In short
Podcast Episode Notes: The Rest Is Football - Episode: Gianfranco Zola: The Moments That Made Them
Episode Overview In this episode of *The Rest Is Football*, hosts Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards delve into the illustrious career of Gianfranco Zola, one of Chelsea's greatest-ever players and a significant figure in the Premier League. The discussion highlights Zola's technical prowess, his experiences with Diego Maradona, and his impact on Chelsea's transformation into a dominant force in English football.
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Key Themes and Discussions
Zola's Impact on Premier League
- Introduction of Foreign Talent: Zola was among the first wave of top-tier foreign players to enter the Premier League, which began to flourish in the mid-1990s.
- Technical Brilliance:
- Described as one of the best in terms of balance, technique, passing, and dribbling.
- Known for his strength and ability to retain the ball under pressure.
Early Career
- Learning from Maradona:
- Zola's time at Napoli under Diego Maradona significantly shaped his skills, particularly in free-kick taking.
- His ability to learn from one of the greatest footballers of all time laid the groundwork for his success in England.
Career Highlights
- Chelsea Tenure:
- Joined Chelsea in December 1996 and had immediate success, winning the Football Writers Player of the Year despite missing the early part of the season.
- Contributed to the club's rise before the Roman Abramovich era, playing an integral role in establishing Chelsea as a competitive force.
Memorable Moments
- Farewell Lob:
- In his last season, Zola scored a notable lob against Everton, showcasing his exceptional skill even at 36.
- Hosts reminisced about this goal and its significance in his farewell to Chelsea.
Chelsea's Evolution
- Transition to Success:
- Zola was part of the foundation that led to Chelsea's subsequent success, paving the way for players like Didier Drogba and the club's growth under Abramovich.
- Legacy:
- Zola remains a beloved figure among Chelsea fans, and his influence is acknowledged even as the club evolved into a trophy-winning machine.
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Insights and Reflections
- Role in Football Development:
- Zola’s signing marked a turning point where clubs began to invest in foreign talent, which would eventually change the landscape of the Premier League.
- Personal Anecdotes:
- The hosts shared personal stories about playing against Zola and their interactions with him off the pitch, emphasizing his likable nature and professionalism.
- Discussion of Playing Style:
- The conversation also touched on how defenders approached players like Zola, who possessed unique dribbling skills and agility that made them difficult to mark.
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Conclusion The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on Gianfranco Zola's enduring legacy in football. They underscore how players like Zola not only entertained but also helped reshape the game in England, making it more competitive and exciting. The discussion is filled with nostalgia, laughter, and admiration for one of football's greats.
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Host Sign-Off: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards bid farewell, leaving listeners with a sense of appreciation for Zola's contributions to football.
For more episodes, visit [The Rest Is Football](https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOZola's Skills and Influence
2:45 to 4:50
Explore Gianfranco Zola's unique abilities and his early career.
“I also think, Gary, came at a time when maybe that year or the season before when he signed, that it was just starting to turn and bring in the quality foreign players in.”
Zola's Impact at Chelsea
4:50 to 7:12
Delve into Zola's arrival at Chelsea and his immediate impact.
“Just the way he looked after the ball, protected the ball.”
Memorable Goals and Legacy
7:12 to 9:10
Reflect on Zola's memorable goals and his lasting legacy at Chelsea.
“One of the best around, Dennis Erwin was.”
Zola's Unique Playing Style
12:37 to 14:01
Discuss the challenges of playing against a skilled player like Zola.
“that could make people look stupid of which he did Jamie Carrick if you remember Zola Just turning on the magic.”
Playing Against Tough Opponents
14:01 to 16:15
Learn about the challenges of playing against quick and tough footballers.
“Yeah, quick and thick though, weren't they back then?”
Gianfranco Zola's Legacy at Chelsea
16:16 to 18:56
Explore Zola's contributions to Chelsea and the Premier League's evolution.
“And then Chelsea started to change in the era of Roman.”
Comparison with Other Greats
18:57 to 19:47
Discuss Zola's skills in comparison to other football legends.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Micah Richards:This episode is brought to you by Nespresso. Introducing VirtuoUp, the latest in a long line of innovation from Nespresso. It's innovation you can touch, sense, and taste in every single cup. With a three-second start, easy open lever, and dedicated brew-over-ice button, it's even easier to enjoy your coffee your way. Sip for yourself. Shop VirtuoUp exclusively at Nespresso.com. We're leaving today and entering a world of Mickey Mouse waving, princess meeting and greeting, lightsaber clashing, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror dropping, banshee flying, Space Mountain launching, galaxy rewinding, what's the whole deck with galaxy rewinding, fireworks igniting, world of other worlds for whatever you love.
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2:12Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. on our latest episode of the Premier League greats, the moments that made them, we've got a diminutive soul. A very likeable chap. We've probably all worked with a little bit in television over the years. One of Chelsea's greats, and he came probably in the era just before Chelsea established themselves as a giant in terms of winning trophies. It's won a Gianfranco Zola.
2:45Gary Lineker:I also think, Gary, came at a time when maybe that year or the season before when he signed, that it was just starting to turn and bring in the quality foreign players in. Into the Premier League in general. Into the Premier League in general, I think, because it started in 92. But then two or three years after that, I think, then we saw real quality coming into it.
3:06Alan Shearer:Probably because people started to see that the Premier League was looking like it was going to be successful. Yeah, and speaking of quality, this guy was.
3:14Gary Lineker:I mean, he was... How good are we talking? We're talking one of the very, very best in terms of balance and technique and pass and dribbling ability with the ball. He was fantastic. He was so hard to knock off the ball as well. Brilliant.
3:29Alan Shearer:He learned from one of the greats, well, probably the great of his time, of his generation, Diego Maradona. Really? Because he was at him before. And, I mean, he even taught him free kicks. He'd learned off Diego. Diego actually took him a sign and said, you do this.
3:48Gary Lineker:He did a good job teaching him.
3:50Alan Shearer:Yeah, he was seen as the kind of, I suppose, following on from Diego. But I mean, big boots to fill. But you could see why, because there were similarities, you know, diminutive and super skillful and deft touch. I mean, obviously, Diego was Diego, but there were a lot of seriously talented players around. But Zola was, I thought he was really special. He was, yeah. touch strong was he strong
4:18Gary Lineker:when you're trying to knock him off the ball or get him off the ball yeah he was really strong
4:24Alan Shearer:you just about crossed didn't you you played against him yeah yeah played against him in that Chelsea team
4:29Gary Lineker:yeah really top player I played against him in charity things after I retired and I mean I perhaps didn't appreciate when I was playing against him in real games just how good he was and then I played against him in a charity game and I'm thinking this guy my god no one can get the ball off him In the charity games, it was like he was such a good player. So intelligent. Touch. Touch was magnificent. It was. Just the way he looked after the ball, protected the ball.
4:57Alan Shearer:He'd had quite a bit of a career before he actually came to England because he obviously played at Napoli with Diego and then Parma. That's why he came to Chelsea from Parma. He made his debut in 1996. Quite a good year for some people. Alan, that one. If you had a glimpse there before you saw him take it with the right foot, He actually looks like Diego Maradona, doesn't he?
5:27Alan Shearer:You see that, the way that he stands, but great right foot in his case.
5:32Gianfranco Zola:That technique was brilliant. Because it's quite far out, isn't it?
5:37Gary Lineker:About 30 yards, isn't it? Makes it look effortless, doesn't it?
5:40Gianfranco Zola:I wish I could take three kicks like that.
5:43Gary Lineker:He makes it look easy, doesn't he? It's just like nonchalant, isn't it?
5:47Alan Shearer:I never took a free kick. Where he goes up there. I don't think I ever took a free kick at my life.
5:50Gary Lineker:You couldn't kick it that far, could you?
5:52Alan Shearer:No. 30 yards? Well, not with the odd ball with the laces in it. It wasn't easier.
5:57Gianfranco Zola:Did you say you worked with him on TV? Yeah, a few times.
6:00Alan Shearer:Lovely. On BT or? Yeah, I think BT, I think. I'm trying to remember exactly when it was. Maybe the odd FA Cup tie, I think, with BBC as well. Okay. Over the period. I think it was actually those. He's just really lovely.
6:13Gianfranco Zola:How does he see the game go? Is he super tactical?
6:17Alan Shearer:I mean, I doubt that.
6:19Gary Lineker:He's tried in management as well, hasn't he? Yeah, he was in management a few times.
6:22Alan Shearer:So he was, you know, he could see tactically, you could see, but, you know, but he's also one of those footballers who's gifted technically. So, you know, if you could beat three or four players, you didn't need to worry about the tactical side of the game, did you? I don't think very much. But he was also brought here, the coach at the time was Alan's favourite Rude Rude Chelsea yeah and Rude did probably a bit better there than he did at Newcastle
6:48Gary Lineker:yeah was Gianfranco in at the time with Vialli as well yes he was they were actually
6:57Alan Shearer:really close friends I mean Gianluca we'll miss him bless him I mean what a wonderful human he was and they were super talented that was a really good
7:05Gary Lineker:good team that was then wasn't it Chelsea just starting to build up the work of that Dennis Wives was around there as well wasn't he
7:14Gianfranco Zola:it's a bit before my time was all that when you say your time yeah yeah I mean when he what did he say he came in 19 6 96 I was only young
7:23Alan Shearer:he arrived in December right and at the end of that season he won the Football Writers Player of the Year for that season for that season
7:31Gary Lineker:yeah
7:32Alan Shearer:so he missed what four months he missed four months yeah he still won Football of the Year because he did quite a few bits.
7:40Micah Richards:European feel about Chelsea with Zola. Lovely footwork from him. He dances through.
Read the full transcript
7:46Alan Shearer:That's a nice goal, though. It is, isn't it? A little chop. A little chop. He definitely had the chop. He could make you look a bit further. Is that Erwin as well? Dennis Erwin, yeah.
7:54Gary Lineker:One of the best around, Dennis Erwin was. Yeah. Full-back.
7:57Alan Shearer:Alan Hansen used to say Dennis Erwin was the best right-back and left-back in the print. Erwin was class though, wasn't he? Yeah, he was a brilliant player. So, yeah, he was one of those great little dribblers, wasn't he? Yeah. There are numerous examples of that. I doubt that's probably been done before. Someone who signed halfway through the season. I think it was probably unique. Shows of the impact they had then, yeah.
8:18Gianfranco Zola:So Football Writers is all just the journalists, is it? That's the journalist one.
8:23Alan Shearer:Yeah. And there's obviously the players one, which is the PFA award. The Football Writers one has been going a lot longer. It's kind of quite prestigious.
8:34Gary Lineker:I have to be some player to win the football writers, Micah. Have you won one? I think so, yeah. Just one? Just one? Is that all?
8:40Gianfranco Zola:You've won two?
8:41Alan Shearer:Oh, yeah.
8:46Gianfranco Zola:What do you get for that? Do you have to go up and give a speech?
8:48Alan Shearer:It's actually a really nice award, actually, like a statuette of a footballer. It's bronze. It's very nice. Yeah, you mix in with... What year did you win it, Alan?
8:57Gary Lineker:I think it was 95, 94, 95. What do you mean you think it was? He knows exactly what it was. I think it must have been when we won the league in 94, 95. Yeah, I think it was. Did he have to give a speech? Yeah, he gave a speech. What was his speech?
9:08Gianfranco Zola:I can't remember.
9:09Alan Shearer:What was his speech fucking 30 years ago? He remembers everything he does.
9:13Gianfranco Zola:What was his speech?
9:14Gary Lineker:I haven't got a clue. Honestly, I can't remember.
9:17Gianfranco Zola:We need to get footage of that.
9:18Gary Lineker:It's a great honour. You guys are judging us all season. To stand here before you. Thank you very much. That's my worst fear, that, giving a speech.
9:29Gianfranco Zola:so many people around finding the right words
9:32Gary Lineker:you must love giving talking in front of people I don't mind talking
9:37Gianfranco Zola:football in front of people giving a speech you know it's just it's not me at all you know tripping over your words just as well
9:43Alan Shearer:you weren't that good then
9:49Alan Shearer:I'm a bit harsh but you did ask for that I think one of his most memorable goals was actually in his final season and it was it's called the farewell lob in many ways because he's at the end but you'll remember this one.
10:04Micah Richards:Probably isn't it time for another Chelsea attack. Rosola reaches the long ball and scores at the very, very last.
10:15Gary Lineker:Oh, yes, I do remember this one. What a finish. Outside of the right foot.
10:20Alan Shearer:Brilliant lob, wasn't it?
10:23Gary Lineker:Oh.
10:24Alan Shearer:He's 36 by this stage and he'd been here six years so he didn't really join until he was is that Richard Wright I think that's Richard Wright
10:32Gary Lineker:it must be he was against Everton I think it is yeah what a finish that is that was cool there's not many could have done that
10:40Alan Shearer:no or even you know to have the wherewithal to see the keeper out on the angle as well brilliant effort did you score any goals like that not like that no way not from that angle
10:50Gary Lineker:like that no chance no it's a great finish clever player lovely guy as well Chelsea fans loved him still do still do yes
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12:36Alan Shearer:he was the sort of player wasn't he that could make people look stupid of which he did Jamie Carrick if you remember
12:46Micah Richards:Zola
12:50Micah Richards:Just turning on the magic. How the Chelsea fans love that. What a piece of skill. Look, oh, inside out. He turns him inside out about six times.
13:01Alan Shearer:Took Patrick Berger to stop him, look. Yeah, but that's why it's not great being a defender, Micah, isn't it? Because sometimes you can humiliate it. I mean, we can humiliate ourselves as forwards by missing a sitter.
13:12Gianfranco Zola:But when someone... That's never happened to me that, though.
13:16Gary Lineker:Oh, my. Stanny Murphy's in there as well, look. Is that Danny Murphy? Danny Murphy in there. Ballon d 'Or. Ballon d 'Or. Danny Ballon d 'Or.
13:25Gianfranco Zola:Play it one more time for his age.
13:26Alan Shearer:Just for the pleasure of watching Carragher Humiliate.
13:29Gianfranco Zola:Is that what you're looking at? Look at the balance though. There. Strength, like you mentioned there, Al. And then his awareness, the brain, the chop. Just one too many touches, innit? Danny with a little bit of hair there.
13:43Alan Shearer:Just a little bit of hair Danny Murphy had on that shot. Just a little bowl patch at the top.
13:47Gary Lineker:So he was only in the Premier League six years. Only six years. Five and a half, six years.
13:53Alan Shearer:Yeah, five and a half, six years. But made a huge impact. How do you play against someone like that, Micah? It's difficult. Those jinky wingers. Did you prefer the quick, knock it and run because you fancy your chances on pace? Yeah, quick and thick though, weren't they back then?
14:08Gianfranco Zola:Quick and thick. Quick and thick, remember? Well, I know what you're saying. So you'd hold your line or you'd basically just... Name names. The strong arm. Name names. Phil Wolcott.
14:18Gary Lineker:That's quick or thick. Boom.
14:22Alan Shearer:So that's it, see what you now work with on KC. Okay, fine.
14:26Gianfranco Zola:That was jokes for you? Yeah, just jokes, jokes, jokes. But no, I think that's the hardest type of player to play against. Similar to David Silva. Jinky. Where he's all small but his first touch is so good. What do you do with him? Just try and kick him? Just smash him early doors. Smash him. Smash him early doors. Get your body in there. Let him know you're there. Yeah. and that's what you can do
14:47Gary Lineker:you can't smash players nowadays though can you it's like the deal you can't do it now smashing players is gone isn't it
14:52Gianfranco Zola:you smashed a few back
14:53Gary Lineker:in your life I did yeah well I tried to yeah only because they tried me first
14:57Alan Shearer:sneaky
14:58Gianfranco Zola:I know yeah sneaky elbow can you tell me can you tell me it's Roy Keane because every time we talk about this you sort of go into your shell don't you you basically you squared up to him and you bottled it
15:09Gary Lineker:who bottled it
15:10Gianfranco Zola:you bottled it I've seen footage of you bottling it mate have you I thought you were sheer aggressive and whatnot.
15:18Alan Shearer:I'm not having that, Mike. I don't believe that. He did a sneaky little elbow. Why does he all say you were sneaky? Ask him. I don't know. Look at his face.
15:26Gianfranco Zola:Ask him.
15:28Gary Lineker:Do I really have to go into it?
15:31Gianfranco Zola:Yeah, please go into it. What happened on that day? We just had a row. Yeah. It happens, doesn't it?
15:37Alan Shearer:And that was it? I think he bears a grudge though, don't you?
15:40Gianfranco Zola:No, he doesn't. He's always mentioned him to me. Oh, that's sheer, that's sheer, isn't he?
15:45Alan Shearer:Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. He said he was sneaky, but he was joking for a reaction. Sneaky elbows, sneaky elbows. You've talked about it, haven't you?
15:51Gary Lineker:Gone past their reaction. Gone past their reaction. You know, I'm not having a bite on you boys. Yeah. Not to do it anyway. Were you scared of him, weren't you?
15:59Alan Shearer:I mean, Chelsea's overall success came just after Zola left, obviously because of the Abramovich era. And it was a remarkably successful period, but people like that paved the way.
16:12Gary Lineker:Yeah, but I think he won an FA Cup and a League Cup as well, didn't he? Just before that. And then Chelsea started to change in the era of Roman. And then all of a sudden it was like... And then we talk about bringing foreign players in and they brought in some of the very, very best. I remember when Drogba came in, we'd played against Drogba in Newcastle. And some of the players that then were in Chelsea and where Chelsea were about to go...
16:40Alan Shearer:Did you blame Newcastle against Drogba when he played for Marseille?
16:44Gary Lineker:Yeah. I remember that game. He was unbelievable that game. Unbelievable he was, yeah.
16:47Alan Shearer:It just suddenly came in my head that.
16:48Gary Lineker:Yeah, we played because he went up against Jonathan Woodgate, who was a really, really good defender. He stood out. He was like, and we were like, oh my God, he's doing that to one of the best around at that time. And yeah, that's when we first saw Drogba at Marseille.
17:03Gianfranco Zola:What was it like to play against Desailly when he was at Chelsea? Yeah, he was top player.
17:10Gary Lineker:Top player. Strong.
17:11Alan Shearer:Have I told you my favourite punditry story about Marcel Desailly? It was my best favourite, most favourite ever punditry line anyone has ever delivered. So we're doing a game. Live on TV? Live on television. It was one of the Euros way back, way back, a long time ago. And he was doing a bit of punditry with us. and there was Alan Hanson, I think, Mark Lawrenson as well or something like this. And we were talking, it was France we're playing and we were discussing Thierry Henry, one of our favourites, obviously. But we were discussing Thierry Henry and I was saying to Marcel, he was getting a lot of stick from the French press at the time and he'd been in Arsenal for it.
17:55Alan Shearer:He was like absolute superstar in our country. And I said to Marcel, I said, what is it with like the French press and Thierry Henry, they don't seem to get him like we get him. I don't give him much love. They're quite critical, et cetera, et cetera. And he says, well, you have to understand him. It's a France. He said, well, I used to, like some of the great players in the game, we have like Michel Platini, we have Zinedine Zidane, we have Marcel Desailles. Hansen's face. Hansen went. I loved him for it every time I see him he's Marcel nice guy we've sneaked away from Gianfranco Zola but he was he was someone that lifted the Premier League no question about it
18:45Gary Lineker:absolutely yeah superb in what he did and just before Roman's era he sort of they sent away then those boys didn't they for what Chelsea were about to embark on
18:55Gianfranco Zola:what would you say his best asset was
18:56Gary Lineker:dribbling dribbling I think so yeah trying to get the ball off him
19:00Gianfranco Zola:what was his passing like though
19:01Gary Lineker:passing was good I mean balls in were superb he was a technician Michael
19:05Alan Shearer:that's what he was he was a technician that right foot free kicks you know set pieces beating players better than Mancini different really Roberto was more central wasn't he because he played I played in funnily enough I played against Mancini and Vialli in the final of the European Cup winners cup when we won Barcelona against Sampadoria and they both played that day just thought I'd bring that up
19:30Gary Lineker:it was a rare trophy just in case anyone had forgotten Gary played for Barcelona
19:36Alan Shearer:I don't like to mention it too frequently but just it's good for people to understand that I wasn't that shit and neither was Gianfranco Zara so that's it for this episode of The Rest is Football goodbye from me goodbye from me
19:52Gary Lineker:goodbye from me
From the publisher
Where does Gianfranco Zola rank among Chelsea’s greatest-ever Premier League players? How much of his extraordinary technical ability was shaped by learning alongside the great Diego Maradona at Napoli?
Gary, Alan and Micah look back on the career of the “Little Master” Gianfranco Zola — from being one of the finest foreign imports to grace the Premier League in the 1990s, to laying the foundations for Chelsea’s rise into a dominant force under Roman Abramovich and José Mourinho in the 2000s.
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