Chelsea Transfers: 10 Greatest Ever Foreign Imports

1. Gianfranco Zola

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF-ckLBYHW8 Cost: £4,500,000 Apperances: 312 Goals 80 You would struggle to find a football fan out there that didn€™t love everything about Gianfranco Zola. Besides being a magician on the pitch, he just seemed like a very nice little man. He was twice made Player of the Year and in 2003 was voted as the club's greatest ever player. Although the hoards of big names that would soon replace him at the club would go on to win all the trophies he didn€™t, Zola will remain up there with any of them in the eyes of the Chelsea fans. Remember his outrageous back-heel/ volley thing in the cup against Norwich? Marvellous. It is a tight call for the number one spot between Drogba and Zola, but what is definitely evident when you look back on Zola's time in the Premiership is how popular he was amongst the opposition fans, which is testament to his wonderful style of play and attitude. This was recognised in 2006 when Zola was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, and when he was given an OBE in 2004. His constant linking with English managerial roles (including Chelsea) is a sign that he is remembered fondly in the game and the press, and rightly so. Zola wore the number 25 shirt at Chelsea, making this shirt number become synonymous with him. It's iconic; you would think of Zola in the 25 shirt as quickly as you would think of Thierry Henry at Arsenal in the number 14, or Ryan Giggs at Manchester United in the number 11. Although Chelsea haven't officially retired the number, out of respect for Zola's achievements at the club the number hasn't been used since his departure. source - soccerbase
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