Italian masters and pasta disasters

With Carlo Ancelotti on his way to Chelsea, we take a look at how his fellow Italians have fared in English football.

GIANFRANCO ZOLA
The diminutive sardinian was idolised at Chelsea as a player. He was one of the first Italians to join the Premier League when he was signed by Chelsea in 1996 and his considered by fans at the Bridge to be one of their greatest ever players.
Zola returned last year when he was appointed West Ham manager in September to replace Alan Curbishley. Despite little coaching experience, having only been Italy Under-21 assistant coach for less than two years, the Italian steered West Ham away from relegation to a ninth place finish.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

MASSIMO TAIBI
Highly-rated Taibi moved to Old Trafford from Italian side Venezia for 4.4m in 1999. But the keeper endured a nightmare stay-highlighted by a howler against Southampton when he let a Matt Le Tissier strike nutmeg him.
Things got worse for the hapless Italian when he was blamed for two of the five goals United leaked during a humiliating away day at Chelsea.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

CLAUDIO RANIERI
Ranieri joined Chelsea in 2000 with a lofty reputation after achieving European and domestic success with Valencia. His lack of English proved a problem initially, though, and the Blues finished sixth in his first season in charge.
In 2001 he made one of the most important transfers in the club's recent history-signing Frank Lampard.
Ranieri did not improve on the league placing the following season (2001/02) but led the team to the FA Cup final, where they lost to Arsenal. Fortunes improved in 2002/03 with the Blues qualifying for the Champions League, but the arrival of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich put Ranieri's job in jeopardy as speculation grew that Sven-Goran Eriksson was being lined up as a replacement.
Ranieri lasted another year, though, during which time he splashed out millions on rebuilding his squad, bringing in the likes of Claude Makelele, Wayne Bridge, Glen Johnson and Hernan Crespo.
Chelsea were runner-up in the league-their best finish for 49 years-and they reached the Champions League semifinals, but it was not enough for the italian to stay put, and he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ANDREA SILENZI
Silenzi became the first Italian to play in the Premier League when he was signed up by Nottingham Forest in 1995. Let's just say he didn't lay much of a benchmark.
He made just 20 appearances and scored only two goals. He was loaned out but when he refused to return from his spell at S.S.C. Venezia, it is alleged that Forest manager Dave Bassett tore up his contract.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

PAOLO DI CANIO
The king of controversy may have split opinions but no-one could argue that he was a magnificent footballer. When he wasn't pushing referees he was scoring wonder goals for West Ham that have secured his status as a legend at the club.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ATTILIO LOMBARDO
Lombardo was named caretaker player-coach alongside Tomas Brolin as Crystal Palace in early 1998 for the remainder of that season. He could not save the club from relegation, however, and left in January 1999.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

ROBERTO DI MATTEO
Di Matteo adapted superbly well to his English surrounding after his move to Chelsea from Lazio. The Italian was the main catalyst behind Chelsea's 1997 and 2000 FA Cup successes and won a total of six trophies in his six seasons at Stamford Bridge.
He's now turned his attention to management with the MK Dons, where he's been quietly going about his business and getting his team playing the type of football that you would expect under an Italian manager.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ROLANDO BIANCHI
Sven Goran Eriksson shelled out close to 9mil. to sign the Reggina star for Manchester City, and Bianchi looked to be well worth the money after scoring on his debut and then hitting a 20-year screamer in the Carling Cup.
After that though, the goals dried up. He scored five goals in 24 games before being firmly strapped into his seat on the plane and returned to Italy.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

GIANLUCA VIALLI
The Chelsea striker had a tempestuous relationship with manager Ruud Gullit during his playing days and was often forced onto the bench, but Vialli was to have the last laugh when he replaced the Dutchman as manager in 1998.
In his first few month in charge Chelse won the Coca-Cola Cup and the European Super Cup, as well as finishing third in the Premier League.
The following season Vialli led his team to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on their debut, but they finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League.
Vialli did guide Chelsea to an FA Cup final triumph over Aston Villa, however, and started the 2001/01 season brightly with a defeat of Manchester United in the FA Charity Shield-the Italian's fifth trophy in less that three years.
Five games into the season, though, Vialli was sacked.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)