West Ham confirm Chelsea's Clarke as first team coach

Chelsea stalwart Steve Clarke was confirmed as West Ham United's first team coach on Monday, the Premier League club said.

Chelsea failed to accept Clarke's resignation last week but agreed a compensation figure with West Ham on Monday, allowing Clarke to join Italian Gianfranco Zola in a new management team at Upton Park.

West Ham said Clarke had signed a three-year contract.

"We are very pleased to welcome Steve Clarke to the club," West Ham's CEO Scott Duxbury said on the club's website (www.whufc.com).

"Steve is rightly regarded as one of the top coaches in Europe and his experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to us. We are confident we have the perfect coaching team."

Former Scotland international Clarke, 45, joined Chelsea in 1987 from Scottish club St. Mirren and became a fixture in the first team for a decade.

After a brief spell as assistant coach at Newcastle United Clarke returned to Chelsea coaching set-up and became Jose Mourinho's right-hand man in 2004, helping the club win two Premier League titles.

He also worked under Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge last season.

Zola replaced Alan Curbishley last week after he resigned because of the club's transfer policy.