Zola - your contributions

Hi all, we are hoping to produce a letter of thanks for Zola on behalf of the supporters. Please share your personal favourite moments and recollections of Watford FC under Gianfranco Zola

Serious posts please..

 

Simply gave us the best footballing side I've seen in the 35 years I've been going. Thanks Gianfranco and best of luck

 

Best moment for me, and I guess 99% of every other fan was his run and slip after the DEEEENEEYYY goal.

He was always pleasant and approachable to the fans. Happy to pose for endless photos and autographs. From a PR point of view, he was the dream ticket.

On the field, the team he created produced some of the best moments I've ever seen from a Watford team. That 5 man passing move for the 4th goal against Huddersfield will live long in the memory. All the high volume of goals, 6-1 at Leeds, 4-0 at Birmingham, 3-0 at Forest, 6-1 against Bournemouth and 5-1 at Barnsley all readily spring to mind. So many games where Watford just destroyed the opposition with overwhelming goal power. Fantastic stuff.

As a fan, I can only say thanks for some wonderful memories and it's with great regret that it didn't work out in the end, but that doesn't take anything away from what was achieved.

 

Just wanted to say thankyou for your efforts at the club, you have the respect of the supporters for trying and for being dignified in all the you set out to do. I'm sure like many others we hope to see you again with a smile on your face back at the vic. Respect to you Gianfranco

 

I just love how humble he is. In spite of his status as a football legend he always stopped for photos and autographs - he always had time for the supporters and he always acknowledged them for making the club what it is.

 

You're one of only 3 former Watford managers I don't hate Zola.

 

Mr Zola,
your association with Watford Football Club made it a more fun, fashionable and a beautiful business. The entertainment served was the best ever and I will always thank and remember you for this.
I am proud to have supported the team whilst you were there
Grazie Mille!

 

Met Mr. Zola in Cork last year. Very courteous and signed the kids shirts and gives the impression of being a genuine gentleman. Leaves us with great memories and his obvious joy when Deeney scored against Leicester, will be an abiding memory for all hornets fans. He is very welcome to visit the Vic whenever possible. I still believe that he could have turned things around, but we will never know. Delighted to have had a true superstar as manager of the club. Credit credit is due to him for the manner of his departure and the dignity he has shown. Many thanks for the efforts and a great 2012/2013 season. Good luck to Gianfranco and his family for the future.

 

Gianfranco came in at a delicate, difficult time where things could have gone either way and somehow managed to make it all work.

Any success we achieve in the future will be built from the bedrock of his hard work and phenomenal coaching.

An absolute gentleman and Watford legend who has left us with memories that I can't see ever being topped.

 

Will always be remembered for starting what is undoubtedly going to be a successful future for Watford FC. Dignified man right till the very end and I am proud that our club is a part of Zola's life and illustrious career. Hopefully his time here will have helped him learn things that can go towards making him a great manager in the future.

 

Last season was simply the most enjoyable I've had supporting this club, despite our defeat at Wembley. 4-0 at Birmingham, 3-0 at Forest, 6-1 at Leeds, 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1 at Leicester - we sent all the 'big boys' tumbling, and the real end to the season was that Deeney goal in the semi-final. Nothing in the final could have topped that. Thanks for leaving us with a fantastic team and great platform to build on, and good luck in the future.

 

Last season was, without doubt the most fun I have ever had watching watford. It was an honour to have zola represent our club, and I hope one day you will return. Under zola we became the team that beats people 3/4/5/6! Nil, rather than be beaten. You gave me moments I will remember for the rest of my life. Thakyou Gianfranco

 

You made Leeds 1 - 6 Watford possible.

 

A nice guy, maybe too nice, did not want him at first, soon won me over and was a pleasure to be wrong about him, good luck for the future, have great Christmas and New year, hopefully fans of the next team you manage appreciate what you tried your hardest to achieve here. We were lucky to have you at the helm for 16 months. If and when we do go up I dont think it will be as enjoyable as the 2012-2013 season. That will live me forever.

All the best

 

Great idea admin. A dignified gesture that befits the man

 

He may have only been at the club 18 months or so but we were promised a Zolacoaster and that's what we got.

From the 3-2 thriller in the first game away to Palace to the 3-0 drubbing at home to Yeovil. It was always eventful but most of all he was an asbolute gent and a model professional.

The crazy 1 minute in the semi final really summarised his tenure for me. To go from despair, to relief and then sheer delirium in such a short space of time really did sum it all up quite nicely. It's just a shame Gianfranco didn't get his fairytale ending which seemed inevitable. Credit where it's due, he recognised the situation had gone beyond his control and left at the right time.

I am so proud that we were able to share such an incredible journey with such a fantastic professional and I am thankful for all he achieved and all he has set this club up to go on and achieve in the future.

Gianfranco woahhh

 

I have to say I will miss you terribly. Even though i'm an expat you made me proud to be a horn. Your values fitted in perfectly with our family club. Thanks so much. I am sure it will be hard for many of us to love another manager again

 

Can you get it printed in the Watford Observer?

 

That's the idea, but only if we get it right.

 

The part of his tenure that stands out most to me is not Deeney's goal in the Play Off Semi Final 2nd leg against Leicester, or the absolutely majestic Battochio goal versus Huddersfield.

It is the post-match interview he gave after the Leicester game. Despite the manner in which Watford had just won, a spectacular from-the-jaws-of-defeat comeback that got worldwide coverage and exposure, Zola's first thoughts were to offer sincere sympathy to Nigel Pearson and Leicester for the the heartbreaking manner they had just lost the game in.

I can't think of anything that sums the man up in a better way.

 

A footballing gent and the only head coach I have seen in the game who could and did deal with all of the highs and lows that the last 16 months in this crazy game delivered with the same calm and dignified approach (apart from falling over when "tackled" by Jonathon Bond after that goal).
Unique when considering the above in conjunction with his outstanding playing career.
Gave this generation of Watford fans a taste of what can be achieved when we all pull together, something not seen since the days of EJ/GT.
2012/2013 - the best quality football ever seen at the Vic. Excitement and great memories.
For me, the hope is this is the end of the beginning this time around moving forward, and the contribution of GFZ in getting this ball rolling again can never be underestimated.
A great man and a great role model.

 

In a results business it's obviously wins and draws that anyone is ultimately measured by. Also of great importance though is how we behave as a club and in that respect Gianfranco was the 'perfect' Watford manager. Throughout his time he acted with great dignity and humility and for that he will always be loved and admired, certainly by me.

 

He steadied the ship and helped make a lot of fans more accepting of the new ownership. The results then spoke for themselves. A whirlwind experience and a superb season, the drama, the tension the sheer unexpectedness of it was delightful.

I think the away game at Nottingham Forest last year is, I think; my favourite ever memory of seeing Watford play. For that, I will forever be grateful and will welcome him back with open arms in whatever capacity and whenever the time is right. For now, I wish him well and hope his desire to be a manager has not been soured by the last few games.

 

Thanks for delivering the best footballing moments of all my time supporting Watford, a nice guy on and off the pitch and very humble, thank you for the moments,the nice football and managing Watford

Thank you Zola

 

Thank you for giving us the most attractive football that I have had the pleasure to watch in 30 years of supporting Watford. Thank you for taking the time to chat and pose for photographs when we had met - you are a true gentleman. I was so sorry to see you leave - I have never ever felt so bad about us losing a manager - you are pure class and you will be massively missed by many people - I will always be proud to be able to say that Gianfranco Zola was part of our little club.

 

Thank you. The best football ever seen at the Vic. An end to the "long ball" stigma that followed us for years and many memories of a magnificent season. A true gent. He's only five foot three, he's part of our history...

 

Played the best football I have seen Watford play , Gave me one of my best ever Football moments in 40 yrs, I`m still feeling gutted that you have left!,
All the best for the future Gianfranco and many thanks for your work at watford.

 

Gianfranco Woahhh. He's really five foot one. I'm sad he's bleedin' gone.

Zola = top man

 

Rip.

 

Go with you head held high.
http://footballpink.net/2013/12/16/are-you-happy-now-are-you/

 

I have supported Watford for over 50 years & can honestly say last season ranked up there with the Graham Taylor years to the top tier. We played good football & were always the team everybody wanted to beat.
Watching the Leicester game with my son in our local pub we were reduced to tears of joy at the final whistle which will live with me till my dying day.
Thank you Gianfranco, true legend, true gentleman & best wishes for any venture you decide to pursue in the future.
I for one would love to see you back at the vic in some capacity in the future.

 

One of the most dignified, humble and genuine men in football. You have been an absolute gentleman on and off the pitch, and led the best footballing side I have ever seen at Watford FC, producing my most memorable moment (DEEEEENEYYYY!!) as a Watford fan. Best wishes, Gianfranco.