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Tributes to Gianfranco Zola
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MandMCFC July 02, 2003 at 18:46
FRANCO,YOU ARE THE BEST FORIEGN IMPORT,TO EVER GRACE THESE SHORES.YOU HAVE HAVE GIVEN CHELSEA& US THE FANS,EVERYTHING.WE ARE ALL UPSET& SO VERY SAD TO SEE YOU GO.WE WERE ALL "HOPING" YOU WOULD STAY ANOTHER SEASON&SEE CHELSEA THROUGH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE,BUT AS A TRUE GENTLEMAN,YOU KEPT TO YOUR WORD,THAT YOU WANTED TO PLAY ONE MORE SEASON IN YOUR HOMELAND.BEFORE RETIREMENT&BRING UP YOUR DEAR FAMILY.WE ALL RESPECT YOU,WE ALL LOVE YOU,WE WILL ALL MISS YOU& YOUR BIG SMILE&YOUR SUBLIME FOOTBALL SKILLS.
CIAO FRANCO
BEST WISHES TO YOUR WIFE&FAMILY.
BEST WISHES WITH CAGLIARI IN SERIA B.
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coombsie July 02, 2003 at 19:34
This is without a doubt one of my saddest days as a Chelsea fan !! Whilst I am thrilled at the prospect of a new debt free future for the club, I would have traded this to see our GOD Franco stay for one more year.
The style,skill,humour and warmth of a true sporting gentleman are the epitomy of everything he has done for our wonderful club.
I will never forget the 30 second cameo against Liverpool in last seasons "cup final" when he turned Carragher into a gibbering wreck !! amongst thousands of other great memories.
I join everyone in calling for Ken/Roman to confirm what everybody connected with the Club knows, This guy was truly the GREATEST player to wear our sacred shirt and give him a send off fit for a KING, nothing less will placate the multitude who tonight must be wishing that the takeover had happened one week earlier.
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Durkz July 02, 2003 at 19:43
Best Chelsea Player Ever!!!!!!!
He Is The Football God
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Rich July 02, 2003 at 19:55
Without doubt the greatest player I have ever seen. Franco, you conduct yourself with great dignity on an off the pitch. You are a credit to yourself and your country.
Gianfranco Zola, a true genius and gentleman, thank you for all the wonderful memories.
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Mike O July 02, 2003 at 19:56
The best player I ever saw and one of the greatest Sportsmen of all time.
From the moment you jinxed Julian Dicks, you elevated football in the UK to an artform.
My only regret is that if my Dad hadn't gone spectacularly bankrupt in 1981 and we'd been able to keep our house in Oxshott, we'd have been your neighbour!
God bless you Franco - have a great life.
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Saab July 02, 2003 at 20:19
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Jack Paternoster July 02, 2003 at 21:06
Gianfranco Zola, Footballer and gentleman
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gus July 02, 2003 at 21:18
thank you franco for being the best player ive ever seen in a chelsea shirt and times when chelsea have been getting bad things said about us everyone in football only had good words to say about you,on and off the field a perfect gent please come back and see us as much as you can
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loz July 02, 2003 at 21:23
On a website like this where the readers are Chelsea through and through I don't think there is any need to speak of the ability of Franco, neither is there a need to speak of his conduct nor the level of devotion he had for a club which was neither his boyhood team or even from the same country. All these things have taken on gospel proportions and are not up for debate amongst Chelsea fans or fans from other clubs, including our biggest rivals.
I pay tribute to Franco for his humility, I pay homage to him for putting the club before himself, and more significantly before his family (they were ready yo leave a year ago) and I offer him undying adulation for behaving more like one of us then any other player I have ever witnessed in a Chelsea shirt. When Chelsea lost I believe he hurt as much as anyone of us, I believe he hurt more than most of the other Chelsea players and this despite not being born and bred in this country or as a Chelsea fan. I believe this emotion was due to his recognition that the club is about the supporters - he loved this club because the supporters, the very heart beat of the club, loved him.
Tonighht I believe his heart is a little broken but also a little glad - it is the mark of the man that he is not returning to Italy to have one last year in Serie A but is returning to the other club that holds him dearly to their heart (and who he holds dearly to his) - it demonstrates that he is a man beyond financial desires, a man who places the value of comradeship higher then any personal gain and a man who realises that his returning to Cagliari is the best way he can ever repay them for what they have done for him.
There will be a Franco ghost in the Bridge from this day on - I hope many of our players encounter it and learn from it.
Thank you Franco - I hope we see you again soon.
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michelle July 02, 2003 at 21:47
zola is our ledgend and will always be god to us , we love him and always will . thanks for the memories franco you will never be forgotton
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neno-croatia July 02, 2003 at 22:39
Yes... it's really difficult to explain what Gianfranco means to our club...
In Italian: Gianfranco GRAZIE per i magnifici 7 anni trascorsi nei Blue's, rimarrai per sempre nei nostri quori e hai fatto un bel gesto ad andare nell club del quore, nel tuo Cagliari, sarai per sempre un inrinraziabile...
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Nige July 02, 2003 at 22:50
it was a joy and a pleasure to have him with us. i've been a supporter since 1964 and he is one of my top 3 fave players. he is a loss not only to Chels, but to football in England. a true master. go well Franco.
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loz July 02, 2003 at 22:53
My Italian isn't as good as Neno's but I hope this makes sense!!
Maggio i vostri due anni a Cagliari sono pacifici ed allegri. Quando festa in Sardinia noi verremo vederli giocare.
If it doesn't then it reads something like 'I hope your two years at Cagliari are peaceful and joyous. When we holiday in Sardinia we will come to see you play.
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Tez July 02, 2003 at 23:53
I remember thinking at the time when we signed Franco back in '96 that he may spoil what was a handy looking partnership between Vialli and Hughes. Where would we play him? Would it disrupt the balance of an already good team? The moment I saw him play for the first time against Everton at home I cursed my stupidity (Well, I had only just turned 15).
I just recall the first outrageous bit of skill he performed for us, Cruyffing there right winger before slipping a beautifully time slide rule pass right into Phelan's (remember him?) path. It wasn't to be his last. He also scored a free kick from a stupid distance to put us one nil up and pretty much scoring another one to pull us level at two all, although Vialli claimed it. I remember two toffeemen whispering "fark me we were lucky to get anything out of that, that little midget is some player!" I never thought a scouser could be so eloquent.
Magic moment after magic moment followed, tying Dicks in knots before smashing one home in a three one fripping of the spammers, the left footer against Liverpool in the cup that ahd me falling down the stairs of the North Stand, that Wimbledon goal, the flick in the cup final and all the little tricks that followed in the coming seasons. But for me, he was at his best in his first and last seasons, topping and tailing his time with us magnificently.
I don't think a player will ever come close to giving me so much joy as a fan, because I was still a boy when he joined us. I grew into a young man throughout his time at Chelsea. He became a part of my life like Osgood, Cooke, Hudson, Harris, and Bonetti did my dad and my uncles. Even my non Chels mates salute him. A Manure (He was from Manchester so I let him off) fan was really hoping he would sign for them "just for one season". I could confidently say he would never do it.
To you Franco, A man, a footballer, a legend I and I'm sure all the others on this site say a million thank yous.
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bones July 02, 2003 at 00:19
Thankyou franco for the wonderful years you have given us. I feel like there has been a death in the family though now it's official that you are going :-(. Good luck in everything you do sir franco zola
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Henry July 03, 2003 at 03:50
The end of an era indeed.
I am happy to have seen his whole Chelsea career, and some of his before that.
I am honoured to have had him play for my favourite club.
I have cheered and laughed when he made fools out of the opposition.
I am crying because he is leaving Chelsea.
I feel sad for those who from now on will not have a chance to see him play.
Simply the best, 'Franco, simply the best.
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Matti July 03, 2003 at 05:48
Thanks!
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Curry July 03, 2003 at 06:07
Thank you Franco.
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DaveT67 July 03, 2003 at 07:04
Why is everyone so sad?
We should all be honoured that we had the chance to watch this master don the Sacred Blue and sally forth against the ravening hordes.
This is without doubt the end of an era and all those of you who saw him play in the flesh should treasure your memories for a lifetime.
Gianfranco, Bless you.
Arrividerci.
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Butch July 03, 2003 at 09:17
The epitomy of a professional footballer. All I can say is that it was an honor to see him play in the Chelsea blue, and this club will never be the same without him.
God Bless.
Cheers,
Butch
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Liam July 03, 2003 at 10:17
I've started and aborted this message 3 times now. I don't have the words to describe the honour of supporting the club with you as a player.
Thanks Franco and shine on.
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sezy July 03, 2003 at 10:43
why did you leave? you are a brilliant player thanx for everything you did for the club you will be greatly missed by all fans and by the players.you are a top striker and everygoal you scored has been fantastic.your a little gem.good luck at italy and all the best for the future.
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Jamie Marr July 03, 2003 at 12:20
He will be missed by all, Chelsea fans and all fans in England alike. Truely the greatest ever import in the Premiership. Thankyou for the time you gave us Franco and the magic you created with your special boots.
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Keith July 03, 2003 at 13:36
Chelsea's own Diego Marazola
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Ian D July 03, 2003 at 13:40
I think Franco Zola was the greatest Chelsea Player of all time. It is a shame he has left Chelsea but I wish him all the best in the future!!!!!!!!
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Ged July 03, 2003 at 14:30
First off, i'm a Liverpool supporter.
Zola is a favourite of mine outside of Liverpool of course, the man in all his shortiness has bundles of abundance.
He is class, a thinker of the game in which there are only a few in the world of football have got.
Whenever Chelsea visit Anfield, Zola always gets subbed late in the game (tired maybe) and quite a few of us supporters applaude him off the field out of respect because he is a class player.
That is my tribute to a great player, forza Zola !!!
Thanks for taking the time, Ged. It's not often fans of other clubs appreciate others' players in this way which shows the impact GZ has had in the Premiership.
-Paul
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WhiteWall July 03, 2003 at 17:51
Franco it was a real pleasure to watch you play. You were also that very rare thing in modern football, a gentleman and true sportsman. And that meant as much to me as your footballing genius.
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al July 03, 2003 at 19:11
Gianfranco zola la,la,la,la,la,la,la
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Dan July 03, 2003 at 19:22
Thankyou so much for everything you have done for chelsea , you were are greatest ever player, and the best inport in the premiership of all time. Hope you have a good time back in Italy.
Goodbye.
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Chelsea Fixtures for 2010/2011
League Table 2009/2010
| # | TEAM | PL | GD | PT |
| 1 | Man Utd | 38 | 41 | 80 |
| 2 | CHELSEA | 38 | 36 | 71 |
| 3 | Man City | 38 | 27 | 71 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 38 | 29 | 68 |
| 5 | Tottenham | 38 | 9 | 62 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 38 | 15 | 58 |
| 7 | Everton | 38 | 6 | 54 |
| 8 | Fulham | 38 | 6 | 49 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 38 | -11 | 48 |
| 10 | Sunderland | 38 | -11 | 47 |
| 11 | WBA | 38 | -15 | 47 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 38 | -1 | 46 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 38 | -2 | 46 |
| 14 | Bolton | 38 | -4 | 46 |
| 15 | Blackburn | 38 | -13 | 43 |
| 16 | Wigan | 38 | -21 | 42 |
| 17 | Wolves | 38 | -20 | 40 |
| 18 | Birmingham | 38 | -21 | 39 |
| 19 | Blackpool | 38 | -23 | 39 |
| 20 | West Ham | 38 | -27 | 33 |
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