La Prima Volta…Gianfranco Zola

La Prima Volta… a brand-new series, bringing to life the maiden goals that catalysed the careers of Serie A’s greatest forwards.

Season One: Italian Icons. Episode Four: Gianfranco Zola.

Gianfranco Zola began his career on the very bottom rung of the professional ladder in one of Italy’s footballing backwaters.

Across four seasons in his native Sardinia, he forged a reputation as a gifted playmaker with an eye for goal. Having single-handedly delivered Torres to the brink of Serie B in 1989, it was evident that Zola had outgrown his surroundings. The mainland was calling.

Meanwhile, Napoli were considering contingencies for the erratic Maradona. El Diego’s chaotic lifestyle was proving increasingly at odds with the expectations of his employer. They identified Zola as the man who could replace the irreplaceable.

Whilst the 23-year-old Zola would have graced all but the largest of teams in Italy, he was content to bide his time in Naples as Maradona’s apprentice. The little magician was limited to fleeting appearances, as and when Diego was not up to it.

In December, a back injury (the official reason, at least) to the Argentinian presented Zola with his opportunity at home to Atalanta. He grasped it with both hands.

Zola gracefully stepped into Maradona’s boots, providing the creative verve in Napoli’s attack. Just before the break, his stunning free-kick from 25 yards rattled the frame of La Dea’s goal. In the grainy footage, the diminutive figure running the show with a number 10 on his back could just have been Maradona.

Zola wouldn’t have to wait long for his maiden Serie A goal.

Massimo Crippa recycled the ball from a waning Napoli attack. He cut it back to Zola on the edge of the area. In one fluid movement, Zola swept the ball away from the covering defender and onto his favoured right foot. He glanced up, opened his body and curled the ball elegantly into the top corner. Zola skipped away, punching the air in celebration.

Such was Maradona’s standing in Naples, Zola humbly resumed his understudy role as Napoli swept their way to a second scudetto. Napoli had their heir apparent.

Zola would only truly emerge from the shadows when Maradona departed the club under the cloud of a drugs scandal in 1991. Despite spending his best years in the blue of Chelsea, Zola amassed 90 Serie A goals for Napoli, Parma and Cagliari.

3:02, Zola’s maiden strike

La Prima Volta… Season One will be back every day for six days during the international break – subscribe here to get notifications direct to your inbox. Find previous episodes here: