The Ryder Cup 2025 is ready to commence in New York this Friday – and a personality familiar to numerous Premier League followers is present.
Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola has been noticed during the practice sessions and has somehow been included in Europe’s official team photograph.
The inquiry is… how did the celebrated Italian find himself involved in Ryder Cup preparations?
Gianfranco Zola is taking part in the 2025 Ryder Cup
Many soccer players are devoted to playing golf: notably, Gareth Bale was rumored to appreciate the sport more than Real Madrid, whereas Harry Kane and Pep Guardiola enjoy participating – and Jimmy Bullard is considered quite proficient.
Nevertheless, Zola – recognized at position 51 in FourFourTwo’s compilation of the greatest Premier League athletes ever – has outperformed them all to join Europe’s Ryder Cup group.
The 59-year-old is actually assigned a duty for Europe, serving as vice-captain Francesco Molinari’s designated buggy operator.
Zola has participated in a number of pro-am events on the DP World Tour, even representing Team World at the opening Reignwood Icons of Football contest.
Molinari, concurrently, is golf’s initial Italian major victor: he initially established a close bond with the former Blue when he relocated to London in 2009, and Zola was coaching West Ham United.
One individual who was destined for a pleasant shock was Europe’s Justin Rose, a Chelsea enthusiast.
“I wasn’t aware that he would be present this week; he happened to be among the initial individuals I encountered,” Rose expressed enthusiastically. “I felt star-struck, which is remarkable.”
Zola stands as one of the exceptional athletes never to have secured the Champions League – it remains to be observed if he will yet triumph in a major European competition.
