Croatian football player and coach Slaven Bilic: biography and career
Slaven Bilic, biography and sports career of which are described in this article, is a famous football team of Croatia, the bronze medalist of the World Championship. At one time stood for "Karlsruhe", "West Ham United" and "Everton". After completion of the playing career became a trainer. Known for his work in the Croatian national team, "Locomotive", "Besiktas" and "West Ham".
![Croatian football player and coach Slaven Bilic: biography and career](/images/0/916/342f142df2a590d1c7f99c48cbc65183.jpg)
Biographical data
Slaven Bilic, a photo which you can see in the article, was born in September 1968 in the Croatian city of Split. At the age of nine future national team player of the country began to attend the football section. Bilic was in the club's Academy in Split "Hajduk", which soon became his most native club.
Club career
After ten years spent in child and youth team "Hajduk", Slaven Bilic in 1987 he signed his first professional contract with the club of Split. But before he made his debut for the young defender was shipped out to other teams to gain experience. First, he advocated "Primorac" and then for "Sibenik".
Since 1989, Bilic is becoming a regular player, "Hajduk". Here he spent another 4 seasons, has played in 109 matches and scored 13 goals. As part of "Hajduk" defender he became the champion of the country, the owner of the Cup of Yugoslavia and then Croatia. In 1993, Slaven Bilic contract for 750 thousand pounds was bought by the German club "Karlsruhe", acting in the Bundesliga. It is here that really opened the football talent of the Croatian defender. In a short time he became the first players in the German championship, dressed captain's armband. Slaven has been recognized as the best defender of the Bundesliga, and in 1996, together with the "Karlsruhe", he won the Intertoto Cup, held under the auspices of UEFA.
![Croatian football player and coach Slaven Bilic: biography and career](/images/0/916/08cfd5ac48043bb816dbedd102055652.jpg)
Great game Croatian player has attracted attention from other clubs. In 1996, Slaven Bilic for 1, 3 million pounds transferred to the "West Ham", who plays in the English Premier League. As part of the "Hammers" Croatia gave an excellent season. He played in 48 matches and scored two goals. Largely thanks to him, "West Ham" has managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League that season.
At the end of the championship Slaven Bilic for 4, 5 million pounds was sold to "Everton". Unfortunately, in the "butterscotch" Croatia was not able to show their talents. The reason for that was a great number of missed due to suspension of matches, as well as the injury received after the World Cup in 1998. For two and a half seasons spent in the "Everton", Bilic played only 30 matches. All this has led to the fact that his contract was canceled in 2000. After that Slaven Bilic returned home, where another season played for the native "Hajduk" from Split. In 2001, he finished his playing career.
for the national team appearances
In the national team of Croatia Slaven Bilic for the first time he showed himself at the European Championships in 1996. Then his team confidently took the group stage, but in the quarter-finals could not overcome Germany.
This world-wide fame to Slaven Bilic and the Croatian national team arrived two years later. At the world championships in France first rookie tournament confidently walked out of the group, then in the quarterfinals defeated Germany with the score 3: 0, and only the semifinals lost to future triumpher World Cup - France. As a result, Slaven Bilic in the national team of Croatia won the bronze medal of the world championship.
![Croatian football player and coach Slaven Bilic: biography and career](/images/0/916/3f990aa7f7e9019a297b93b4eaf60786.jpg)
Total for the national team defender played 44 match, which scored 3 goals scored.
coaching
At the end of playing career Slaven Bilic took up coaching. In 2004, he became a mentor to the youth of the Croatian national team, which was led by more than two years.
In 2006 he was appointed to the post of chief coach of the national team. With the team he managed to get through to the final of the continental championship in 2008 and at Euro 2012. After this tournament, Bilic has resigned. The next place to work for the Croatian specialist has become the Moscow "Locomotive". The first season for him was unsuccessful - the "railroad" finished the championship at a record low for itself in ninth place. As a result - Slaven Bilic was dismissed from his post.
![Croatian football player and coach Slaven Bilic: biography and career](/images/0/916/7338ac6b789bd3015a267aa90a21a401.jpg)
After the Moscow club Croat found himself in the Turkish "Besiktas". In two seasons, he was never able to achieve good results with his club, so in 2015 his contract was canceled.
Next job Slaven Bilic has become familiar since the days of playing career for him in London, "West Ham". Under the leadership of the Croatian expert "blacksmith" very successful performance in the championship began. They even managed to create a new record - in the season, "West Ham" for the first time in its history, won a guest victory over the "Liverpool", "Manchester City" and "Arsenal". The championship modest London club finished a very good for himself in seventh place.
Season 2017/2018 began for "West Ham" series of unsuccessful games. This led to the fact that in November Slaven Bilic was dismissed from his post as head coach.