West Ham have appointed former Defender Slaven Bilic as new boss

       West Ham United confirmed on Tuesday that Croatian International Slaven Bilic will be the club's new head coach.

Bilic will replace former manager Sam Allardyce who left after the club decided not to renew his contract.

Bilic played as a defender for the hammers between 1996 and 1997and appeared 54 times for the club.

He will become the second Croatian to manage a premier League club, and he has a win percentage of 55.16 per cent. Following his appointment,

Bilic told the club official website: "I’m really glad to be back with West Ham United. 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, 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," he added.

"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."

Bilic announced in May that he will leave Turkish side Besiktas, after failing to win the league title in his two years at the Istanbul club and missing out on Champions League qualification for next season.

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