Slaven Bilic named new head coach at Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan

Slaven Bilic is back… with a big pay day! Croatian returns to the dugout less than a month after being sacked by West Brom as he signs two-year deal to take over at Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan

  • Slaven Bilic has been appointed the new head coach of Beijing Guoan in China
  • It comes less than a month after the Croatian was sacked by West Brom
  • Bilic was axed by the Baggies after a poor start to the Premier League season 
  • He has signed a two-year deal to replace Frenchman Bruno Genesio in Beijing

Slaven Bilic has made an immediate return to management after being named as Beijing Guoan’s new head coach, less than a month after he was sacked by West Brom.

Bilic has signed a two-year contract to replace Bruno Genesio, the Chinese Super League (CSL) club announced on Wednesday.

Beijing Guoan revealed they had decided not to renew the contract of Frenchman Genesio, who guided them to third in the CSL and the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League.

Slaven Bilic has made an immediate return to management with Beijing Guoan in China

Slaven Bilic has made an immediate return to management with Beijing Guoan in China

Croatian Bilic returns to management less than a month after his departure from The Hawthorns.

The Baggies suffered a poor start to the Premier League season, in which they claimed just seven points in 13 games under the 52-year-old.

Bilic was sacked just days after a rallying 1-1 draw with Manchester City and was replaced by Sam Allarydce, who is yet to win in four games as Baggies boss.

In an exclusive statement to Sportsmail, Bilic said he was ‘hugely disappointed’ to leave West Brom last month.

It read: ‘I am hugely disappointed to have left West Bromwich Albion.

‘I am honoured to have managed this unique football club with full commitment and integrity. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all the players, my hard-working coaching team and our dedicated staff.

‘I am incredibly proud that we secured automatic promotion from the Championship in our first season.

‘It was a real shame to not have our loyal supporters there with us during that moment and upon our return to the Premier League. 

It comes less than a month after he was sacked by West Brom after a poor start to the season

It comes less than a month after he was sacked by West Brom after a poor start to the season

Beijing Guoan finished third in the CSL and reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League last season

Beijing Guoan finished third in the CSL and reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League last season

‘In what has been a really difficult year for so many, those special fans have stood alongside us throughout it all. My staff and I are grateful for having had the privilege to serve them.

‘They would have enjoyed some of our excellent performances where the team showed how much they wanted us to succeed.

‘Ultimately, I am sad that it hasn’t worked out in the way we wanted. But I leave with my head held high, along with some wonderful memories that I will always cherish.

‘I’m sorry that I cannot say goodbye to you all properly at The Hawthorns. I genuinely wish the club well for the future.’  

Bilic has vast coaching experience across the world, having also managed Lokomotiv Moscow, Besiktas, West Ham United, Al Ittihad and the Croatian national team.

He began his coaching career with Hadjuk Split in 2001 after retiring as a player for the Croatian side a year earlier.

Bilic’s compatriot and former Royal Antwerp coach Ivan Leko was named the new head coach of former CSL champions Shanghai SIPG last week.

source: dailymail.co.uk