Who is Slaven Bilić, the coach of Al-Fateh:
Slaven Bilić, a prominent figure in Croatian football, is a former player and current football manager. Born on September 11, 1968, in Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia, Bilić stands tall at 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches).
Bilić had a successful career as a defender, starting in 1988 with his hometown club, Hajduk Split. Throughout his playing career, he also enjoyed fruitful spells with Karlsruher SC in Germany, as well as West Ham United and Everton in England. He ultimately retired from active football in 2001. On the international stage, Bilić was a consistent presence in Croatia's defense during the tenure of coach Miroslav Blažević. He earned a total of 44 caps between 1992 and 1999, representing Croatia in prestigious tournaments such as UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. His contributions played a key role in Croatia securing third place in the 1998 World Cup.
Transitioning into a managerial role after his retirement, Bilić assumed the position of head coach for his former club, Hajduk Split, during the second half of the 2001–02 season. He then ventured into managing the Croatia national under-21 team from 2004 to 2006 before taking charge of the senior national team. Under his leadership, Croatia reached the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championship. Bilić was lauded for his significant contributions to the national team, particularly for successfully integrating young players from the under-21 squad into the senior squad.
In his managerial journey, Bilić managed various clubs, including Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, Beşiktaş in Turkey, and West Ham United in England, where he spent two years each. During the 2018–19 season, he served as the head coach of Al-Ittihad. On June 13, 2019, he assumed the managerial role at West Bromwich Albion. Following his tenure at West Bromwich Albion, he managed the Chinese team Beijing Guoan before taking on the role of manager at Watford in 2022.
As of the most recent information available, Slaven Bilić is the current manager of Saudi Professional League side
Al-Fateh. His career, which spans both playing and managerial roles, reflects his dedication and significant contributions to the world of football.