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Gianfranco Zola is an Italian football executive, manager, and former footballer. He is currently the vice president of the Lega Pro, the Italian Serie C Football League.
He is known as being one of Italy’s most successful exports, having enjoyed amazing success with Chelsea between 1996 and 2003. He made 35 international appearances for Italy, including in the World Cup of 1994.
Since retiring, Gianfranco has enjoyed success as a pundit and football manager, working alongside West Ham, Watford, Cagliari, and Birmingham City.
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Born on Sardinia, Italy, Gianfranco Zola started his playing career with Nuorese and Torres before joining Serie A side Napoli in 1989, winning the league title in his first year. Whilst at Napoli he played alongside legend of the game Diego Maradona. After four years with Napoli, he spent time with Parma, winning the UEFA Cup and European Cup, before moving to the UK and joining Chelsea in 1996.
Within seven years with Chelsea, he won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup, as well as becoming a two-time Super Cup winner. In 2003 he was voted the greatest Chelsea player ever and he remains a hugely popular figure in West London. Over his time playing for Nuorese, Torres, Napoli, Parma, Chelsea, and Cagliari he made 629 appearances and scored an impressive 193 goals.
Retiring from professional football in 2005, he started his managerial career in 2006, a career that included time with the Italian Under-16s, West Ham United, Watford, and Birmingham City. Most recently he was the assistant coach of former club Chelsea before stepping down in 2019.
His impact on both Italian and English football cannot be underestimated. He was awarded an honorary OBE in 2004 for his contribution to English football, and was one described as “the most enduring and popular foreign player in the history of Chelsea” by the British Embassy in Rome.
Gianfranco Zola | Awards and Honours
– FWA Footballer of the Year 1997
– Chelsea Player of the Year 1999; 2003
– Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2004
– Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare “Gaetano Scirea” Award 2005
– Pallone d’Argento Award 2005
– Inducted Into the National Football Museum’s English Football Hall of Fame 2006
– Premio Internazionale Giacinto Facchetti Award 2010
– “Greatest Dead Ball Specialists of All Time” List for Bleacher Report 2013
– Football League Championship Manager of the Month February 2013
– “100 Best Foreign Premier League Players Ever” by FourFourTwo Magazine 2017
– Inducted Into the Italian Football Hall of Fame 2022
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Key Information
Former Italian and English Footballer🔹Manager: West Ham, Watford, Chelsea🔹629 Appearances and 193 Goals🔹Italian Football Hall of Fame 2022
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