The former icon of the club Paolo Di Canio applied for the job as he is dreaming of going back to Upton Park.

“We have made moves to talk to West Ham and advised them that he wants to be considered,” his agent Phil Spencer told the Sun on Friday.

The 40-year old has no coaching experience and the Hammers would be his first adventure.

He faces a tough competition for another former Premier League star who is Gianfranco Zola.

Zola, 41, made a huge impact with Chelsea in the late 90s and now he is a member of Italy U-21 coaching staff.

However both haven’t any first team experiences and the Hammers could be risking too much with them.

This is why the former Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is leading the list of contenders.

But it is believed that Mancio would prefer a big European club after leading the Nerrazzuri to three Scudetto titles.

Meanwhile Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, a former star of West Ham, have declined the offer as he is willing to remain in charge of his national team until 2010.