Gianfranco Zola hails West Ham's new assistant coach Steve Clarke

Gianfranco Zola reckons that assistant Steve Clarke is the best signing he will EVER make as West Ham manager.

Zola has revealed that the ex-Chelsea No.2, who worked with Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, has wiped out the 'bare bones' culture that existed under Harry Redknapp and Alan Curbishley at Upton Park.

And the Hammers boss also admits he is expecting an ambitious club to come in for his first-team coach, who has never made any secret of his desire to manage in his own right.

Zola, whose side host Spurs tonight, said: "Obviously I hope they will come but not soon. I have a great relationship with Steve and he knows that I would love to have him working with me as long as possible.

But when he tells me it is the right time for him to go, then I will respect that.

"He has worked for many years with Mourinho, who as everybody knows is a very good coach. On top of that, he has had other managers and that gives him experience and knowledge."

As a player Clarke, 45, was part of the Chelsea sides which lifted the FA Cup, League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup in the late nineties.

As a coach he has worked with Ruud Gullit at Newcastle and then became assistant to Mourinho as Chelsea clinched two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups over three seasons.

Clarke stayed on at Chelsea after Mourinho left to help Avram Grant guide the club to within a penalty kick of the Champions League crown and within one game of another Premier League trophy.

He was linked twice to the manager's job at Leicester.

But once Zola took over at Upton Park, Clarke quit to join him in September and the Italian believes the Hammers can reach new heights with him on board. He said: "Talking to me about Steve Clarke is like talking to me about my father. He's such an important person for me which is why I said since the day I took the job that I wanted him with me.

"I knew him as a player. He's a very intelligent person, a person you can rely on even in the most difficult moments.

"He knows a lot about the Premier League and the way he organises the training sessions are unbelievable. I have to give him a lot of credit because a lot of the work that has gone on is because of his fantastic job.

"I am a little bit worried about losing him but my worries are completely overcome by the pleasure of seeing him going his way and having the success he deserves. I know one day he'll go into management and I'll be very sad, but I am going to be happy knowing he can do a great job."

The training regime under Clarke and fitness coach Antonio Pintus has ensured that even luckless Kieron Dyer is fit! Only long-term casualty Dean Ashton is on the sick list.

Zola added: "The players are working well and the physios are doing a good job. When you are fit and well trained, it's very difficult for you to get injured.

"That's one of the secrets. The medical department is working very well."

STEVE CLARKE FACT FILE

Born: Saltcoats, Scotland, August 23, 1963

PLAYING CAREER:

St Mirren (1982-87) 197 apps, 7 goals; Chelsea (1987-98) 421 apps, 10 goals

HONOURS

FA Cup 1997, League Cup 1998, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1998

MANAGEMENT CAREER:

Newcastle assistant to Gullit (1999); Chelsea assistant to Mourinho (2004-2007 ); Chelsea assistant to Grant (2007-08); Chelsea assistant to Scolari (2008); West Ham assistant manager to Zola (Sept 08-present)

HONOURS:

Premier League (with Mourinho) 2005, 2006 FA Cup (with Mourinho) 2007, League Cup (With Mourinho) 2007

TONIGHT'S PROBABLE TEAMS

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TOTTENHAM

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