West Ham United have announced that Slaven Bilic is the club's 15th full time manager.
The 46-year-old Croat has been installed as the successor to Sam Allardyce two weeks and two days after Big Sam revealed he would be leaving the Boleyn Ground.Speaking to whufc.com this morning, Bilic said: "I'm really glad to be back with West Ham. It’s a big challenge where 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 cult clubs.
Slaven Bilic will be a great signing for West Ham, he’s the favourite and looks like he’s going to be... http://t.co/B6ikzRt6b8
— Harry Redknapp (@Redknapp) June 9, 2015
"It is a great place to play and I felt like I was at home. It is a privilege and a big responsibility to 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 showed their determination and ambition to make what is a big club even bigger.
"I saw their determination and passion. 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."
West Ham's Full time managers
Syd King: 30 years (1902-1932)
Charlie Paynter: 18 years (1932-1950)
Ted Fenton: 11 years (1950-1961)
Ron Greenwood: 13 years (1961-1974)
John Lyall: 15 years (1974-1989)
Lou Macari: 1 year (1989-1990)
Billy Bonds: 4 years (1990-1994)
Harry Redknapp: 7 years (1994-2001)
Glenn Roeder: 2 years (2001-2003)
Alan Pardew: 3 years (2003-2006)
Alan Curbishley: 2 years (2006-2008)
Gianfranco Zola: 2 years (2008-2010)
Avram Grant: 1 year (2010-2011)
Sam Allardyce: 4 years (2011-2015)
Slaven Bilic: 0 years (2015-)
* Above image courtesy of @76KlD
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