First Baronet, now Commander . Gianfranco Zola was welcomed this morning at the Quirinale by Sergio Mattarella to be awarded the honor . A private meeting that deeply moved the former Oliena playmaker , current deputy vice president of Lega Pro, who also received the President's appreciation for his commitment to developing talent and young people, a result also of the reform that bears his name.
"It was very emotional to meet the president, I have to be honest," commented Zola, who was accompanied by his wife, Franca, to the meeting with Mattarella. " We talked about football and young people. He has a profound knowledge and is very close to the world of sport, and we all know his depth. I was very pleased."
Zola was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 for his contribution to English football ; he is now working in Italy to nurture a new generation of champions of his caliber, an undertaking all the more important given the crisis that has led to a third consecutive World Cup failure. The task of the Lega Pro doesn't scare him because, in his opinion, talent hasn't disappeared, as is often said, but rather it's struggling to develop, at least in Italy.
"Things are different elsewhere," he says. "For example, I see Arsenal fighting for the Premier League title but playing a 16-year-old kid in a game where they're struggling. Here, we need a little more courage and to understand that young players can make mistakes . In fact," he emphasizes, "they have to, because mistakes help us grow. It's not like you just send him out at the first mistake and let him play sparingly."
According to Zola, Serie C is an excellent training ground, thanks also to the B teams . "I'll name a few, from Palestra to Bartesaghi, from Ylsiz to Soulè, all of whom played in Lega Pro , and going back in time, even Baggio and I played in Serie C. This is why I believe the B teams are useful and beneficial for the league, which is growing in quality and interest." Speaking instead of the situation within the FIGC, Zola believes that a former footballer could be a valid figure to bet on, having a wealth of experience and knowledge to draw on, even if "he then needs help in other roles because a lot of skills are needed," he emphasized in light of the names circulating such as Demetrio Albertini, Paolo Maldini, and Damiano Tommasi.
