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By Matt Majendie BBC Sport Online

On 17 May, 1997, Roberto di Matteo dramatically smashed his way into footballing folklore.

Playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup final he found himself in acres of space as Middlesbrough lost possession moments after kick-off.

He promptly fired the ball into the roof of the net with just 43 seconds on the clock for the quickest goal in the history of the tournament.

Di Matteo told BBC Sport Online: "Talking about that goal gives me goose bumps every time.

I did not enjoy my time under Gianluca Vialli - we didn't get on but you'll have to ask him why

Roberto di Matteo on his former boss

"I know it was five years ago but the memory is very vivid."

The 32-year-old will forever be remembered in England for that one touch of magic but also the abrupt manner in which his career ended.

Playing against Swiss side St Gallen in September 2000, he suffered a triple leg fracture.

Following an 18-month bid to regain fitness he finally conceded defeat in February of this year.

Di Matteo forced to quit

"The moment of picking up that injury still haunts me," he revealed.

"I remember the guy slipping just in front of me on the wet pitch and there was no time to stop.

"There was this massive crunch and I remember looking down and my leg appeared to be disconnected.

"I don't remember much more because, within half an hour, I was spaced out on morphine."

Roberto di Matteo and Ruud Gullit
Gullit was di Matteo's best Chelsea boss

Since playing his last game, he has turned his interests elsewhere.

He works as a pundit for Italian television, has owned and since sold two restaurants in London - Friends and Baraonda - and boasts a "mini" property empire in Rome from his Lazio playing days.

"Friends (his old restaurant) helped me settle into life at Chelsea," he added.

"I had left my family behind in Rome, was single and needed something that felt like home. And the restaurant did that."

Despite close links with Chelsea - he regularly trains with the club's fitness coach - he has no immediate desire to return to the game.

He said: "Coaching is not something I want to do for the moment. I've seen the stress of it but maybe I'll fall for it in the future."

Of the three coaches he has worked under, he is clear on his role model.

"It has to be Ruud Gullit," added the former midfielder. "He did a fantastic job."

Life under his successor was more brutal.

Di Matteo factfile

DOB: 29/5/1970

POB: Switzerland

Nationality: Italian

Premiership caps: 112

"I didn't enjoy my time with Gianluca Vialli," he added. "We just didn't get on but you'll have to ask him why.

"He simply benefitted from what Ruud had put in place.

"I only played under Claudio Ranieri and then got injured which is a shame as he's a good manager."

Under Ranieri, Chelsea have notched up one of the most embarrassing results of the season - being knocked out in the first round of the Uefa Cup by Viking Stavanger.

Vikings humble Chelsea

Asked what went wrong, Di Matteo is at a loss.

"I don't think anyone really knows the reason why they lost," he confessed. "It was in the Uefa Cup that I was injured - perhaps they've had a curse on that tournament ever since.

"As for the Premiership Chelsea have played the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. It's too early to make harsh criticisms."

Chelsea pride

Other criticisms centre on their plethora of foreign players often accused of enjoying massive wages on the Chelsea sidelines.

Di Matteo rebuffed such suggestions and said: "People say the players are all mercenaries and that really annoys me.

"A lot of Premiership teams have a lot of foreign players on high salaries that aren't always playing. So why does Chelsea get the hard time?

"These are genuine professionals who give their all. I know that when I went out in a Chelsea shirt I was always full of pride.

"And I think that's the case now."

As to where that pride can take them, he is quite clear.

"I genuinely believe a Champions League place is attainable," he insisted. "The doubters should watch out."


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