FABRIZIO RAVANELLI has revealed his blueprint for future glories at Middlesbrough - a dream-ticket managerial partnership with Bryan Robson!

Ravanelli, who quit Boro under a cloud nearly three years ago following relegation from the Premiership, has relaunched a Teesside charm offensive which he feels has so far been ignored.

The Lazio striker has reiterated his ambition to return to the Riverside Stadium as joint-manager alongside Robson - the man whose methods he rubbished during the most eventful season in Boro's history.

Ravanelli, signed for a club record £7m from Juventus in the summer of 1996, scored 31 goals as Robson's side lost in the Coca-Cola Cup and FA Cup finals and dropped into Division One after having three points deducted by the Premier League for failing to fulfil a fixture.

The ignominy of it all was too great for Ravanelli, who went AWOL after making only two appearances outside the top flight before joining Marseille for £5.35m.

But in an interview with London-based magazine Middlesbrough Supporters South, the controversial Italian professes his undying love for Boro and defends himself against charges that he caused dressing-room unrest.

Ravanelli was involved in infamous behind-the-scenes clashes with teammates Neil Cox and Curtis Fleming, but points the finger at Brazilian midfielder Emerson, who went AWOL on more than one occasion.

Ravanelli, who moved back to Italy after his spell with Marseille, insists: "I would love to become the manager or player-manager of Middlesbrough.

"I would change a lot of things. I would have no problem working alongside Bryan Robson as co-manager - he is a good man and I think we would make a good team.

"For me, at the moment, Lazio is very good. My family home in Perugia is only one hour away. But if Middlesbrough were to call and say: 'Come and play for us, or be our coach,' I would go.''

Ravanelli, now 31, mainatins that his determination to leave Boro following relegation was borne of a fear that he would be overlooked by Italy for the 1998 World Cup finals if he was not playing top-flight football.

And he claims he told Robson and Boro chairman Steve Gibson that he was prepared to go on loan for one season to a top-flight club in England or on the Continent, and then return to Teesside "for the rest of my career''.

In the event, his World Cup dream was dashed when he suffered an injury and Boro were promoted after one season in the First Division.

But Ravanelli says: "I want the supporters to understand why I had to leave when Boro were relegated.

"I promise you that even if they had not regained their Premiership position, I would have returned once the World Cup was over, because I love Middlesbrough Football Club and I loved living there.

"For me there is only one club in England, and that is Middlesbrough. Although it would be a massive task for me to be accepted again, I want to be the manager of Middlesbrough one day and give the fans the success they deserve.

"I did not cause any trouble when I was there. I only wanted what was best for the team. I felt that some players were not as professional as I am. I did get angry at times. Italians are very passionate, but it was because I care about Middlesbrough.

"It was obvious that Emerson was not happy at Middlesbrough. I played every day with all my heart for the team, but Emerson played only for Emerson. There were two or three others who were the same."

l A full transcript of this article appears in the current edition of the award-winning magazine, Middlesbrough Supporters South. Available by subscribing at: www.mss.org.uk or by post, for £1.50 including postage from: MSS, The Brewers Studio, Mill End, Herts SG9 ORW. Cheques payable to MSS.