Slaven Bilic speaks West Brom and war in interview
In a recent interview with Sky Bet, West Brom manager Slaven Bilic spoke earnestly about his early life and experiences within English football.
Speaking to Ian Holloway before Albion's 1-0 over Preston on Monday night, Bilic opened up about working as a footballer in war-torn Croatia during the Croatian War of Independence which ravaged much of the country.
"We had a good life, to be fair, but we wanted to have our own country and when it all started in the 90s - in my home town it was a war atmosphere,'' the manager said.
He recollects arriving in England to play football for West Ham, giving his early perceptions on Frank Lampard, while reminiscing on his early managerial career and time with the Croatian national team.
"It was a special season because it was the last season at Upton Park. We did well, especially against the big guns, we beat all of them, and then we broke, I don't know, seven or eight records.''
For Bilic, West Brom has a sense of familiarity seldom found elsewhere.
"I know it's old fashioned in a good way, a familiar club, like a family club, and I like those values. They called me, and we made the deal basically after a couple of hours.''
Watch the full interview below and on Sky Bet's YouTube channel
