Dimitri Payet has described Slaven Bilic as a "father" figure to him while at West Ham, but said he had several reasons leave.
Payet joined a stellar debut season with the Hammers but demanded to be sold halfway through his second campaign after becoming disillusioned with the club's fight against relegation.
A January move back to Marseille for £25million was agreed after Payet refused to play, with Bilic insisting upon the sale.
Payet has spoken fondly of his time spent under Bilic and credits him for quickly settling into life in England.
"Like a father," he told So Foot magazine when asked how Bilic managed him. "We talked to each other every day: he quickly understood how I functioned.
"That was seen in my adaptation [to life in the Premier League], which was very fast. He's a nervous man. He's a Croatian. He can scream. But he manages the players well."
Payet returned to Marseille, 18 months on from his £10.8m arrival, and has since been appointed as captain.
The France international insists he had to leave over fears of losing his place in the national team squad and found a different Marseille.
He continued: "There were several reasons, but the first one was sporting: West Ham's objectives were no longer the same from the season before, and I felt danger for my football and my place in the France national team.
"There was a choice to make. On my return, I find a Marseille [side] changed at all levels. I feel like it's not the same club. It's not the same management. Obviously, there is a new owner, but there are other aspects that resemble more a bigger club.