10 Greatest Foreign Premier League Players Of All Time

9. Gianfranco Zola

In the eyes of many, Gianfranco Zola remains the greatest Chelsea player in the history of the club. He was signed by Ruud Gullit from Parma for £4.5m in November 1996, but at the age of 30, there were some who felt his best days were behind him. Nobody would have predicted just how sensational he would be in his seven years at Stamford Bridge. The diminutive Italian was hugely influential straight away, scoring 12 goals in 1997/98 and creating many others. His goal against United in February 1997 was particularly brilliant. Zola helped the Blues win the FA Cup that season too, and scored the winner in the Cup Winners' Cup final a year later. Although Chelsea struggled a little in the league during this time, he was a constant shining light, scoring some magical goals along the way. He remained an integral part of the squad right up until his retirement in 2003, and on his final game for the Blues he helped them qualify for the Champions League at the expense of Liverpool. His mazy dribble at the end of that game has been shown time and time again, and perfectly outlines his brilliance. Blessed with outrageous creativity and technical brilliance, Zola was hugely popular with both Chelsea and rival fans during his time in England. He is a genuine Premier League legend.