They hunted high and low but in the end the two Davids brought in the man who was always closest to the hearts of the Hammers fans.
Slaven Bilic – even whilst the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Rafa Bentez were being touted around – was always close to the top of ClaretandHugh’s polls for next boss.
And having settled for the 46 year old former Croatian national team, coach co chairman and chief shareholder David Sullivan was in ebullient mood as he spoke exclusively to ClaretandHugh about the appointment.
He said: “West Ham is a very special club that is like no other, we are part of the community of East London and Essex.
“
Slaven was a much loved member of our family and we welcome him back.
“We hope over the next few months to bring in 5-6 players who’ll dramatically improve the strength of the team and competition for places.”
Forty six year old Slav become the 15th full-time manager in the Hammers’ 120-year history, returning to the Club he played for 54 times, on a three-year contract.
Slav will arrive at the Boleyn subject to a work permit being issued. He becomes the second Croatian to manage in the Barclays Premier League, and has an outstanding career win percentage of 55.16 per cent.
He defies the general image of footballers beloved in the media being a law graduate and multilinguist who takes a meticulous approach to management.
Welcome back,slaven “big balls” bilic.
Imagine the chairman making a statement it’s a PR nightmare lol
Well said DS you’ve made a good choice in the end,now get your chequebook out haha
Well done DS, I really appreciate your work. COYI.
OT: I took the liberty of drawing up a short list of decent players we coluld consider, please I need the approval by wetpants. I don’t know if these names could be good enough for them, thanks… lol 😀
Konoplyanka
Ibrahimovic
Dani Alves
Neymar
Hummels
Pirlo
Jesè
Pogba
Hernandez
Mata
Oscar
Casillas
Menez
Isco
Jackson Martinez
Xavi
Haha,get them all Matte,i will fund it out of my savings 😀
ahaha.. ok Stew, I’ll use Carroll + Nolan + Demel + O’Brien + Jarvis as a bargaining for my whole list… lol
Lol,Go to work Matte,we will sanction any deal for you.Money is no object.Just bring me Jese & Hernandez first.If you achieve this we will book you a Penthouse suite full of bikini wearing figas 😉
ahah… thanks Rads, I’m highly motivated now. 😀
Yes i know well how to motivate you Matte.Just offer figa at the end of the task.You will do anything for that,i understand this 😀
Matte are O’Brien and Jarvis still in the first team squad? I bet now with the announcement Carroll would be wondering what role he will play with a new manager.The club could free up so much in wages if they sold him to Newcastle.Man with glass ankle is a liability and an expensive one.
Totally agree Roman, I’m working hard trying to sell Carroll (I’ll include O’Brien and Jarvis free). Lol 😀
Cant wait to hear Slavs name being sung.Something Hippo never got,apart from a few lame efforts of Allardyce to the tune of Coldplays Paradise.Whoever thought that effort up needed humanly putting down,it made me throw up when i heard it on the odd occasion 😀
Spot on Stingray we’ll be singing it loud,clear and for a long time
Matte your list has led to the crashing of Wikipedia and there’s new doubts about Wetpants stats guys,they’ve got new stats experts to get all the facts and league standings on the old ones lol
ahahha… 😀
Will all be moaning again before long lol
Hahaha lets hope not…!!!
I hope so too
Not my 1st choice but I will support the man 100%. Lets hope, which I believe he will, show the passion which he has expressed on the sidelines for his previous clubs…
COYI
Chelmo have you met canchaz ?
If not you should,go out for the night maybe live at the Apollo there must be someone on there that could get one of you to smile if not laugh,
Come on mate we have all season to get down let’s start with a smile and some enthusiasm
Nice list Matte fingers crossed,
COYI
I know, I’m terrible! Always think of the worse case scenario first. I’m relieved we have a manager now, just hope the rest falls into place quickly in time for Europa!
I’ll try be more up bear, Apollo sounds good lol.
COYI
Yes nice list bubs, I don’t ask for much… Only one of them… lol
Time for us all to Unite behind Bilic, lets make the last season at The Boleyn truly special, a fortress no club will look forward to visiting, I hope Slaven will first appoint Mark Noble Club Captain, I believe he will really encourage Mark something I doubt he has had for a while.
Bit underwhelmed by this appointment. All the exciting names touted basically came to nought. Why didn’t we just keep quiet!
Someone cheer me up- doBilic teams play decent football!?
Don’t buy all this special club bs he is spouting- I remember when he wanted to leave.
I know ‘move on’….
Move one!! 😀
Come on Canchaz!! Where are you? I want to hear you come on to tell us he ‘was the last man standing’ & we ‘were just whistling in the wind’ 😀
I think the Guardian’s headline says it all. Now Bilic must show he is more than a rock star manager, now the real work begins.
Haha,you were lured out to bring us your ever cheerful insights 😀
Chelmo I take it back you are twice as happy as canchaz
Canchaz are you a funeral director or a Kevin’s dad and don’t get out a lot
We have got shot of the worse manager this club could have ever had,
Yes he got us promoted but the price we played was the destruction of the back bone of our club,every thing we stood for evaporated in the last 4 years,
Let’s be happy,give this man a chance to reinstall all the important things this club stood for
COYI