• Zeljko has experience as a player and a coach, says Grant
• ‘The aim is to take the team forward with positive people’

West Ham’s manager Avram Grant has completed his management team with the appointment of the former Yugoslavia and Serbia midfielder Zeljko Petrovic as his assistant manager.

Grant had outlined his desire to appoint Petrovic, 44, when he took over at Upton Park this summer. He will work alongside the senior coach Paul Groves, the first-team coach Kevin Keen, the goalkeeping coach David Coles and the fitness coach Eamon Swift.

Grant said: “I am happy that we now have the staff set-up that I presented to the owners when I came. The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive people and have a creative atmosphere. Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of experience and knowledge as a player and a coach.

“Paul knows my methods and did a great job for me at Portsmouth. He is one of the main reasons we went all the way to the FA Cup final with all the difficulties. Kevin has represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very good coach and a positive person.”