Former Ballon d’Or winner and 2006 World Cup hero Fabio Cannavaro has been officially appointed coach of Dinamo Zagreb. The appointment, announced by the Croatian club on its social networks, marks a significant turning point in Dinamo’s sporting project, which hopes to regain its lustre under the direction of the Real Madrid legend.

At 51, Cannavaro brings with him a wealth of coaching experience. The Real Madrid legend and 2006 Golden Ball winner has officially arrived at Champions League side Dinamo Zagreb. Before settling in Croatia, Cannavaro had already been in charge of several clubs, including Guangzhou Evergrande (2014-15 and 2017-21). Here, he enjoyed great success by winning several titles, including the Chinese Supercup. Al Nassr (2015-16) and Tianjin Quanjian (2016-17) were rewarding experiences that gave him an insight into international football. He has also coached the Chinese national team (2019), Benevento (2022-23) and Udinese (2024).

At Udinese, Cannavaro managed just six matches, with a mixed record of two wins, three draws and one defeat. His return to European football is another chance for him to prove his skills on the Old Continent. At Dinamo Zagreb, however, the Real Madrid legend faces a daunting challenge. The club is going through a difficult period in the league and is currently in third place, seven points behind co-leaders Rijeka and Hajduk Split. Former coach Nenad Bjelica, who took over in September, left the club with a record of five wins, six draws and four defeats from 15 matches. Cannavaro will have to quickly turn things around and show leadership to restore confidence in the team.

Alongside the league, Dinamo Zagreb are engaged in the Champions League, where they are fighting to reach the play-offs. The team is currently 24th in the table, but only one point separates them from the play-off places. The upcoming matches against Arsenal (22 January) and Inter (29 January) will be crucial for Cannavaro, especially against his former club Inter.

Cannavaro’s legacy at Real Madrid

As a player, Cannavaro enjoyed an exceptional career. Arriving at Real Madrid in 2006 after winning the World Cup, he quickly became a mainstay of the team. He has won two Spanish championships and the Ballon d’Or. His first season at the club was marked by the conquest of the ‘Liga del Clavo Ardiendo’, while his second season saw Real Madrid triumph with the famous ‘pasillo’ from Barcelona.

However, his final season was more difficult. It coincided with the rise of the Barcelona team under Pep Guardiola. Cannavaro had his moments of glory, but also some notable defeats, such as the 2-6 defeat at the Bernabeu. These experiences, both positive and negative, will no doubt be crucial to his new adventure as a coach.