Chelsea return appeals to Zola

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has admitted he expects to return to the club “sooner or later” in a coaching or managerial capacity.

The diminutive former Italy striker remains one of the Premier League’s most popular foreign imports after illuminating English football between 1996 and 2003 while at Stamford Bridge.

He has been linked with a return to west London and admits he could one day work for the Blues again in an official capacity.

He told The Independent: “At the moment I am coaching the Italian Under-21s with [Pierluigi] Casiraghi, and enjoying it very much.

“Will I come back to Chelsea? We’ll see. I think so.

“I think sooner or later I’ll have a go. But at the moment it is important to get the knowledge. Playing football is one thing, but coaching is another.”

Zola was also linked with a role in Fabio Capello’s England set-up recently, but those rumours did not come to fruition.

“Well, I read that in the newspapers myself several times, but I didn’t speak to Capello or anyone else,” he said.

“I was very pleased they were considering me, but I have a commitment with the national team in Italy, a two-year contract.”