According to information first reported by Tportal and subsequently confirmed in reports by Index Sport and Sportske novosti, Dinamo have reached an agreement in principle with Jozić. However, the move has not yet been formally completed because the coach must finalise the conditions of his departure from Bayern. If negotiations proceed as expected, Jozić will become one of Leko's assistants, bringing experience from one of Europe's most sophisticated football organisations.
The reported appointment follows a dramatic change in Dinamo's managerial situation. Following Mario Kovačević's departure, the club initially considered several foreign candidates, including former Barcelona midfielder Óscar García and academy coach Pol Planas. However, Leko transformed his temporary assignment into a permanent opportunity by delivering consecutive victories against Sunderland and Varaždin.
Dinamo officially announced that Leko had signed a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, with an option for an extension. The decision provided the club with immediate stability while allowing Boban to focus on strengthening the technical staff rather than searching for another first-team manager. Jozić's potential arrival now appears to be part of that wider effort.
Who Is Emanuel Jozić?
Emanuel Jozić was born in Munich on October 23, 1982, and holds Croatian citizenship. His football journey began at local club FT Gern, where he played alongside future Bayern Munich captain and German international Philipp Lahm.
Although Jozić initially pursued a playing career, a knee injury forced him to abandon that path and eventually turn towards coaching. He subsequently developed an interest in the tactical and analytical aspects of football, establishing a professional profile that combines conventional coaching with modern performance analysis.
His early coaching experience included work at German lower-division clubs VfR Garching and FC Pipinsried, where he was involved in training, match preparation and opposition analysis. Those positions provided an opportunity to develop practical knowledge of senior football while exploring the increasing importance of data and video technology in coaching.
An important moment arrived in 2015 when Jozić spent time observing Bayern Munich's development structure. During that period, he gained insight into the methods used by Erik ten Hag and Heiko Vogel, two coaches who were working within the German club's system.
Jozić later explained in an interview with German newspaper Münchner Merkur that Ten Hag's approach to match preparation had made a particularly strong impression on him. He was fascinated by the attention devoted to analysing opponents, identifying tactical weaknesses and designing training sessions around specific match situations.
The experience encouraged Jozić to deepen his understanding of performance analysis. In 2017, he completed specialist education at the International Football Institute in Ismaning, focusing on football match analysis and the interpretation of tactical and statistical information.
His professional development also included work on television football analysis, with the 2018 World Cup in Russia among the major tournaments he covered in that capacity. He additionally collaborated with the German Football League on match and statistical analysis, further strengthening his expertise in the analytical side of the game.
From Bayern's Academy to Kompany's First-Team Staff
Jozić returned to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, joining the club's youth development structure. His responsibilities initially centred on players between the ages of 14 and 16, providing individual analysis and supporting coaches with the preparation of training sessions.
The position allowed him to work within an academy recognised for developing technically accomplished footballers while also exposing him to a structured system of performance monitoring and player assessment.
During the 2024/25 season, Jozić progressed to an assistant coaching role with Bayern's Under-17 squad. His responsibilities combined work on the training pitch with tactical analysis, helping younger players understand the technical and positional requirements associated with the club's playing philosophy.
Another important step followed in July 2025, when he joined Bayern's first-team coaching structure under Vincent Kompany. His role has focused on individual player development, with responsibilities involving the assessment of performances and targeted technical and tactical improvement.
The appointment placed Jozić within an environment featuring some of Europe's leading footballers and an experienced international coaching staff. Working at that level offered exposure to the demands of preparing elite players for Bundesliga matches, domestic cup competitions and the UEFA Champions League.
However, Jozić's role should be distinguished from that of Bayern's head coach or primary tactical decision-maker. His expertise lies particularly in individual development and analysis, making him a specialist member of Kompany's wider coaching organisation rather than an independent senior manager.
He also holds a UEFA A coaching licence and has developed a professional profile combining football coaching, video analysis and performance data. Those qualifications are among the principal reasons his potential arrival has attracted attention in Zagreb.
Why Jozić Could Be an Important Addition for Jerko Leko
The potential arrival of Jozić comes at a particularly important moment for Dinamo Zagreb. Following a turbulent period marked by inconsistent results and a managerial change, the club are attempting to establish greater continuity while improving the development of individual players.
Leko's first two matches demonstrated that Dinamo possess considerable quality within their squad. The 2–0 Europa League victory against Sunderland highlighted the attacking potential of Luka Stojković and Dion Drena Beljo, while the subsequent 3–1 victory over Varaždin demonstrated the team's ability to respond after falling behind.
However, maintaining those performances will require more than the immediate emotional impact of a coaching change. Dinamo must improve their tactical consistency, defensive organisation and individual development if they hope to compete successfully in both the Croatian championship and European competition.
Jozić's background could be especially valuable in these areas. His experience with individual player development provides an opportunity to introduce more detailed performance assessments, helping footballers identify specific technical and tactical weaknesses and improve their decision-making.
Modern football coaching increasingly relies on video analysis, performance data and individually tailored development programmes. These methods allow coaching staffs to monitor players more closely, analyse their contributions in different tactical situations and design training sessions targeting specific aspects of performance.
For younger players such as Stojković, those approaches could provide additional support as they attempt to establish greater consistency. Experienced members of the squad could also benefit from more detailed tactical preparation, particularly during European matches against opponents with different playing styles.
Nevertheless, the potential benefits remain dependent on how Jozić's role is defined and integrated into Leko's existing coaching structure. His experience at Bayern provides valuable expertise, but success at Dinamo will require effective cooperation, clear responsibilities and time to implement improvements.
Leko Builds a Stronger Coaching Team at Maksimir
Jozić would join a coaching structure that has already undergone changes following Leko's promotion from Dinamo B to the first team.
When Leko took charge of the senior squad, he brought two trusted colleagues with him: assistant coach Tomislav Žitković and fitness coach Mateo Matić. Both had previously worked with him, including during his time at Jarun, and their familiarity helped provide continuity during the demanding opening week.
Other members of Dinamo's coaching organisation are expected to remain involved, including Tomislav Marić, who previously coached the club's cadets before joining Mario Kovačević's staff. Goalkeeping coaches Gojko Mrčela and Ivan Kelava, along with fitness coach Ivan Štefanić, are also among those expected to continue.
Jozić's possible arrival would introduce another area of expertise rather than necessarily replacing an existing member of the staff. His background in analysis and individual development could complement the work of Leko's assistants and fitness specialists, creating a more comprehensive approach to preparation and player improvement.
For Boban, strengthening the coaching team may be an important part of supporting Leko during his first extended spell as Dinamo's senior manager. The former Croatian international has earned considerable confidence through his immediate results, but the demands of managing a club competing for domestic trophies and European qualification are substantial.
Bringing in a specialist with experience at Bayern Munich could therefore provide additional technical resources while allowing Leko to retain responsibility for the team's overall tactical direction.
Dinamo's New Direction After the Coaching Uncertainty
The reported agreement with Jozić also reflects a broader change in Dinamo's immediate sporting priorities.
Only a few days earlier, much of the discussion surrounding Maksimir focused on which foreign manager would replace Kovačević. Óscar García and Pol Planas were among the most prominent names linked with the position, with the latter's potential arrival connected to Dinamo's football development director Albert Capellas.
However, Leko's successful start convinced the club's leadership to abandon the search for an immediate first-team replacement and provide the Croatian coach with a contract until the end of the season.
Dinamo's official announcement confirmed that Leko would continue leading the senior team, recognising the energy and unity displayed during the victories over Sunderland and Varaždin. His progression through the club's coaching structure was also highlighted, with Leko having previously managed the Under-19 and reserve teams before taking charge of the first squad.
The potential appointment of Jozić suggests that Dinamo may now be concentrating on building a stronger support structure around their chosen manager. Rather than bringing in an external head coach with an entirely new technical team, the club could combine Leko's knowledge of Croatian football with specialist expertise developed in one of Europe's leading organisations.
Such an approach could also help strengthen the relationship between Dinamo's senior squad and its player development programme. Jozić's background includes both academy football and elite senior coaching, giving him experience in the transition between those environments.
The challenge will be translating that knowledge into measurable improvements without disrupting the positive momentum created during Leko's first two matches.
Jozić's Arrival Still Awaits Formal Confirmation
Despite reports that an agreement in principle has been reached, Jozić's move from Bayern Munich to Dinamo Zagreb has not yet been officially completed.
The remaining negotiations concern the formal details of his departure from the German club, where he has been involved with the first-team coaching staff since July 2025.
Neither Dinamo nor Bayern had published an official announcement confirming the appointment in the sources available when this article was prepared. His arrival should therefore be treated as an advanced reported agreement rather than a completed coaching transfer.
If the move is finalised, Jozić will become part of a Dinamo project aiming to combine immediate results with improved long-term development. His experience working under Kompany and within Bayern's academy could provide a useful perspective, particularly as the Zagreb club attempts to establish greater consistency.
For Leko, the addition would represent an important vote of confidence from Dinamo's leadership. Instead of replacing him, the club would be investing in the resources available to help him succeed.
Dinamo Zagreb's reported agreement with Emanuel Jozić represents another significant development in the club's rebuilding process. The Bayern Munich specialist would bring experience in individual player development, performance analysis and elite coaching to Jerko Leko's staff. With Leko now officially secured until the end of the season, Dinamo appear focused on strengthening the structure around their head coach. Although Jozić's arrival still awaits formal confirmation, the potential move signals an ambition to combine immediate competitive success with more sophisticated player development at Maksimir.
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