"This Chelsea team isn't ready, they look intimidated!" ⚽️ Gianfranco Zola

"This Chelsea team isn't ready, they look intimidated!" ⚽️ Gianfranco Zola | Up Front

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Күн бұрын

On today’s episode we are joined by one of the most iconic Italians to grace the Premier League. From humble beginnings in his hometown Sardinia, Gianfranco Zola was famed for playing the game in a beautiful way. He became one of the rising stars in his hometown which earned him a big money move to Napoli, who were led by the God-like figure Diego Maradona.
After impressing for Napoli, he moved to Parma and formed a deadly partnership with Faustino Asprilla, challenging Juventus for the Serie A title. However, he struggled for game time the following season under manager Carlo Ancelotti, which opened the door for Zola to make the move to Stamford Bridge. His audacious, entertaining style of play helped ignite Chelsea’s resurgence in the late 90’s and he became a firm favourite for the blues. He’s also widely seen as a trailblazer who formed English football’s early foreign revolution.
After finishing his playing career back home in Sardinia, Gianfranco moved into management, managing teams such as West Ham, Watford and Birmingham City, often under extremely challenging ownership groups. Gianfranco joins the show and opens up on those challenging situations whilst giving his honest opinion on the current footballing landscape and the state of his beloved Chelsea FC.
Subscribe now for the full episode and head to / @upfrontwithsimonjordan .
Warning: This episode may contain strong language. 18+ gamble responsibly.
#UpFront #napoli #simonjordan
00:00 Introduction to Zola
00:52 Podcast starts
01:28 Zola’s journey
07:50 Nuorese Calcio & Torres at 22
11:03 Napoli
13:02 Maradona
18:28 Wanting to do more as a player
21:42 Parma
23:12 Chelsea
34:28 Chelsea in 2024
40:19 Moving into management
41:30 West Ham
46:11 Watford
51:40 Birmingham
52:41 Chelsea assistant manager
01:00:06 Italy National Team

Пікірлер: 220

@TwistedCarbonite Ай бұрын

Prime Zola was pure poetry in motion.

@therefreshed5887 Ай бұрын

Well said

@Vargolis Ай бұрын

If there were more Zola's in the world, the world would be a better place. Commands respect from kindness and decency rather than fear.

@andrewbalderstone855 Ай бұрын

Good things very often come in small packages

@leonleon2276 Ай бұрын

Know your role

@leewalsh249 Ай бұрын

💯

@paulturner9542 Ай бұрын

Zola, always a gentleman.

@anthonymcken6050 Ай бұрын

The man, the wizard, the legend, Gianfranco Zola.

@thomasandersen6719 Ай бұрын

One of the best players I have ever had the pleasure to watch (from a Man United fan). Complete class act

@declanshanahan3888 Ай бұрын

Also a Red, top top player. Gave us a hard time on more than occasion as Fergie mentioned a few times and with a smile on his face.

@Tarek_ElMaddah Ай бұрын

Arsenal fan here. Absolutely agree. He was the Maradona of the premier league.

@Hiprich Ай бұрын

Oh my God he mentioned Faustino Asprillia! Two legends in the same club. Zola never let any fan down, ever!

@emran83 Ай бұрын

Zola what a player! Premier league icon

@Tarek_ElMaddah Ай бұрын

I’m glad he didn’t criticize the fans for their current frustration, and he criticized the owners respectfully. True gentleman.

@unorthodoxunorthodox1409 Ай бұрын

What a player! In a era where defenders could make tackles

@Carson-pv4hr Ай бұрын

Imagine him and Maradona playing in there prime now no tackling hardly.. perfect pitches carpets couldn't just try wipe them out not get sent off souness style tackles 👍 OK got the ball just you aswell.. they would run a mock in 2024

@soulsaproductions2024 Ай бұрын

One of the beautiful game's nice guys and a superlative footballer. The fact that most fans across the Premiership have nothing bad to say about him says it all.

@martinlawrence8427 Ай бұрын

Was lucky enough to see him at the bridge a few times. The best player I ever saw live. And what a lovely humble guy too!

@marcosorrentino8040 Ай бұрын

Maradona has given up the No.10 shirt to only one player throughout his career and that’s Zola, Sardinian pride!

@CoachNiklas Ай бұрын

An amazing player with incredible technical skills. Even more, what a wonderful person!

@NICKin3D Ай бұрын

Zola oozed class when he came to the Premier league, a true legend.

@anthonymcken6050 Ай бұрын

He helped thr standard of play become more technical. As small as Zola is when he was playing in the Prem at times he looked like a tenth grader picking on eight graders.

@RL- Ай бұрын

@@anthonymcken6050 I could never tell if he had great strength relative to his size or if he just had tremendous balance. He was wonderful to watch either way.

@adamcrawford1346 Ай бұрын

Had the fortune and honour to meet Zola. A humble and kind man. Has time for people. Great interview.

@somisak Ай бұрын

I'm a leeds fan for many years and can honestly say although Zola is a Chelsea legend,he's one of the greatest players to have graced the Premier League

@garyambrosini1427 Ай бұрын

Here before Huw Evans repeats Simons intro for the millionth time

@chrisgrove4265 Ай бұрын

I was at zola’s debut for Chelsea , Blackburn away , he hit the post with a free kick . I just remember watching him for them 90mins thinking to myself what a player we have here and he surpassed all expectations for him . What a player but more so what a man . GIANFRANCO ZOLA LALALALA GIANFRANCO ZOLA LALALALA

@drewskih4005 Ай бұрын

up the chels the good old days those ones!

@tommac396 Ай бұрын

He brought us so much joy at the bridge, absolutely fantastic player and in my opinion the best to put that Chelsea shirt on. Also a gentleman away from the pitch, very humble man. I had the pleasure of meeting Zola & Vialli, walked a radiator shop in Belsize road, Kilburn and the pair of them standing there ( random I know ) I went mental lol been a Chelsea fan my whole life so getting to meet a couple of your hero’s as a kid was a dream come true.

@MrVache20 Ай бұрын

Simon was amazed about Zola's character. Yes, there are people like him.

@woodsmen9844 Ай бұрын

Along with Hazard, Zola is the most naturally gifted footballer I’ve seen at Chelsea. Such a fun period as a Chelsea fan seeing him display his magic.

@drewbranch7700 Ай бұрын

I became ardent fan of his since the first time seeing him playing for Parma and off course the late Gianluca Vialli/Juventus.❤️⚽️

@gaywest4298 Ай бұрын

Speaks better English than Harry Kane.

@anthonymcken6050 Ай бұрын

Harry has a touch of spectrum that's why but he's a cool guy.

@MisAnnThorpe Ай бұрын

Speaks better English than most British footballers.

@Deano_Longley Ай бұрын

What i always thought about zola,a brilliant player but more importantly a brilliant bloke

@aykoserrin693 8 күн бұрын

In Cornwall there is very little football, its more a rugby county. I hadnt watched a game in my life and was one of those poor misguided that thought the game was simply a bunch of lads kicking a ball around. In 1996 i was in a pub near Truro and the Chelsea match was on. I glanced at it a couple of times and then i saw a little guy in a yellow away shirt. He moved like a dancer and had the balance of a gymnast. I watched him outclass anyone that came near him time and time again and it was at that moment i realised i was utterly wrong about football. This guy made it beautiful and cerebral, graceful and razor-sharp. Thankyou Gianfranco Zola for giving me the love of football. Nearly three decades later and still my faverite player of all time.

@jameswiglesworth5004 Ай бұрын

As a Chelsea supporter since the sixties, the two most gifted players for me, are Peter Osgood and Gianfranco Zola.

@Tarek_ElMaddah Ай бұрын

I think Hazard deserves an honourable mention.

@tsampson6660 Ай бұрын

Loving the guests. Now it's Sardinia's finest

@edose977 Ай бұрын

Premier league 90s legend

@aidanduffy3407 3 күн бұрын

Chelsea v Norwich, greame le saux corner kick and a zola touch into the net of pure genius and brilliance

@SuperRiddlers Ай бұрын

What a guy. Brilliant player. Great Guy. And his english is really good

@intrepidbun5002 Ай бұрын

Legendary player, a real class act 👍

@curtisjones6834 Ай бұрын

My favourite Chelsea without doubt a true Chelsea legend 💙

@ianprest3850 Ай бұрын

What a humble man

@chrismiller6317 Ай бұрын

What absolute class act as a player and more importantly as a person,there are a lot of players and people in general that could & should take note of how to be humble,great interview Simon,Best Of Luck Gianfranco in whatever you do in the future 👍👍👏👏

@Blue1boy5275 11 күн бұрын

As a kid going to the bridge.. I had Nevin, as a young adult I had Zola... Both Unbelievable players , entertainers. Just magical.

@trevorwilliams6404 Ай бұрын

I am a arsenal fan. But i dont understand he hardly gets mentioned as one of the best players to play in england.

@TheMaumonta Ай бұрын

Bravo Gianfranco, I remember sadly the World Cup 1994 in USA when we lost the final to Brazil and his unfair sending off. A true gentleman and an artist of the game

@kcjones89 Ай бұрын

I was born in 89 and Zola was probably the first player to catch my eye as a kid.

@therefreshed5887 Ай бұрын

Before Drogba, there was Gianfranco Zola. Brilliant players. A Premier league great alongside Bergkamp and Cantona.

@alex.westwater9364 Ай бұрын

Arsenal fan here....Zola was incredible....a true footballing wizard !!...⭐🏐🌟🏐👍

@leboeuf05 Ай бұрын

Great player. i first became aware of him, watching a football italia goals vhs video. peter brackley in commentary said he was maradona's understudy. even then, i thought, wow! what a player. shame he couldnt become a great manager. one of football's good guys

@byronhagan82 Ай бұрын

as a united fan, I used to love watching him play. one of those players you would pay to watch. not many of them. also, what a person. honest and insightful. brilliant interview.

@since-jx1ix Ай бұрын

He has a valid point about playing it his way. Watching these younger players now with natural talent taken away from them all in the name of following top much structure, takes away a players instinct rhen you think too much. Premier league now is walking pace passing mostly weeks from goal to defence onwards then back again. It's boring as hell.

@NH-bz9jv Ай бұрын

In the top three greatest ever foreign players in the Premier league, easily.

@francishughes3422 Ай бұрын

Not in the top 3 for chelsea nevermind prem

@NH-bz9jv Ай бұрын

@@francishughes3422 shows how little you know about football mate. Throbber🤣🤣

@francishughes3422 Ай бұрын

@NH-bz9jv Hazard drogba cech easy work helmet 😂😂😂 other teams be here all day sausage

@paulm1656 Ай бұрын

@@francishughes3422stupid comment of the day 👏🏻 Zola is Chelsea’s greatest ever player

@NH-bz9jv Ай бұрын

@@paulm1656 agreed mate, the blokes a twat🤣

@aengusfoley6694 7 күн бұрын

Beautiful person and player.

@CarlitoGio Ай бұрын

Zola comes on this show rather than Jon Obi ???? Franco Zola has a heart of pure gold. Much ❤ absolutely love this man. He braced two of my fave teams; Parma and Chelsea. La la la la Zola

@richardedwards5075 Ай бұрын

What a wonderful player and equal as a man…great interview SJ

@bensmith5288 Ай бұрын

lovely man, amazing player...respect

@tonyantoniou9271 Ай бұрын

MaraZola filled in the gap left by Maradona at Napoli and Diego acknowledged this, brilliant player.

@stephenmcewan9995 Ай бұрын

An absolute gentleman and want a player he was ❤️

@mrb4211 Ай бұрын

Surprised there wasn’t more conversation about Viali.

@jackyoung7097 Ай бұрын

90s legend and a fantastic bloke!

@jmascisss Ай бұрын

What a class player and a true gentleman. As a Spurs fan, always gutted that he never joined us...would have been a Spurs legend.

@Hurricanes5 Ай бұрын

Great job, Simon! Really enjoyed this

@mdonoCFC Ай бұрын

Thank you for this wonderful video ❤ I wish it could go on forever

@robertlangley1664 Ай бұрын

A true gentleman

@saidahmed7268 19 күн бұрын

That F.A cup goal where he sold that Wimbledon defender turns back so fast and placed the ball so weetly at the bottom corner...and wow those were one of the moments that played as promotion for the English football to be admired because of this little Italian magician wearing blue and yellow

@cfcstar9000 Ай бұрын

Gianfranco Zola25 an absolute Joy to watch as always👍💙

@teggyr01 Ай бұрын

Class act…from a United fan..

@peterlfc1387 Ай бұрын

Torquay united

@johnbobby1092 Ай бұрын

What a lovely fellow

@juvenilegolden 12 күн бұрын

Forever my idol

@saidahmed7268 19 күн бұрын

I remember him ones grabbing an opponents T-shirt the ref comes over and sees Zola smiling and he opts not to give the yellow card that Zola deserved because of his calm demeaner and doing all those magical things

@chrisgunn4797 Ай бұрын

Zola arguably Chelseas greatest ever player

@tokyojones3140 Ай бұрын

Jimmy Grieves.

@denzilfoster2047 Ай бұрын

@@tokyojones3140 Greavsie was only at Chelsea for four years. He was at Spurs for 9 so much more of a Tottenham Legend.

@tokyojones3140 Ай бұрын

@@denzilfoster2047 He’s one of the first names out of our youth academy

@denzilfoster2047 Ай бұрын

@@tokyojones3140 What does that even mean? Jimmy was 21 when he left and wasn't even a full England International yet! Ask any neutral you like; who knows anything about football and they would all say that Greavsie is way more of a Spurs legend than a Chelsea one!

@peternagy-im4be Ай бұрын

What about Fwank Lumplard?

@Tarek_ElMaddah Ай бұрын

Zola’s problem in the world we are living in is that he is a true nice man.

@nannysharon6443 Күн бұрын

Such a nice guy

@stevepearse760 Ай бұрын

Zola knows what he’s talking about every professional should listen to this top man

@samchurch4022 6 күн бұрын

my hero

@QuicknStraight Ай бұрын

One of the greatest players of his generation, a great generation for Italian football. And an equally great guy.

@JasonBrown-sb1ko Ай бұрын

Brilliant 👏

@paulhynes170 Ай бұрын

True gentleman and a great player

@davebarlow6457 Ай бұрын

Great interview with a legend and a gentleman of the game. Whether you love or hate Simon Jordan , there is no doubting his interviewing skills , first class.

@anthonybrady2779 Ай бұрын

little genius

@mattnic13 Ай бұрын

Great player & a other great interview .

@MightyChelseaFC Ай бұрын

Zola is a gentleman and deserves respect 🫡 Chelsea’s Legend Zola 😊

@valuetraveler2026 Ай бұрын

Legend

@TMAdventuresT7 Ай бұрын

Some special talent

@saidahmed7268 19 күн бұрын

I remember him dribbling past all Everton defenders including the goal keeper and before he rolled the ball to the met he sees jerper grokjer racing from the right flank who rarely scored and he waits for him and when those defenders stood up to block him from scoring and we thought oh Zola what is that you did 😮😮 he rolls the ball and to Jesper who shoots hits it with force and scored..that was a special goal because of how zola decided to help Jesper score and pick his feeling up and the whole reams come to congratulate Zola s if he was the one who did the scoring and not Jesper

@ryancarailott8465 Ай бұрын

Love the questions Jordan asks and not afraid to ask questions others don’t

@owwwwww948 Ай бұрын

Long as you learned something

@ianmcdonald3053 Ай бұрын

That Parma side was crazy good, i just dont see the quality of players in todays game. Maybe im wrong, any chance of getting Keane on?

@curtisjones6834 Ай бұрын

The whole reason I fell in love with Chelsea a wonderful player a true gentlemen

@thezoid763 Ай бұрын

Class

@clivebond7858 Ай бұрын

Zola had such finesse, very few players had his technical ability.

@delbwoi8 15 күн бұрын

Arsenal fan, but This bloke, is the only player i didn't despise at Chelsea at the time. I couldn't stand them because of players like Dennis wise, Frank Sinclair and Graeme Le Saux, but Zola was so bloody good and always played with a smile, got a soft spot for him.

@nikolincumraku6522 Ай бұрын

Zola the legend

@GLOCK30S_45CAL Ай бұрын

Used to love watching Zola when he played with them.

@plmc24071991 Ай бұрын

Classy guy!

@Leeroycfc Ай бұрын

Zola you are my hero always have been and always will be from a 32 year old man from Richmond upon Thames I love you my friend 💙

@kevinharding409 Ай бұрын

That good a player he walks into any Chelsea team in any era

@michaelbrennan6811 Ай бұрын

Brilliant

@bayo625 Ай бұрын

Recall back then Mark Hughes stating he would protect Zola from the bullies !

@Tarek_ElMaddah Ай бұрын

Him and Hazard were the only reasons I would watch Chelsea play. Very skillful and talented. Arsenal fan.

@Peter-gg1hx Ай бұрын

What a lovely fella.I'm talking about Mr Zola.

@peternagy-im4be Ай бұрын

Simon Jordan also is a diamond geezer.

@BOZ_11 24 күн бұрын

Love Zola

@God-Almighty Ай бұрын

Omg what an interview. My favourite player and the best host Simon ! Love ittt. At this stage if take you Zola as our new manager.

@andrewbalderstone855 Ай бұрын

Always reminded me of the main Fratelli brother in Goonies.

@robertmarin9347 Ай бұрын

Wanted to hear more about his time at Parma or maybe an Asprilla story

@bradleyclutton4564 Ай бұрын

Zola and Santi first two names for me in a 5 a side, both incredible

@JasonjpKelly 19 күн бұрын

Zola the man gets in to chelsea best 11 Drogba Hazard up front midfield lampard makkalale J. Cole Terry A. Cole R. James m. Dessie p. Chec

@G.ICECOOL Ай бұрын

little magician class

@paulies5407 Ай бұрын

Only player that Roy Keane could never bring himself to put the boot in. Absolute legend.

@jota55581 Ай бұрын

Keane would not get near him .

@jameswiglesworth5004 Ай бұрын

@@jota55581 Spot on, far too quick and clever, remember against West Ham, he turned Julian Dicks so many different ways on one run, that Dicks suffered "twisted blood".

@declanshanahan3888 Ай бұрын

@@jota55581 Well he did. He was highly regarded by Fergie and that lot in the late 90's. Fergie in particular loved hm.