Chelsea have finally agreed terms for Steve Clarke to join former Chelsea striker, Gianfranco Zola, as the new first team coach at West Ham.
Clarke handed in his resignation on 12th September after spending 20 years with Chelsea as a player and coach.
Steve Clarke was promoted from youth team coach in 2004 by Jose Mourinho. Clarke and Mourinho formed a great working relationship which won Chelsea two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cup’s in a three year period.
When Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007 it was unclear what would happen to Steve Clarke; and though he remained as first team coach at Chelsea under Avram Grant, he was “assisted” by Henk Ten Cate, undermining his role and authority. Knowing the players affection and respect for Clarke, this undoubtedly started the Stamford Bridge boat rocking!
When Felipe Scolari was appointed Chelsea manager in July 2008 he brought his own coaching team with him, but again Clarke was kept on. But it was surely only a matter of time before someone as respected as a coach as Steve Clarke would be offered a suitable role.
I believe Zola and Clarke will work well together, and am more confident of Steve Clarke’s success at Upton Park than I am Gianfranco Zola’s baptism of fire.
Like Paolo Di Canio before him, I believe with a few wins playing exciting attacking football, and the West Ham fans will instantly love him and choose to ignore his love and affection for bitter rivals Chelsea.
Clarke and Zola’s first game in charge will be on Saturday at 3pm when West Ham play Newcastle.
1 comment so far
1 Price Per Head Bookie // Sep 19, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I’m glad for Clarke and I think it speaks greatly of him that he would choose to pursue a fresh challenge alongside Zola even though that means he’s making A LOT less money. That’s dignity over money which to me is a very respectable stance to take – for some it may sound stupid but if he was unhappy at the Chelsea, relegated from his tasks and slowly being marginalized then why on earth would he stay there?