HAMMERS NEARLY HAD IT NAILED ON
WHEN Sam Allardyce left at the end of the 2014-15 season, West Ham appeared to have pulled another rabbit out of the hat.
A deal was done and dusted for Rafa Benitez to take over from Big Sam (below). Wages, contract, the lot.
Then Real Madrid came along. The Hammers had no chance. Jurgen Klopp decided he was waiting for a better offer, which eventually arrived in the shape of Liverpool.
But West Ham still had some fascinating options.
One was Marcelo Bielsa. The legendary tactician revered by Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola and many of the leading lights in management today. The problem was, Bielsa – extremely keen on the job – was far too radical. He wanted to rip up the Hammers squad that finished 12th that year. Based on their wage bill and the players at their disposal, he argued in his interview, they were on course to do so again.
Of the Hammers’ squad at the time, he wanted to keep just eight players.
“What do we do with the rest?” he was asked.
“I don’t care. I just want them out,” came the answer. No wonder West Ham were taken aback. They decided to hedge their bets.
Unai Emery, the then Sevilla manager, hinted he was interested, but never seemed that committed. Slaven Bilic was a much better fit.
In that first, heady season inspired by Dimitri Payet, the decision paid off handsomely. The club challenged for Europe and defied expectations. But Bilic blew the chance to build with poor signings in subsequent windows.
What should have been a memorable first year at the new stadium began with five defeats in their first six games.
The club battled relegation before finishing mid-table. Without Payet (left), who had escaped in the January window, they were ordinary.
This season has been similarly rudderless. Bilic, leaving the ground for the last time yesterday, described his sacking as “a logical decision”. He knew it made sense.
The only way now is up – because the consequences of down are unthinkable for them.
SLAVEN BILIC: THE HIGHS AND LOWS
Jun 9 Signs a three-year deal to replace Sam Allardyce and become West Ham’s 16th manager. Sep 19 Hammers beat Manchester City at the Etihad, completing successive away wins against Arsenal, Liverpool and City.
May 15 Finished seventh, scoring a club-record 65 goals in the Premier League. May 21 Handed place in Europa League 3rd round qualifying, when Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Aug 25 Lost to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu for the second year in a row and failed to make the group stage of the comepetition.
Jan 12 Bilic announced that Dimitri Payet, West Ham’s best player wanted to quit the club. Jan 29 West Ham accepted a £25million bid from Marseille and sold him back to the French team. May 21 Beat Burnley 2-1 on the final day of the season to finish 11th in the Premier League. Aug 13 Opened the season with a 4-0 defeat at Manchester United. Oct 25 With reports rife he was on the verge of the sack, Bilic took his team to Wembley for League Cup match versus Tottenham and were 2-0 down at half time. But three goals in the second half sent them through and gave the manager a stay of execution. Oct 28 Hammers surrendered a 2-0 lead at Crystal Palace, the leveller coming seven minutes into stoppage time. Nov 4 A pitiful home display saw fans walking out 15 minutes early as Liverpool smashed them 4-1. Nov 6 Called to a meeting at West Ham training ground where he was dismissed.