Gianfranco Zola

Gianfranco Zola was a highly skilled Italian football player who is considered the greatest player in Chelsea's history.

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Profession :

Soccer Player

Birthday :

July 5, 1966

Age :

58

Gianfranco Zola, an Italian football manager and former player, is considered one of the most exceptional players of his generation. Renowned for his remarkable skill and technique, Zola earned a reputation as an innovative playmaker. Throughout his career, he played for top European clubs such as Chelsea, Napoli, and Parma, winning numerous domestic and international titles. Some of his notable achievements include being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1997 and being inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Zola has also managed clubs like Watford, West Ham United, and Cagliari.

In 2018, Zola returned to Chelsea as an assistant first-team coach, contributing to the team’s Premier League and UEFA Champions League success. His famous back-heeled goal for Chelsea against Norwich City in 2002 remains one of his most memorable moments on the field.

Apart from his football career, Zola is a talented musician known to play the guitar at charity events. In 2015, he performed a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” at a Teenage Cancer Trust dinner event, raising funds for the charity. Despite his musical talent, Zola has always emphasized that football is his true passion. Interestingly, he was voted as Chelsea’s greatest ever player.