The Italian’s long association with English football began early in his playing days, when he left Cagliari for West Bromwich Albion as a teenager.

However, having returned to Italy with Juventus in 2000, it would be 18 years before his career brought him back to these shores.

That was as part of the coaching team at West Ham, acting as assistant coach to Manuel Pellegrini, who he had previously enjoyed a hugely successful time playing under at Malaga in Spain.

‘It was a very good experience,’ recalls Maresca of his time at the Hammers, ahead of tonight’s meeting with his former employers. ‘Also with the club to be honest, with the owners, with all the people involved in the club, it was fantastic.’

Enzo also has links with the West Ham manager who will be sat in the away dugout at Stamford Bridge for today’s 8pm kick-off.

Before his time as Chelsea head coach, Graham Potter played alongside Maresca at West Brom, all those years ago.

‘He was a good guy, funny guy, to be honest,’ added Enzo. ‘He was very funny, I guess he still is now!

‘We were both very young playing together. I was 18, so very young, and we were living very close to each other and I drove many times with him.

‘He was bringing me from my house to the training ground, but now he’s doing fantastic, so I’m very happy for him.’

Our head coach also admitted neither of those young Baggies players would have suspected at the time they might meet again on the touchline in the Premier League.

‘I was not thinking he could be a manager back then, and I don’t think he was thinking he could be a manager.

‘So we were both exactly the same, but especially because I was 18, I think Graham was probably about 23. At that age you struggle to think of the future.’