Zola: Staying at Stamford Bridge with his friends (Ben Radford/Allsport)

Zola, who joined Chelsea from Parma for £4.5 million in 1996, had a number of options available to him but signed a deal which will keep him at Stamford Bridge for another two years.

'One of the reasons I decided to stay is that I have not won the Premiership and I am looking forward to doing so in the two years I have left,' he said.

Zola was voted English Footballer of the Year in 1997 when Chelsea won the FA Cup. They won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 but have had a disappointing season after winning the FA Cup again last season.

The 34-year-old could have returned to Italy where Cagliari and former club Napoli were prepared to sign him.

Zola's new deal also gives him the option to remain at Chelsea in a coaching capacity when his two year playing contract expires.

Chelsea only persuaded Zola to stay last summer by promising him that he could move back to his native Italy for a nominal fee this summer if he still felt the same way.