New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic relishing challenge ahead

Slaven Bilic is in no doubt he has joined a club going places after being named the new manager of West Ham on a three-year deal.

The former Croatia boss, 46, was yesterday confirmed as successor to Sam Allardyce, whose contract was not renewed.

Bilic, who also had spells in charge of Lokomotiv Moscow and more recently Besiktas, is the man now tasked with guiding the Hammers into the Olympic Stadium for the start of the 2016-17 campaign. A former West Ham defender — he spent 18 months at the club from January 1996 before joining Everton — Bilic is in no doubt of the potential he is taking on.

“I am really glad to be back with West Ham United. It is in the Premier League, which is among the best in the world,” Bilic said.

“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 a big club — there is something special about them — they are a cult club.

“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.

“I would say to the West Ham fans that I will give my best and together we will achieve great things.”