The former West Ham United manager has promised to end Lokomotiv’s barren Russian Premier League run upon his appointment at Lokomotiv stadium
Croatian national team manager, Slaven Bilic, joined Lokomotiv Moscow after signing a three-year contract at Lokomotiv stadium. The 43-year-old, who is yet to resign from the post of head coach from the national team, has replaced
Jose Couceiro.
Bilic, who enjoyed a decent spell with the Croatian national team after leaving Hajduk Split in 2006, has revealed that he wants to help the Moscow-based club winning trophies and assured the fans of improving team standards next
season.
The Croatian tactician conceded that he had others offers on the table before joining the Railroaders, but he joined the Russian outfit because he was impressed by Lokomotiv’s president, Olga Smorodskaya.
He went on to admit that the Parovozy are a great club with a decent history and gave the example of Lokomotiv’s success in recent years. The Russian outfit has done remarkably well since the inception of the Russian Premier League,
having won the Russian cup five times and winning the league title twice.
Bilic revealed that Smorodskaya convinced him to come to Moscow after a disappointing Russian Premier League campaign.
“I have signed a contract with Lokomotiv for three years but it will come into force after Euro 2012. I am happy and proud to lead the Russian outfit, acting in such a strong league. I am going to achieve much at Lokomotiv."
“I had a serious and thorough discussion with Smorodskaya. We talked about many things which gave me a little insight of the football club and, of course, the potential energy of the people behind it.” The Yugoslav Cup winner was
quoted as saying.
Commenting on his decision to come to Russian championship, Bilic admitted that the Russian top division is getting popular in the world.
The former West Ham United player heaped praise on Russian giants, Zenit St. Petersburg, admitting that the Meshki deserved to retain the league title this season. Bilic added that he wants the Railroaders to become as good as
the St. Petersburg club in the Russian top division.
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