Express & Star

Danilo Butorovic impressed by West Brom

Assistant boss Danilo Butorovic says he has been hugely impressed by the attitude of Albion’s squad.

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Danilo Butorovic

The 35-year-old joined the Baggies in the summer as part of Slaven Bilic’s backroom team.

And he has since helped oversee their impressive start to the season with the team currently sat top of the Championship.

Albion have played some wonderful football over the past few weeks with their attacking stars particularly catching the eye.

But it is the attitude of the squad that has really surprised Butorovic.

“Quality-wise they are a very good team,” the coach said.

“But the thing that amazes me is the character in the team.

“These guys are amazing – they just want to keep working.

“Everybody is so positive, everybody smiles.

“It gives you a boost with what you want to do because they are really up for it.

“It’s not just the way they act in the games, it’s the training sessions as well. In every training session, they all want to do their best.

“That makes it very easy for a coach.”

Butorovic is part of a trio of coaches working with Bilic.

Both he and fellow Croatian Dean Racunica have the title of assistant head coach and worked with Bilic at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Julian Dicks meanwhile joined Albion as first-team coach back in July having got to know Bilic while they were both at West Ham.

Butorovic believes working together in Saudi Arabia has helped the three Croatians make a flying start to life at The Hawthorns.

And he feels the addition Dicks means they now have the perfect blend of coaches.

“Our time in Saudi helped a lot.” the coach added.

“We were on the same page, the way we think about football is very similar.

“Here we have Julian who is a great guy. Everyone in England knows him, he’s a big name here.

“He gives us a special insight on the way English people see football, the way you guys think.

“Very often in situations when something happens, we’ve all got a different mentality and different way of thinking about it, then he comes in with another view.

“Then I’m thinking ‘maybe...yeah, that’s right, it makes sense!’

“The relationship is perfect. The blend between the four of us is very good.”