• Former West Ham player Slaven Bilic named new manager at Upton Park
  • 46-year-old has also managed Croatia, Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas 

Simeon Gholam for MailOnline

Slaven Bilic has been named as the new manager of West Ham, replacing Sam Allardyce who left Upton Park at the end of the season.

46-year-old Bilic, who played for the Hammers between 1996-97, has also managed the Croatia national team, Lokomotiv Moscow and Turkish side Besiktas – where he left last month.

He will take charge for the final season at Upton Park, before leading West Ham into a new era at the Olympic Stadium from 2016.

Former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic could be named new Hammers manager in next 48 hours

Bilic (left)  made 48 appearances for the Hammers between 1996-97

Bilic (left)  made 48 appearances for the Hammers between 1996-97

BILIC’S PLAYING CAREER 

Hajduk Split 1988-93 – 109 league games (13 goals)

Primorac (loan) 1988 – 13 (1)

Sibenik (loan) 1988-89 – 33 (7)

Karlsruher SC 1993-96 – 54 (5)

West Ham 1996-97 – 48 (2)

Everton 1997-00 – 28 (0)

Hajduk Split 2000-01 – 9 (0)

Bilic will go down well with supporters, having become a cult hero during a brief spell at Upton Park.

Allardyce left West Ham at the end of the season when his contract was not renewed.

The likes of Rafael Benitez, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery were said to have been under consideration. 

But co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold have chosen Bilic as their man to take the club forward.

MORE TO FOLLOW… 

Bilic will replace former boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham, who left the club at the end of the season

Bilic will replace former boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham, who left the club at the end of the season

 

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