Andrea Pirlo, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole just a few of the latest high profile visitors at Chelsea training

Last week it was Gianfranco Zola and Fabrizio Ravanelli, the former working for a sponsor as well as television, the latter as a personal visit with his former teammate and coaching-mate Antonio Conte. This week, it’s Andrea Pirlo and Ashley Cole and Joe Cole who are some of the highest profile visitors to Cobham.

The two unrelated Coles, like Michael Essien has been all season, are just taking advantage of the facilities to keep in shape. While Essien’s still without a team, Ash and Joey will be gearing up for the next MLS/USL season with LA Galaxy and the Tampa Bay Rowdies, respectively.

Pirlo’s visit was apparently purely personal in nature, saying hi to his old boss at both club and country, Antonio Conte, but rumors of a coaching role in the near future weren’t far behind.

“I'm pleased for this visit because Andrea was my player in Juventus for three years and we won together. I remember him as a great player. He played great football with Juventus in these three years. I'm very happy for his visit with his son here. We have a good relationship and I'm pleased for this.”

“No (don't read anything into it) — Andrea came here only to visit. He has another year of contract in America, and he's playing and enjoying his football in America. He was here only to see, but he's still able to do a good training session himself.”

-Antonio Conte; source: Mail

Wink wink nudge nudge say no more.

With Michael Ballack also a regular these days in and around Stamford Bridge, plus the playing futures of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba and John Terry up for debate, we could soon be fielding a really, really good coaches/old-boys side.