 From 1996 until 2002 he was part of the Croatian national team's coaching staff that led Croatia to bronze medal in the World Cup 1998.Despite signing his first professional contract with Hajduk in the summer of 1970, Katalinić had to wait more than a year for his debut.The long-awaited day occurred on 29 September 1971, when he came on as a substitute for injured Radomir Vukčević in the Euroepan Cup first-round return-leg in Split, against Valencia.