Football News: Bilic Not Quite First Choice

Image from: croatiaweek.com

West Ham United finally made their choice of new manager after weeks of trying to tempt the top managers in European football to take the job, they ended up with Slaven Bilic. It is certainly a popular choice with the fans, simply because he once played for them, for all of a season.

With a move to the Olympic Stadium, and all the income that will bring with it, Messrs. Gold and Sullivan could not tempt Unai Emery to leave Europa League holders Sevilla, or Marcelo Bielsa to swap Marseille for London. They instead were forced to turn to the back up plan, former Croatia manager Bilic.

While the fans, in the main, were always in favour of bringing in Bilic, there is a good reason why the club itself were reticent to do so. His record in club management is nothing like as impressive as his international record.

In particular his time in Russian football is a low point in his career since retiring from playing. With the Hammers being in need of a rebuild of sorts, European football placing demands on the squad it is not equipped to handle just yet, and the requirement of changing away from the Allardyce brand of football and back to the West Ham way that was evident at the start of last season, this is a big job being handed to Bilic.

Slaven will need to hope that the honeymoon period he will enjoy due to his cult status with the fans will see him through any early rough patches, as the team settle into his way of playing and new signings gel together. One thing is for sure, if he can bring an exciting style of play to East End, then the fans will back him, even if results falter.

Written by Tris Burke June 11 2015 10:20:40