u prvom tuzlanskom derbiju u historiji at klix.ba, 11 August 2018
5. M. Šljivak (20 April 2019). "Fantastičan meč na Tušnju: Edis Smajić srušio FK Sarajevo" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
6. E. Škorić (25 May 2019). "Irfan Hadžić srušio Slobodu, Radnik se i dalje nada Evropi" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
7. D.B. (3 June 2019). "Zlatan Nalić više nije trener Slobode" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
8. M. Šljivak (11 March 2020). "Nalić predstavljen u FK Tuzla City: Otišao sam nedorečen iz ove lige" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
9. F.Z. (1 June 2020). "Zvanično! Sarajevo prvak BiH drugu godinu zaredom, Čelik i Zvijezda ispadaju" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
10. K.H. (2 August 2020). "Široki Brijeg na Pecari pobijedio Tuzla City, pogledajte tabelu nakon 1. kola" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
11. M. Šljivak (8 August 2020). "Ramić u 90. minuti pogodio za pobjedu FK Tuzla City" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
12. N.K. (16 October 2020). "Zlatan Nalić više nije trener Tuzla Cityja" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
13. H. Zilić (6 July 2023). "Zlatan Nalić najbliži klupi Slobode" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
14. B.M. (12 August 2023). "Sloboda nakon preokreta savladala Rudar na Tušnju i započela pobjedom novu sezonu" (in Bosnian). Sport1.ba. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
15. N.K. (1 June 2024). "Sloboda iz Tuzle izborila ekspresni povratak u društvo najboljih bh. nogometa" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
16. Adnan Beganović / E.Š. (25 July 2024). "Zlatan Nalić više nije trener FK Sloboda!" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
17. E.B. (17 October 2024). "Zlatan Nalić se vratio u Slobodu, treći put sjeo na klupu tuzlanskog kluba" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
18. "Zlatan Nalić". Sofascore. Retrieved 30 October 2024.

External links

• Zlatan Nalić at Soccerway