Fulham’s Jokanovic was once favourite to succeed Bilic at West Ham

Follow us on Google Discover

Not too long ago Slavisa Jokanovic was favourite to succeed Slaven Bilic at West Ham, so what happened to the Fulham boss?

Slaven Bilic gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool.

Slaven Bilic’s time as West Ham United manager came to an end after a little over two years when we was sacked following the 4-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool.

The East London club have wasted no time in appointing the Croatian’s successor, naming David Moyes as the new boss at the London Stadium – much to the disappointment of many of the fans.

David Moyes looks on during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Swansea City.

There were many names being linked with the vacant position with the Hammers, but when it came to it the man who had always been the favourite to take over from Bilic was barely mentioned, if at all.

That man is Slavisa Jokanovic, the current Fulham chief who back in April was reported by Sky Sports to be the West Ham hierarchy’s first choice should there be a change in management.

At the time Jokanovic was in the process of guiding the Cottagers to a playoff place in the Championship against the odds and having also got Watford promoted to the top tier in 2014/15, his stock was high.

Slavisa Jokanovic, manager of Fulham, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Then in August, with Bilic under pressure once again, the Express claimed that the Serbian was being lined up to take over from the 49 year old once again.

However, when the time actually came in November, Jokanovic was no longer even in the running it seemed; perhaps because the news that the dismissal of sporting director Craig Kline resulted in police being called to the training ground is just the latest issue in a shambolic season for the West Londoners under his stewardship.

On the pitch Fulham have not won in five games and following a 2-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers are 17th in the second tier of English football. West Ham and the top flight now seems a long way off fo Jokanovic.