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"A Tribute To The Legend That Is Gianfranco Zola"

A Legend. Gianfranco Zola isn't just a Chelsea star but a world class one. The little Italian arrived in November 1996 and made such a dramatic impact and turned in such a series of devastating displays that he eventually won the Player of the Year award after just 6 months in the English game. A striker, he won the Italian Championship in 1990 with Napoli where he became Maradona's successor. Born in Sardinia in 1966, he had won the Serie C2 Championship in 1987, moving to Serie A two years later. In 1991 he won the Italian Super Cup with Napoli and made his national debut in Arrigo Sacchi's first game in charge up front next to Vialli. After joining Parma in 1993 for £1.4m he won the European Super Cup and the UEFA Cup, was a runner-up in the European Cup Winners Cup, Italian Championship and Italian Cup, played in the 1994 World Cup and 1996 European Championships, and was second and third in consecutive years in the Serie A goalscoring list. He scored in nearly every other game for Parma, and had a phenomenal record from free-kicks. Like Maradona, he is small but immensely strong and can go past people with ease. He arrived at Chelsea in November 96 for £4.5m having played 26 times for Italy, scoring 7 goals. He seemed intent on running his own one man goal of the season competition with a series of spectacular strikes. The partnership he struck up with Mark Hughes propelled Chelsea to the FA Cup victory , and he topped the Chelsea assists stats despite only joing in Novemeber. He's already established as a Chelsea legend and has continued his sensational form with spectacular displays and goals. It seemed he could finally move back to Italy last summer as he wants to bring up his family there but after much persuasion decided to stay. Quite simply a wonderful person off the pitch as well as on it and one of the best players, and some would say THE best, ever to play for Chelsea. What more can you say.

That was Van nistelrooy...

very true

could have beeneven though it started off with him elbowing someone in the face

hope it wasn't henry's rooneys was good though. it may have been ruud's when he ran the whole half as well

dunno, might have been henry's against think it was spurs when he took it from his own half, or maybe rooneys against arsenal

ye that was amazing. what wa sthis years goal of the season do you know?

Zamboogle wrote:
> was that the one on the left of the box?

yeah and he lifted over richard wright, pure skill

was that the one on the left of the box?

did you see that goal againt everton? i was at that game it was truly fantastic how he managed to get it in from that angle

no but my best m8 does and i have been to games with him, watched matches at his house, worn chelsea shirts all that and i do appreciate the amazing gianfranco zola!