One of Croatia’s most revered former managers – Slaven Bilić – is at it again. This time, in the English 2nd division, with West Bromwich Albion.
Bilić was sacked by West Ham United in 2017 for a subpar season and then coached in Saudi Arabia for five months at Al-Ittihad. After another unsuccessful stint, Bilić was let go from his post in the Middle East.
Now, Bilić will take over a West Brom club that finished top-6 in the Championship last season but lost to Aston Villa in the promotion playoff. This crop of players has what it takes to play in the Premiership next season – with the right leadership.
On Saturday, West Brom opened up their season with a 2-1 road victory at Nottingham Forest. Bilić brought in 23 year-old Benfica attacking midfielder Filip Krovinović on a season-long loan with the former NK Zagreb player coming off a serious knee injury. He played the full 90 vs. Forest.
Bilić has been known to be a beloved coach by all players he has managed. But this time around, it seems as if he’s being a bit tougher with the younger players, BirminghamMail reports.
Whether Bilić does well or not in England is to be seen. But when Zlatko Dalić’s days of being Croatia’s main man are over – would you welcome Bilić back as Croatian manager?
Can’t blame Bilic for 2010. There were alot of freak injuries and red cards in that cycle. Also fix was in for Eng and they dropped that game vs Ukr on purpose. That is why beating them last summer was so fucken sweet for me.
Bilic had a team in transition. Dalic had, in my opinion, much easier decisions, with mature talent. Dalic made a few great moves, and I will forever be grateful for them:
1)Brozo over Badelj
2)Mandzukic over Kramaric at CF, even with so many Mandzukic haters.
3)Rebic over Kramaric at wing. Dalic got lucky so many stars couldn’t play in the Mexico game, cause Rebic’s performance opened everyone’s eyes. A no-brainer after that.
4)Modric attacking.
@suba
Lol. Great post And true.
Bilic means missing out on world cups and losing last minute games at major tournaments
I would like to think we are past that point now
Bilic =U=
So far I’m impressed with bjelica
Forget Bilic. He had his opportunity. Time to move on.
He is consistently being sacked wherever he ends up and unfortunately he anD his teams have performed poorly.
I take your point Maminjo still would be awesome a great sight to see also if it was zvone too
But some reason coaching bih would be difficult something not right at Sarajevo HQ
@Mr. Black good to hear that. If Palaversa can keep getting playing time he can be a beast. Seems like Fiolić’s career is about to hit rock bottom. Big downfall after leaving Dinamo.
@Suba
I like Žuti too, but he’s had a tough run these past three games for BiH.
If they don’t qualify ahead of Greece and Finland, that will be bad.
This is why it’s good we hire coaches with a few years experience first, and not fall in love with the former player coach right away. Let them go through their growing pains with other teams first.
Palaversa of course
Ante Palavers with another great game for Kv Oostende as they beat Cercle Bruges 3-1. The newspaper gave him an 8. Only two other players in his team got an 8. Kv Oostende has 6 points after two games. Saturday they have to go to Club Bruges, probably the best team in the league.
Fiolic will leave Racing Genk. They will loan him out to Larnaca, Cyprus.
Alen Halilovic sinks deeper and deeper. Once again he didn’t even make the bench for Standard Luik.
No Bilic had his time in the sun and didn’t really achieve anything
Underachieved is probably a fair comment
He did have the try new players but I don’t think that had anything to do with coaching
We should stick with Dalic as long as possible and then prosinecki a turn he’d kill it
No, he’s to buddy buddy with the igraci, coach must be respected as a coach & not a friend
Next coach for the National Team is Bjelica.
It would really suck if we went with some other random coach over him.
Bilić is too volatile.
He either does good or bad. Nothing in between, lol.
Def take Bilic back
Nah, I’d just take Player/Coach Luka Modric.