FER DENIED Rio Ferdinand offer to become struggling West Ham’s new defensive coach rejected by Hammers boss Slaven Bilic

Hammers boss rules out a Ferdinand homecoming at his struggling former club

Slaven Bilic has rejected Rio Ferdinand’s offer to help his struggling former club as the new defensive coach.
The Croatian boss – and Ferdinand’s former Hammers team-mate – is under pressure with his side shipping 29 goals in 14 league games so far this season.

Slaven Bilic has rejected an offer from Rio Ferdinand to join his West Ham coaching staff


Ferdinand, now retired from playing and working as a pundit for BT Sport, had offered his services to the West Ham board as a defensive coach.

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Another defensive horror show saw the Hammers thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal at home on Saturday.

And it prompted Ferdinand, 38, to blast: “There is no life, no passion. It was one of the weakest West Ham teams in recent years.

“It could have been a lot worse, they need to have a look at themselves for some of that defending at the end.”

The ex-England captain came through the club’s ranks as a youngster and was team-mates with Bilic for an 18-month spell from 1996-97, although Ferdinand spent some of that time on loan at Bournemouth.

However, the Croatian has ruled out a sensational return for the former Manchester United centre-back, insisting in talks with London Stadium bosses that he is happy with his current backroom staff.

Bilic already has former Irons defender Julian Dicks on his coaching team

Ferdinand was West Ham team-mates with Bilic for a spell in his early career

Club chiefs backed Bilic, 48, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool and crucial home games against fellow relegation candidates Burnley and Hull.

Chairman David Sullivan said: “There is no disguising the fact that everyone was bitterly disappointed with the home defeat against Arsenal on Saturday.

The Hammers were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal at home on Saturday


“We are refusing to make excuses though and the players will know that the performance was not good enough. We need to show a lot more if we are to get back on the winning trail.



“I saw Slaven’s comments after the game and as always he was completely honest with his assessment.