West Ham confirm Croatian Bilic as new manager

West Ham United have announced that the club's former defender Slaven Bilic has replaced Sam Allardyce as their new manager.

Bilic, who left Turkish side Besiktas recently, will be returning to Upton Park where he played for a year in the 1990s.

Prior to managing in Turkey, Bilic has experience in charge of Lokomotiv Moscow and with the Croatian national team.

“I’m really glad to be back with West Ham United,” Bilic told the West Ham website. “It’s in the Premier League, which is among the best in the world. It’s a big challenge and you are competing with the best and what better club to do it with than West Ham.

“I remember West Ham as a special club. I love these kinds of special clubs. My last club, Besiktas, was that kind of club. It’s not about the size – West Ham is big Club – there is something special about them - they are a cult clubs.

“It is a great place to play and I felt like I was at home. 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.

“My first priority when choosing a club is to look at its ambitions. When I spoke to the Chairmen and Karren Brady, they made clear that it is not only the fantastic new Stadium we are moving into, but they showed their determination and ambition to make what is a big club even bigger.

“I saw their determination and passion that they want to do that. That was the number one reason. 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.”