Possibility of Zola coming to A League

[Jake Barnes]

Sydney FC has joined the race to sign veteran Italian striker Gianfranco Zola, said club chief executive George Perry.

Zola, 40, officially retired from the game more than a year ago, but is reportedly keen to take up a guest contract with an Australian club before Christmas, with Perth already declaring an interest.

While Perry admitted no immediate contact had been made, he said the club would be keen to sign Zola if he turned out to be the right fit.

"If the opportunity arose and we had a chance to talk to (Zola), and he was fit and the price was right, we'd certainly want to talk to him," Perry told AAP.

"Our priority right now is all about getting a win at the weekend, but we'd still like to have a marquee or guest player on our books, that's for sure."

Wow. Now that would just make my year. Will start saving for the airfare just in case this turns out to be true.

*Forgot to link it* Curtesy of The World Game (http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=76998)

[Rhys]

I hope it is true, I was a big Zola fan!

[shika]

didn't zola take up an assistant coaching role with U-21 for Italy or something?

[savvas]

I hope he comes to Melbourne so I can watch him play

[matt.morris]

I can garuntee he will NOT be coming to Victory. Sydney seem to think they have a good chance of getting him, but at one point Sydney were also thinking they could recruit Maradonna (yes, THAT Maradonna) and Ronaldo (Yes... THAT Ronaldo).

I am so sick and tired of older players in the A-League. Football in this country should be working from grass roots, not on foreign has-beens from era's long gone. Just look at Victory now. Look at the squad, and look at where they are on the ladder. It is Merricks master-eye for talent that has gotten us there, not some 30-40'something star from a decade ago trying to relive a little bit of the former glory they just can't let go of.

[Jake Barnes]

I can garuntee he will NOT be coming to Victory. Sydney seem to think they have a good chance of getting him, but at one point Sydney were also thinking they could recruit Maradonna (yes, THAT Maradonna) and Ronaldo (Yes... THAT Ronaldo).

I am so sick and tired of older players in the A-League. Football in this country should be working from grass roots, not on foreign has-beens from era's long gone. Just look at Victory now. Look at the squad, and look at where they are on the ladder. It is Merricks master-eye for talent that has gotten us there, not some 30-40'something star from a decade ago trying to relive a little bit of the former glory they just can't let go of.

I think the point is that these players put butts in seats. Think about all the people you heard talking about Dwight Yorke when he first got to Australia and then think about the general buzz being created by your team. The realistic truth is that at this point in the life of the A league clubs are worried about building a fanbase fast to help the fight against bankruptcy whie also fighting to keep talented young players in Australia.

I'm a fan of the league and want it to do well and expand to include my area but even I have to admit that just the thought of getting to see a truly class player like Zola here has me many times more excited than anything I've seen in the league this season.

[Bruun]

Woo...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/zola-keen-on-guest-spell-with-sydney/2006/10/29/1162056867960.html

Would LOVE to see that big fat grin back on the pitch

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/10/29/gianfracozola_narrowweb__300x406,0.jpg

Look at the size of it! Bloody huge :D

Not only would Zola prefer to play for Sydney, but one of his major sponsors is keen to have him play in Australia's largest city. Whether the deal can be finalised in time for Sydney's three successive home games next month remains to be seen. It is believed Zola's representatives were working last night on a presentation to be put before Sydney FC this week.

[matt.morris]

I think the point is that these players put butts in seats. Think about all the people you heard talking about Dwight Yorke when he first got to Australia and then think about the general buzz being created by your team. The realistic truth is that at this point in the life of the A league clubs are worried about building a fanbase fast to help the fight against bankruptcy whie also fighting to keep talented young players in Australia.

I'm a fan of the league and want it to do well and expand to include my area but even I have to admit that just the thought of getting to see a truly class player like Zola here has me many times more excited than anything I've seen in the league this season.

Short rebuttal: Bullshit.

Long rebuttal: At this point of our league, a big name from a foreign league yesteryear is going to do precisely jack shit in our AFL/NRL centric nation in terms of luring new supporters to the code. If the aim of the FFA bringing talent from overseas is to bring increasing crowds to games, they should be focusing on names that the general Australian public know. This will inevitably include the Socceroo's that starred in the 2006 World Cup, and in seasons to come will see the likes of Mark Viduka, Josip Skoko, John Aloisi and Craig Moore come home to finish their professional careers in front of Australian crowds.

If you asked any 2006 World Cup bandwagoner who Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone, Gianfranco Zola or Romario were before March this year and you would be met with a puzzled look and a likely reply of "fucked if I know, mate". An old name serves nothing but catering to the Aussies that already love football, and have done so for decades (including myself). It doesn't put any new bums on seats.

Sure, I'd be excited to see a big name... but not at the expense of a spot for a rising star that is most likely still not widely known, yet sets the league on fire week in, week out. Good examples of this are Burns from Adelaide, Carle from Newcastle, Zadkovic from Sydney and Sarkies from Melbourne.

That said, I would have no qualms against the A-League bringing in CURRENT international stars, such as Rosicky, Nedved, Sorensen, Odonkor, Marcelo, Fred (the other fred... that scored that cherry picker against Australia in the 2006 WC ;)), Yapi Yapo et cetera and so on. Sure, it will never happen, but it's what we should be aiming for.

I love football in this country. I loved it when the Morwell Falcons were first elevated into the NSL, and I loved it when Melbourne Victory were losing game in and game out in the inaugural A-League season. I just don't believe that we need to sell ourselves our to old has-beens, just looking for a pay-check and a pat on the back when no-one else in the world will take them.

[Jake Barnes]

Short rebuttal: Bullshit.

Long rebuttal: At this point of our league, a big name from a foreign league yesteryear is going to do precisely jack shit in our AFL/NRL centric nation in terms of luring new supporters to the code. If the aim of the FFA bringing talent from overseas is to bring increasing crowds to games, they should be focusing on names that the general Australian public know. This will inevitably include the Socceroo's that starred in the 2006 World Cup, and in seasons to come will see the likes of Mark Viduka, Josip Skoko, John Aloisi and Craig Moore come home to finish their professional careers in front of Australian crowds.

I'm being realistic, they don't want to play here. Those that show any desire to always add that the'd like to finish their careers here. How does that help the league? You can say all you want that we produce talent in this country but it's useless if they don't want to play here. Case in point an interview on TWG this weekend showing that players would rather fight for a place in a fourth division team in England than play here.

If you asked any 2006 World Cup bandwagoner who Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone, Gianfranco Zola or Romario were before March this year and you would be met with a puzzled look and a likely reply of "fucked if I know, mate". An old name serves nothing but catering to the Aussies that already love football, and have done so for decades (including myself). It doesn't put any new bums on seats.

You're over-generalizing here. As great as Romario's scoring record is he doesn't have the notariety that Yorke and Zola have. Carbone was a fine player but it's the same. Yorke's name had instant recognition for a much larger group of people. It's just like asking a non-fan to name a football team. Likely it'll be Manchester United - because they've got brand power.

The result is the exact opposite to what you say. A truly famous name like Yorke's and Zola's brings people into the stadium who normally wouldn't be there and also important, players want to play alongside them.

Sure, I'd be excited to see a big name... but not at the expense of a spot for a rising star that is most likely still not widely known, yet sets the league on fire week in, week out. Good examples of this are Burns from Adelaide, Carle from Newcastle, Zadkovic from Sydney and Sarkies from Melbourne.

The lesser known players you mention have every chance of becoming more famous. Unfortunately for the league, chances are they'll be based in Europe when in happens because the league is fairly defenseless when bigger clubs come calling.

That said, I would have no qualms against the A-League bringing in CURRENT international stars, such as Rosicky, Nedved, Sorensen, Odonkor, Marcelo, Fred (the other fred... that scored that cherry picker against Australia in the 2006 WC ;)), Yapi Yapo et cetera and so on. Sure, it will never happen, but it's what we should be aiming for.

Won't happen anytime soon anyway. Untill there is more money in the league.

I love football in this country. I loved it when the Morwell Falcons were first elevated into the NSL, and I loved it when Melbourne Victory were losing game in and game out in the inaugural A-League season. I just don't believe that we need to sell ourselves our to old has-beens, just looking for a pay-check and a pat on the back when no-one else in the world will take them.

$1.6M Salary cap rising to $2M in the next three years. One marquee excluded from this. Thats roughly $38500 per week for the entire team. These players aren't coming for a last big payday. They are coming to boost their egos a bit and enjoy the lifestyle. Even if they were coming over as marquee players just for the paycheck thats 8 players out of nearly 160 places in the squads.

A good marquee player on a contract in the league is not making that much money and what they are making is more than made up for by what they are adding to the team both on the field and on the bank statement. Eventually we hope the teams to have enough money to be able field youth teams to develop young players. Thats really the only way to promote growth in the league and ensure that we hold on to some of the talent.

[savvas]

In my opinion young players from Australia do not have much future Australia. It is better for them to go to Europe were they have better coaches, better facilities and more money to be spent on them to improve themselves as a player. If football was bigger here then it would be ok. Yes, big name players bring crowds in, but these players do not come here because they want to play here, such as Romario, they come to make some extra cash and to have a holiday. The only way the A-League would become good was if they had the extra cash and reputation to bring in good players who are not 40 years old but 28. I also think that if Australia beat Italy in the world cup they would have at least made it through to the Semi-Final in the world cup it would have given them a bit more reputation and money which they could come in handy in improving the league. The A-league though for 2 seasons has been good. It is not easy to start a league and get big name players coming in so soon, so it is always getting better and bigger. We will just have to wait for a few more decades and football will be the number 1 sport in Australia.

[zaffo]

GIANFRANCO ZOLA you bloody LEGEND!

Would LOVE him to play in the A-League but just not for sydeny. I fucking wish Melbourne signed someone with a profile like Zola.

[Dane]

I can garuntee he will NOT be coming to Victory. Sydney seem to think they have a good chance of getting him, but at one point Sydney were also thinking they could recruit Maradonna (yes, THAT Maradonna) and Ronaldo (Yes... THAT Ronaldo).

I am so sick and tired of older players in the A-League. Football in this country should be working from grass roots, not on foreign has-beens from era's long gone. Just look at Victory now. Look at the squad, and look at where they are on the ladder. It is Merricks master-eye for talent that has gotten us there, not some 30-40'something star from a decade ago trying to relive a little bit of the former glory they just can't let go of.

Sydney were never going for Maradona or Ronaldo. Show me a source and ill shut my mouth but I have heard nothing since day 1 about either of these players.

Football in this country should be about a mixture of grass roots and so called "foreign has beens" AS LONG AS they have a profile. Football and non football people know Zola just like they did Yorke, never you mind about his profile.

As for reliving his former glory from a decade ago, i guaruntee he would still shit on a major chunk of the league with his skill. Class is permenant mate.

DANE

[Jake Barnes]

As for reliving his former glory from a decade ago, i guaruntee he would still shit on a major chunk of the league with his skill. Class is permenant mate.DANE

Exactly. Not even taking into account the 20+ goals he scored from 03-05 in the Serie A.

I only wish he was coming for more than a guest stint.

[pablodaman]

Melbourne don't need anyone...at the rate we are going we!!

[Jake Barnes]

Zola's coming to Australia but is only playing in a friendly between Marconi and APIA Leichhardt.

On the 29th of December if anyone is lucky enough to to be in Sydney at the time.

[zaffo]

Zola's coming to Australia but is only playing in a friendly between Marconi and APIA Leichhardt.

On the 29th of December if anyone is lucky enough to to be in Sydney at the time.
Yeah read that in the paper today, will play half a game for both sides. He's hear due to clothing company or something.

[Jake Barnes]

From what I hear he's doing some youth camps.