West Ham are Zola-powered

West Ham have confirmed the appointment of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola as their manager. The Italian, who has no experience of club management, has left his job as joint-coach of Italy under-21s to fill the vacancy left at Upton Park by Alan Curbishley's sudden resignation. Zola has agreed a three-year contract but he will not be in charge for Saturday's match against West Brom. The club have decided to allow caretaker manager Kevin Keen to lead the team this weekend, so Zola's first match as manager will be the home game against Newcastle United on September 20. Zola recently promised to bring attacking football if he was given the West Ham job. He said: "I only know one way to play: on the floor, attacking football, the way things should be done. I want to excite people, that is why we play isn't it?" West Ham said Zola was the unanimous choice of the board who had drawn up a list of "high calibre" candidates. Zola: "I am very delighted, it's a great honour to be given such an important job. I thank the board for choosing me and (director of football) Gianluca Nani for supporting me." The Sardinian, who has been in charge of Italy's under-21 team with Pierluigi Casiraghi, was preferred to former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni whom West Ham said they also interviewed for the managerial position. Zola's appointment had been widely expected despite his lack of experience in club management. "I know I'm not the most experienced manager but I've been in football for 20 years and know what I'm talking about. "I trust my knowledge of the game and believe the players will help me. I am confident everything will be alright." Zola is West Ham's first non-British manager.

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ITN | September 11, 2008

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