Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is expected to stay in charge for their 2010 World Cup campaign - but wants to join a club side after that.

Bilic, who is under contract until the end of Euro 2008, said he wanted to stay on for the 2010 finals while the head of the Croatian football federation indicated a new deal would be offered.

"My wish is to stay with the national team," Bilic told Jutarnji List. "The only issue here is whether the football federation wants me to stay.

"If that is so, I will sign another contract."

Croatian federation president Vlatko Markovic told the paper: "We are going to make Bilic a new and better [contract] offer soon."

However Bilic told another paper, Vecernji List: "I would like to get a job with a club in two years' time.

"I hope that by that time we'll have done a brilliant job with the national squad."

Bilic, who took over after the 2006 World Cup and steered his side to Euro 2008 as group winners, had been linked with a move into club football after June's European championship.

"It is true I had contacts with several clubs because those were respectable clubs I do not have the right to ignore," he told Jutarnji List.

"Also, I'm interested in becoming a club coach at some time.

But now my priority is achieving the best possible results with the national team."

Croatia face Austria, Poland and Germany in Group B at the June 7-29 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Reuters