Premier League - The Greatest: Chelsea verdict

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 09:20:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! readers have overwhelmingly voted Gianfranco Zola the greatest player in the club's history.

1997 Chelsea Gianfranco Zola - 0

The Italian maestro picked up nearly half of the vote, romping to victory ahead of present-day stars Frank Lampard and John Terry, who claimed 32 per cent and 10 per cent .

However, there was scant regard paid to the club's past, with the five contenders outside the top three collecting less than a tenth of the vote between them.

1960s and 70s icon Peter Osgood collected four per cent, while club legends Peter Bonetti, Ron 'Chopper' Harris, John Hollins and Bobby Tambling were virtually ignored.

The winner - Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea 1996-2003)

Perhaps strangely, given the club's reputation during the last two decades, Zola was the only foreign player in the shortlist. The Italian was anything but a mercenary, however, combining wholehearted effort with spectacular flair and creativity. Eighty goals in 312 games does not tell the story of his brilliance. Just watch the footage of his backheel volley against Norwich, or the scooped through-ball for Gus Poyet to slam in against Sunderland on the opening day of the 1999/00 season. Pure magic.

Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict

1- Frank Lampard

2- Ron Harris

3- Gianfranco Zola

Readers' verdict (30352 votes):

1- Gianfranco Zola - 49% (14891)

2- Frank Lampard - 32% (9714)

3- John Terry - 10% (3151)

4- Peter Osgood - 4% (1241)

5- Peter Bonetti - 2% (500)

6- Ron Harris - 1% (440)

7- Bobby Tambling - 1% (218)

8- John Hollins - 1% (197)

Pick of your comments

David J: For once, I can't fault the Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict. I've been a Chelsea fan since 1963. Frank Lampard stands head and shoulders above all others that have come and gone since then. The quality of his play and commitment to the cause, week in, week out, for eight long years put him in a class of his own - ahead of "Chopper Never Lets a Dago By" (sign at the 1971 Cup-Winners' Cup Final vs Real Madrid) and the delightful magic of Zola. How many other 30-year-old players are given five-year contracts these days? He's the only player in England that can be sure to be fit enough and good enough to merit it.

rag2706: Although he wasn't a true blue Chelsea player, Jimmy Greaves's goal record speaks for itself and he deserves more of a mention.

reubenkatiemartin: Surely Kerry Dixon needed more of a mention as does Michael Essien, and I can't believe that neither Pat Nevin or Charlie Cooke are there. And where is Micky Droy?

keith j: Im a Man Utd Fan and I wanted us to buy Zola before Chelsea got him and what a player he was for Chelsea. Superb, better that Cantona.

clabgam: I'm a Chelsea fan and Lampard and Terry have not done enough, yet they still have time to perform on the biggest stage - the Champions league final. Zola was the best no doubt, he had everything in his game.

Peter S: Easy - Zola, Osgood, Harris. I'm not sure why any of the current crop are on the shortlist given that the smallest sniff of more cash and they'd be off - not the stuff that legends are made of.

RON H: Supporter since 1937 days of Weaver, Mills and Vic Woodley. My player would be Osgood. Charlie Cooke was a delight for 20 minutes not 90.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. What about David Webb, outfield player who played in­ goal against Ipswich one Boxing day in the 70's­ when the other goalies were all injured or sick and­ Chelsea won 2-0

    From STEPHEN, on Mon 6 Jul 8:28AM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I didnt know Chelsea had a history? i remember them­ being in lower leagues before the Rusian Mafia Money­ came in . Cars parked behind the Goal in Trash Ground­ call Stamford bridge with 20,000 attendance.­ hahahhahahaha Zola was a fantastic player!

    From Harold, on Sun 5 Jul 7:41PM

  3. 10 - "Pop" - How does this poll say that­ Chelsea got 70% of their supporters Post-Abramovich?­ The fact is, people who vote in these polls are­ internet users which consist mostly of people in the­ sub 25 demographic. So ofcourse this demographic is­ going to vote for more recent stars.

    If you go stand­ outside Stamford Bridge on a matchday and ask fans at­ random I guarantee you'll get a lot more votes for­ the older legends. This poll represents the view of the­ younger generation, not the rest of Chelsea's­ support.

    From Dylan, on Sun 5 Jul 7:03PM

  4. 10=Spot on

    From andy.salmons, on Sun 5 Jul 6:05PM

  5. This poll shows clearly that Chelsea gained 70% of­ their support after Abramovich took over with his­ millions. The REAL Chelsea legends don`t get a whiff­ because most Chelsea supporters don`t know who was­ about in the 60`s and 70`s. Greaves, Hollins,­ Osgood,Cooke all put there heart into it on mud and ice­ for the love and passion for the club not for the­ millions they get now. Most of the poncey players now­ wear gloves, stockings and given half the chance I`m­ sure they woud wear bobble hats! This has to be­ considered.

    From pop, on Sat 4 Jul 9:00PM

  6. rafascrackingup, stick to drawing pictures with crayons­ you @#$%.

    From afcwasps, on Sat 4 Jul 6:31PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    "Eurosport-Yahoo! readers have overwhelmingly­ voted Gianfranco Zola the greatest player in the­ club's history"

    WHAT HISTORY­ AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From rafascrackingup, on Sat 4 Jul 3:54PM

  8. clabgam's commrnt doesnt make sense. Lampard scored­ in the CL final, faie enough Terry missed a penalty but­ he played well. Zola wasnt in it was he?

    Im not­ arguing with the results, I agree with them, I just­ cant believe you posted that comment.

    From yip, on Sat 4 Jul 2:55PM

  9. Where is Charlie Cook? A class act both on and off the­ field. Unlike some!!

    From GERRY, on Sat 4 Jul 2:27PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Did he win any championship(s) with Chelsea?, scoring­ goals and not winnning any cup to me dont means you­ deserve to be the top player. If thats what is based on­ then they need to change the criteria, there are still­ good players in Chelsea that did won something for the­ club so there need to be a good look on how the voting­ was done.

    From bronxman26, on Sat 4 Jul 1:46PM

  11. there will never be another J franco Zola.he was­ underlooked at the national team for reasons best known­ by the hierachies then,but his qualities were just too­ much for any defender to handle!

    From mac81cm, on Sat 4 Jul 11:36AM

  12. for proffesionialism,goals,consistency,and remaining­ injury free almost it has to be Lampard,with Zola a­ close 2nd-Liverpool fan.

    From Frank N, on Sat 4 Jul 10:35AM

  13. He is also a gentleman - and I'm a Man U supporter!

    From dave.fleming, on Sat 4 Jul 9:38AM

  14. Zola is a legend!

    From elnino, on Sat 4 Jul 9:29AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account