Pogoń Szczecin owner rejects Dinamo Zagreb interest in Oscar Garcia

Reports in Croatian media identified Pogoń Szczecin head coach Oscar Garcia as the primary candidate to replace Mario Kovacevic at Dinamo Zagreb following the November international break. The speculation prompted a public response from Pogoń Szczecin owner Alex Haditaghi, who addressed the situation on the social media platform X.

Haditaghi clarified the contractual status of the Spanish manager, stating that Pogoń Szczecin signed Garcia to a three-year agreement that includes no release clause and no option for early exit. He described the arrangement as a deliberate, long-term commitment based on belief in Garcia’s vision and abilities, rather than an accidental hiring.

The Pogoń owner expressed deep disappointment that a club of Dinamo Zagreb’s stature would pursue a coach who had recently entered into such a significant commitment elsewhere. Haditaghi noted that respect must be mutual in professional football and criticized the breach of integrity implied by the approach.

Haditaghi revealed that he had received contact not only from Dinamo Zagreb’s current president, Zvonimir Boban, but also from individuals linked to the club’s former leadership under Zdravko Mamic. He described this dual approach as shocking and questioned why figures from different eras of Dinamo’s management were involving themselves in the future of a coach under contract in Poland.

Emphasizing that Pogoń Szczecin is not a stepping stone for other European institutions, Haditaghi stated he would be genuinely shocked if Garcia considered leaving after just 11 games in charge. He highlighted the stability and trust the club had provided, noting that the team is competing near the top of the Ekstraklasa.

To maintain focus ahead of an important away match against Rakow Częstochowa, Haditaghi confirmed he had not discussed the rumors with Garcia. He asserted that the club’s ambitions and values are not for sale, rejecting the notion that every commitment in football has a price.