Robert Green has been voted West Ham United's best player for August by
users of whufc.com
09.09.2008
Robert Green has started this season in exactly the same way as he finished
the last by winning the first player of the month award of the campaign.
Having been named Hammer of the Year for the 2007/08 season, the goalkeeper
polled 46 per cent of the votes for August's top player - finishing ahead of
Dean Ashton who scored 23 per cent. Having played his part in helping his
club achieve three wins from their first four games, Green's solid form saw
him recalled into the England squad by Fabio Capello for the fixtures
against Andorra and Croatia.
The 28-year-old started the month with the 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic.
After a relatively quiet first half he made a crucial save from Wilson
Palacios' shot to keep the home side ahead. Next up was a trip to Manchester
City and, despite a disappointing result, Green made a stunning save from a
Michael Johnson shot just before half-time.
Macclesfield Town then visited east London in the second round of the
Carling Cup and, despite being beaten by an early header, Green was a
virtual bystander for the rest of the game as the Silkmen only had three
shots on target in 120 minutes of football.
In the final match of the month against Blackburn Rovers, Green's
contributions were much more telling. After United took an early 2-1 lead,
Rovers won a penalty just after half-time. Jason Roberts stepped up and
placed his effort low in the bottom right-hand corner of the goal but the
England international read the kick and got down quickly to make a stunning,
one-handed save.
That brought a huge roar from the home crowd but Green was not finished as
he quickly rushed out to pressurise Matt Derbyshire, forcing the striker to
put his chance over the bar. Then a few minutes later Green reacted superbly
to smother a close-range Brett Emerton header to ensure his side stayed in
front before two late goals from Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole secured the
three points.
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Dona a gonna - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 9th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Roberto Donadoni has pulled out of the race to become West Ham United's new
manager - leaving the path clear for Gianfranco Zola. Donadoni is understood
to have pulled out after expressing dissatisfaction at the way the club have
handled the appointment, and the decision to rate his former understudy in
the Italian national set-up as a better prospect. A unnamed source, said to
be close to the former national coach said this morning: "Roberto is
grateful for the opportunity and the idea of working in England very much
appealed. However, he feels that there are different views held by different
people at the club and, perhaps, the timing is not right for him to manage
the Premier League club. "Roberto, therefore, will withdraw his candidacy
for the manager's job at West Ham."
With Slaven Bilic apparently ruled out due to his insistence on remaining as
Croatia manager until the new year and Michael Laudrup - who was unveiled as
the new manager of Spartak Moscow yesterday, the same day West Ham had
claimed he was due to be interviewed for the United post - also out of the
running, Zola (who polled the fewest votes in both KUMB.com managerial
polls) is the only remaning candidate on the club's shortlist.
An announcement is expected from West Ham United on Thursday. Zola is
currently in Zagreb preparing the Italian under 21s for their Wednesday
night fixture with Croatia.
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Clarke's in the running - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 9th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Steve Clarke is favourite to be the new Hammers number two should Gianfranco
Zola be appointed as the club's new manager, as expected. Clarke, the former
assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea is a friend of Zola's following their
time together at Stamford Bridge in the late 1990s and, according to
reports, will be the man Zola looks to appoint as his right-hand man should
he be appointed later this week. Also in the frame are Zola's Italian under
21s partner Pierluigi Casiraghi and former Hammer Paolo Di Canio, who has
the backing of a number of Hammers fans. Regardless of who is eventually
appointed Kevin Keen will continue as temporary manager this Saturday for
the visit to West Bromwich Albion - although the club are determined to have
the new manager in the stands for the game, with view to taking full control
the following Monday. Zola is set to finalise terms with United sometime
today with his appointment expected on Thursday following the Italian under
21s' clash with Croatia in Zagreb tomorrow night.
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Mancini out of Hammers race - SSN
Zola hot favourite for Hammers job
Last updated: 9th September 2008
Roberto Mancini has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant
manager's job at West Ham, Sky Sports News understands. The former Leicester
man was mentioned as one of West Ham's targets as they seek a replacement
for Alan Curbishley. However, it appears that Gianfranco Zola is leading the
race to succeed Curbishley at Upton Park after impressing Hammers officials
during his interview. Mancini has been out of work since his acrimonious
departure from Inter Milan at the end of last season. The former Italian
international has admitted no new job is in the offing. "I am waiting for
something to happen," Mancini told the Italian media.
"But there is nothing on the horizon."
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West Ham ready to seal Zola deal - BBC
By Simon Austin
West Ham want Gianfranco Zola to be their new manager and expect to agree a
deal with the ex-Chelsea forward by Thursday, BBC Sport understands. The
Hammers board met on Monday and were unanimous in deciding Zola was the
right man to succeed Alan Curbishley. Zola was on a shortlist alongside
Roberto Donadoni and John Collins. A senior club source told BBC Sport: "We
are now negotiating with Gianfranco, although a final decision will be
subject to board approval." He added: "We were very comfortable with the
three options we had - Zola, Donadoni and Collins - but Gianfranco was the
first choice. "The board gave Scott Duxbury authorisation to approach him
and will meet Gianfranco before any contract is signed." Zola, the assistant
coach of the Italy Under-21s, has given the Hammers encouragement that he is
keen to move to Upton Park. West Ham interviewed Zola last week and Duxbury
then travelled to Rome to talk to him on Sunday. The former Chelsea striker
is currently preparing Italy to face Croatia on Tuesday in their final
qualifier for the European Under-21 Championship. They need to avoid defeat
in order to qualify for the tournament in Sweden. West Ham believe the
Italian, who played for Chelsea from 1996 to 2003, has the attributes to be
a big success at Upton Park. "It's true that he has no experience of
managing a club side, but he knows the Premier League very well," the source
said. "His English is very good and he can talk about football with English
players and inspire them. "He has a record of developing young footballers,
which is very important to us, and was obviously a world-class player.
Zola interview on Inside Sport - April 2008
"Experienced players like to have a manager they can respect as a
footballer."
The Hammers have moved impressively quickly to recruit a manager since
Curbishley resigned last Wednesday. They had been eager to interview Croatia
coach Slaven Bilic, but discounted the former West Ham defender because he
wanted to continue coaching his country part-time until the end of the year.
And Getafe boss Michael Laudrup joined Spartak Moscow before the Hammers
were able to speak to him. Former Italy boss Donadoni and Collins, who has
managed Hibernian, also impressed in interviews.
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Donadoni not keen on Hammers - SSN
Italian out of the running to replace Curbishley
By Chris Burton Last updated: 9th September 2008
Roberto Donadoni has officially ruled himself out of the running for the
vacant managerial post at West Ham. The Italian was believed to be one of
the names featuring prominently on the Hammers' wish list. With Alan
Curbishley having resigned from the job last week, the Upton Park club are
keen to get a new man on board as soon as possible. Having already missed
out on Michael Laudrup, who has taken a job at Spartak Moscow, and fans'
favourite Slaven Bilic seemingly unwilling to step down as Croatia boss, the
Hammers were understood to have narrowed their search to just two
candidates. Former Chelsea star Ginafranco Zola and ex-Italy coach Donadoni
were thought to be battling it out for the role, although that is no longer
the case. Donadoni has been out of work since the Italian FA decided against
renewing his contract following a poor showing by the Azzurri at Euro 2008.
He has previous club management experience from spells at Livorno and Genoa,
but has no interest in taking a job in England at present.
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Donadoni Withdraws Hammers Application, Zola Now Favourite - Goal.com
Sky Sports News are reporting that Roberto Donadoni has officially ruled
himself out of the running leaving Gianfranco Zola as the main contender for
the head coach role at West Ham United...
Towards the end of last week the two favourites for the position of head
coach at West Ham United - vacated by the departed Alan Curbishley - were
former Italian manager Roberto Donadoni, and former Stamford Bridge idol
(and one of the greatest foreign imports to ever grace the Premier League)
Gianfranco Zola.
Today however Sky Sports News are reporting that Donadoni has distanced
himself from the position, meaning that Zola is the likeliest contender to
take up affairs at Upton Park.
The broadcasters quote the 45-year old as saying: "I'd like to thank West
Ham United for approaching me and speaking with me. I welcome the
opportunity of coming to the English Premier League and managing a team like
West Ham, but it appears that the board haven't come to a conclusion. I
would want the full support of the club so I have withdrawn my application."
Zola is currently assisting Italian U21 head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi. The
U21s face Croatia U21s on Tuesday evening after drawing one-all with Greece
on September 5. Zola is focused on the task ahead with his national squad,
but is believed to be eager to take up the reins at the east London club,
should he be offered the job.
Slaven Bilic has also been linked with the role but it is highly unlikely
that he would even consider turning his back on Croatia at such an important
time in the international calender.
Alan Dawson
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10 Things you need to know about West Ham manager elect Gianfranco Zola
By Dan Silver, Mirror.co.uk 9/09/2008
With Roberto Donadoni having formally retracted his application for the job,
Gianfranco Zola is all but certain to be announced as the new manager of
West Ham in the next day or so.
Here's eveything you need to know about one of the finest foreign players
ever to grace the Premier League:
1) Gianfranco Zola was born in Oliena, Sardinia on July 5, 1966 – just five
days after West Ham won the World Cup (or so his new fans will doubtless
delight in telling him).
2) He signed his first professional contract for Sardinian side Nuorese in
1984, and also played for local team Torres, before moving to Serie A side
Napoli in 1989. He helped the team win the Scudetto in his first season, and
also came under the tutelage of Diego Maradona, who would spend hours after
training practising free kicks with him. "I learned everything from Diego,"
admitted Zola.
3) He spent three years at Parma, during which time he picked up a UEFA Cup
winners medal (in 1995) before then boss Ruud Gullit signed took him to
Chelsea for £4.5m in November, 1996.
4) An immediate success, Zola scored 12 goals in his first season, four of
which came during the Chelsea's FA Cup run which culminated in a 2-0 victory
over Middlesbrough in the final. That year he became not just the first
Chelsea player to win the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year,
but also the first to win it despite not having played a full season in
England.
5) He helped Chelsea win three trophies the following year: the League Cup,
the Super Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. Due to injury, Zola only
made the bench in the final of the latter, but he still managed to score
this second –half winner, just 21 seconds after taking to field:
6) He played a total of 312 times for Chelsea and scored 80 goals, including
the winner in the 2000 FA Cup final. In 2003 fans voted Zola the club's best
ever player, and in 2005 he was also voted into one of the strikers' berths
in the club's Centenary Eleven. He was awarded an honorary OBE in 2004 to
recognise his contribution to British football, and two years later was
inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame .This is why:
7) He left Chelsea in order to see out his career at Sardinian side Cagliari
in the summer of 2003. A week later Roman Abramovic took over at Stamford
Bridge and – according to legend – tried to buy the Italian side after Zola
refused to renege on his contract and return to Chelsea.
8) He played 35 times for Italy and scored 10 goals, including the winner
against England in a World Cup qualifying tie at Wembley in 1997. After
retiring as a player in June 2005, Zola took a role coaching the Italian
U-21 team alongside fellow ex-Chelsea star Pierluigi Casiraghi.
9) He's variously been described as a "square peg" (by then Parma coach
Carlo Ancelotti), "clever little so-and-so" (Sir Alex Ferguson) and "the
wizard" (Claudio Ranieri).
10) It would be remiss to talk about Gianfranco Zola and not show this goal,
scored in an FA Cup tie against Norwich in 2002. West Ham fans will be
hoping some of this magic rubs off on their team over the coming seasons…
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Gale reveals West Ham board talks over new manager
Submitted by tribalfootball.com on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 23:12
Former West Ham United captain Tony Gale admits he was asked by the board to
run his eye over their managerial candidates. Gale said: "I was privileged
to be asked and happy to share my thoughts with the board. "What I said is
confidential but the final short-list certainly included candidates of top
quality."
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Hammers expecting ticket sales boost - Echo
1:25pm Tuesday 9th September 2008
WEST Ham United's ticket office is expected to be swamped with calls from
supporters keen to see the club's new head coach take charge of his first
game. The Irons have failed to sell out any of their opening three matches
this season - Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League and
the Carling Cup clash with League Two Macclesfield Town. Just under 33,000
attended both the Wigan and Blackburn games, while less than 11,000 turned
up for the 4-1 extra-time win over Macclesfield. However, with Italian
Gianfranco Zola expected to be unveiled as the club's new boss on Thursday
afternoon, the Hammers are expecting a sell-out 35,000-plus crowd for the
visit of managerless Newcastle United on September 20. Joint-Italy Under-21
coach and former Chelsea star Zola has been formally offered the job by
chief executive Scott Duxbury and is currently negotiating terms. However
even if, as expected, he accepts the role, the 42-year-old will not take
charge of this Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion, instead leaving the
task to caretaker manager Kevin Keen. Instead, Zola will name his first West
Ham line-up against the Magpies who, ironically, also wanted him to replace
Kevin Keegan as the new boss at St James' Park. Supporters anxious to snap
up a ticket for the Newcastle clash can do so by calling the ticket office
on 0870 2222700 and choosing option one. Tickets are priced from £35 for
adults and from £17 for juniors. Some tickets are still remaining for
Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion, priced at £40 for adults, £25 for
seniors and £20 for under-16s. To purchase them, call 0870 1122700 and
choose option three.
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West Ham's manager-in-waiting Zola plans to raid former club Chelsea for No
2 Clarke - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 1:32 PM on 09th September 2008
Prospective Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola will move for Chelsea's Steve
Clarke as his No 2 if he is unveiled as West Ham's new manager on Thursday.
The Italian knows Clarke well from his time at Stamford Bridge and is keen
to utilise the Scot's experience as part of his coaching staff. West Ham,
frustrated at the complicatons surrounding original favourite Slaven Bilic,
have decided that Zola is the man to move the club forward after the
resignation of Alan Curbishley. Former Italian national coach Roberto
Donadoni also impressed the club's directors but at a board meeting
yesterday at Upton Park, headed by vice chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson, it was
agreed the 42-year-old was the outstanding candidate. Croatian national
coach Bilic, whose team meet England tomorrow in a World Cup qualifier in
Zagreb, was on the shortlist but doubts about his immediate availablity, and
even problems setting up a potential interview, meant West Ham finally ran
out of patience. West Ham's criteria for their new manager included someone
who would be committed to playing attacking football, would develop the
club's youth strategy, had experience of English top-level football and had
a good command of the language.
A West Ham spokesman said: 'In the end, we felt that Gianfranco Zola scored
the best of all the candidates.' The board also asked former player and TV
pundit Tony Gale to give his expert opinion. Gale said: 'I was privileged to
be asked and happy to share my thoughts with the board. 'What I said is
confidential but the final short-list certainly included candidates of top
quality.' Barring any last-minute hitches, the deal with Zola should be
completed today and it is likely he will be unveiled on Thursday. It is
understood he is happy to work with club coach Kevin Keen, who is in
temporary charge of the first team, alongside Clarke, providing he can be
tempted away from Chelsea. Chief executive Scott Duxbury, who conducted the
interviews along with technical director, Italian Gianluca Nani, was
enormously impressed with Zola and his vision for the club. Bilic had been
the bookies' favourite but West Ham never publicly confirmed that the
Croatian was their first choice.
Zola played 249 times for Chelsea, scoring 89 goals, and was the Footballer
of the Year in 1997. He was awarded an OBE in 2004 at a special ceremony in
Rome.
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Zola 'belongs to Chelsea' not West Ham, claims Leboeuf - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:47 PM on 09th September 2008
Frank Leboeuf has urged former Chelsea team-mate Gianfranco Zola to snub the
chance of managing West Ham because he 'belongs' to the Blues. Zola, joint
coach of the Italian Under-21 side with another ex-Stamford Bridge player,
Pierluigi Casiraghi,, is expected to be unveiled as the Hammers' new manager
on Thursday. Director Mike Lee said Zola and Roberto Donadoni 'really shone'
in interviews at the weekend. But former Italy head coach Donadoni later
withdraw from the race because he was dismayed at the handling of the
recruitment process - making Zola the clear favourite to take over at Upton
Park. But Leboeuf told talkSPORT: 'Zola is a very intelligent person, very
smart on the pitch and I'm sure he's going to do well. 'My only concern is
that he was a Chelsea player and not a West Ham player. I heard a West Ham
fan say that they would rather the club went for Paolo Di Canio because he
was a Hammers legend and I can understand that.' Zola played 249 times for
Chelsea, scoring 89 goals, and was the Footballer of the Year in 1997.
Leboeuf added: 'I never wanted to sign for another club because I gave my
faith and my love to Chelsea and I think you have to stick to that.
Gianfranco Zola is a legend at Chelsea and I don't see him at West Ham.
'I've nothing against West Ham but Zola belongs to Chelsea. Di Canio
belongs to West Ham.'
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Why the Rush for Zola? - Cmon Yu Irons
9 September 2008
Why on earth are we seemingly in such a rush to appoint the new manager
before the West Brom game? The timing of trying to talk to Bilic could not
be worse as he is preparing for what is arguably his biggest game yet as
manager so why not wait until next week and speak to him?
The appointment of Zola can only produce two possible outcomes that I can
see;
1st (and most likely) he will make a complete balls-up of it and we will be
no better off than we were with Curbs or 2nd he will do well and use his
time at West Ham as practice for the job he really wants which is to manage
Chelski.
Remember what happened when England went for their second choice? They got
Maclaren!
This post was submitted by John Nobes
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Birmingham City run rule over Nigel Quashie - Birmingham Mail
Sep 9 2008 By Colin Tattum
BLUES are considering a loan move for West Ham United's Nigel Quashie. The
30-year-old midfielder has been training at Wast Hills, and boss Alex
McLeish has also been running the rule over Brazilian schemer Mineiro. It
was hoped that Quashie would figure in tonight's reserves friendly against
Manchester United at St Andrew's (7pm) but he has a tight hamstring and is
unlikely to be risked. Quashie, a former £1.2 million Albion signing in
January 2006, still has two years of his contract to run at the Hammers, but
is surplus to requirements. After the Baggies relegation, he moved to the
East End in a £1.75 million deal but didn't play at all last season because
of a foot injury. The former Scottish international - he was capped by Berti
Vogts - has showed up well so far at Blues and McLeish is contemplating
whether to take him on a short-term 'emergency' loan to boost his options in
the middle of the park.
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The real reason Gianfranco Zola is choosing West Ham over Newcastle - The
Spolier
September 9th, 2008 · No Comments
It's widely reported that Gianfranco Zola will be announced as West Ham's
new manager within 48 hours despite his former Chelsea teammate Dennis Wise
supposedly showing an interest in taking him to Newcastle. Some reports
suggest that Zola would prefer to live in London than Newcastle while others
claim that the Italian is looking forward to working with compatriot
Gianluca Nani. However, the latest extract of Wise's autobiography, which is
being serialised on The Spoiler, exposes the real reason: Zola wasn't very
impressed by Wise's practical jokes:
None of the stunts I pull are meant to be malicious or are intended to hurt
anyone. They are just to make life a bit more colourful - although I am not
so sure Gianfranco Zola or Glenn Hoddle saw the funny side of a couple of my
pranks. Franco is a lovely bloke - he wouldn't harm a fly and would not
think ill of anyone. So when he was reading a book in English to improve his
grasp of the language, he did not suspect a think when I kept asking him
about it. "What is that book?" I'd say. "Is a spy book, a thriller…you know,
Wisey, a mystery," he answered. Every time I saw him his head was buried in
this book and I'd always ask him about it. "Yes, is a good book," he said.
After about the tenth time, he is such a lovely bloke that he said, "Wisey,
you are interested in this book, yes? I will buy you one for yourself. Is a
good book."
What he didn't know was that I had a plan. When he left the book down one
day, I managed to tear out the last chapter. Then our regular chats resumed.
"How is it, the book?" I would always say. "Very good, very exciting. I
can't wait to find out what 'appen in the end" was his reply every time I
asked - until one day he wasn't reading it any more.
"Finished the book, Franco?" I asked. "How was it, a good story?" "For long
time, yes," he replied. "But Wisey, the ending, it was strange, very
strange." I couldn't hold it back any longer and just burst out laughing.
Then I explained what I had done and all he could say was "Bastard, you
bastard". Anyway, I promised him he could have the chapter I had torn out
back if he scored in our next game against Crystal Palace. And he did.
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Lopez to make bid for debut in friendly - Echo
10:10am Tuesday 9th September 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
WALTER Lopez will make a claim for his West Ham United debut in a special
behind-closed-doors friendly at Chadwell Heath this afternoon. The Uruguay
international defender, signed on a one-year deal from home-town club River
Plate last week, will hope to impress caretaker manager Kevin Keen in the
fixture. Should he do so, the 22-year-old full-back could be involved in
Saturday's Premier League visit to West Bromwich Albion, where Keen is also
likely to be in charge. With George McCartney having departed for Sunderland
and fellow new signing Herita Ilunga not arriving in England until
Wednesday, Montevideo-born Lopez could be handed the left-back berth at the
Hawthorns. Today's friendly could also see the likes of James Tomkins and
James Collins continue their returns following spells out with knee
injuries, while Nigel Quashie, Luis Boa Morte and Freddie Sears could also
be involved. Italian striker David Di Michele, who has joined on a
season-long loan from Torino, could appear in a Hammers shirt for the first
time. A match report will appear later this afternoon.
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Clarke is target for Chelsea hero and new West Ham boss Zola - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 9:41 AM on 09th September 2008
Gianfranco Zola will move for Chelsea's Steve Clarke as his No2 after being
unveiled as West Ham's new manager on Thursday. The Italian knows Clarke
well from his time at Stamford Bridge and is keen to utilise the Scot's
experience as part of his coaching staff. West Ham, frustrated at the
complicatons surrounding original favourite Slaven Bilic, have decided that
Zola is the man to move the club forward after the resignation of Alan
Curbishley. Former Italian national coach Roberto Donadoni also impressed
the club's directors but at a board meeting yesterday at Upton Park, headed
by vice chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson, it was agreed the 42-year-old was the
outstanding candidate. Croatian national coach Bilic, whose team meet
England tomorrow in a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb, was on the shortlist
but doubts about his immediate availablity, and even problems setting up a
potential interview, meant West Ham finally ran out of patience. West Ham's
criteria for their new manager included someone who would be committed to
playing attacking football, would develop the club's youth strategy, had
experience of English top-level football and had a good command of the
language.
A West Ham spokesman said: 'In the end, we felt that Gianfranco Zola scored
the best of all the candidates.' The board also asked former player and TV
pundit Tony Gale to give his expert opinion. Gale said: 'I was privileged to
be asked and happy to share my thoughts with the board. 'What I said is
confidential but the final short-list certainly included candidates of top
quality.'
Barring any last-minute hitches, the deal with Zola should be completed
today and it is likely he will be unveiled on Thursday. It is understood he
is happy to work with club coach Kevin Keen, who is in temporary charge of
the first team, alongside Clarke, providing he can be tempted away from
Chelsea. Chief executive Scott Duxbury, who conducted the interviews along
with technical director, Italian Gianluca Nani, was enormously impressed
with Zola and his vision for the club. Bilic had been the bookies' favourite
but West Ham never publicly confirmed that the Croatian was their first
choice. Zola played 249 times for Chelsea, scoring 89 goals, and was the
Footballer of the Year in 1997. He was awarded an OBE in 2004 at a special
ceremony in Rome
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