1) Davor Suker (2000-2001)
Having won the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid, it was a rather pleasant surprise when Suker signed for West Ham in 2000. The striker, who came away from the 1998 World Cup with a third place finish with Croatia, only stayed at Upton Park for a year. However, although he was a veteran during his time at the Boleyn Ground, there is no doubting the quality that Suker possessed during his footballing career. He scored three goals in thirteen games during 2000/01, including one against Sir Alex Ferguson’s classy Manchester United. The forward hung up his boots 2003, having scored 235 goals in 516 appearances. He was the runner-up in the 1998 Ballon d’Or award, and remains Croatia’s top goal-scorer of all time. What a guy.
2) Mladen Petric (2013)
Arguably West Ham’s worst signing of all time, Petric was signed as a free agent following Sam Allardyce’s striking issue at the beginning of the 2013/14 season. The front-man never started a game, and made just four substitute appearances during his East London tenure. He was later released in December 2013, and has since been at Greek outfit Panathinaikos. Dear oh dear.
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3) Slaven Bilic (1996-1997)
Yep, you read that correctly. The Hammers’ current manager was also a former player at the club, and was a part of the squad that Suker shined in at France 98. Bilic was signed in January 1996 for £1.3million by Harry Redknapp, and was a fierce and physical centre-back. This broke the club’s record transfer fee at the time, with Bilic joining from the Bundesliga. The Croatian scored three goals in 54 games at West Ham, which is pretty good going for a defender, including a goal against Liverpool. He left for Everton in the summer of 1997, following his vow to ensure that the Irons were not relegated. Now, he will be looking to achieve great things from the dugout.
4) Igor Stimac (1999-2001)
Another centre-half, Stimac swapped Derby County for West Ham United in August 1999, where £900,000 was paid for the defender. Perhaps an unsung consistent performer in the team, Stimac scored one goal in 41 starts, before returning to his homeland. Now, he has taken up a rather peculiar profession; singing, and recently released his first pop single. Only at West Ham, eh?
So, Alen Halilovic could make it number five. Just how good a career will he have though, and how long will we see him at the club for? Let’s hope under the coaching of his fellow countryman Slaven Bilic that we will see him blossom at the Boleyn Ground.
