Kovačević at the start of Dinamo’s preparations: The squad is almost complete, but three more solutions are being sought
Dinamo opened preparations for the new season on June 17, 2026, at Maksimir with a clear message from coach Mario Kovačević: the foundation of the squad has already been laid, but the work in the transfer window is not finished. After a season in which the Zagreb club regained the Croatian championship title and won the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup, Kovačević faces a different challenge from the one he encountered last summer. Back then, according to reports from the beginning of his tenure, he had to integrate a deeply changed squad, while now he is speaking about upgrading a group that has already gone through a shared cycle and won the double crown. The Dinamo coach emphasized that the players had enough rest, but also that serious work must begin immediately because European obligations arrive very early.
According to Kovačević’s statements published after the team gathering, Dinamo is “almost complete,” but two important players will not be in the training process from the first day. Scott McKenna and Stjepan Radeljić are at the World Cup and will join the team later. That situation is particularly important for the back line, because McKenna became one of Dinamo’s most important defensive players during last season, while Radeljić was mentioned in Kovačević’s remarks as one of the new solutions in the squad. The coach therefore begins preparations with the bulk of the roster, but with the awareness that the full picture of the team will not be visible until the internationals return from North America.
Oršić and Radeljić as the first reinforcements
Kovačević confirmed that two players have already been brought to Dinamo, Mislav Oršić and Stjepan Radeljić. Oršić’s return carries both sporting and symbolic weight, because he is a player who left a strong mark in domestic and European matches during his first spell at Dinamo. According to Index’s report from the Maksimir gathering, Oršić said that he was happy to return and that playing in front of Dinamo’s supporters again would be emotional for him. The same report states that in his first spell he played 216 matches, scored 91 goals and recorded 45 assists, with his goals against Tottenham, Atalanta and Chelsea standing out among the best-known moments. Kovačević sees him as a reinforcement on the wing, but also as a player whose experience can help the dressing room.
Kovačević also listed Radeljić’s arrival among the completed deals, although his availability for club duties is currently limited by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s appearance at the World Cup. According to data from the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radeljić was in the national-team squad in June 2026, and the association’s official profile lists his appearances and matches against Panama and Canada before and during the tournament period. HNK Rijeka had earlier announced that Radeljić and Martin Zlomislić had qualified for the World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina after the play-off against Italy. For Dinamo, it is therefore important that the new centre-back fit into the club system as quickly as possible, but also that he arrive physically ready for the start of the European qualifiers after his national-team duties.
A replacement for Mišić, another winger and a possible “number eight” are being sought
Although Kovačević repeatedly emphasized that he is satisfied with the existing base of the squad, he publicly confirmed that Dinamo is still looking for additional solutions. According to tportal, the coach said that a replacement for captain Josip Mišić is being sought, meaning another player of the “number six” profile who could relieve the captain over the course of a long season. In addition, he mentioned the need for another winger, despite Oršić’s return, and the possibility of bringing in a “number eight.” Such a plan shows that Dinamo is not looking only for reinforcements to add depth, but for players who could immediately take part in the rotation and maintain the team’s rhythm on several fronts.
It is especially interesting that the coach is not talking about a complete reconstruction, but about a targeted upgrade. That is an important difference compared with the previous period, because a team entering the season after winning the double crown does not necessarily have to change the foundation of its game, but adapt it to a larger number of matches and the demands of European qualifiers. In that sense, the search for a “number six” has clear logic: Mišić has for years been one of the key players in Dinamo’s midfield, and a season with qualifiers, the league and the cup can hardly be carried through without a reliable alternative. The search for a winger also fits Kovačević’s desire for Dinamo to have more speed, width and options in the final phase of attack.
According to the same reports, Kovačević is satisfied with his cooperation with the club leadership, the president and the sporting director, but he emphasized that there will certainly be more changes. That does not necessarily mean a large number of departures and arrivals, but rather an open transfer window in which the market can change from day to day. In Dinamo’s case, additional uncertainty is also created by interest from other clubs in certain players after the successful finish to last season. Speaking about Luka Stojković and other players, Kovačević said that there is interest and there are offers, but emphasized that he is happy they are currently with the team. In doing so, he indirectly confirmed that the final shape of the dressing room may change right up until the final phase of the transfer window.
The double crown as an obligation, not a reason to relax
Dinamo enters the new season as the reigning Croatian champion and cup winner, which automatically raises expectations. According to GNK Dinamo’s official announcement, Mario Kovačević’s team defeated Rijeka 2:0 in the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup final at Opus Arena in Osijek on May 13, 2026, thereby winning its 18th Croatian Cup and 14th double crown in club history. In the same announcement, the club stated that the championship title had been mathematically secured before the Cup final, so the Osijek match was the final act of the domestic season. Such an outcome gave the coach strong capital of trust, but also the obligation to confirm continuity in the new season.
According to Index, Kovačević pointed out that pressure is always present at Dinamo. That is a realistic assessment, because a club entering a season with two domestic trophies won cannot aim lower than fighting to defend the title. The coach also emphasized that the team must not relax, but also that it has foundations on which it can build. In such a formulation, the main direction of Dinamo’s preparations can be seen: not a radical turn, but an attempt to make the existing system more resistant to injuries, a congested schedule and European demands.
In practice, that will mean carefully managing playing time from the first weeks of the season. Dinamo cannot wait until September to reach its optimal level, because Champions League qualifiers already await it in July. At the same time, entering maximum workload too early can increase the risk of injuries, especially among players who had national-team duties or a shorter rest period. That is why Kovačević’s message that the players have gone through their break, but that serious work begins immediately, is important. The first phase of Dinamo’s season could be decided in that balance between freshness and competitive sharpness.
Europe is coming quickly: Dinamo want the Champions League
The European part of the season will be the first major measure of Dinamo’s summer preparations. According to UEFA’s information on the 2026/27 Champions League system, 29 clubs enter the league phase directly, while the remaining seven places are filled through qualifiers and play-offs. That means champions such as Dinamo must pass through several rounds to reach the main phase of the competition. According to available reports after the draw, Dinamo will face Swiss side Thun in the second qualifying round, with the first matches of that stage scheduled for the end of July. Kovačević said that Dinamo must not concern themselves with fear of the opponent, but with their own level of performance.
In that context, the search for additional reinforcements gains extra importance. The Champions League is not only a sporting goal, but also a competition that significantly affects financial stability, the club’s visibility and the market value of players. Kovačević therefore emphasized that he hopes the team will be healthy and at the required level already in the second qualifying round. If Dinamo want to avoid early problems, they will have to quickly integrate Oršić, wait for the return of McKenna and Radeljić, and at the same time find new solutions in midfield and on the wing. That is not a simple task, but the coach’s tone at the start of preparations was optimistic.
According to 24sata, Dinamo will complete the opening part of preparations in Zagreb, and then move on June 22 to Brdo near Kranj, where the central part of preparations and two friendly matches are planned. After that, the final part of the preparation process follows in Zagreb with two more matches. Such a schedule gives the coaching staff limited but concrete space to test tactical ideas, physical readiness and the status of players fighting for a place in the rotation. Friendly matches will be especially important for new players and for those who had fewer minutes last season, because in July the room for experimentation quickly narrows.
The World Cup changes the rhythm of preparations
The 2026 World Cup further complicates preparations for European clubs, including Dinamo. According to FIFA, the tournament is being played in Canada, Mexico and the United States, for the first time with 48 national teams, and the competition opened on June 11 and lasts until the final on July 19, 2026. That period overlaps with club preparations and the beginning of European qualifiers, so clubs must plan without some of their internationals. In Dinamo’s case, this directly concerns McKenna and Radeljić, but also the broader rhythm of monitoring players, recovery and return to the club.
According to 24sata, McKenna was included in the Scotland squad for the World Cup after a very successful debut season at Dinamo. The same source states that the Scottish centre-back quickly gained the status in Croatia of one of the key figures in the defence and one of the leaders of the dressing room. Gol.hr, in an earlier article about his arrival, recalled that he joined Dinamo as a free player after a period at Las Palmas, and that before that he played for Aberdeen, Nottingham Forest and Copenhagen. His experience from the Premier League, the Scotland national team and European football is the reason why his absence from the start of preparations is important, but also why Kovačević can expect him to adapt more quickly upon his return.
Radeljić is in a similar situation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. According to HNK Rijeka’s announcement from March 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the World Cup after a victory over Italy in the play-off following penalties, and Radeljić was part of the squad. Official data from the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina further confirm his national-team status and appearances in the period immediately before the start of the tournament. For Dinamo, that is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, they are getting a player with national-team quality and experience, while on the other hand they must wait for him to finish his duties and then quickly introduce him into the club’s model of play.
Stojković, Mišić and the question of balance in midfield
One of the more sensitive questions at the start of preparations concerns the midfield. Kovačević’s statement that a replacement for Mišić is being sought shows that Dinamo are thinking about long-term balance, but also about the daily distribution of workload. The captain’s role in organizing play and controlling the rhythm is difficult to replace directly, so the new solution at “number six” must fit not only technically, but also tactically. Such a player must be able to protect the space in front of the defence, speed up the first phase of attack and give more offensive midfielders greater freedom. That is why the search for that position often lasts longer than it appears from the outside.
Alongside Mišić, Luka Stojković is also in focus, one of the players who strongly marked the finish of last season. According to Dinamo’s official announcement, Stojković decided the Cup final against Rijeka with two goals, further increasing his own importance in the team. It is not unusual for interest from other clubs to appear after such performances, and Kovačević confirmed that there are offers and interest for several players. For the coach, it is crucial at this moment that the key players remain focused on preparations while the sporting sector resolves market decisions.
The planned arrival of a possible “number eight” is connected precisely with the need for Dinamo to have more solutions in midfield. In European matches, the ability to change the rhythm and profile of play without a drop in quality is often decisive. If Dinamo want to attack the Champions League and at the same time maintain dominance in the domestic league, they will need a midfield that can play different types of matches: those in which they must keep possession for long periods, those in which they must withstand the pressure of a stronger opponent, and those in which they must quickly attack space. That is why it is understandable that Kovačević speaks openly about the transfer window, but without dramatic announcements.
A clear message from Maksimir
The start of preparations showed that Dinamo enter the new season with more stability than last summer, but also with several open questions. Kovačević has a team that won the double crown, he has brought back Oršić, is counting on Radeljić, expects McKenna’s return from national-team duty and is publicly looking for three more player profiles that would increase competition. At the same time, the club must monitor possible outgoing transfers and react quickly if the market opens in a way that changes the original plans. Such work requires precision because the first European obstacle arrives before the transfer window enters its final phase.
Kovačević’s main message, therefore, was not that Dinamo had already closed the squad, but that they have a sufficiently firm foundation to begin work. From his perspective, that is the most important difference compared with last season. The team knows what it has won, knows what kind of pressure the Maksimir bench carries and knows that results will be demanded from the first official matches. If the planned reinforcements are completed on time, and the internationals return healthy, Dinamo will enter July with a roster that is broader and more experienced than the one with which they began the previous cycle. Until then, preparations in Zagreb and Slovenia will provide the first answers to the question of how ready Kovačević’s team really is for the new season.
Sources:
- Index Sport – report from the start of Dinamo’s preparations and Kovačević’s statements on reinforcements, McKenna, Radeljić and European ambitions (link)
- tportal – article on Dinamo’s plans in the transfer window and the positions Kovačević wants to fill (link)
- 24sata – report on the start of Dinamo’s preparations, the preparation schedule and the absence of McKenna and Radeljić because of the World Cup (link)
- Index Sport – report on Mislav Oršić’s return to Dinamo and his statements at the team gathering (link)
- GNK Dinamo – official announcement on winning the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup and the 14th double crown (link)
- FIFA – official overview of the 2026 World Cup, competition format, host countries and tournament schedule (link)
- UEFA – official information on the format, participants and qualifiers of the 2026/27 Champions League (link)
- Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina – official profile of Stjepan Radeljić and data on national-team appearances (link)
- HNK Rijeka – announcement on Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifying for the World Cup and Radeljić’s status in the national-team squad (link)
- Gol.hr – biographical and club context on Scott McKenna’s arrival at Dinamo and his career (link)