Bilic's name has been linked with moves to the Premier League

Croatia manager Slaven Bilic said he was close to resigning after his team's dramatic Euro 2008 quarter-final penalty shootout exit to Turkey.

Croatia looked certain for a semi-final place after taking a late 1-0 lead in extra-time, only for Turkey to level and win the spot-kick contest.

"I wanted to quit last night, not as a manager of Croatia but as a manager," Bilic told Football Focus.

"But I love football and I love these guys, we're going to come back again."

Ivan Klasnic's 119th-minute goal sparked ecstatic celebrations from Croatia's players and staff, including Bilic, who raced on to the pitch to embrace his players.

But their joy immediately turned to anguish as Turkey's Semih Senturk equalised with the very last kick of the match, a goal which had incensed Bilic, who was trying to make a late substitution.

"We are still gutted and we will be for a long, long time," he said.

606: DEBATE He is a fantastic manager in the making and he can be proud of what he has achieved coolinterstar

"We tried to defend, we tried to make substitutes, but they (match officials) didn't let us."

Penalty misses from Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, while a saved spot-kick from Mladen Petric, saw Turkey book their place against Germany in the semi-finals in Basel on Wednesday with a 3-1 shootout win.

However, the 39-year-old reassured Croatia fans he wants to stay on as national team boss.

He said: "I don't think about 'should I go to another club or should I stay?'

"I only think about my players and the way we played. We were doing it step by step, the way we were playing without (injured Arsenal striker) Eduardo, nine points in three games, we didn't fade.

"It's a huge disappointment to lose, but life goes on - we are definitely going to be back."