Zola Expected to be named West Ham Boss
EL MAESTRO
By dixon9
September 9 2008
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola is “expected” to be named the new manager of West Ham United on Wednesday once his Italian Under-21 side completes their match against Croatia on Tuesday. Zola holds a very special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans and there is mixed reaction over his managing a team where there is such bad feeling between the supporters of both clubs.
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Such is the esteem in which Zola is held that his name is still sometimes sung by Chelsea fans who also voted him our best ever player in history only a few years ago. It is impossible not to like the man who besides possessing a brilliant talent was also a consummate gentleman on and off the pitch.
Some fans take the view that one day he will back at Chelsea so why not cut his teeth with a different club in the Premier League before coming home to us whilst others feel that it will turn their stomachs to see our little genius on the touchline working for a rival.
Ex-player Frank Lebeof said that it would be better if Di Canio took over at West Ham and Zola waited for a role at Chelsea as each belonged at their respective old clubs.
John Terry however, feels it will be a good move for Zola and eventually, Chelsea:
"He is a Chelsea legend. I'm sure one day he'll be back at Chelsea.”
"He's managed the [Italy] under-21s for a while and has a bit more experience.”
"It will be great for him and maybe Gigi [Casiraghi] to take the job and get more experience and hopefully get the experience to one day become Chelsea manager."
Zola did reveal in an interview last season that Abramovich HAD tried to get him back at the club 2-3 times (presumably as a youth/reserves coach) but that he had to turn the offer down as he wanted to wait until he was really ready – possibly even for a bigger role.
For a club that was supposed to have no heritage in the game we certainly seem to be providing a lot of ex-players that have recently or are currently holding top management positions with Premier League and league clubs – Dennis Wise, Gus Poyet, Steve Clarke, Mark Hughes, Roberto Dimatteo and now Gianfranco Zola and Gigi Casiraghi - an incredible amount indeed.
We seem to hear plenty about ex-Man Utd stars Keane and Ince - wonder if the likes of Sky and Setanta will wax lyrical about our lads during match commentary - probably not!
That's so typical of Chelski...no heritage and you try and claim all those...and not one of them is Chelski homegrown.
What a joke you lot are!
I think a player can only qualify as one of your own if they were raised by the club..... none of the above were..... for instance I am sure Utd would be claiming Hughes as one of thier own!!!
I dont really want Zola, I would much prefer Bilic like most over Hammers, however the fact that Chelsea fans would hate it if he took over makes it that much easier to take.... it wouldnt surprise me if Zola fell in love with the irons and completly forgot about the plastics...
Some of those players had their BEST years with us!
As for plastics you don´t get much more plastic than West Ham fans.... How many minutes does it take your lot to walk out on our team when they need your support most? We were stuffing you so what did you do? You all fecked off with your tails between your legs after about 18 mins wasn´t it?! And again a few weeks later when you were losing to another club!
And if it wasn´t for us buying the likes of Cole and Johnson and Lampard earlier, you lot would have ended up in the 3rd division with no cash - so dont even think about going down that route!
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2008:09:09:23:51:42 by dixon9.
I was convinced he was gonna be Fabio's right hand man!
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I can only look at this photo for a second or two before coming over all quesey!!!
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.