Proving himself to be one of the game's best assistants during his time at Chelsea, Clarke was finally given the opportunity to step into a full-time managerial role in June 2012, when West Brom hired him as Roy Hodgson's successor.

Clarke, who was born in North Ayrshire in Scotland and started his career with St Mirren, spent 11 years as a player at Chelsea, finishing on a high note as Gianluca Vialli's Blues won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 with Clarke, Michael Duberry and Frank Leboeuf playing in defence in the final against Stuttgart.

A move into coaching followed and, soon after hanging up his boots, Clarke joined former team-mate Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, becoming the Dutchman's assistant. The Magpies reached the FA Cup final, before losing to Manchester United, in the pair's first season but dressing-room unrest led to Gullit's sacking in 1999. Clarke stepped into the breach for his first and, up until moving to West Brom, only match as a manager - a 5-1 defeat to Manchester United - before handing the reins to Sir Bobby Robson.

Clarke then returned to Chelsea and, after initially working with the club's youth team, he was promoted to assistant when Jose Mourinho came to the club. He and Mourinho proved a hugely successful double act, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups before 'the Special One' left Stamford Bridge. The Scot stuck with the club until September 2008, working under Avram Grant and Luiz Filipe Scolari, but opted to pursue a new challenge and headed for West Ham to join another former team-mate, Gianfranco Zola.

The duo helped the Hammers to a ninth-place finish in 2008-09 but after only narrowly avoiding relegation the next season, Zola was sacked and Clarke followed him out soon after. The former right-back was only out of work for around six months, though, as Kenny Dalglish appointed him as his No. 2 upon his return to Liverpool. Things began well as the Reds enjoyed an upturn in fortunes but their first full campaign saw a number of disastrous results, particularly at home, and Dalglish was sacked, with Clarke then opting to resign.

Clarke has long been linked with permanent roles, but it was not until West Brom came knocking in June 2012 that he was finally given his break as the club's head coach, at the age of 48.

Strengths: Known to be a good reader of the game as a player, he transferred that quality to his coaching career and is also regarded as having excellent interpersonal skills, helping bring the best out of some big personalities and some of the world's best players - most notably at Chelsea.

Weaknesses: Having never been in a permanent managerial post before, it remains to be seen whether Clarke can handle the intense pressure and scrutiny that comes with being the main man at a club.

Career high: Chelsea's first Premier League title triumph in 2004-05. Having developed a strong affiliation with the Blues after 11 years with them as a player, it was with great pride that he and Mourinho helped the club win a first league title in more than half a century.

Career low: His first full season at Anfield under Kenny Dalglish saw Liverpool suffer their worst league finish in 18 years and lowest points tally (52) since 1953-54.

Tactics: It's difficult to know how he will set his own team up, but Clarke has experience of coaching a predominantly 4-3-3 formation at Chelsea, a 4-5-1 at West Ham and a 4-4-2 at Liverpool, so his tactical flexibility could prove advantageous for the Baggies.

Quotes: "I wanted to come out of my comfort zone and push myself. I wanted to see how good I can be... I know if I ever needed Jose, I could pick up the phone and ask for advice. There's a friendship." Steve Clarke, upon his appointment at West Brom June 2012. .

Trivia: In 2005, Clarke was picked as the right-back in the Chelsea centenary XI by fans of the club and for the sum of £5,200 Blues supporters can watch a match in a hospitality suite at Stamford Bridge named in his honour.