Clarke follows Zola with new West Ham deal

West Ham assistant manager Steve Clarke followed manager Gianfranco Zola in signing a new four-year contract with the Premier League club today.

Clarke has been with Zola since September, helping his former Chelsea colleague hoist the Hammers away from the relegation zone and up to eighth in the standings.

"I have had a great time since I came here," Clarke said. "We have done OK. There is a lot more still to be done and the contract reflects that.

"It is a long-term contract, and what Gianfranco and myself and the rest of the coaching staff look forward to is improving things and working hard every year to make things better and better at this football club."

Clarke was previously a teammate of Zola's with Chelsea and returned to the club as a coach after retiring. He was assistant to Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari before resigning to join Zola in his first managerial role.

Zola agreed to a new contract Saturday, committing himself to the club until 2013.

"Everyone knows how hard we worked to bring Steve here alongside Gianfranco last September and we have been rewarded for that effort," West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said. "He is a major part of what we are trying to achieve."

After looking likely to be a relegation contender at the start of the season, West Ham can qualify for European competition if they finish seventh.