During his legendary tenure at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson encountered numerous talented players across the Premier League and international competitions.
His remarkable journey with the Red Devils was marked by an impressive haul of 13 Premier League titles, as he vied for supremacy against formidable rivals such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
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Among the many adversaries, it was the former Chelsea maestro Gianfranco Zola who stood out in Ferguson’s memory as the most ‘troublesome’ yet ‘remarkable’ player he faced.
Despite the challenges Zola posed, Ferguson lauded the Italian’s exceptional skills and courage, particularly reminiscing about an FA Cup clash that necessitated special attention to ‘closely guard’ him on the field.
“Now, little Zola, he annoyed me. He was one of those players who was unperturbed about who he was playing against,” he said.
“He always seemed to have a smile on his face and that annoyed me. I said, ‘How can he be enjoying himself playing against United? Nobody else does’.
“He was fantastic. Talented. Beautiful balance. Brave. I remember we played Chelsea in the FA Cup a couple of years ago in the treble. We got them in the early rounds and we drew 0-0 at Old Trafford and I man-marked him.”
Ferguson added: “That’s how much respect I had for him. But he was a fantastic player. I loved watching him. He was enjoyable. That was the thing, for me to say that of an opponent tells you how much I admire them.”
Zola graced Stamford Bridge with his presence for seven remarkable seasons, during which he featured in 311 matches and netted 80 goals.
His tenure at Chelsea was adorned with silverware, capturing two FA Cups and a Football League Cup. Zola’s connection with the club was reignited in 2018 when he joined Maurizio Sarri’s coaching team.
In addition to his on-field exploits, Zola took on managerial roles at West Ham, Watford, and Birmingham, showcasing his versatility within the football world.
