Gianfranco Zola and Francesco Molinari at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Italy and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola will be part of the Team Europe set-up for the 2025 Ryder Cup, and has also weighed in with pieces of coaching advice to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
What role will Zola have during Ryder Cup?
Zola will serve as the official buggy driver to Team Europe vice-captain Francesco Molinari. Zola is said to be a huge golf fan, and a long-term friend of Molinari.
Zola has also weighed in with coaching advice, telling players how to cope with pressure and noise from the crowds.
“First of all, you have to get into a kind of protective bubble. That’s one of the first things you learn when you play football, because that’s the environment you’re in. You have to use it to your advantage, you have to keep yourself motivated and succeed,” he told Sky Sport (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).
The 59-year-old was last involved in professional football in 2019, when he left his role as assistant head coach of his former club Chelsea. He had been serving under current Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri at the time.
Now, albeit as a member of staff rather than a player or coach, Zola will get his first taste of action in the world of professional golf. The Ryder Cup will take place from Thursday 24th May until Sunday 27th May.
The European team consists of Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and John Rahm.
Post navigation
