Gianfranco Zola is expected to be named as West Ham's new manager today and the little Italian is promising to bring exciting, attacking football back to Upton Park. A section of the club's supporters were critical of the previous boss Alan Curbishley for the brand of football played during his tenure. But the former Chelsea play maker and current Italy Under-21 coach Zola is committed to a philosophy which will excite the Hammers fans. Zola 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." Zola confirmed that the final details of his appointment still need to be agreed but he is confident they will be resolved. Zola, 42, also urged West Ham fans to cast aside his links with Chelsea after he admitted the chance to manage the East London club was one he could not resist. "I know there is a rivalry between Chelsea and West Ham, but that is not a problem. My playing career is my past," Zola added. "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." However, Pierluigi Casiraghi insists he will not be following his fellow ex-Chelsea player to Upton Park. Zola and Casiraghi are joint coaches of the Italy Under-21 side and Casiraghi has been linked with a move to London as well but, speaking after Italy Under-21s'1-1 draw with Croatia, the former striker said: "I'm not going to West Ham. "I don't know what will happen, but I know I want to be at the Euros with these lads, they deserve it." Talks between Zola and West Ham are understood to have gone well and he is expected to be presented at a press conference in London today. The Italian's closest rival was his compatriot Roberto Donadoni, the former Italy manager, but he announced two days ago that he was withdrawing from the contest after it became clear that Zola was West Ham's first choice. Donadoni, who was dismissed by the Azzurri following their quarter-final defeat on penalties to Spain at Euro 2008, was a candidate to take over at Upton Park. "I decided to take my name out of the race because the feeling was that of not being the right fit for the type of programme they [West Ham] had in mind," Donadoni said. "I want to thank the London club. It gives me great honour to have been considered for the position." Donadoni, who is currently unemployed after two years in charge of Italy, has not ruledout coaching in England in the future. "I don't exclude this possibility," he said. "The Premier League is a thrilling competition that has a lot of value." Meanwhile, John Terry has backed Zola to be a success at West Ham - and to one daybecome Chelsea manager. Terry, who played with Zola for five years at Stamford Bridge, 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." Meanwhile, Hammers technical director Gianluca Nani has confirmed they are interested in signing Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah. Appiah, 27, is a free agent after leaving Fenerbahce and both Arsenal and Portsmouth have also expressed an interest. * PA Sport
