‘I saw Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink fly!’ Gianfranco Zola hauls back his head in laughter as he recalls John Terry’s early days training with the Chelsea first team.

‘We were training in a two-versus-two game. It was me and Jimmy Floyd against Terry and another young boy. Jimmy was getting very frustrated because he couldn’t score and he kicked this boy. John didn’t like this.

‘When training continued, Terry switched opponents and went to mark Jimmy Floyd. The first tackle, I’ll never forget it – Jimmy flew through the air! It was an unbelievable tackle, so strong and ruthless.

‘Nothing was said, but the next attack, exactly the same thing happened. I’ve never seen anything fly so high!

Gianfranco Zola celebrates his first Chelsea goal in 1996, and is still revered as a legend of the club

Zola celebrates with John Terry after the young Chelsea defender scores against Middlesbrough in 2002

Zola laughed as he recalled the moment John Terry stood up to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in training

Terry jumps aboard centre-half partner Gary Cahill on his way to winning the Premier League title this season

‘That summarised Terry’s character. Jimmy was a big man, a senior player. Not any young lad could have done that.’

Now Terry’s the big man. He will walk onto the Stamford Bridge turf on Sunday knowing he will receive the Premier League trophy after full-time.

He will also be the first outfield player to do so having played every minute of the campaign since Gary Pallister 22 years ago.

Many doubted whether Terry could recover from two seasons in and out of the side, but his stellar campaign has surprised even mentor Jose Mourinho.

Someone less shocked by the Chelsea captain’s performances over the past nine months is a man who stands alongside him as one of the greatest players to pull on the royal blue.

Terry celebrates, followed by Dennis Wise, Jon Harley and Sam Dalla Bona, in his early Chelsea days

The Blues skipper jumps for joy 14 years later after a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge

Even with the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet full beyond the wildest dreams of the pre-Roman Abramovich era, Zola is held in the same esteem as the heroes who succeeded him.

He watched Terry’s first steps in SW6 as an admiring team-mate, the future manager in the diminutive Italian aware he was witnessing the birth of something special.

‘Knowing his temperament and character as I do, I haven’t been surprised,’ he said.

‘When you get to his age, it isn’t just about that – it’s about physique. You need to do everything properly and it takes a lot to do that.’

Few believed Terry, marking Marouane Fellaini, could perform to the level he has this season

Zola nets against West Brom in his final season in 2002-03 - a campaign he considers his best at the club

Zola knows all about squeezing out the last drops: ‘I always rate my last season playing for Chelsea as my best because I got prepared and I did everything properly. I worked a lot, but I’m very proud of that year.’

Chelsea’s No 25 enjoyed an Indian summer in 2002-03, netting 14 goals – a personal high in the Premier League.

He continues: ‘I had no doubt Terry was going to become a superstar. His character and personality impressed me straight away.

‘He stepped in as a young player and looked as if he’d played forever – never scared. He would stand up to anyone, no matter their status.’

Zola says Terry was eager to learn in training from such as himself (left) and Marcel Desailly (right)

ZOLA AT CHELSEA Appearances 312 Goals 80 Club Honours FA Cup 1997, 2000 European Cup Winners' Cup 1998 UEFA Super Cup 1998 League Cup 1998 Charity Shield 2000 Individual Honours FWA Footballer of the Year 1997 Chelsea Player of the Year 1999, 2003 Advertisement

Hasselbaink would clearly feel the same. But while the blood and thunder youngster fits the traditional ‘Terry’ mould, Zola reveals the budding leader had a deeper thought process.

‘I saw so many young players who came to play with us, but they didn’t learn anything. They kept their bad habits, they spoiled their talents,’ he said.

‘John wasn't like that. He wanted to learn and that’s so important. He was so young when he came to play with us but so willing to learn and pick up experience for him to use on and off the pitch.’

Then an elder statesman at Stamford Bridge, Zola’s early days had him practicing free kicks after Napoli training with Diego Maradona. He speaks passionately about the need for youngsters to absorb those opportunities: ‘I learned because I wanted to learn.’

Zola, battling Manchester United's Ronny Johnsen in 1997, is one of Chelsea's all-time greats

Zola (bottom left, next to Dennis Wise) celebrates the 1997 FA Cup, Chelsea's first major trophy for 26 years

Zola celebrates winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 with manager compatriot Gianluca Vialli

Terry and Co’s triumph is the fourth Premier League trophy Chelsea have won since Abramovich’s takeover in 2003. Zola’s own Chelsea haul includes two FA Cups and the sadly defunct Cup Winners Cup, but his fondly-remembered side missed out when it came to top honours.

The giddiness which greeted Abramovich’s arrival had a tinge of sadness, with Zola heading home to Cagliari after eight years lighting up Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho pronounced himself the Special One twelve months later.

‘It would have been nice to play under Abramovich and Mourinho. I can’t lie about that,’ Zola admits.

‘Chelsea was and always will be the best time of my career. It would have been nice to stay, but I always wanted to finish in Sardinia and it was the right opportunity. Even the best things have to end. It was very painful, but I think I left at the right time.

Roman Abramovich (centre) took over Chelsea in 2003 from former chairman Ken Bates (left)

But Zola left the same summer, celebrating after Chelsea's final home game against Liverpool

Zola admits he would have loved to have played under Jose Mourinho, the pair pictured in 2007

‘Chelsea took everything we had to the next level. We tried a few times, and came very close – but now there’s an extra gear. Abramovich put in huge investments but it’s a credit to the players and the managers – obviously Jose in particular but Ancelotti also did very well.’

Zola’s permanent smile widens when reminded of another a former team-mate’s achievements at the oft-troubled Stamford Bridge helm.

‘Sometimes people underestimate what Roberto Di Matteo did,’ he said.

‘He took the team when it was struggling and won the FA Cup and the Champions League. To see Roberto and the players perform how they did was so special, I was so pleased for them.

Zola was delighted to see former team-mate Roberto Di Matteo lift the Champions League in 2012

‘They’re wonderful people and they deserved everything they got. I spoke to him many times throughout that season.’

The warmth with which Zola speaks about the club is a reminder of the personality that won fans up and down the country during his playing career.

No matter how much success follows this year’s feats, Zola won’t be forgotten at Stamford Bridge.

He’ll be cheering on the brash youngster battering senior stars when the now-veteran Terry holds the title aloft, reminded of the skipper’s eagerness to soak up information from players like himself.

The legacy of one of the greatest overseas players in English football history remains.

Gianfranco Zola and Barclays have given young Chelsea fan and Spirit of the Game Hero Rachel Key, the opportunity to present the Barclays Premier League trophy to Chelsea this Sunday. To watch Rachel's story go to www.facebook.com/BarclaysFootball