_(cropped).jpg) Bilić during aWest Ham United press conference in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Slaven Bilić[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1968-09-11)11 September 1968 (age 57)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Split,SR Croatia,Yugoslavia[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1988 | Hajduk Split | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1988–1993 | Hajduk Split | 109 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| 1988 | →Primorac (loan) | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | →Šibenik (loan) | 33 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 1993–1996 | Karlsruher SC | 66 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | West Ham United | 48 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Everton | 26 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Hajduk Split | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 294 | (28) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1999 | Croatia | 44 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Hajduk Split | ||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Croatia U21 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2012 | Croatia | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Lokomotiv Moscow | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Beşiktaş | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | West Ham United | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Al-Ittihad | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | West Bromwich Albion | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Beijing Guoan | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Watford | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Al-Fateh | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Slaven Bilić (pronounced[slǎʋenbǐːlitɕ];[2][3] born 11 September 1968) is a Croatian professionalfootballmanager and former player.
Bilić, who played as adefender, began his career in 1988 with his hometown clubHajduk Split, later having successful spells withKarlsruher SC in Germany, andWest Ham United andEverton in England before retiring from active football in 2001. At the international level, Bilić served as one ofCroatia's most consistent defenders during the tenure of coachMiroslav Blažević, earning 44 caps between 1992 and 1999.
Following his retirement as a player in 2001 at Hajduk Split, Bilić coached the team in the second half of the2001–02 season. Between 2004 and 2006, he managed theCroatia national under-21 team, before taking over the senior national side. He led the team to the quarter-finals of the2008 European Championship and left afterthe next edition four years later. He was praised for his long-standing service to the national side and credited with successfully overseeing the introduction of a series of young players from the under-21 squad to the senior side.[4][5] He then managedLokomotiv Moscow,Beşiktaş, West Ham United,Al-Ittihad,West Bromwich Albion,Beijing Guoan,Watford andAl Fateh.
Almost all Hajduk juniors attended local high schools. As there were no classical grammar schools inSplit, Bilić enrolled in an information, journalism and documentary (INDOK) studies program. All throughout high school, Bilić was a top student in his class and graduated by completingMatura. His favorite subjects weremathematics andhistory. The year he enrolled in a university program, he already had excellent prospects to build a career as a football player. However, he still decided to attend university and later graduated from thelaw faculty in Split where his father acted as dean.[6]
As a Hajduk player, he was on loan for half a year atNK Primorac, and for 18 months atHNK Šibenik, which, that season, finished fifth in theYugoslav Second League, barely missing promotion to the top flight[7] Bilić, as centre half, scored seven goals in the championship. He also played for theYugoslavia national team, having been called up byPetar Nadoveza for three matches in which he then scored two goals and was declared man of the match in all three.[8]
Bilić was then targeted by other clubs in the league, includingDinamo Zagreb,Red Star Belgrade andPartizan. However, he decided to stay with Hajduk which finished third in the1989–90 season and won the1990–91 cup competition. During the first season of the newly foundedCroatian First League, Hajduk won both the league and theSuper Cup. The following season, the club also secured its firstCroatian Cup title.[9]
In January 1996,Harry Redknapp, manager ofPremier League clubWest Ham United, brought Bilić to the club for a fee of£1.3 million,[10] setting the new club record for highest fee paid for an incoming player. Bilić made his debut on 12 February 1996 in a 0–1 away win against London rivalsTottenham Hotspur. The goal for West Ham came after Bilić's shot had been saved by Tottenham goalkeeperIan Walker and the ball then diverted into Tottenham goal by another West Ham debutant,Dani.[11][12]
He played 13 games in the1995–96 season and 41 in the1996–97 season in which he scored three goals (two in thePremier League, againstLiverpool andSunderland, and one in theLeague Cup, againstBarnet)[11][13] and was voted runner-up, toJulian Dicks, for theHammer of the Year award.[11][14]
In March 1997,Joe Royle brokered Bilić's £4.5 million move toEverton, with Bilić requesting to stay with West Ham until the end of the season and help club's efforts to avoid relegation.[15] West Ham finished the season in 14th place, two points outside the relegation zone.[16]
Bilić first played for Everon in August 1997, with full support of the new managerHoward Kendall. He initially brought some class to the Toffees' backline, but his season was marred by bookings that saw him miss several games due to suspensions.[15]
After the1998 World Cup, Bilić developed a nagging groin strain, and returned to Croatia for treatment.[15] After missing the first quarter of the season, he was left wondering if he would get back into Everton's first eleven, now managed byWalter Smith. He did so and showed some good form, but never fully re-established himself due to injuries and suspensions.[15] Subsequently, Everton released Bilić in July 1999.
Two days after being released by Everton, Bilić signed for his home clubHajduk Split, where he played briefly before retiring.[15] He led Hajduk as team captain to their first trophy in five years, winning the Croatian Cup.[17]
On 5 July 1992, Bilić made his international debut for theCroatia national football team in afriendly match againstAustralia at theOlympic Park Stadium, where Croatia lost lost 0–1.[18][better source needed] At theUEFA Euro 1996, he played in all four matches as Croatia secured a respectable spot in the Top 8, losing toGermany 1–2 in the quarterfinals.[citation needed]
At the1998 World Cup, Croatia became the biggest surprise of the tournament. The team only lost two matches, againstArgentina in the group stage (0–1) andFrance in the semifinals (1–2). After winning the play-off match against theNetherlands, Croatia finished the tournament in third place.[15] Bilić played in all seven matches and was involved in a controversy for the role he played in the dismissal ofLaurent Blanc in the semifinal against France. With Croatia behind, a free-kick was awarded, which saw Bilić marking and holding the French defender. Wanting to rescue himself, Blanc pushed Bilić, making contact with his chin and chest. Bilić fell to the ground clutching his forehead. Bilić later admitted to overacting and going down only after encouraged to do so by teammateIgor Štimac. Blanc was sent off and missed the World Cup final due to suspension.[15] Bilić never officially apologize, but stated: "I swear, if I could change that moment, so that Blanc could have played in the final, I would."[19]
In, 2001, as a shareholder of his hometown club,Hajduk Split, he agreed to temporarily manage the team until the club could find a replacement manager. He stated that the adrenaline rush he experienced during this period inspired him, and reportedly sought and received guidance fromArsène Wenger andMarcello Lippi.[20]
Bilić was appointed head coach of thesenior national team on 25 July 2006, succeedingZlatko Kranjčar after the unsuccessful2006 World Cup. His assistants included former teammatesAljoša Asanović,Robert Prosinečki,Nikola Jurčević, andMarjan Mrmić. One of his first actions was the promotion of three players from the under-21 squad:Eduardo,Luka Modrić, andVedran Ćorluka, all of whom eventually built impressive careers. The team's first official game under Bilić was the 2–0 win in an away friendly match againstItaly, while Bilić's first competitive game was the goalless draw inMoscow againstRussia in the opener of theEuro 2008 qualifying campaign. Many criticized this result due to Bilić's suspension ofDarijo Srna,Ivica Olić andBoško Balaban, who left the team camp three days before the match for an evening at a night club inZagreb. They assumed no-one would find out, but that very evening a gunfight broke out at that very night club, and the police had to intervene. Even though none of the players were involved in the incident, their absence from the team camp resulted in a scandal.[21]
In the continuation of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, Bilić led Croatia with great success. In a group consisting ofEngland, Russia,Israel,Macedonia,Estonia, andAndorra, Croatia secured the top spot inGroup E, with notable wins against England both home and away. England ended up missing Euro 2008, and their managerSteve McClaren was sacked.[20]
At theEuro 2008 tournament itself, where he was the youngest coach, Bilić's squad had to deal with the absence of star striker Eduardo who had sustained a serious injury a few months earlier. Nonetheless, Bilić led his side to an outstanding achievement, as Croatia won all three group stage games of the competition, including the match against the eventual finalistsGermany. Over night, the media labelled Croatia favourites to win the tournament, however, the team suffered an abrupt exit in the quarterfinals againstTurkey. Bilić has since stated that this defeat would haunt him for the rest of his life.[22]
AtUEFA Euro 2012, Croatia won againstIreland, drew against Italy, and lost 0–1 toSpain, exiting the tournament at the group stage. However, the team garnered widespread praise for their performance, and were greeted by a large crowd upon their return to Zagreb. Upon his formal departure as national coach, Bilić was praised for his long-standing service and successess. Domestic media outletJutarnji list labelled him as Croatia's first manager to leave the team on a positive note and credited him for the team's revival during his six-year tenure.[4]
On 14 May 2012, it was confirmed that Bilić had signed a coaching contract with the Russian clubLokomotiv Moscow.[23] Club chairman, Olga Smorodskaya, stated that Lokomotiv had tough competition in their attempt to signing Bilić, as he was targeted by many other clubs from across Europe.[24] Bilić again joined forces with former teammates and former assistants, Aljoša Asanović and Nikola Jurčević, who again acted as his assistants. Bilić also immediately secured a big signing by bringingĆorluka fromTottenham Hotspur for a fee of £5.5 million. His first official match as the new Lokomotiv manager came was an away 3–2 win againstMordoviya Saransk on 20 July 2012. Bilić's first season at the club ended with Lokomotiv's worst league result (ninth place) since the establishment of Russian championship in 1992. Bilić accepted responsibility for team's failure and was sacked on 18 June 2013.[25]
After leaving Lokomotiv, Bilić entered talks to take over asBeşiktaş manager. The deal was confirmed on 26 June 2013, and two days later, Bilć signed a three-year contract worth €4.8 million.[26] On 22 September, during theIstanbul derby againstGalatasaray, Bilić was sent-off from the bench by refereeFırat Aydınus, after he had complained about the amount of time added by the referee.[27] Beşiktaş presidentFikret Orman announced on 21 May 2015 that Bilić would leave the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.[28]
On 9 June 2015, Bilić was appointed manager at his former clubWest Ham United in the EnglishPremier League. He signed a three-year contract.[29] In his first Premier League game on 9 August, his team beatArsenal 2–0 at theEmirates Stadium.[30] Three weeks later, he became the first manager since 1963 to lead West Ham to victory againstLiverpool atAnfield.[31] On 19 September, Bilić led West Ham to a third successive 2–1 away win againstManchester City. It was the first time the Hammers had won three successive Premier League away games since September 2007,[32] and only three other sides had recorded away wins at Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City in the same Premier League season.[33] In Bilić's first season as manager, West Ham finished seventh in the Premier League. Towards the end of the season, they beatManchester United 3–2, thereby significantly lowering United's chances of finishing in the Top 4 and securing a spot in theChampions League.[34] The team broke several records for the club in the Premier League era, including the highest number of points (62), the highest number of goals scored in a season (65), a positive goal difference for the first time in the Premier League (+14), the lowest number of losses in a season (8), and the lowest number of away losses in a season(5).[35]
Following Manchester United's win in the2016 FA Cup Final, West Ham took theirUEFA Europa League place and qualified for thethird qualifying round of the2016–17 UEFA Europa League.[36] For the second season in a row, they were eliminated in the qualifying stage of the competition.[37] Bilić's second season with West Ham was less successful, as the club finished 11th in the Premier League with a total of 17 losses and poor goal difference (–17). This was the first season the club played home matches at the newly constructedLondon Stadium. The season was marred by the acrimonious departure of star player,Dimitri Payet, who refused to continue playing for West Ham mid-season, on 12 January 2017.[38]
In his third season, after a poor run of results in the Premier League, culminating in a 1–4 home loss to Liverpool on 4 November 2017, Bilić was sacked. The announcement, made two days after that match, stated that "West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has left his position with the club. West Ham United believe a change is necessary in order for the club to move forward positively and in line with our ambitions."[39] He left the team with a record of 1.33 points per Premier League game, which was the best among all previous West Ham managers.[40]
On 27 September 2018, Bilić joinedAl-Ittihad of theSaudi Professional League.[41] On 24 February 2019, after five months as manager of Al-Ittihad, and after winning only 6 of the 20 matches in charge, Bilić was sacked from the position.[42]
On 13 June 2019, Bilić was named as head coach ofWest Bromwich Albion on a two-year contract.[43] On 22 July 2020, he led the club to promotion back to the Premier League, finishing as runner-up in the2019–20 EFL Championship.[44]
On 22 September, Bilić was charged with improper conduct by theFA, after remonstrating with refereeMike Dean a few days earlier, during his team's 2–5 defeat toEverton.[45]
On 16 December, despite a surprise 1–1 draw against Manchester City, Bilić was sacked by the club due to a poor start to theseason. His fellow coaching staff were dismissed as well.[46] At the time, West Brom were 19th in the league, having taken just seven points from 13 games.[47]
On 6 January 2021, Bilić was named as head coach ofChinese Super League sideBeijing Guoan on a two-year contract.[48]
On 8 January 2022, Bilić parted ways with Beijing Guoan.[49]
On 26 September 2022, Bilić became manager ofWatford on an 18-month contract, after the dismissal ofRob Edwards.[50] In his first game in charge, on 2 October, Watford won 4–0 away againstStoke City.[51]
On 7 March 2023, Bilić was sacked, even though the club was sitting in ninth position and only four points away from the last play-offs spot. The club statement focused on the fact that Hornets had won just once in the most recent eight Championship games. He was replaced byChris Wilder until the end of the season.[52]
On 8 July 2023, Bilić was appointed as manager of Saudi Pro League sideAl-Fateh. On 16 August 2024, Bilić and Al-Fateh to end the contract by mutual agreement.
Bilić has often stated that he and his team usually study many games of their opponents prior to playing them.[53]
Known to be a big music fan, Bilić often motivates his players by encouraging them to listen to inspiring music before and even after each match.[54]
"If you know how to share what you own, you will live happily and honourably. I am a truesocialist. I know I can't save the world on my own, but if there is a struggle against injustice, I prefer to be on the front line, and that is my attitude towards everything in life."
Along with his nativeCroatian, Bilić is fluent inGerman,Italian andEnglish, while he also holds adegree in law.[56] He also plays rhythm guitar (his favourite being the redGibson Explorer) and is a member of Croatian rock band Rawbau.[57] In 2008, the band recorded a song for Croatia's performance atEuro 2008 called "Vatreno ludilo" (Fiery Madness).[58]
Since early childhood, Bilić has been suffering from a slightstammer, which he has learned to control as he grew older.[59]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Primorac (loan) | 1988–89[60] | Croatian Republican League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 1 | ||
| Šibenik (loan) | 1988–89[60] | Yugoslav Second League | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 7 | ||
| Hajduk Split | 1988–89[61] | Yugoslav First League | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1989–90[62] | 27 | 3 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 33 | 4 | ||||
| 1990–91[63] | 32 | 2 | 7 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 40 | 2 | |||
| 1991–92[64] | Prva HNL | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 1992–93[65] | 27 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 35 | 8 | |||
| Total | 109 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 134 | 17 | ||
| Karlsruher SC | 1993–94[66] | Bundesliga | 26 | 2 | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | 1 | 38 | 4 | |
| 1994–95[67] | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 3 | ||||
| 1995–96[68] | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 6 | 2 | 20 | 1 | |||
| Total | 66 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 95 | 12 | ||
| West Ham United | 1995–96[69] | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97[70] | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 41 | 3 | |||
| Total | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 3 | ||
| Everton | 1997–98[69] | Premier League | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 25 | 2 | |
| 1998–99[69] | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| Hajduk Split | 1999–2000[71] | Prva HNL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[72] | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Total | 304 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 375 | 42 | ||
| Croatia | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 1 |
| 1997 | 7 | 2 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 44 | 3 |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 October 1996 | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara,Bologna, Italy | 26 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 6 September 1997 | Stadion Maksimir,Zagreb, Croatia | 31 | 1–1 | 3–2 | ||
| 3 | 29 October 1997 | 34 |  Ukraine | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
As of 27 May 2024
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Hajduk Split | 5 December 2001 | 4 May 2002 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 064.71 | |
| Croatia U21 | 1 July 2004 | 30 June 2006 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 042.11 | |
| Croatia | 25 July 2006 | 14 May 2012 | 65 | 42 | 15 | 8 | 064.62 | |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 14 May 2012 | 18 June 2013 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 040.63 | |
| Beşiktaş | 28 June 2013 | 21 May 2015 | 92 | 48 | 22 | 22 | 052.17 | |
| West Ham United | 9 June 2015 | 4 November 2017 | 111 | 42 | 30 | 39 | 037.84 | [75] |
| Al-Ittihad | 5 October 2018 | 24 February 2019 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 030.00 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 13 June 2019 | 16 December 2020 | 65 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 040.00 | [75] |
| Beijing Guoan | 6 January 2021 | 8 January 2022 | 29 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 031.03 | |
| Watford | 26 September 2022 | 7 March 2023 | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 038.46 | [75] |
| Al-Fateh | 8 July 2023 | 16 August 2024 | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 036.11 | |
| Total | 512 | 228 | 133 | 151 | 044.53 | |||
Hajduk Split[76]
Croatia
West Bromwich Albion
Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar – 1995[85]
Order of the Croatian Trefoil – 1998[86]Slàven
Bílić
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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