Shirley Austin has seen 10 managers come and go at West Ham during 35 years working in the players’ restaurant.

So what does she think about manager No11 — Slaven Bilic?

“I liked him when he was a player here,” says Shirley. “He was popular, considerate. He even gave me one of his Croatia shirts — I still have it somewhere.”

Time will tell if Bilic, a West Ham centre-half from 1996-97, will be as popular this time.

The 46-year-old has little time to make sure his feet are comfortably under the table. Bilic’s first match in charge is tomorrow, when West Ham host Andorran side FC Lusitans in the first qualifying round of the Europa League — and he is excited about the challenges ahead.

“We will treat the Europa League with respect,” says Bilic. “It’s great for the club, great for the fans, great for the players — everybody.

“We have to start very early, though, and we won’t jeopardise our preparation for the start of the Premier League on August 8. We have to be careful. We are favourites against Lusitans and it will be a good chance for some who do not play regularly — and some youngsters.

“We are hungry for European nights, especially at Upton Park, but we must be very careful not to call upon players who played so many games last season. It would maybe be good at the start of the season but by the end it would be totally negative. We are going to find the balance.”

Five things in Slaven Bilic's In-Tray 5 show all Five things in Slaven Bilic's In-Tray 1/5 NOTE FROM BOARD - DON'T GET RELEGATED While it may seem like stating the obvious, with a pending move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon, the east London club simply cannot afford to go down. While tens of thousands more fans would flood through the gates in Stratford to see the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, the appeal of Ipswich and Huddersfield would prove a somewhat harder sell. Getty 2/5 GET THE SQUAD MATCH FIT The Irons will have less of a shortened summer break than their rivals given the early kick off of qualifying for the Europa League. While the matches will certainly add a competitive edge to often laboured pre-season warm-up games, if the players are not completely ready for a trip to one of the Continent's footballing outposts, then the dreams of seeing European nights back at the Boleyn Ground on her farewell will remain very much a pipe dream. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images 3/5 BRING THE FANS ONSIDE Bilic already knows what having the Hammers faithful fully behind the team can do, having been part of the squad which finished in the top-10 at the end of the 1997/98 campaign. Although only making a short stay at the east London club, the Croatian defender had earned himself cult status with the supporters, a relationship which will be put to the test should results not go his way. Christopher Lee/Getty Images 4/5 HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE ANDY CARROLL? There is no doubt when Carroll is fully fit and firing on all cylinders, he is a handful for any defence in the Barclays Premier League. The Irons have not really seen the best of the club record £15million signing because of injury. However, when he is available, Bilic will then face a dilemma of how best to utilise the former England targetman and still satisfy those who crave the West Ham way. Jan Kruger/Getty Images 5/5 KEEP A COOL HEAD IN THE DUGOUT Bilic was known for his passionate style of play, which endured him to fans, and has also taken that into coaching, often falling foul of UEFA during his stint in charge of both Croatia and domestic clubs in Europe. The 46-year-old may well be suited and booted on the touchline these days, but will no doubt still be kicking every ball in the technical area, but will have to show his tactics can match up to his undoubted enthusiasm. OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images 1/5 NOTE FROM BOARD - DON'T GET RELEGATED While it may seem like stating the obvious, with a pending move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon, the east London club simply cannot afford to go down. While tens of thousands more fans would flood through the gates in Stratford to see the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, the appeal of Ipswich and Huddersfield would prove a somewhat harder sell. Getty 2/5 GET THE SQUAD MATCH FIT The Irons will have less of a shortened summer break than their rivals given the early kick off of qualifying for the Europa League. While the matches will certainly add a competitive edge to often laboured pre-season warm-up games, if the players are not completely ready for a trip to one of the Continent's footballing outposts, then the dreams of seeing European nights back at the Boleyn Ground on her farewell will remain very much a pipe dream. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images 3/5 BRING THE FANS ONSIDE Bilic already knows what having the Hammers faithful fully behind the team can do, having been part of the squad which finished in the top-10 at the end of the 1997/98 campaign. Although only making a short stay at the east London club, the Croatian defender had earned himself cult status with the supporters, a relationship which will be put to the test should results not go his way. Christopher Lee/Getty Images 4/5 HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE ANDY CARROLL? There is no doubt when Carroll is fully fit and firing on all cylinders, he is a handful for any defence in the Barclays Premier League. The Irons have not really seen the best of the club record £15million signing because of injury. However, when he is available, Bilic will then face a dilemma of how best to utilise the former England targetman and still satisfy those who crave the West Ham way. Jan Kruger/Getty Images 5/5 KEEP A COOL HEAD IN THE DUGOUT Bilic was known for his passionate style of play, which endured him to fans, and has also taken that into coaching, often falling foul of UEFA during his stint in charge of both Croatia and domestic clubs in Europe. The 46-year-old may well be suited and booted on the touchline these days, but will no doubt still be kicking every ball in the technical area, but will have to show his tactics can match up to his undoubted enthusiasm. OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

Bilic spent the weekend assessing part of his squad during a camp in Ireland which involved a mixture of development and senior players.

Most of the rest of the squad resumed training this week and Bilic expects all to be at peak fitness in time for the opening match in the Premier League, at Arsenal. The FA Cup holders strengthened this week by signing goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea and more arrivals will follow before the season kicks off.

“It’s a very difficult start but, on the other hand, it is good,” says Bilic. “This League is well known for the fact that there are no easy games here.

“Our first three away games are Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. Our first three home games are Leicester, Bournemouth and Newcastle which are also difficult — but perhaps promising.

“I’m happy. We have a great game with which to start — Arsenal away — and history says it is better to play them now than November.

“It is not extremely difficult, it is not extremely light. It could be better but this is the Premier League and sooner or later we have to play all the teams twice.”

Since retiring as a player, Bilic is best known for leading Croatia to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 and he has also managed three clubs, Besiktas in Turkey being his last.

Bilic is a manager who embraces the modern game yet you sense it is tradition and history which really matter to him. “It brought back good memories, coming back to Chadwell Heath after all that time,” says Bilic (right).

“Shirley is still here — unbelievable! It is a lot different to 20 years ago. It is good — very traditional, it’s got something and I like that.

“You have to find the balance between the stuff you need in modern football like sports science but also it is important not to lose touch with football — the smell of the pitch, even the canteen.

“My over-riding emotion now is excitement. This is a great League and this is my club, a great club. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed my two years in Turkey immensely — I can only imagine that this will be like it was there.

“After Besiktas, though, this is the place I wanted to be and I’m so glad, so proud — I can’t wait.”