Igor Stimac has backed his former West Ham United and Croatia defensive partner Slaven Bilic to make a success of being Hammers manager
Igor Stimac has backed his former West Ham United and Croatia defensive partner Slaven Bilic to make a success of being Hammers manager.
Few know Bilic better than Stimac. The defensive duo played alongside one another many times for Hajduk Split before helping their country to reach the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 1996 and finish a superb third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Stimac later followed Bilic to the Boleyn Ground, joining West Ham for a two-year spell in 1999 before succeeding his compatriot as Croatia manager in 2012.
The 47-year-old, who was recently appointed manager of Croatian Second League club Vadar himself, says his ex-teammate has all the tools to do a successful job in east London.
“I know how much Slaven feels for West Ham and that is very important,” said Stimac. “We both used to play for the Hammers and we had a great time with the Hammers.
“I know that the supporters will accept Slaven in the right way and he has everything to be successful there – the language, the experience and tactical knowledge.
“He knows what the supporters expect. He is a great character, a great personality.”
Few know Bilic better than Stimac. The defensive duo played alongside one another many times for Hajduk Split before helping their country to reach the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 1996 and finish a superb third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Stimac later followed Bilic to the Boleyn Ground, joining West Ham for a two-year spell in 1999 before succeeding his compatriot as Croatia manager in 2012.
The 47-year-old, who was recently appointed manager of Croatian Second League club Vadar himself, says his ex-teammate has all the tools to do a successful job in east London.
“I know how much Slaven feels for West Ham and that is very important,” said Stimac. “We both used to play for the Hammers and we had a great time with the Hammers.
“I know that the supporters will accept Slaven in the right way and he has everything to be successful there – the language, the experience and tactical knowledge.
“He knows what the supporters expect. He is a great character, a great personality.”
When he was manager of Croatia he played very exciting football and this is important
Stimac says West Ham fans will be excited by the style of play and approach to management that his former colleague will bring to the Boleyn Ground.
Under Bilic’s management, Croatia lost just eight of his 65 games in charge and qualified for two UEFA European Championship finals in 2008 and 2012.
Since then, the Split-born coach has led Besiktas to consecutive third-place finishes in the Turkish Super Lig and UEFA Europa League victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
“When he was manager of Croatia he played very exciting football and this is important,” Stimac continued.
“Slaven is a long-term manager, you know, and he might not produce something immediately, but the way he works, his contribution to the club’s success is wonderful.”
Under Bilic’s management, Croatia lost just eight of his 65 games in charge and qualified for two UEFA European Championship finals in 2008 and 2012.
Since then, the Split-born coach has led Besiktas to consecutive third-place finishes in the Turkish Super Lig and UEFA Europa League victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
“When he was manager of Croatia he played very exciting football and this is important,” Stimac continued.
“Slaven is a long-term manager, you know, and he might not produce something immediately, but the way he works, his contribution to the club’s success is wonderful.”