He said: "I am going to retire at the end of the season, I'm a little too old to carry on playing so I will take up managing next year. I hope to have the same success as a coach that I did as a player.
"I spent four seasons there and I would love to go back and win something with them. The fans are fantastic there and the atmosphere at Upton Park was always so special.
"Every weekend I watch all the English games on TV but I always look out for the West Ham score, I have a special place for them in my heart.
"When I watch the Premier League I am always proud to see players that were young boys when I was at West Ham - I'm talking about Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Trevor Sinclair.
"When I was there they were really young so I saw them grow up into men and players and I am proud to watch them playing at the top level in the Champions League.
"The standard in the Premier League was always good but these players and Jermain Defoe also stand out for me as the best English players."
