Gianfranco Zola is probably the most popular continental soccer player to have graced the English Premier League (EPL).
During his seven years at Chelsea, who were at the time also rans in the EPL, the subliminal skills of the little Italian forward were a joy to behold.
A number of former Chelsea players have given management a crack, including Gianluca Vialli, Didier Deschamps and Ruud Gullit, who was responsible for taking Zola to Stamford Bridge all those years ago.
Zola won the admiration of not only Chelsea fans, but many across Britain for his superb skill and professionalism, in a time when the English game was constantly in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Zola's appointment as West Ham's first continental manager will begin with genuine well wishes all round – not totally the normal run of things in today’s game, as foreigners, both players and managers are blamed as the cause of English soccer’s downfall.
An interesting side-note to Zola’s career comes when he was just beginning at Napoli, where he had the honour, nay the privilege of deputising for the one and only Diego Maradona.
The skilful Italian admits he learnt much from the Argentinean great and owes him a great deal.
"I learnt everything from Diego," Zola told AFP.
"After one year I had completely changed. I saw him do things in training and matches I had never even dreamed possible.
"He was simply the best I've ever seen. I'm not saying I wouldn't have been a good player if I had not played with him at that stage of my career, but I do know I wouldn't be the player I am now."
Zola moved to Parma but fell out of favour with then manager, Carlo Ancelotti. Gullit didn’t hesitate and grabbed Zola for his Chelsea project.
"You don't get an opportunity like this every day and when I heard he might be available I knew I wanted him," said Gullit.
The Hammers now under billionaire Icelandic owners would hope Zola isn’t out of his depth, because his previous role as Italian U21’s assistant manager is hardly the gruelling apprenticeship most top-flight managers have experienced.
