Gianfranco Zola celebrates his 49th birthday by looking back over his long career at Napoli, Parma, Chelsea and Cagliari.

“My initial difficulties were down to my height, as I had to earn credibility,” Magic Box told GianlucaDiMarzio.com.

“Everyone said I was a good player, but they had reservations over my size and lack of muscles. Everything I did had to be much better than the others to get any credit. In a way that was a disadvantage, but on the other it made me more rigorous from an early age.

Gianfranco Zola celebrates his 49th birthday by looking back over his long career at Napoli, Parma, Chelsea and Cagliari.

“My initial difficulties were down to my height, as I had to earn credibility,” Magic Box told GianlucaDiMarzio.com.

“Everyone said I was a good player, but they had reservations over my size and lack of muscles. Everything I did had to be much better than the others to get any credit. In a way that was a disadvantage, but on the other it made me more rigorous from an early age.

“Napoli was wonderful. I came from the provinces and was catapulted into the football that counts. I was so fortunate to reach a side with exceptional teachers like Maradona, Careca, Alemao and Ferrara.

“It’s true, Maradona did say ‘At last I’ve found someone shorter than me!’ although to be fair it was only by about two centimetres and if I’d had his curly hair then I might’ve been taller.

“They were fantastic years in which I learned so much. Learning is one of the greatest things in life, not just in football, and those maestros were happy to teach me.”

Zola went on to become a hero at Parma, but the club no longer exists after being declared bankrupt.

“I still can’t believe they ended up in this situation, especially thinking of the Parma I experienced. It has always been a great club, almost unique in the Italian arena, as it kept up with the biggest sides in Europe with entertaining football.

“I think the right people are at the helm now and hope they can take the club back to where it belongs. My first two years at Parma were probably the best of my career, in terms of the way I played. I keep Parma in my heart.”

Following tactical disagreements with Carlo Ancelotti, the little Italian went to England for a new chapter of his career at Chelsea.

He won over the country as well as his club, even receiving an honour from the Queen.

“First of all I had to make my mark as a player, because at the start there were reservations. At that time the Premier League was very physical and my experience proved important. I was able to put everything I’d learned into action.

“Being appreciated as a player was what made me happiest, though clearly the fact my qualities off the field were appreciated too made me even prouder. Everything I did with Chelsea was fantastic.”

Zola returned to his hometown club Cagliari and called that “one of my most satisfying moments. It was an experience I strongly wanted, to end my career at Cagliari.

“Once again I arrived among general scepticism about my fitness levels, but I did very well. We won that Serie B tournament and I felt enormous joy to take Cagliari back into Serie A. I had a lot of fun too.”

While he shone at club level, Zola had overall a very disappointing career for Italy, topped off by his red card against Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup.

“It was one of the biggest disappointments of my life. In my view it wasn’t even a foul, so a red card was a huge injustice. It was my World Cup debut in a knockout round and at that moment the world collapsed around me.

“The other side of the Azzurri coin was my goal to beat England at Wembley in 1997. That represents a great moment of my career and that game meant a lot to me because at the time I was playing in England.”

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