Ex-West Ham boss Slaven Bilic set for return to European football

Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic could ditch life in Saudi Arabia for Turkey after being approached over a job vacancy.

Bilic has not managed in Europe since his short stint in charge of Watford from September 2022 to March 2023.

Since last summer, the former West Ham and West Brom boss has been in charge of Saudi side Al Fateh, who count former Barcelona ace Cristian Tello and ex-Manchester City defender Jason Denayer among their ranks.

But Bilic could return to Europe this summer after Besiktas approached the Croatian coach over taking over, reported Germanijak.

The reports from Croatia indicate that Besiktas are keen on hiring Bilic for a second time after his initial spell in charge from 2013 to 2015.

However, the 55-year-old has yet to give a definitive answer, though he did not rule out a second spell with the Black Eagles.

Club chairman Hasan Arat fired Fernando Santos, who famously won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016, in April after six games without a win as the Turkish outfit finished third in the Super Lig.

Bilic remains a fan favourite at the Istanbul side, taking charge of 92 matches and winning 48 before joining West Ham in 2015.

Supporters of the club often demand the return of Bilic whenever there is a change of coach at the Tupras Stadium.

Serdar Topraktepe has been in interim charge of Besiktas after Santos was sacked, with a side that includes former Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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And Arat is desperate to see Besiktas rival Fenerbahce and Galatasaray for the league title, having last tasted glory on 2021.

Jose Mourinho is also poised to move to Turkey, where he has agreed a two-year deal with Fenerbahce.

It could make for some fireworks on the touchline in the next Istanbul derby with both managers known for their sideline antics.

Bilic led Al Fateh to seventh in the Saudi Pro League this season in an admirable campaign considering they are not backed by the Saudi royal family, like the top four sides in the division.