Zola eyes Chelsea return

Updated 12.33 Fri Mar 21 2008

Keywords: Fabio Capello, Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea

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

The 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.

"Will I come back to Chelsea? We'll see. I think so" - Gianfranco Zola

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.

Zola said: "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.