"He is a genius"
- Richard Attenborough -
- Richard Attenborough -
What do you need to become a legend? The question is almost impossible to answer and ambiguity wouldn't do the question justice.
But whatever characteristics you need to become a legend, Gianfranco Zola possesses them beyond belief.
Individual skill must take on a primary role in defining a football legend, Zola has this equipped. The ability to create something out of nothing may be an overused cliche but Zola has this box well and truly ticked. Striding your team to victory in the biggest games and on the biggest stage is something the little Italian did so often. Scoring memorable goals, innovative assists and individual moments of brilliance was the forefront of Zola's philosophy. And finally a warm, kind and magnanimous personality to light up the the dressing room. Mr Zola has all these and more qualities which is the reason why he is regarded as a Chelsea and football legend.
And it was a good job too that Franco had this wonderful magnanimous personality, his ability to sway around and away from world-class defenders left him vulnerable to ravaging challenges from hopeless centre halves.
Zola has scored many memorable goals in his 599 professional appearances including the winner against Stuttgart, for Chelsea, after being on the pitch for just 21 seconds, in the wonderfully cyclically named Cup Winners' Cup Final (so yes, Zola and that 1997 Chelsea team did, indeed, win the Cup Winner's Cup Cup - why isn't there a trophy called that nowadays?).
The Chelsea number 25 scored 192 goals in total and over half of them must have been exquisite and memorable. His neat and stealthy mid-air back-heel flick which instinctively found the Norwich net from a Graeme Le Saux corner has cemented itself in many Chelsea fans' minds.
Zola celebrates his winner against Stuttgart
The goal, in his debut season for Chelsea, against aristocrats Manchester United - and in goal the impervious Peter Schmeichel - will be remembered for many years, not just because of how sweetly the goal was taken but because while the Italian was in his trademark dribbling subconscious, leading to the goal, he completely miss-guided defender Denis Irwin and sent the Irishman humiliated on his backside. Magic.
Zola's 80th and final goal in Chelsea blue came against Everton when the Italian lobbed the helpless Everton goalkeeper from outside the box. It was true Zola.
But his closing article was one of the most memorable moments in one of the most memorable games in Chelsea's history. It was the closing stages of the 2002/2003 Premiership season and Chelsea were up against fierce rivals Liverpool, a Chelsea win would secure The Blues the much financially needed place in next year's Champions League. Chelsea won 2-1 and pipped Liverpool to 4th position. The result ultimately secured Roman Abramovic's millions as the attraction of Champions League football must have been a defining reason as to why the Russian chose the Kings Road club.
Zola, now well into his 30's, came off the bench 20 minutes from time and one moment of individual and world-class natural skill left three Liverpool players in his wake as he weaved in and out of them near the Stamford Bridge touchline that left both sets of fans applauding and Chelsea fans bellowing the widely heard Gianfranco Zola chant.
Zola, being the man he is, promised the small Italian team Cagliari his services before he retired and despite Abramovic's plea to keep him, Zola left and made 44 final appearances and 21 final goals before retiring in 2005.
Zola's Chelsea shirt number 25 has been retired and in 2004 he was voted Chelsea's best ever player by the fans. In the pre-season of Jose Mourinho's first season at Chelsea Zola under took a testimonial against Real Zaragoza in front of a full Stamford Bridge crowd.
Legend. Magic. Exquisite. Zola.
Full Name: Gianfranco Zola
Date of Birth: 5th July 1966
Place of Birth: Oliena, Sardinia
Did You Know: Zola played with the legendary Diego Maradona while the two played for Italian side Napoli
But whatever characteristics you need to become a legend, Gianfranco Zola possesses them beyond belief.
Individual skill must take on a primary role in defining a football legend, Zola has this equipped. The ability to create something out of nothing may be an overused cliche but Zola has this box well and truly ticked. Striding your team to victory in the biggest games and on the biggest stage is something the little Italian did so often. Scoring memorable goals, innovative assists and individual moments of brilliance was the forefront of Zola's philosophy. And finally a warm, kind and magnanimous personality to light up the the dressing room. Mr Zola has all these and more qualities which is the reason why he is regarded as a Chelsea and football legend.
And it was a good job too that Franco had this wonderful magnanimous personality, his ability to sway around and away from world-class defenders left him vulnerable to ravaging challenges from hopeless centre halves.
Zola has scored many memorable goals in his 599 professional appearances including the winner against Stuttgart, for Chelsea, after being on the pitch for just 21 seconds, in the wonderfully cyclically named Cup Winners' Cup Final (so yes, Zola and that 1997 Chelsea team did, indeed, win the Cup Winner's Cup Cup - why isn't there a trophy called that nowadays?).
The Chelsea number 25 scored 192 goals in total and over half of them must have been exquisite and memorable. His neat and stealthy mid-air back-heel flick which instinctively found the Norwich net from a Graeme Le Saux corner has cemented itself in many Chelsea fans' minds.
Zola celebrates his winner against StuttgartThe goal, in his debut season for Chelsea, against aristocrats Manchester United - and in goal the impervious Peter Schmeichel - will be remembered for many years, not just because of how sweetly the goal was taken but because while the Italian was in his trademark dribbling subconscious, leading to the goal, he completely miss-guided defender Denis Irwin and sent the Irishman humiliated on his backside. Magic.
Zola's 80th and final goal in Chelsea blue came against Everton when the Italian lobbed the helpless Everton goalkeeper from outside the box. It was true Zola.
But his closing article was one of the most memorable moments in one of the most memorable games in Chelsea's history. It was the closing stages of the 2002/2003 Premiership season and Chelsea were up against fierce rivals Liverpool, a Chelsea win would secure The Blues the much financially needed place in next year's Champions League. Chelsea won 2-1 and pipped Liverpool to 4th position. The result ultimately secured Roman Abramovic's millions as the attraction of Champions League football must have been a defining reason as to why the Russian chose the Kings Road club.
Zola, now well into his 30's, came off the bench 20 minutes from time and one moment of individual and world-class natural skill left three Liverpool players in his wake as he weaved in and out of them near the Stamford Bridge touchline that left both sets of fans applauding and Chelsea fans bellowing the widely heard Gianfranco Zola chant.
Zola, being the man he is, promised the small Italian team Cagliari his services before he retired and despite Abramovic's plea to keep him, Zola left and made 44 final appearances and 21 final goals before retiring in 2005.
Zola's Chelsea shirt number 25 has been retired and in 2004 he was voted Chelsea's best ever player by the fans. In the pre-season of Jose Mourinho's first season at Chelsea Zola under took a testimonial against Real Zaragoza in front of a full Stamford Bridge crowd.
Legend. Magic. Exquisite. Zola.
Full Name: Gianfranco Zola
Date of Birth: 5th July 1966
Place of Birth: Oliena, Sardinia
Did You Know: Zola played with the legendary Diego Maradona while the two played for Italian side Napoli
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