According to Sportske novosti and Index Sport, Dinamo's leadership have prioritised García because of his experience across several European leagues and his background within Barcelona's football development system. The 53-year-old has previously worked in Spain, England, Austria, Greece, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, giving him a managerial profile that differs considerably from some of the younger candidates previously associated with the position.
An important figure in the recruitment process is Albert Capellas, Dinamo's football development director, who has longstanding professional connections with García from their time at Barcelona. Club president Zvonimir Boban reportedly places considerable trust in Capellas' assessment, while the final decision will involve Dinamo's management board, which also includes Zvonimir Manenica and Hrvoje Puhalo.
The search has become increasingly urgent because Dinamo remain involved in the Croatian championship race and the UEFA Europa League. However, the club are understood to be willing to allow interim coach Jerko Leko to oversee the upcoming fixtures against Sunderland and Varaždin before introducing a permanent replacement during the November international break.
García's Contract With Pogoń Complicates Negotiations
Although García is reportedly Dinamo's preferred candidate, his arrival is not yet guaranteed. The Spanish coach only joined Pogoń Szczecin during the summer and signed a contract running until June 2029, meaning any move to Zagreb would require an agreement between the two clubs.
That contractual situation has emerged as one of the main obstacles to completing the appointment. Sportske novosti reports that Dinamo are reluctant to commit to a substantial compensation payment, particularly given the financial implications of changing managers during the season. While negotiations could still produce an agreement, the Zagreb club are reportedly evaluating alternative options in case García cannot be released on acceptable terms.
The latest reporting suggests that Capellas and Dinamo's leadership are expected to make another attempt to secure García during the first half of the week. At the same time, an unnamed Spanish coach who is currently available without a club has reportedly emerged as a backup candidate. His identity has not been publicly confirmed, and there is no indication that Dinamo have completed negotiations with either option.
The Croatian club's preference for a Spanish manager appears to reflect a broader interest in introducing a more clearly defined football philosophy. Capellas' influence has been central to discussions surrounding tactical development and the relationship between Dinamo's academy and senior squad. García's background within Barcelona's system makes him a candidate who could potentially fit those objectives.
However, the club also want a coach capable of producing immediate results. Dinamo's disappointing performances have created pressure for a rapid improvement, leaving management with the challenge of balancing long-term development against the demands of domestic and European competition.
From Barcelona to European Coaching Success
Born in Sabadell on April 26, 1973, Óscar García Junyent developed his football career within Barcelona's system and became part of the club's first team during the 1990s. Playing as an attacking midfielder and forward, he represented Barcelona during a period strongly influenced by Johan Cruyff's football philosophy, later continuing his career with clubs including Valencia, Espanyol and Lleida.
After retiring, García moved into coaching and worked with Barcelona's youth teams, where he developed his understanding of positional play, technical development and structured attacking football. His connection with Capellas dates back to this period, when both were involved in different roles within the Catalan club's development structure.
García's first major senior coaching success came at Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he guided the Israeli club to the domestic championship in 2013, ending a ten-year wait for the title. The achievement established his reputation as a promising manager and opened opportunities elsewhere in European football.
He subsequently worked in England with Brighton and Watford before taking charge of Red Bull Salzburg, where he enjoyed one of the most successful periods of his managerial career. Under García, Salzburg won consecutive Austrian league and cup doubles in 2016 and 2017, demonstrating his ability to manage a team expected to dominate domestically while competing in Europe.
His later managerial career included spells at Saint-Étienne, Olympiacos, Celta Vigo, Reims and OH Leuven. More recently, García worked at Ajax, initially with the club's younger players and subsequently with the senior team, before accepting the position at Pogoń Szczecin.
That extensive background appears to be an important factor in Dinamo's decision-making. While some previous candidates have strong reputations for youth development, García offers experience managing senior squads in different competitive environments, including clubs facing substantial pressure to achieve immediate success.
Dinamo Previously Denied García a Champions League Place
One of the most intriguing details surrounding García's potential appointment is that he has already faced Dinamo Zagreb during his coaching career. In 2016, while managing Red Bull Salzburg, the Spanish coach was eliminated by the Croatian champions in the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-offs.
The first leg at Maksimir ended 1–1, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return encounter in Austria. Dinamo, then coached by the late Zlatko Cico Kranjčar, produced a memorable performance in Salzburg to secure a 2–1 victory after extra time, progressing 3–2 on aggregate.
Junior Fernandes and El Arabi Hilal Soudani scored the decisive goals for Dinamo, completing a result that sent the Zagreb club into the Champions League group stage and ended García's hopes of reaching Europe's elite competition with Salzburg.
The encounter provides an interesting historical connection between the Spanish manager and his potential future employers. A decade after Dinamo eliminated his Salzburg team, García could now be entrusted with guiding the Croatian club through its next European challenges.
There are also several personal connections between García and Croatian football. During his time at Salzburg, he worked with Croatian defender Duje Ćaleta-Car and current Dinamo forward Smail Prevljak. At Ajax, he coached Croatian international Josip Šutalo, while his spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv included working with Gonzalo García, now the head coach of Hajduk Split.
Those relationships could help the Spanish coach adapt to his new surroundings if an agreement is reached, although familiarity with individual players and coaches does not guarantee an easy transition into a different football environment.
Why Dinamo Prefer Experience Over a Younger Coach
Before García emerged as the leading candidate, Dinamo had reportedly considered Pol Planas, a younger Spanish coach working within Barcelona's academy. Planas is highly regarded by Capellas and represents a potential long-term development option, particularly because of his understanding of Barcelona's football philosophy.
However, the Croatian club appear to have shifted towards a more experienced candidate as a result of the current sporting situation. Dinamo need a coach capable of working immediately with an established senior squad, managing pressure and preparing the team for important domestic and European fixtures.
García's experience with clubs such as Salzburg, Ajax, Brighton and Celta Vigo offers a different profile from that of a coach whose work has been concentrated almost exclusively on youth football. His previous league and cup successes also demonstrate that he has experience managing teams expected to compete for trophies.
Nevertheless, García's coaching career has included relatively short spells at several clubs, raising questions about long-term continuity. Dinamo will need to assess whether his tactical methods, coaching approach and expectations align with the club's ambitions beyond the immediate season.
The emphasis on a Spanish coach also suggests that Dinamo are considering changes to their playing identity rather than simply looking for a short-term replacement. A stronger connection between academy development and first-team football could become part of that process, particularly given Capellas' role within the club.
For Boban, the challenge is identifying a coach who can produce immediate results without compromising long-term development. Recent managerial changes have increased the importance of stability, while the club's supporters will expect improvements in tactical organisation, defensive concentration and attacking consistency.
Leko to Lead Dinamo Against Sunderland and Varaždin
While negotiations continue, Jerko Leko remains responsible for Dinamo's first team. The former Croatian international was appointed on an interim basis following Kovačević's departure and is expected to oversee two important fixtures before a permanent head coach takes charge.
Dinamo first travel to England to face Sunderland in the Europa League, an encounter that presents a demanding challenge after the Croatian club's disappointing performances against European opposition. Leko will have limited time to introduce tactical changes, making defensive organisation, concentration and restoring player confidence likely priorities.
The Zagreb side will then face Varaždin in the Croatian championship, where every point remains important in the title race against Hajduk Split and other domestic rivals. These matches will also provide an opportunity for the players to demonstrate a positive reaction to the managerial change.
According to Sportske novosti, Dinamo are targeting Monday, November 9, for the official presentation of their permanent head coach. That timetable would allow the incoming manager to use the international break to become familiar with the squad and begin implementing his ideas before domestic and European competition resumes.
However, the proposed announcement date remains a reported plan rather than an officially confirmed event. The timing could change depending on negotiations with García, his contractual situation at Pogoń and the availability of alternative candidates.
A Crucial Decision for Dinamo's Future
Dinamo's interest in García represents an important moment in the club's efforts to restore stability after another managerial departure. Kovačević left despite winning the domestic double during his first season, illustrating the demanding expectations surrounding a team expected to compete for trophies and perform convincingly in Europe.
García would arrive with a substantial managerial résumé and experience working within some of European football's most recognisable organisations. His previous achievements with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Salzburg provide evidence of his ability to deliver domestic success, while his time at Barcelona and Ajax connects him with football development systems renowned for producing technically gifted players.
However, his appointment would not automatically resolve the problems that have affected Dinamo in recent months. The squad have struggled with defensive transitions, inconsistent performances and an inability to maintain control against opponents capable of adjusting their tactics. Addressing those weaknesses would require time, effective communication and a clear tactical structure.
The financial dimension also remains significant. García's contract with Pogoń runs until 2029, and Dinamo must determine whether securing their preferred candidate justifies the potential costs involved. The existence of an alternative Spanish candidate suggests that management are preparing for more than one possible outcome.
For Dinamo supporters, the coming days could provide a clearer indication of the club's sporting direction. Whether García ultimately takes charge or another candidate is selected, the next manager will inherit a talented squad under pressure to improve quickly.
Dinamo Zagreb's pursuit of Óscar García signals a preference for an experienced international coach with a background in Barcelona's football philosophy. The Spanish manager's history includes domestic titles, European experience and even a previous Champions League elimination against Dinamo. Yet with negotiations still unresolved and Pogoń Szczecin holding his contract, the club must overcome an important obstacle before turning its preferred candidate into a confirmed appointment.
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