Hammers fire Zola, McClaren moves
Source: Agencies |
May 12, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WEST Ham United sacked Italian manager Gianfranco Zola yesterday.
"West Ham United confirm they have terminated the contract of Gianfranco Zola," the English Premier League club said on its Website.
"The board of directors would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future. The club will now be focusing its efforts on seeking a replacement."
The 43-year-old Italian responded by criticizing "adverse comments" from the club's owners, and said he had referred his dismissal to the League Managers' Association.
"I am extremely disappointed to be leaving West Ham United," Zola said in a statement released by the LMA. "Over recent weeks, I have been the subject of various adverse comments, from within the club, which have been widely reported."
Former Chelsea and Italy striker Zola joined West Ham in September 2008 for his first club management role but after a promising start he endured a turbulent time at the east London club and narrowly avoided relegation this season.
Heavily in debt following the collapse of former owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's business empire, the club was bought by former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan in January and Zola's future has since been the subject of media speculation.
Zola, 43, hinted at disagreements with the club's boardroom powerbrokers in April when he said he had not been consulted over a bid for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans.
Ninth-place finish
The diminutive former Italy under-21 assistant coach, who replaced Alan Curbishley as West Ham manager, capped a strong 2008-09 campaign with a ninth-place finish, just two points short of a Europa League spot, and the Italian penned a new deal until 2013 in April last year.
Boardroom changes, financial uncertainty and poor form contributed to an unhappier spell this season as the club finished 17th, one place and five points clear of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, Steve McClaren became the first English coach in the German Bundesliga when he was appointed by VfL Wolfsburg yesterday.
The 2009 Bundesliga champion and McClaren, 49, agreed on a two-year contract.
McClaren arrives form the Netherlands, where he guided Twente to the Dutch championship.
McClaren had two successful years in Enschede after a dismal record as manager of England during its failed effort to qualify for Euro 2008.
"West Ham United confirm they have terminated the contract of Gianfranco Zola," the English Premier League club said on its Website.
"The board of directors would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future. The club will now be focusing its efforts on seeking a replacement."
The 43-year-old Italian responded by criticizing "adverse comments" from the club's owners, and said he had referred his dismissal to the League Managers' Association.
"I am extremely disappointed to be leaving West Ham United," Zola said in a statement released by the LMA. "Over recent weeks, I have been the subject of various adverse comments, from within the club, which have been widely reported."
Former Chelsea and Italy striker Zola joined West Ham in September 2008 for his first club management role but after a promising start he endured a turbulent time at the east London club and narrowly avoided relegation this season.
Heavily in debt following the collapse of former owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's business empire, the club was bought by former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan in January and Zola's future has since been the subject of media speculation.
Zola, 43, hinted at disagreements with the club's boardroom powerbrokers in April when he said he had not been consulted over a bid for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans.
Ninth-place finish
The diminutive former Italy under-21 assistant coach, who replaced Alan Curbishley as West Ham manager, capped a strong 2008-09 campaign with a ninth-place finish, just two points short of a Europa League spot, and the Italian penned a new deal until 2013 in April last year.
Boardroom changes, financial uncertainty and poor form contributed to an unhappier spell this season as the club finished 17th, one place and five points clear of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, Steve McClaren became the first English coach in the German Bundesliga when he was appointed by VfL Wolfsburg yesterday.
The 2009 Bundesliga champion and McClaren, 49, agreed on a two-year contract.
McClaren arrives form the Netherlands, where he guided Twente to the Dutch championship.
McClaren had two successful years in Enschede after a dismal record as manager of England during its failed effort to qualify for Euro 2008.
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