The Croatian backroom team

New West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is likely to invite his old trusty pals Nikola Jurcevic and Aljosa Asanovic to link up with at West Ham as he forms his new back room team.

48 year old Nikola Jurčević is a retired Crotaian footballer player turned coach. He has been Bilic’s trusty assistant for the Croatian national team, Lokomotuv Moscow as well Besiktas more recently. Prior to that he managed smaller teams NK Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb, SV Austria Salzburg, Slaven Belupo between 2002-2005.

49 year old Aljoša Asanović is another retired Croatian footballer best known from his time in the mid-to-late 90s when he played for Derby County and Croatia during  Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup. He was nicknamed “Vatreni Lakat” (meaning “fiery elbow”) for his style of running with elbow pointed out, moving opposing players.  In 2006, he became assistant manager of  Croatian national team. He was also assistant manager of Lokomotiv Moscow working alongside  Bilic. He is currently technical director  of FC DAC who he joined in late 2014 on a 3 year contract.

However there should still be room for a few former West Ham players. David Sullivan told the official website: “I think he will bring a few of the West Ham legends to be part of his entourage and I think that is very good because it strengthens the bond with the supporters.”