West Ham United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Steve Clarke as first-team coach working with new manager Gianfranco Zola.
The highly regarded Clarke, who left his post at Chelsea last week and was able to move to the Boleyn Ground after a compensation package was agreed on Monday, will be part of a strong coaching set-up. It also includes Kevin Keen, who has been promoted to first-team coach, and goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko. Clarke has agreed a three-year contract.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "We are very pleased to welcome Steve Clarke to the club. Steve is rightly regarded as one of the top coaches in Europe and his experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to us. He recognises what we are trying to achieve at West Ham United and wants to be a part of that. We have worked very hard to bring him on board and are confident we now have the perfect coaching team."
Zola has also acquired the services of fitness coach Antonio Pintus, who has top-level continental experience with Chelsea, Monaco and Juventus. He joined in with training for the first time on Monday, working with the club's head of sports science Nick Davies and conditioning coach Alex Dyer.
The 45-year-old Clarke has been in English football since moving as a player from St Mirren to Stamford Bridge in 1987. The former right-back spent eleven years in the first team at Chelsea, winning six Scotland caps, before hanging up his boots. He then had a brief spell at Newcastle United as assistant manager.
Clarke returned to Chelsea to work with the youth teams before becoming assistant manager to Jose Mourinho in 2004. After helping them win several major honours including two Premier League titles, he then worked under Avram Grant after his appointment in 2007 and then under Luiz Felipe Scolari upon his arrival in July.