West Ham have named former defender Slaven Bilic as their new manager to replace Sam Allardyce, who left the club at the end of the season. The Hammers finished 12th in the Premier League last season. The new manager has signed a three-year contract with the club.
Bilic said: "It is a great place to play and I felt like I was at home." The Croatian defender played 54 games for West Ham in 1996 and 1997. As a manager he was in charge of the Croatian national team which defeated England twice in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. He has also managed Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia and Besiktas in Turkey.
"It is a big privilege and a big responsibility to now be manager and I hope that I will prove it to the board, players and fans," Bilic added. "When I spoke to the chairmen and Karren Brady, they made clear that it is not only the fantastic new Olympic Stadium we are moving into, but they showed their determination and ambition to make what is a big club even bigger. I could feel that they really wanted me so it was an easy choice. I would say to the West Ham fans that I will give my best and together we will achieve great things. I remember West Ham as a special club. My last club, Besiktas, was that kind of club. It's not about the size - there is something special about them - they are a cult club."
West Ham are 19.00 to finish inside the Premier League top six next season.
galata86 8 years ago
I agree with h34dhunt3r. Bilic is overrated manager and definitely does not deserve to lead the team in the Premier League. It is strange that the West Ham fired a very good coach, Sam Allardyce. He promoted them to the Premier League and played very well. I expect that West Ham will soon released Bilic.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
h34dhunt3r
8 years ago
Slaven Bilic has to be one of most underatted managers. He managed to lead Croatia so well, but then he had two kinda unsuccesiful missions in both Russia and Turkey. Besiktas was not champion material so I'm not blaming him for that. West Ham had decent first half of the season, but everything went downhill when Carrol...
Slaven Bilic has to be one of most underatted managers. He managed to lead Croatia so well, but then he had two kinda unsuccesiful missions in both Russia and Turkey. Besiktas was not champion material so I'm not blaming him for that. West Ham had decent first half of the season, but everything went downhill when Carrol got injured. I have huge respect for Hammers, and hopefully they will be in top half next season.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Shumar4life
8 years ago
He is really good manager, with lot of charisma, but it could end up that is not enough for West Ham manager. He will have a tough task, to build up good squad, and to try to secure even maybe Europe league spot in next season. He showed in Besiktas and as manager of Croatia that he has some quality
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
sharpe
8 years ago
Under Slaven Bilic the Croatian national team had play some memorable games in the past, I'm not following his career so closely after that but still Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas are clubs with a large budgets and big ambitions and to work there was a great experience for Slaven so I think he will be a good manager at...
Under Slaven Bilic the Croatian national team had play some memorable games in the past, I'm not following his career so closely after that but still Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas are clubs with a large budgets and big ambitions and to work there was a great experience for Slaven so I think he will be a good manager at West Ham, but we know that their fans could be really whimsical sometimes.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Johnajax 8 years ago
I am not so sure that this is good move by West Ham. Premier League is the hardest league to survive in and I think that will be first goal for West Ham next year and I am not sure that Slaven Bilic is the right man for that task because he don't have any experience in Premier league as a head coach but it will be interesting...
I am not so sure that this is good move by West Ham. Premier League is the hardest league to survive in and I think that will be first goal for West Ham next year and I am not sure that Slaven Bilic is the right man for that task because he don't have any experience in Premier league as a head coach but it will be interesting to see him how will he set in West Ham.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
seculla
8 years ago
I have very high opinion for Slaven Bilic as a coach. He made very big success with Crotian International Squad and I'm pretty sure that he will have successful cooperation with West Ham. I think that this is a right move for West Ham and I'm sure that this will be "refreshment" for whole Premier League.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
Bilic is fantastic manager.He is still young and full of energy,but he is enough experienced to take the club from teh Premier League.He is ex player of West Ham so he familiar to the club and its ambitions.He definitely can bring only good things to the Hammers.His teams play very discplicined but attacking football.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
rikimartin4444_115925
8 years ago
This is good move for West Ham. Bilic is great manager, he did great job with Croatian national team. With Besiktas he was close to win title. Now, he is moving to Premier league. This is big opportunity for him and I am sure he is ready. Now, they need to bring couple new players and try to be competitive for Europa league...
This is good move for West Ham. Bilic is great manager, he did great job with Croatian national team. With Besiktas he was close to win title. Now, he is moving to Premier league. This is big opportunity for him and I am sure he is ready. Now, they need to bring couple new players and try to be competitive for Europa league places on table.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.