Former Blues striker has been approached about joining the backroom team of the new manager but his main ambition is a return to management.
Zola has been approached about being part of the backroom team of the new manager at a club where he enjoys legendary status among supporters.
Sources have said there is no suggestion that the former West Ham boss is being lined up as a permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked and replaced by interim manager Roberto Di Matteo earlier this month.
Roberto Di Matteo is currently 10/3 second favourite with William Hill to be named as Chelsea's next permanent manager.
Zola is believed to be keen to keep his options open as his primary aim is to return to top-level management, with Lazio one strong possibility in the summer.
The 45-year-old held talks with Lazio president Claudio Lotito in Rome last month about his interest in succeeding manager Edy Reja, who offered his resignation only for it to be rejected by the Serie A club.
Zola remains highly regarded at Chelsea, both by officials and senior players, some of whom such as John Terry and Frank Lampard were already established in the first team when Zola left the club after seven seasons in 2003.
Sources have told Goal.com that Chelsea believe Zola has the communication skills to take on a senior coaching position while also fulfilling the role of players’ advocate to smooth relations between the squad members and management.
One of the biggest gripes of the players during Andre Villas-Boas’ reign was the absence of a direct line of communication to the decision-makers.
This was a role filled in the past notably by Carlo Ancelotti’s former No2 Ray Wilkins, who was sacked in November 2010, and Paul Clement - the long-serving coach who worked under all of Roman Abramovich’s managerial appointments until being dismissed shortly before Villas-Boas took the reins.
Di Matteo and his No2 Eddie Newton are unlikely to stay on at Chelsea under the new manager. Steve Holland, the other assistant first-team coach, is highly regarded as a coach but he is still establishing himself in the senior set-up.
Zola, who has been voted Chelsea’s greatest-ever player, has been approached by the club to join their backroom staff on a number of other occasions, most notably when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last year.
The former striker has ambitions to return to management after nearly two years in the wilderness and believes his chances of landing a plum job are more likely in his homeland, given that his two-season spell at West Ham ended in the sack in May 2010.
Zola has good relations with both Rome clubs, Lazio and Roma, and will be aware that both clubs could be in the market for a new manager in the summer.
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| Chelsea want Zola to return to Stamford Bridge in coaching role |
Sources have said there is no suggestion that the former West Ham boss is being lined up as a permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked and replaced by interim manager Roberto Di Matteo earlier this month.
Roberto Di Matteo is currently 10/3 second favourite with William Hill to be named as Chelsea's next permanent manager.
Zola is believed to be keen to keep his options open as his primary aim is to return to top-level management, with Lazio one strong possibility in the summer.
The 45-year-old held talks with Lazio president Claudio Lotito in Rome last month about his interest in succeeding manager Edy Reja, who offered his resignation only for it to be rejected by the Serie A club.
Zola remains highly regarded at Chelsea, both by officials and senior players, some of whom such as John Terry and Frank Lampard were already established in the first team when Zola left the club after seven seasons in 2003.
Sources have told Goal.com that Chelsea believe Zola has the communication skills to take on a senior coaching position while also fulfilling the role of players’ advocate to smooth relations between the squad members and management.
One of the biggest gripes of the players during Andre Villas-Boas’ reign was the absence of a direct line of communication to the decision-makers.
This was a role filled in the past notably by Carlo Ancelotti’s former No2 Ray Wilkins, who was sacked in November 2010, and Paul Clement - the long-serving coach who worked under all of Roman Abramovich’s managerial appointments until being dismissed shortly before Villas-Boas took the reins.
Di Matteo and his No2 Eddie Newton are unlikely to stay on at Chelsea under the new manager. Steve Holland, the other assistant first-team coach, is highly regarded as a coach but he is still establishing himself in the senior set-up.
Zola, who has been voted Chelsea’s greatest-ever player, has been approached by the club to join their backroom staff on a number of other occasions, most notably when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last year.
The former striker has ambitions to return to management after nearly two years in the wilderness and believes his chances of landing a plum job are more likely in his homeland, given that his two-season spell at West Ham ended in the sack in May 2010.
Zola has good relations with both Rome clubs, Lazio and Roma, and will be aware that both clubs could be in the market for a new manager in the summer.
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