Gianfranco Zola

Lore & Background

Zola spent the first decade of his playing career in Italy, most notably with Napoli alongside Diego Maradona and Careca where he won the 1989–90 Serie A title, and at Parma where he won the 1994–95 UEFA Cup. He later moved to English side Chelsea, where he was voted the Football Writers' Player of the Year in the 1996–97 season. During his time at the club, he won the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups, the League Cup, and the Community Shield. He was capped 35 times for Italy from his debut in 1991, appearing at the 1994 World Cup, where Italy finished in second place, and Euro 1996.

Reader's Guide

Zola began his club managerial career with West Ham United of the Premier League in 2008, before being sacked in 2010. He was manager of Watford from July 2012 until he announced his resignation on 16 December 2013. From December 2014 to March 2015 he managed Cagliari in Serie A. He returned to Chelsea as the assistant of new manager Maurizio Sarri on 18 July 2018, ahead of the 2018–19 Premier League season.

Did You Know?

• Zola scored two goals as understudy to Diego Maradona as Napoli won the Serie A title in 1990, the only league title of his career.
• He was voted the greatest Chelsea player ever in 2003.
• Zola scored the winning goal in the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final after coming on as a substitute, with only his second touch of the game.
• He was the only player ever to win the FWA Player of the Year award without playing a full season in the English league.