Latest news with #GianfrancoZola
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Send your pictures and stories of why you love Chelsea
On Monday, we asked you to tell us why you fell in love with Chelsea and some of your favourite moments supporting have already been getting in touch with your photos and stories and here is just a taste from Ross:"My dad was Chelsea through and through and made me fall in love with this wonderful club. He took me to my first game at Stamford Bridge, which was the Gianfranco Zola tribute match against Real Zaragoza. Got to see the magician play in blue for the last time!"Now I get to take my son, and create memories of our own. His first game at the Bridge was pre-season against Inter Milan last season - Enzo Maresca's first home game in charge. That was followed by FA Cup and Conference League games, and even managed to get tickets for home league game against Ipswich!"Can't wait for this season - hopefully many more games to witness live together."Join the conversation and send your best photos about why you love the first visit to the stadium? A special kit? An amazing away trip?Send us your pictures and stories
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Champions League winner and football royalty joined by Scotland icon at grand opening of Donald Trump's new golf course
PREMIER LEAGUE icons Andriy Shevchenko and Gianfranco Zola are being joined by local hero Jim Leighton in the full list of VIPs taking part at the grand opening of the new Trump international golf course this morning. As you might expect US President Donald Trump gets things under way at 10.45am - with his four ball including his son Eric - alongside two men you might know best these days from SkySports' golf commentary team, Rich Beem and Paul McGInley. 6 6 6 Irishman McGinley, of course, was also a four-time title winner on the European Tour and a winning Ryder Cup captain in 2014. They're in the first four ball of the day - then it's the turn of two heroes from football, Aberdeen Gothenburg great Jim Leighton and Liverpool star Robbie Fowler. Then at 11.12am, it's the turn of former Chelsea duo Zola and Shevchenko. The Ukrainian and the Italian are joined by Scottish golf hero Stephen Gallagher and ambassador Warren Stephens, who is the current US ambassador to the UK. Other golf stars taking part in the event include Kiwi Michael Campbell, Finland's Jarmo Sandelin and France's Jean van de Velde, who memorably lost a three-shot lead on the last at the Open at Canoustie back in 1999, when he ended up in his bare feet in the Barry Burn. The ex-pros and the celebrities were spotted using the practice range this morning with Don't You Want Me by the Human League being played over the Tannoy. A huge saltire fluttered in the wind alongside the Stars and Stripes - and there was a whiff of manure after a wind direction change too. Spanning hundreds of acres of rugged coastal terrain, the brand new, 18-hole links course at Trump Scotland in Aberdeenshire promises an exceptional golfing experience with dramatic views of the North Sea. Featuring the world's largest natural bunker, mountainous sand dunes, and infinity greens hugging the coastal dune ridge, the new Trump North Sea Links course at Balmedie is designed to complement the existing Trump International championship links course. While controversial politically at its birth, the Trump International has received worldwide acclaim and is ranked among the 'Top 100 Courses in the World' by Golf Digest. Donald Trump tees off at luxury Turnberry course during Scots visit The US president spent yesterday at hit other resort in Scotland, Trump Turnberry - where he slammed windfarms as "ugly monsters" and pleaded for more North Sea oil and gas drilling - just hours before a meeting with the First Minister. The US President also poured cold water on John Swinney's fresh push for a second independence referendum while rooting for Scotland to "do well" due to his late mum's Isle of Lewis roots. He suggested that now was too soon for another vote on separation during a press conference at his Turnberry golf club in Ayrshire alongside Sir Keir Starmer. The SNP chief earlier claimed a Nats majority of MSPs at next May's Holyrood election could be the "springboard" for Scotland "taking charge of our own destiny". 6 6 6
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets to face Canaries in Carabao Cup
Watford's first game at Vicarage Road in the new season will be against Norwich City after they were drawn at home to their Championship rivals in the first round. The Hornets were ball number 30 in the southern section of the draw and have been paired with the Canaries, with the tie to be played in the week beginning August 11. Advertisement The draw follows the release of the new Championship fixtures earlier today, with Paulo Pezzolano's side opening up the season with a trip to Charlton Athletic on Saturday, August 9 before their first home league game against Queens Park Rangers the following weekend. Watford last faced the Canaries in the League Cup in the 2013/14 season when the visitors triumphed 3-2 after extra-time against Gianfranco Zola's side in a second round tie. The Hornets reached the third round last year, losing 2-1 at Manchester United following 5-0 and 2-0 victories over MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle respectively.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
World Cup winner and one-club legend, 48, rolls back the years with stunning goal from HALFWAY line
WORLD CUP winner Francesco Totti showed class is permanent with a stunning goal from the HALFWAY LINE. The Italian football legend was starring in an amateur game organised by Operazione Nostalgia in Parma. 9 9 9 9 9 9 Totti, 48, was one of several former stars who featured in the game, including the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Javier Zanetti, Adriano and Hristo Stoichkov. But it was the Roma icon who made the headlines as he scored from the middle of the pitch. With just over 20 minutes on the clock, Totti received the ball just inside the centre circle after having the ball played to him from the right side. The bouncing trajectory of the ball saw Totti control it with the outside of his right boot and direct it in front of him. However, after just one bounce Totti did the unthinkable and smashed the ball towards goal with his right foot on the halfway line. The marksman had noticed former Parma and Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey off his line when he lashed the ball forwards. Frey was backpedalling frantically but had to jump to try and stop the ball from sailing into the net. However, Totti's shot had directed itself to the very top corner of the goal and there was ultimately nothing the Frenchman could do to keep it out as it snuck just under the bar. Frey managed to get fingertips to it, but only pushed in onto the woodwork before it hit the back of the 45-year-old and fell into the net as the goalie stumbled into the side netting. A huge roar went up from the crowd as they took to their feet to give Totti a standing ovation for the brilliant effort. Scott McTominay dances with old fan while puffing on cigarette as never-ending Napoli title party continues Totti's team-mates rushed to him to celebrate the extraordinary goal, with one of them seen jumping on his back. Even Frey, despite his humiliation of conceding from the halfway line, had to respect the audacity of the strike and was seen with a wide smile as he emerged from the goal. The clash between the two teams, with Totti's Rabona coming up against Sombrero, ended with 14 goals as the match ended 7-7. One-club man Totti retired from professional football in 2017. However, the Serie A icon had joked he could still play at the top level and revealed one club - believed to be Cesc Fabregas ' Como - had tried to coax him back into playing. Totti had said: "No, it's not a joke. I took it a bit seriously, so let's see. There are one or two teams who have asked about me. "Let's see what my head tells me, but above all my body. Let's see how it reacts. "My head already knows the answer. Who knows what next year will bring." Totti scored 307 goals in 786 club appearances for the Giallorossi, while adding nine goals in 58 Caps for Italy, including one on route to the Jules Rimet in 2006. While Totti's goal record could arguably have been better, he had a more than stellar assist record with the national team with 25, including four at the World Cup in 2006 - two of which came in the quarter-finals. 9 9 9
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Watford appoint their latest manager a week on from sacking former Man United star Tom Cleverley - as they pin hopes on 18th manager in last 12 years
Watford have announced the appointment of Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach a week on from sacking former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley. The 42-year-old Uruguayan succeeds Cleverley, who was sacked on May 6 following the Hornets' disappointing 14th-place finish in the Sky Bet Championship. Cleverley, 35, who made 79 appearances for United between 2011 and 2014 and won the Premier League in Sir Alex Ferguson 's last season, joined Watford as a player in 2017 and spent the final six years of his career at the club. He then took up an academy coaching role before replacing Valerien Ismael as manager last March, initially on an interim basis. Cleverley, who also won 13 England caps, took charge of 52 Watford matches, winning 19, losing 24 and drawing nine. Watford failed to win any of their final five matches, with a 1-1 draw on the last day against Sheffield Wednesday ending a run of four straight defeats. The club have now turned to their latest boss in a bid to improve their fortunes. Pezzolano becomes Watford's 18th permanent boss since Gianfranco Zola left in December 2013. He began his managerial career at Uruguay's Torque City, and after spells in Mexico and Brazil he took over at Spanish club Real Valladolid, earning promotion to LaLiga in 2024. 'Paulo has a hugely-impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad,' Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani told the club's official website. 'We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season. He is fully aware of our ambitions and determination to push for promotion, and embraces that challenge.' On Cleverley's departure, Nani said: 'We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as Head Coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff. 'But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefitted from the experience of the Championship this season. 'It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom; to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this and I'm sure he will have a bright future in the game. 'Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years.'
