July 19 – Former Chelsea and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola, who made 312 league and cup appearances for the club, has returned as assistant to new manager Maurizio Sarri.
Zola helped Chelsea win two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one League Cup between 1996-2003.
Fellow Italian Sarri, 59, was appointed last week after Antonio Conte was sacked despite winning the Premier League title in 2016-17 and FA Cup in 2017-18.
“It would be great to be successful with Maurizio and for the club and I will give my best, as I did in the past as a player,” said Zola who has joined Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia.
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