Nikica Jelavic one step closer to potential West Ham return as ‘historic’ success earns him big job

In a week in which Andy Carroll departed the fallen giants of French football as a bonafide Bordeaux hero, as Manuel Lanzini battles away in the Club World Cup, another of West Ham United’s 2015/16 squad took charge of a senior team for the first time.

Nikica Jelavic has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League as a head coach at some point in the future.

In the meantime, a former West Ham United frontman who cut his teeth under the likes of David Moyes, Walter Smith and Slaven Bilic is hoping to make a success of his first spell at the helm of a first-team roster.

After returning to old employers NK Lokomotiva as an academy coach two years ago, Jelavic has been rewarded for a ‘historic’ domestic double and a last-32 spot in the UEFA Youth League. His gift? A promotion at a club reeling from last season’s disappointing eighth place finish.

In an era when Frank Lampard rebuilds his managerial reputation at Coventry City, while Michael Carrick looks for a fresh start post-Middlesbrough, Jelavic’s first task is to jolt into life a Lokomotiva outfit hoping to bounce back from their joint-worst finish in a decade.

Former West Ham United striker Nikica Jelavic takes over NK Lokomotiva

To quote their official website, Jelavic’s time in charge of the juniors side was ‘extremely successful’

‘Historic’, even.

“It is a great honour and responsibility for me to take over the senior team of Lokomotiva,” beams the 39-year-old ex-Rangers and Everton frontman. “The club has given me the opportunity to grow as a coach and achieve great things together with talented young players.

“Now is the time for a new challenge and I believe that together we will continue to build recognisable, ambitious and modern football.”