Football enthusiasts in Singapore are in for a treat this coming November. Gianfranco Zola will make a special two-day visit from November 30 to December 1. He visits on the occasion of Chelsea The Famous CFC, an international fan engagement program in collaboration with Singapore hospitality group Ascott. The presence of Zola will be high for home fans, which has formed a very memorable moment in the global reach-out programs of the English Premier League giants.
Gianfranco Zola’s visit is being hosted at Lyf Funan Singapore, an innovative co-living space under the Ascott brand. The move will draw Chelsea closer to its growing international fan base, not least in vibrant Southeast Asia, where support for the Blues runs deep.
This occasion is the first for Zola, twice Chelsea’s Player of the Year and once voted the club’s greatest player, to participate in The Famous CFC. Zola continued: “I’m really looking forward to being involved in The Famous CFC this year and to taking part in the event for the first time. I know we have a huge following in Southeast Asia, so it will be really special to spend some time together out of the pitch while exploring a beautiful country.”
The two-day engagement will feature a host of fan-centric events, including a watch party for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on December 1. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Chelsea fans to meet Gianfranco Zola in person, go through coaching clinics by the Chelsea Foundation, and celebrate their love for the team amidst the interactive atmosphere. To the Singaporean fans, who have waited for Chelsea’s return since 2017, this will be another rare occasion for them to reunite with one of the greatest legends at Chelsea.
Ascott in Bringing Fans Closer to Soccer Heroes
Ascott’s participation in this fan engagement program follows the hospitality group’s recent deal with Chelsea, signed in July 2024, to make Ascott the official global hotel partner for the five-time Premier League champions. The development is emblematic of Ascott’s dedication to bringing Chelsea fans closer to their football stars in key areas of support, such as Southeast Asia.
Ascott Chief Commercial Officer Tan Bee Leng exclaimed, “Since coming on board as Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner in July, Ascott has been committed to bringing Chelsea fans closer to their football heroes… Noting that a significant number of Chelsea’s 600 mln plus followers are within Southeast Asia, we are delighted that The Famous CFC will be visiting the region shortly,” she added.
Specifically, Chelsea Chief Revenue Officer Casper Stylsvig mentioned that this visit is important because it is Chelsea’s first visit to Singapore since 2017. The tour is a means for the club to engage with the increasing legion of fans worldwide in new ways. “We are delighted that Ascott – our presenting partner of this leg of the program – shares our ambition of engaging with fans from every corner of the globe in innovative and rewarding ways,” he said.
Gianfranco Zola: A Career of Glittering Memories
As supporters await his return, many will reminisce about his glittering career, not just at Chelsea but also in his early days in Italy and overseas. Speaking recently at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Zola recounted some of his high points, including those moments that helped shape him as a player and person.
Gianfranco Zola, the son of Sardinia, grew up playing with the local club in Cagliari. He credits the small-town upbringing as helping him through many ups and downs, common to a professional football player. “You need to keep your identity solid in order to help you navigate through stormy waters. Growing up in a small town with 7,000 inhabitants gave me a strong sense of identity and values that helped me in those moments when my beliefs and abilities were being challenged,” Zola explained.
His transfer to Napoli in 1989 propelled him into the spotlight as he was in training sessions alongside the great Diego Maradona. Zola still remembers a humorous interchange with the Argentine legend and says, “The first thing he said when he saw me was, ‘Finally, they have signed someone shorter than me!
‘ But he was only taller because of his hair.” Most of what Zola learned came from Maradona, the superstar who carried himself off the pitch with an unexpected humility and warmth.
Gianfranco Zola Chelsea Career
The words Gianfranco Zola Chelsea evoke creativity, flair, and sportsmanship among the EPL fans. During his seven seasons of active service with the Blues, Zola became known as one of the most gifted players ever to wear the colors of the Premier League. Zola came from Italy to Chelsea in 1996, having spent time with Napoli and Parma. His arrival in London coincided with a transformation at the club, and it did not take long for his artistry on the pitch to make him a crowd-pleaser. In 312 appearances, Zola scored 80 goals.
The most memorable moment of his career was the 1998 European Cup Winners’ Cup final when he scored the winning goal against Stuttgart just seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Years in the club, behind his memory, Chelsea remembered how much Zola loved the English game, which contrasted with the tactics of the Italian ones. “In England, they played only for the pleasure of playing, and all the fans wanted was for each one of us to give our all. I discovered an incredible style of football”, he said in a recent interview.
The magic flowed from the pitch. With the Double Chelsea’s Player of the Year, he became an instant darling in the English Premier League.
A Career of Pleasure and Pain
Despite his immense success at Chelsea, Zola’s international career with Italy was all too frequently frustrating. He won 35 caps and scored 10 goals with the national team, but it was never to reach the level his club career was at during that period. A painful moment came in 1996 when he missed a crucial penalty in the European Championship- a memory still haunting him.
“It was like a light went off inside me, and I just could not react to that moment,” Gianfranco Zola admitted.
Eventually, after leaving Chelsea in 2003, Zola wanted to return to his roots, signing with then-Serie B Cagliari, where he was to see out the last years of his playing career. Still, Zola might have had many more lucrative opportunities to continue higher up, but his heart beckoned him back to his beloved Sardinia.
Looking to the Future in Singapore
With Gianfranco Zola set to embark toward Singapore, Chelsea fans are just getting themselves ready for more about his dreamy journey. This will be his first visit on behalf of Chelsea’s The Famous CFC. It gives the Southeast Asian fans the much-needed opportunity to come face-to-face with a living legend on the pitch and bask in all of Magic Box’s glory. Not for Zola, it is about more than living off one’s glory but sharing such a rapport with the fans by telling stories and inspiring a new generation of lovers of the beautiful game.
