Click here for an in-depth analysis of Gianfranco Zola's career to date.
Skysports.com takes an in-depth look at new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola's career to date.
1966:
Born in Oliena, Sardinia on July 5.
1984:
Signs first professional contract with Nuorese for whom he scores 10 goals in 31 appearances.
1987:
Remains in Sardinia and signs for Serie C outfit Sassari Torres and nets 21 times in 88 games for the club.
1989:
Zola joins Serie A side Napoli where he serves as an understudy to Diego Maradona. Zola later admitted the Argentina international was a huge influence on his career. He said: "I learned everything from Diego. I used to spy on him every time he trained and learned how to curl a free-kick just like him."
1990:
April - Features as part of the Napoli side - inspired by Maradona - who win the Scudetto title for only the second time in their history. August - Helps Napoli win the Italian Super Cup with a 5-1 win over Juventus.
1991:
March - Maradona receives a 15-month ban from the Italian league after testing positive for cocaine and Zola assumes the playmaker role and gets more first-team opportunities.
November - Arrigo Sacchi calls Zola up to the full Italy squad and he makes his debut for the Azzurri in an international friendly against Norway.
1993:
Napoli finish a disappointing 11th in Serie A at the end of the 1992/93 season and Zola leaves Naples for Parma.
1994:
February - Helps Parma to a 2-1 aggregate victory over AC Milan in the UEFA Super Cup and strikes up a strong partnership with Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla.
June - Part of Italy's squad for the World Cup in the USA which reaches the final but Zola only features in the 2-1 extra-time victory over Nigeria in the last 16 of the tournament.
1995:
Plays in both legs of Parma's 2-1 win over Juventus in the UEFA Cup final and helps the Gialloblu finish runners-up in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
1996:
June - Zola plays in all three of Italy's group games in their Euro 96 campaign where they fail to progress beyond the group stages. Misses a crucial penalty in the Azzurri's final group match - a 0-0 draw with Germany at Old Trafford.
November - Scala is replaced as Parma coach by Carlo Ancelotti who decides Zola will not fit into his system. Signed by Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit for £4.5million. Makes his full debut in a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn.
December - Scores his first goal in a Chelsea shirt with the opener in a 2-2 draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge and quickly wins the affection of the club's supporters with his intelligent tricks and skills.
1997:
February - Scores the only goal of the game with a superb strike from a narrow angle past Ian Walker to give Italy a 1-0 win over England in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
May - Named Football Writers' Association player of the year.
October - Wins the last of his 35 caps against England in a World Cup qualifier in Rome.
1998:
Left out of Italy's squad for France '98.
August - Plays in Chelsea's 1-0 Super Cup win over Real Madrid.
2000:
May 20 - Helps Chelsea land the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley.
2003:
January - Overwhelmingly voted Chelsea's best player ever in a fans' poll, ahead of Peter Osgood, Dennis Wise and Jimmy Greaves.
July - Zola swaps Chelsea for Serie B side Cagliari despite an 11th-hour bid from new Blues owner Roman Abramovich to keep him at the club.
The Italian scores four goals on his debut against Rap Valgusana 11-0 in a pre-season friendly.
September - He is also on the mark in his competitive debut for Cagliari in their 3-0 win over local rivals Catania.
2004:
Achieves promotion to Serie A with the Sardinian club.
2005:
June - Hangs up his boots at the age of 38.
2006:
Accepts role as assistant to Italy Under-21 boss Pierluigi Casiraghi.
2008:
March - Admits he would be interested in managing in the Premier League, preferably with old club Chelsea.
September 10 - Zola agrees a three-year deal to become West Ham manager.
September 11 - Signs contract with West Ham and is unveiled as the club's new manager.
