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Gianfranco ZOLA 1992-1996
Name: Gianfranco Zola
Nickname: "Marazola"
Club: SSC Napoli, F.C.Parma
Number: 10 | 21
Position: *SS, AMF, WF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 26-30 years (05/07/1966)
Balance: 74
Agility: 88
Shot Power: 85
Shot Technique: 93
Free Kick Accuracy: 97
Curling: 97
Header: 73
Technique: 96
Aggression: 76
Mentality: 80
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 83
Injury Tolerance: B
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Standard/Lasting
Dribble Style: 3
Free Kick Style: 4 | 1
CARDS:
P03 - Trickster
S05 - 1-touch play
S06 - Outside Curve
S16 - Roulette Skills
S18 - Turning Skills
S20 - Flicking Skills
S23 - Super-Sub
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Tactical Dribble - Passing - 1-Touch Pass - Outside
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
He spent the first decade of his 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 Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1997 and Chelsea's greatest ever player. He was capped 35 times for Italy.
Zola made his debut for Italy on 13 November 1991, in a Euro 1992 qualifier against Norway, which ended 1–1. He appeared at the 1994 World Cup, making one appearance in the second round against Nigeria. 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 did not regain his place in the side after this suspension.
His first two goals came on 25 March 1995, in a 4–1 in a Euro 1996 qualifier against Estonia. He also played in all three group games at Euro 1996, and missed a penalty against Germany as Italy surprisingly crashed out in the first round. He scored the only goal of the game in a World Cup qualifying match against England at Wembley in February 1997, and won his final cap for Italy in the return fixture against England in Rome in October 1997. He retired from international play after he was not called up for the 1998 World Cup, finishing with 35 total caps and ten goals.