WEST BROM have appointed Slaven Bilic as they aim to bounce back to the Premier League.

The Baggies have turned to the former West Ham chief, who signed his contract this afternoon.

After the Baggies confirmed his appointment, Bilic beamed: “I’m delighted with this opportunity of course.

“We want to improve, we want to improve on the pitch and Albion have convinced me they want to return to the Premier League.

"Albion have a short-term project and a long project and they do not clash.

“They wanted me to lead them, to help improve them. They made it clear they wanted me to be the one to lead them in this and I didn’t think twice once they had spoken to me."

Yesterday, SunSport revealed Bilic had told friends in Croatia he is thrilled at the prospect of succeeding Darren Moore and caretaker boss Jimmy Shan as boss.

A close confidant of the 50-year-old revealed: “Slaven is excited at the potential West Brom possesses.

"He considers them a big club, who should be playing in the Premier League.

“His ambition is clear. He wants to manage in the Premier League again and he expects to achieve that with West Bromwich Albion.”

Bilic has been desperate to return to English football after a near two-year-absence following his sacking from West Ham in November 2017.

He was dumped despite producing the best points-per game tally of any West Ham boss at the time of his exit.

Bilic's appointment is sure to please fellow Croat and Baggies fan Goran Ivanisevic.

The former Croatia boss believes he can lead Albion to automatic promotion and is already targeting potential signings.

Bilic is considering turning to his former club to try and pip Augsburg’s potential deal to for Reece Oxford.

The Croatian boss is a massive fan of the 20-year-old, who he promoted to the Hammers’ first team.

Oxford has just spent a season-long loan at the German club who want to sign him on a permanent deal, following a successful stint last season.

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