sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
20 Years Ago Gianfranco Zola Scored One Of The All Time Great FA Cup Goals
Home>Football
Published 14:00 16 Jan 2022 GMT

20 Years Ago Gianfranco Zola Scored One Of The All Time Great FA Cup Goals

Zola's backheel goal against Norwich City is still an absolute delight, even with 20 years of FA Cup goals since.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Gianfranco Zola's incredible back heeled goal for Chelsea, against Norwich, was scored 20 years ago today, and it's still an all time great.


Zola was on the first truly special foreign players to move to the Premier League, when he signed for Chelsea for £4.5 million in December 1996.

The Italian came with a big reputation after his time with Napoli and Parma, winning Serie A alongside Diego Maradona with the former, and the UEFA Cup with the latter.

At Chelsea, the forward enjoyed many brilliant moments and won quite the haul of silverware for a Blues side who weren't the super power they'd become under Roman Abramovich.

In 2002, later on his time at Stamford Bridge, the little Italian proved just how brilliant he could be, with a moment of pure genius in the FA Cup, in a third round replay against Norwich City.

At the time Norwich were a Championship side, the league was still known as the First Division at the time, but managed to hold their Premier League opposition in the first game.

Despite a strong team for the Blues at Carrow Road, that included Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Marcel Desailly and William Gallas, the west Londoners were held to a 0-0 draw.

However when they got the Canaries back to the capital nine days later, the home side showed their quality, with Zola's goal the pick of the bunch.

Mario Stanic opened the scoring for the hosts, before Frank Lampard doubled the lead just after the half time interval, before the Zola's moment of pure class made it 3-0. Mikael Forssell wrapped things up in the final minute of normal time.

Zola and his teammates celebrate his goal. Image: PA Images
Zola and his teammates celebrate his goal. Image: PA Images

Zola's genius can still be seen in some Premier League records today, but one player equalled one of his landmarks from his time in England on Saturday.

The 55-year-old, who has managed in England with West Ham, Birmingham City and Watford, is still the joint second top free kick scorer in the Premier League's history.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse joined the Italian, and Thierry Henry, on 12 goals from the set piece, with only David Beckham's 18 ahead of the trio of men.

Featured Image Credit: Chelsea TV/PA

Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, FA Cup, Norwich City

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Recommended reads

'I’ll smash up my next few opponents': Daniel Dubois talks Fury vs Joshua, Jake Paul crossover and avenging Usyk defeatsBrooks Running'I don't want to be missing anymore' - Jamie Vardy drops retirement hint as he talks Netflix documentaryNetflix / Untold UK: Jamie VardyFormer Man Utd No.2 suggests only reason Michael Carrick would not get the full-time jobGetty ImagesVinnie Jones ‘would love’ for rags to riches life story to be made into movie as he talks Netflix documentaryNetflix

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Tottenham learn devastating cost of Premier League relegation after Leeds draw

    Tottenham Hotspur face the prospect of a devastating cost if they suffer relegation from the Premier League.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Former Chelsea starlet's contracted terminated after just two games at iconic Serie A club

    A former Chelsea starlet has seen his contract terminated by an iconic Serie A club after just two games.

    Football
  • Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    'Send him back' - Tottenham told to terminate player's 'strange' deal amid relegation concerns

    The Spurs player is expected to leave following the end of what has been a dismal season.

    Football
  • Jordan Peck/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Mark Goldbridge storms out of Baller League following bizarre incident

    The popular Manchester United fan was furious.

    Football