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Slaven Bilic always saw a big future for Declan Rice, but not as a midfielder. The Croatian served as West Ham manager between 2015 and 2017, and handed the Englishman his senior debut in claret and blue as an 18-year-old at the end of the 2016/17 campaign. This proved to be just the start for Rice, who went on to establish himself as one of the Premier League's standout defensive midfielders with the Hammers in the years that followed. After making over 200 appearances for the Irons and captaining them to Europa Conference League glory, the England star made the £100million move to Arsenal in 2023. This saw him join Jack Grealish as the joint-most expensive English player of all time, and his stock has continued to rise since. And while Rice now ranks among the best in the world in his position, his remarkable career trajectory was not always this clear. Appearing on talk SPORT's 'The Line Up', Bilic admitted he had tipped the now 26-year-old to become a top centre-back. When asked if he could see Rice's huge potential straight away, he replied: “Yes, as a player, but not as a midfielder, although me and my staff put him in midfield. "Declan was then the biggest prospect in the youth team. “But he was more West Ham’s next John Terry - leader, centre back, organising, rolling up the sleeves and everything. " It was at centre-back where Rice debuted under Bilic, coming off the bench to make his first senior appearance in a 2-1 win over Burnley in May 2017. And while he wouldn't become a mainstay in midfield until the 2018/19 campaign, nearly a year after the Croatian departed east London, his first glimpse in the role came under Bilic. An injury crisis in August 2017 saw Rice deputise in midfield, making three starts in front of the defence at the start of the season. Recalling his beginnings in the position, Bilic continued: “But like in every way of life, you always need the opportunity. “For him the opportunity came because suddenly in pre-season [Cheikhou] Kouyate and [Manuel] Lanzini got injured. " He went on: “So suddenly we need somebody as an anchor in front of the defence, and we see Declan is good on the ball and everything. “We used to have centre-backs who couldn't play in midfield like Winston Reid and Ginger [James] Collins. They're great players but they are proper centre-backs, you know? "And we play Declan [in midfield], and Declan straight away, he's unbelievably confident for that age, unbelievable. ” Despite leaving a huge first impression, when asked if he could have foreseen Rice becoming a £100m player, Bilic admitted: "No. " And it's fair to say the 56-year-old will be thrilled with his former protégé's unexpected rise, with Rice now a mainstay at both the heart of England and the Gunners' midfield. As well as starting a total of 83 games altogether since his big-money move to the Emirates Stadium, the former Ireland international played in every minute of the Three Lions' run to the final of Euro 2024. With Rice's career having gone from strength to strength so far, he will now be hoping to help bring silverware back to both club and country in the near future, having also come off second best with Arsenal in the Premier League last term. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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