Zola promises stylish football for Hammers

Gianfranco Zola is expected to be confirmed as the new manager of West Ham United within the next 24 hours and he has already set out his vision for attractive, attacking football.

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Gianfranco Zola: Ready to play with style
The former Chelsea player, one of the greatest imports the Premier League has seen, is certain to replace Alan Curbishley after his fellow candidates - Slaven Bilic, Michael Laudrup and Roberto Donandoni - all withdrew from the race.

Curbishley had been criticised by some sections of the Hammers' support for failing to play with style and being too defensive. Zola will already have won over those doubters by promising to entertain in his first club job.

Zola, who will leave his role as joint coach of Italy's Under-21 side to move to Upton Park, told the Daily Mail: "I only know one way to play: on the floor, attacking football, the way things should be done. I want to excite people, that is why we play isn't it?

"The Under-21s play the way football should be played. I try to put a smile on their faces and I can tell you they put a smile on mine with the way they play.

"This is an opportunity in the Premier League and an opportunity I didn't expect, but it's an opportunity I can't turn down. The hardest thing was to say goodbye to those players in the dressing room.

"Everything has to be agreed with the federation, but I am confident that it will be resolved when I return to Italy. There are still talks, but I am sure they will go well."

Despite speculation linking fellow Under-21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi with a role at West Ham, he insists he will not join Zola. "I'm not going to West Ham," Casiraghi said. "I don't know what will happen, but I know I want to be at the Euros with these lads, they deserve it.''

Zola should be free to complete his switch to the Premier League after Italy's Under-21s drew 1-1 with Croatia in Zagreb on Tuesday night.

The 42-year-old has only to iron out a few things before signing a contract with West Ham. And he is sure his links to Chelsea, for whom he played between 1996 and 2003, and the rivalry between the two clubs is irrelevant.

"I know there is a rivalry between Chelsea and West Ham, but that is not a problem. My playing career is my past,'' Zola said. "This is a new adventure for me. I spent seven years at Chelsea and they were seven of the best years of my career, I loved playing there but the fans must understand that I have a new career now and my playing career is in the past.

"The temptation to manage in England is too much, I love London, I love the lifestyle. Whenever I think of London, it has good memories.''

Meanwhile, Chelsea skipper John Terry has backed Zola to be a success at West Ham - and to one day become manager at Stamford Bridge. He said: "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 to take the job and get more experience and hopefully get the experience to one day become Chelsea manager.