Slaven Bilic may have earned his fair share of air miles in recent years having taken jobs in place as far away as China and Saudi Arabia.
However the former Croatian international has admitted in a new interview that West Ham United remains the closest foreign club to his heart.Although home town club Hajduk Split - where he began both his playing and management career - understandably receives his greatest affection, Bilic revealed the next club he looks out for is West Ham - where he also played and managed.
Signed by Harry Redknapp from German side Karlsruher in 1996, the centre half became a firm fans' favourite before moving to Everton little more than a year later.
But he was back at the Boleyn Ground 18 years later when hired to replace the departing Sam Allardyce as the club's final manager at its home of 112 years.
Even though he was destined for another fairly short stay - Bilic was sacked two years and five months after he returned to east London in the wake of a string of disappointing results - he insists that the club remains dear to him - as do the fans.
"I am connected to West Ham because I played there," he told Jason Burt. "I know the story and, after Hajduk Split, it’s my club. If I had to choose one.
"I loved West Brom, also; I loved Besiktas still. But West Ham stands out because we have a long history. It’s from 1996 to 2025. It’s life. Because we clicked straight away.
"When I became manager of West Ham, the first game, a packed stadium against an Andorra team [Lusitans], they loved me. I even asked myself, why?
"I was there 18 months as a player and I left. They [the fans] were angry and didn’t want me to go. But I used to go to pubs near Upton Park to mix with them. Dicksy, Bish [Ian Bishop], John Moncur, me. It was different times. I loved it.
"West Ham, the fans, the Iron Maiden story -I was born and raised on that music. West Ham is a cult. And even that movie, Green Street!"
And Bilic also gave his version of the mythical 'West Ham way' - which has been used to describe almost anything involving the club from salt and pepper pots in Cassettari's to Paolo Di Canio's worldie against Wimbledon some 25 years ago.
"Spurs fans and Arsenal fans try and mock it, but there is a West Ham Way,” he insisted. "For me, there is. It’s roll up your sleeves, do a sliding tackle - but nutmeg him also. That’s the ‘West Ham Way’.
"Harry Redknapp was like that. Harry wanted to attack. He was the one who brought [Paulo] Futre, [Paolo] Di Canio, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand to the club. Skilful players. The fans loved it.
"All the teams played 4-4-2 and our midfield two were John Moncur and Ian Bishop, very skilful. That’s West Ham. But you have to fight and, for me, that’s also my philosophy.
"My philosophy of football is to put as many talented players on the pitch, as many [Dimitri] Payets on the pitch, but to make them work hard. That’s the ‘West Ham Way’ - and that’s my way."
Currently out of work, Bilic is ready to return to management having been unemployed since last August when he walked out on Saudi side Al-Fateh after they failed to pay his salary.
And the popular Croat plans to step back into the dugout before too long. "The only question is whether you are hungry or not," he said.
"What people don’t realise is that for me, as a manager, it was a bigger challenge to manage in Saudi Arabia than in Europe. I am a better coach than before Saudi because of all the issues you have to deal with.
"I love to work. Every week someone is calling. But I decided to wait to try and get something in England or Europe. There have been a few so far from Europe but I want to wait for the next season."
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