Curbishley confirmed as West Ham manager
Wednesday, 13 December 2006 17:22West Ham United have appointed former player Alan Curbishley as their new manager.
Curbishley, who began his playing career with the Hammers, again held talks with club officials on Wednesday morning following discussions with new chairman Eggert Magnusson on Tuesday.
Icelander Magnusson has acted quickly following Monday's sacking of Alan Pardew which came on the back of a run of poor results which have left the east London club in the bottom three of the Barclays Premiership.
Curbishley has been a free agent since stepping down as Charlton boss last season - and has been linked with a string of vacancies including Aston Villa, West Brom, Leeds and Norwich.
Former Hammers goalkeeper Mervyn Day has also been appointed as Curbishley's assistant at Upton Park.
Curbishley said it was 'a privilege' to manage his boyhood club. 'If you'd said to me when I was 16 and an apprentice that one day I would be manager I would have thought it was impossible,' he told a press conference.
'I am deeply delighted. I am looking forward to the challenge, everyone says the same thing but I am. It is a privilege to be here.'
The former Charlton boss knew nothing about the job until Alan Pardew's sacking on Monday.
'I was sitting at home on Monday morning minding my own business, enjoying the break, then suddenly it all erupted. When I started to think about it, and the potential, it was drawing me and something clicked.
'We managed to agree everything and I am delighted to have come here. I'm looking forward to lifting the club out of the position we're in at the moment so we can all enjoy the rest of the season.
'It starts this weekend against Manchester United. It's a big game.' He added: 'I feel disappointed for Alan Pardew, he is someone I know very well. But this is the world we live in at the moment.'
