Zola awarded OBE

The British Embassy are to award Gianfranco Zola an OBE.

Zola enjoyed seven memorable years at Chelsea and is widely regarded as being one of the most memorable foreign players to have graced The Premiership.

The diminutive playmaker will be presented with the award in a ceremony in Rome on Monday.

An Italian international, Zola arrived at Stamford Bridge in 1996 from Parma and went on to net 80 goals and secure six trophies in seven seasons.

A statement from the British Embassy read:

''The most enduring and popular foreign player in the history of Chelsea Football Club.

''The 2002/03 season was his last with Chelsea, and he left the club with style, scoring 16 goals.

''Despite the pleas of the fans to remain with the team, he decided to return to his native Sardinia in 2003, having made a remarkable contribution to English football.''