Croatian Team Wants Bilic To Remain Coach

Slaven Bilic`s departure to German HSV is a realistic possibility, but the players would rather see him stay.

Selector of the Croatian football team Slaven Bilic is currently the most wanted coach in the world and seeing how the heads of the Croatian Football Association (HNS) have still not offered him a new contract, his departure from the helm of the national team is now a realistic possibility.

The most keen club is German HSV, which has already talked with Bilic and if HNS heads do not react fast, Croatia might soon lose a man who made the team`s play excellent and impressed the entire football world.

The players themselves agree that Slaven Bilic is the only one and, at this point, the perfect person to lead the team at the European Championship in Switzerland and it would be a shame to see him leave.

- With the way he has led this team, Slaven Bilic has displayed his quality and it should be no wonder that great clubs are interested. HSV is very ambitious and financially powerful. They will be playing in the Champions League next season and they want a great coach – Mladen Petric told the Vecernji list daily, continuing:

- The coach is a favourite among all the teams, the atmosphere in the team is great and it would be a shame if he left us. I think it is always best to go to a great competition with a clear head, but I don`t want to tackle this. If he really leaves, I will understand his decision. Bilic is cutting class and it is normal that others are fighting for him - Petric concluded.

Captain of the Croatian football team Niko Kovac shares his view:

- I must admit that I don`t know much about it, but I do know that it would be a great shame for Croatia. HSV is a great club with a long tradition and is excellently organised, but I hope Bilic will stay – Kovac told the Vecernji list daily.

- In the past two years, we have really had an excellent atmosphere. Slaven has assembled a new team, introduced young players, these two years have been amazing. Every selector has his things, but, still, it`s different with Bilic, his work is more modern and closer to the players. He is a coach and a friend and I think he will stay. He loves Croatia and this job. I feel he won`t leave, regardless of the offers, because apart from a few older players, he has a team that can play together for 10 more years, it is full of potential. I don`t know, perhaps I feel he will stay because I would like him to - Kovac concluded.