Igor Biscan, a former Premier League player, has been appointed as the new manager of Dinamo Zagreb. The 44-year-old Croatian replaces Ante Čačić in the role. Biscan played as a defensive midfielder during his playing days and won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005. He played 72 times in the Premier League for the Reds, scoring two goals. He left Liverpool after their European success and joined Greek side Panathinaikos. After two years, he moved back to his boyhood club Dinamo Zagreb, where he started his career before joining Liverpool in 2000.
Biscan has already managed clubs in the Croatian first and second league as well as the Slovenian PrvaLiga. His most recent role was coaching the Croatian under 21s from 2019 until taking up his role with Zagreb. The club statement announcing his appointment read: “Former Maksimir junior, later captain of the first team, one of the most trophy-winning players in the club’s history and former coach of the Croatian youth national team, Igor Bišćan, is the new coach of GNK Dinamo.”
Dinamo Zagreb were in the Champions League earlier this season and reached the group stages. They beat Chelsea 1-0, which led to the sacking of Thomas Tuchel and the appointment of now-axed Graham Potter. Biscan will be hoping to build on this success and lead the club to further glory.
Biscan’s appointment has caused a stir among football fans, with many commenting on how unrecognisable he looks compared to his playing days. The former midfielder has clearly aged since his Liverpool days, but he will be hoping that his experience and knowledge of the game will make up for any physical changes.
Biscan’s appointment also highlights the trend of former players becoming managers. Many former Premier League stars have gone on to become successful managers, including Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, and Jurgen Klopp. Biscan will be hoping to follow in their footsteps and make a name for himself in the world of football management.
Overall, Biscan’s appointment as the new manager of Dinamo Zagreb is an exciting development for the club and for Croatian football. The former Premier League star brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, and his success in previous managerial positions bodes well for the future. Fans will be eagerly anticipating what Biscan can achieve with the club, and whether he can lead them to further success in the future.