New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic feels he is back "home" after signing a three-year deal with the Premier League club.
The former Hammers defender was confirmed as their new manager on Tuesday afternoon - replacing Sam Allardyce after the club decided against offering him a new deal.
Having managed most recently at Besiktas, former Croatia coach Bilic will turn his hand to Premier League management for the first time and will also lead West Ham into Europe after they qualified for the Europa League through their fair-play ranking.
"It is a great place to play and I felt like I was at home," the 46-year-old said after the announcement.
"It is a big privilege and a big responsibility to now be manager and I hope that I will prove it to the board, players and fans.
"My first priority when choosing a club is to look at its ambitions. When I spoke to the chairmen and (vice-chairman) Karren Brady, they made clear that it is not only the fantastic new stadium we are moving into, but they showed their determination and ambition to make what is a big club even bigger."
"I would say to the West Ham fans that I will give my best and together we will achieve great things"
The majority of West Ham supporters never warmed to Allardyce, despite the fact he guided them back to the top flight at the first attempt and has led them to safety in the last three seasons.
But in Bilic they have a man they have an affinity with, and the former fan favourite is now ready to match the ambitions of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold - and bring success for supporters to enjoy.
"I saw their determination and passion that they want to do that," Bilic said of the chairmen.
"I could feel that they really wanted me so it was an easy choice. I would say to the West Ham fans that I will give my best and together we will achieve great things."
Sullivan said West Ham should be aiming for a top-eight finish and a strong cup performance in the new season, as stage one of "a three-year project".
The joint-chairman added on West Ham's website: "I think he will bring a few of the West Ham legends to be part of his entourage and I think that is very good because it strengthens the bond with the supporters.
He will take us into the Olympic Stadium and I think he will be here for a long time."
Bilic has received backing from former Hammers team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who spent an 18-month spell alongside the new manager when breaking into the senior side.
"He's a solid appointment," former England captain Ferdinand said at the launch of BT Sport Europe.
"He had 18 months at West Ham where he was a very good player and someone I looked up to as a defender.
"He's a really nice guy, I've met him since through a number of friends. It seems he's got a good future at West Ham and it'll be a good place for him to be."
