The Chelsea icon has parted company with the Qatari club, but rumours of a switch to Nottingham Forest have proven inaccurate.
Gianfranco Zola – West Ham United Manager
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, who has been linked with the Nottingham Forest manager role recently, has been sacked from his position as boss at Qatari outfit Al-Arabi.
The Italian failed to improve the club’s fortunes in his one season in charge, finishing eighth out of 14 teams.
“Our president has said he is going to change the coach,” Sky Sports have quoted a spokesman for Al-Arabi as saying.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
Zola has failed to build on spells of promise as a manager, and may now look at a position back in the UK, even though links to Nottingham Forest, as confirmed by Forest ambassador John McGovern to the BBC recently, didn’t amount to anything.
Having been in charge at West Ham, Watford, Cagliari and now Al-Arabi, the likeable former Italy international has been unable to keep good form going on a consistent level, with promising moments at both London clubs proving only temporary.
As a player of course, Zola was adored at Stamford Bridge, where he scored 59 league goals over 229 games across a seven-year period. He is also a favourite at several Serie A clubs, starring alongside Diego Maradona at Napoli and also making an impression at Parma and hometown club Cagliari.
Paul Ince – England wearing a blood stained shirt as he watches Gianfranco Zola – Italy
He will be watching from afar while former Italy teammate Antonio Conte takes over at his beloved Chelsea, a job both Zola and Blues supporters would dearly love to see their former hero earn at some point.
Nottingham Forest’s hunt for a manager has been going on for several months now, having sacked Dougie Freedman in March, and though McGovern said Zola, as well as Glenn Hoddle and Malky MacKay were all being considered by the club, it looks as if the club have plumped for former Rennes and Real Sociedad manager Philippe Montanier, according to the BBC.
The City Ground general view
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