Oscar Garcia reported as leading candidate for Dinamo Zagreb head coach role

Oscar Garcia is currently the leading candidate to become the next head coach of Dinamo Zagreb, according to reports. The Catalan manager is expected to potentially take charge during the upcoming international break, following two final matches managed by current coach Jerko Leko against Sunderland and Varaždin.

Garcia is presently employed by Polish side Pogoń Szczecin, where he holds a contract valid until 2029. His tenure in Poland has been statistically successful, with the team securing five wins in six matches without defeat and conceding only nine goals in 11 games. Reports suggest that Garcia may be willing to terminate this agreement at his own expense to join Dinamo Zagreb, although it remains unclear if Pogoń Szczecin will permit his release mid-season.

The interest in Garcia aligns with the preferences of Albert Capellas, who leads Dinamo Zagreb's sports sector. Capellas reportedly favors a coach from Catalonia with ties to Barcelona, a profile that fits Garcia’s background. The former midfielder played for Barcelona in the 1990s under Johan Cruyff and later for Valencia, where he was a teammate of Goran Vlaović during the 2000 Champions League final.

Garcia has a prior competitive history with Dinamo Zagreb, having coached Red Bull Salzburg during their 2016 Champions League play-off tie against the Croatian club. Salzburg were eliminated after a late equalizer by Junior Fernandes forced extra time, leading to a decisive second-leg defeat. Despite this history, Garcia’s recent career has been marked by brief tenures, including three-month spells at Chivas Guadalajara and ten-match periods at Ajax.