BY TIM PARSONS
Hammers manager, Slaven Bilic has a strategy to move his team forward in preparation for next season. One game at a time is his motor for their end-of-season strive for qualification for the European football next season.
The Hammers will approach today’s clash with Swansea with the knowledge that a win would move them one step closer to assuring a place in the Europa League, whilst still keeping them in contention for a Champions League spot.
He told a packed press conference yesterday that focus is what they need in each game without looking beyond their next game. “We have one game, and that is the Swansea game. We need to be totally focused on that game, not thinking about Manchester United or Stoke.
“Not thinking about the last game ever to be played at Boleyn Ground. Only Swansea. A massive game for us.”
The club could not have foreseen the relative success they have enjoyed in this season’s premiership, having been lower down the football chain of commands, close to relegation only to end up within touching distance of being in the top four. All that is now required of them is to beat Manchester United in their final tie at the Boleyn Ground next Tuesday.
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A qualification spot will be celebrated strongly by avid hammers fans, amongst whom is comedian, Russell Brand who regular attends West Ham games.
“It’s great, Billic told reporters. But it’s still not the job done. Unfortunately or fortunately, it’s more about how you finish than about how you start.” That’s a very true saying from the manager, because the way a matter ends is always better than the beginning of the matter.
However, Billic expressed doubt about renegotiating his contract even if his team qualifies and defies all earlier expectations of progressing this far into the competition.
Bilic didn’t think so.
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He said: “I have my contract. I have signed for three years. I am not like Van Gaal. I am okay. I am happy here.”
West Ham has enjoyed both glory days and bad seasons right from the late 70’s when they were relegated to second division, only to earn an elevation back up to the first division in 1985. Further relegation in 1989 resulted in the sacking of then manager Lyall but eventually bounced back to winning ways in 1992-93 after Trevor Morley and Clive Allen scored 40 goals earning themselves second place with a 2-0 hone win against Cambridge United with promotion to the Premiere league. They finished 5th in 1999, whilst Billic was still a defender for Croatia. West ham’s performance after that went up and down, doing reasonably well sometimes, and disappointingly other times. After West Ham finished 13th in the Premiere League, they were constantly disappointed with their managers, sacking Sam Allardyce in 2015 by not renewing his contract then appointing Billic in 2015.
CAREER
Billic began his career in 1988 with his home town club Hajuluk Split, later having spells withKarisruhersc in Germany and West Ham United, then Everton. Serving as one of Croatia’s most stable and consistent defender, he earned 44 caps between 1992 and 1999, playing in both the 1996 and 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he took the team to third place at the tournament. He manged the Croatian under 21 team then proceeded to take over the senior side senior team from Zlatko Krancjcar in August 2006. then led the team to the quarter finals of the 2008 European championships. He is credited for his service to the national side and successfully overseeing the introduction of a series of young playes from the under 21 squad to the senior side.
However, his successful run of achievements were dampened by earlier struggles to help the Hammers succeed at various championships, his story revolving back to a relatively good end where the Hammers can get into the top four and Billic finally calls it a day for West Ham. He has giving no indications of where his career goes from here.
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