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5 unusual facts about Gianfranco Zola


2001–02 Norwich City F.C. season

The game featured a memorable backheeled goal by Chelsea's Italian forward Gianfranco Zola.

Gianfranco Zola

Within a week Chelsea was acquired by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

In the 1997–98 season, Zola helped Chelsea win three more trophies, the League Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the Super Cup.

After only a few minutes, Zola was sent off, after 'fouling' Augustine Eguavoen, which forced him to miss the two subsequent World Cup matches.

He spent the first decade of his playing career playing in Italy, most notably with Napoli, alongside Diego Maradona and Careca, and at Parma, before moving to English side Chelsea, where he was voted the Football Writers' Player of the Year in the 1996–97 season.


Emile Paul Tendeng

The assistant coach of Casa Sport describes him as “football genius, prodigy and player with extraordinary potential”, and compares him with Gianfranco Zola.

Sevada Abelian

Very soon he got selected for a talent competition in London, where he demonstrated his skills in front of legends as Gianfranco Zola, Robert Pires, Daniele Massaro and Jean-Pierre Papin.


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