“With a lot of wine and it will be Italian! It is not going to be only one bottle!”
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Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola is an Italian football executive, manager, and former footballer who played predominantly as a forward. He is currently vice-president of the Lega Pro, the Italian Serie C football league.
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sports · Italian football manager (born 1966) · association football player · association football coach · also Gianfranco Zola, Zola
Born 5 July 1966 · Q9354
96 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 10 entries
“I can twist away quickly and stay on my feet. I’m also strong for my size.”
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“Penalties look easy but from experience, I can say they are not.”
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“Only one day a week do we separate them and – you won”
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“We have it for at least 80% of our sessions and I think the players enjoy that.”
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“We will certainly try to win because I never play to draw. Even away to Arsenal last week we went to win and we only ended up defending so much because Arsenal forced us backwards.”
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“s results have improved since Clarke”
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“You just have to keep telling him he can do it. It was not that he lacked aggression before, more that he was never truly convinced that he could always be a problem for top opponents but the fact is he can be as good as he wants to be.”
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“The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.”
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“I learned everything from Diego. I used to spy on him every time he trained and learned how to curl a free-kick just like him.”
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2022· 2 entries
Won: Italian Football Hall of Fame (2022).
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Was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame
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2021· 1 entry
The Guardian: When Gianfranco Zola lit up Chelsea and the Premier League 25 years ago
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2019· 3 entries
The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola turns down new role at Chelsea and targets job as manager
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The Guardian: Maurizio Sarri must be given more time to adapt Chelsea, says Gianfranco Zola
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The Guardian: Álvaro Morata has to learn to deal with pressure at Chelsea, says Zola
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2018· 2 entries
The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola delights in Chelsea return as Maurizio Sarri’s assistant | Dominic Fifield
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The Guardian: Chelsea closer to recruiting Maurizio Sarri – and Gianfranco Zola too
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2017· 6 entries
The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola: ‘Who was wilder out of Maradona and Asprilla? Tino by miles’
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola’s Birmingham blues show creative gifts can get lost in dugout | Richard Williams
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola resigns as Birmingham manager after Burton defeat
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The Guardian: Birmingham hand manager Gianfranco Zola vote of confidence
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The Guardian: Birmingham’s Gianfranco Zola sanguine in defeat by Sheffield Wednesday
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Craig Burley of FourFourTwo magazine placed Zola at number 7 in his list of the "100 best foreign Premier League players ever
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2016· 6 entries
The Guardian: Golden Goal: Gianfranco Zola for Chelsea v West Ham (1996) | Jacob Steinberg
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola puts on brave face after hospital pass at Birmingham | Nick Miller
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola in last chance saloon but relishing challenge at Birmingham
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola says he feels for Gary Rowett after taking over at Birmingham
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The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola takes charge at Birmingham City after Rowett sacking
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The Guardian: Hull City go for Gianfranco Zola after Wales block Chris Coleman move
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2015· 1 entry
The Guardian: Gianfranco Zola admits ‘big gamble’ after taking over Qatari side Al Arabi
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2013· 2 entries
Won award: Football League Championship Manager of the Month (February 2013).
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Alex Richards of Bleacher Report placed Zola at number 12 in his list of the greatest dead ball specialists of all time
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2012· 1 entry
Following the club's takeover by Udinese and Granada owner Giampaolo Pozzo
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2010· 1 entry
Won: Premio internazionale Giacinto Facchetti (2010).
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2007· 1 entry
Coming in second place behind George Best
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2006· 2 entries
Won: English Football Hall of Fame (2006).
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Zola started his coaching career, being appointed as assistant manager to Italy U21 manager and Pierluigi Casiraghi by the Italian Football Federation
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2005· 5 entries
Won award: Chelsea Centenary XI (2005).
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Won award: Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea" (2005).
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Won award: Pallone d'Argento (2004–05).
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Zola was voted into the Chelsea F
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As well as the Premio internazionale Giacinto Facchetti in 2010
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2004· 2 entries
Awarded Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2004).
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Won: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2004).
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2003· 7 entries
Won award: Chelsea Player of the Year (2003).
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Awarded Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2003).
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Was voted the greatest Chelsea player ever
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Joined Cagliari in 2003.
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Played for Cagliari Calcio (2003–2005) — 74 appearances, 22 goals.
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Was voted Chelsea's greatest player ever, while in 2006 he was inducted into the National Football Museum's English Football Hall of Fame
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Until the number was given to Moisés Caicedo 20 years later in 2023 after he contacted Zola for permission to wear the shirt
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2002· 2 entries
Runner-up: FA Cup with Chelsea (2001–02).
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Won award: Premier League Player of the Month (October 2002).
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2000· 4 entries
Won the English FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2000).
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Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (1999-2000).
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Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (1999–2000).
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Won: FA Charity Shield with Chelsea (2000).
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1999· 1 entry
Won award: Chelsea Player of the Year (1999).
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1998· 4 entries
Won the English Football League Cup with Chelsea (1997-1998).
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Won: UEFA Super Cup with Chelsea (1998).
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Won: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Chelsea (1997–98).
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Won: Football League Cup with Chelsea (1997–98).
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1997· 3 entries
Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (1996-1997).
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Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (1996–97).
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Won award: FWA Footballer of the Year (1997).
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1996· 3 entries
Won award: Premier League Player of the Month (December 1996).
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Played for Chelsea F.C. (1996–2003) — 229 appearances, 59 goals.
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Joined Chelsea in 1996.
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1995· 3 entries
Won the English FA Cup with Parma Calcio 1913 (1994-1995).
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Won award: ESM Team of the Year (1994–95).
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Won: UEFA Cup with Parma (1994–95).
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1994· 2 entries
Runner-up: FIFA World Cup with Italy (1994).
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Won silver medal for athletic prowess (1994).
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1993· 6 entries
Won award: Serie A top-assist provider (1992–93).
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Won: European Super Cup with Parma (1993).
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Zola left Napoli and joined fellow Serie A side Parma for ₤13 million, due to the poor economic situation of the Neapolitan club
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And the UEFA Cup in 1995 with Parma, and he also reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1994, as well as the finals of the Italian Cup and the Italian Super Cup in 1995
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Joined Parma Calcio 1913 in 1993.
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Played for Parma Calcio 1913 (1993–1996) — 102 appearances, 49 goals.
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1991· 4 entries
Played for Italy men's national association football team (1991–1997) — 35 appearances, 10 goals.
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Joined Italy in 1991.
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Winning his first cap against Norway in November
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Appearing at the 1994 World Cup, where Italy finished in second place, and Euro 1996
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1990· 4 entries
Won: Serie A with Napoli (1989–90).
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Won bronze medal for athletic prowess (1990).
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The only league title of Zola's career
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Partnering alongside Careca following Maradona's drug ban during the second part of the 1990–91 season, as Napoli finished in a disappointing seventh place
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1989· 3 entries
Signed for Napoli in Serie A for ₤2 million, making his debut that year
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Joined Napoli in 1989.
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Played for SSC Napoli (1989–1993) — 105 appearances, 32 goals.
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1987· 1 entry
Won: Serie C2 with Torres (1986–87).
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1986· 2 entries
Moved to the Sassari-based team Torres, where he spent three seasons
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Played for S.E.F. Torres 1903 (1986–1989) — 88 appearances, 21 goals.
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1984· 1 entry
Played for Nuorese Calcio (1984–1986) — 31 appearances, 10 goals.
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1966· 1 entry
Born 1966-07-05.
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