FORMER Swindon Town assistant manager Fabrizio Piccareta made no secret of his ambition to return to English football after lifting the Finnish Cup with FC Inter Turku.

Piccareta, who was Paolo Di Canio’s assistant at the County Ground from 2011 until 2013, guided Inter Turku to a 1-0 win over Helsinki last weekend, after Mikko Kuningas’ late strike secured the win.

The one-goal triumph provided Inter Turku with their first piece of silverware in nine years and ensured the southern Finnish team will compete in the Europa League qualifiers next season.

But while Piccareta spoke fondly of his current time in Finland, he has expressed a keen interest of returning to England - adding he’s still a close follower of Swindon Town.

He said: “I’m happy to do the job I do here but it’s no secret I’d one day like to return to England.

“My target is to come back to the UK one day and manage a team, that’s my dream. And Swindon Town is a club I love.

“Every week I check how the team is getting on, despite no players being there now from my time at the club.

“I’m still in touch with some of the players from my time there because of what we did.

“I have a job to do in Finland right now but if there is a chance one day to return I would consider it.

“I love FC Inter Turku, they gave me a chance. “But we all have dreams, and mine is to come back to England – whenever that may be.”

Piccareta described his time at Swindon Town as the most important period of his professional life.

The 49-year-old admitted he learned a lot from Di Canio, who he also worked with at Sunderland following his departure from the County Ground.

Di Canio’s attention to detail while at Swindon impressed Piccareta the most, and is an approach he has pursued in his role at Inter Turku.

“My time at Swindon Town was the most important period of my professional life, even though I was assistant,” said Piccareta.

“For me it was a big stepping stone and I have very good memories of everybody at the club.

“I learnt a lot from Paolo (Di Canio).

“His attention to detail is so professional, and I’ve used that in my own career.

“I have great memories of my time at Swindon, earning promotion and that day at Wembley (Football League Trophy defeat by Chesterfield) was fantastic for the club.

“I’m sure the club will be back at a high level that the fans deserve to see their club play in.”