Bilic is a manager in the highest demand after leading Croatia to Euro 2008 and he has already turned down one big-money approach from Hamburg in order to remain in his relatively modest £80,000-a-year role.

The ex-West Ham defender was on the shortlist for the Upton Park job after Alan Curbishley resigned and he is likely to be linked with any future Premier League vacancies.

But Corluka detailed how a Croatian's sense of honour will prevent Bilic from turning his back on his country until his duty with the national team has been done.

Spurs defender Corluka explained: "He said before that he would stay until the end of the qualification.

"In Croatia, if you betrayed because of money - said that you would do one thing and then two months later do something else because of money - you would not be able to come back to Croatia.

"That's it - if you give your word, that's it.

"The people in Croatia look to you so you can't just say something and then do something else. He's an honest man and it's not just about money for him.

"He was a big figure in Croatia anyway but the results he has had in the last couple of years have made him even bigger.

"Nobody put pressure on him to stay - he decided to stay by himself."

That same sense of honour has led to Corluka being unavailable for UEFA Cup action with Tottenham having helped Manchester City overcome FC Midtjylland in the qualifying round.

Corluka stroked home the winning spot-kick as City prevailed on penalties.

Even though he will have to sit out Spurs' clash with Wisla Krakow on Thursday night, Corluka said: "I would never have thought about not playing in that UEFA Cup game.

"City were very good to me last year - everyone, the fans, the people at the club, and I made lots of friends there.

"That would have been like a betrayal so I would never have done that."