EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Sydney FC player John Buonavoglia says Italian great Gianfranco Zola would make an ideal Socceroo coach and should be signed up immediately.
“The guy [Zola] has such an aura," said Buonavoglia. "And he has respect – I mean, you're not voted Chelsea's greatest every player for nothing.
"I think the overseas boys would respect him, the local players of course they would too and he speaks great English.”
Buonavoglia, 30, played alongside the Italian star in a friendly match in Sydney a year ago and he got an insight into Zola's appeal.
“He was a real gentleman," he said. "Nothing was too much trouble. From a personality point of view, he'd be very popular.
"And you could see he still could play. But also, the contacts he'd have in Europe would be massive.
"He's gained a lot of experience coaching the Italian U/21s alongside Cassiraghi.”
Zola has been guided by some of the greats of Italian football – including Arrigo Sacchi and Carlo Ancellotti. He's also been coached by new LA Galaxy supremo Ruud Gullit.
The Napoli-born Buonavoglia adds: “Zola would've learnt so much from the coaches he's played under.
"And being Italian, he'd be able to bring that defensive know-how to the Socceroos. And the Italians are world champions - and you wouldn't have to pay him what an Advocaat would've wanted.”
Zola, now 41, learnt much of what he knew as a player from arguably the greatest ever modern day player – Diego Maradona.
The pair played at Napoli during the southern Italian side's greatest years and Zola has admitted that the Argentine was a huge influence on him.
After the embarrassment of Dick Advocaat's U-turn on the Socceroos' coaching position, the FFA are currently frantically trying to figure out who they should offer the job to.
Zola – who was capped 35 times and scored eight goals in a six year career with the Azzurri - remains an outside chance to be offered the job by the FFA.
However, with Graham Arnold and Rob Baan on hand to offer advice specific to Asian football, the former Chelsea great's appointment could be a master stroke.
Buonavoglia was a star striker in the old NSL with Newcastle Breakers and Parramatta Power before Sydney coach Pierre Littbarski called up "Jockey" for the World Club Championship qualifiers in Tahiti in 2005.
"I think the overseas boys would respect him, the local players of course they would too and he speaks great English.”
Buonavoglia, 30, played alongside the Italian star in a friendly match in Sydney a year ago and he got an insight into Zola's appeal.
“He was a real gentleman," he said. "Nothing was too much trouble. From a personality point of view, he'd be very popular.
"And you could see he still could play. But also, the contacts he'd have in Europe would be massive.
"He's gained a lot of experience coaching the Italian U/21s alongside Cassiraghi.”
Zola has been guided by some of the greats of Italian football – including Arrigo Sacchi and Carlo Ancellotti. He's also been coached by new LA Galaxy supremo Ruud Gullit.
The Napoli-born Buonavoglia adds: “Zola would've learnt so much from the coaches he's played under.
"And being Italian, he'd be able to bring that defensive know-how to the Socceroos. And the Italians are world champions - and you wouldn't have to pay him what an Advocaat would've wanted.”
Zola, now 41, learnt much of what he knew as a player from arguably the greatest ever modern day player – Diego Maradona.
The pair played at Napoli during the southern Italian side's greatest years and Zola has admitted that the Argentine was a huge influence on him.
After the embarrassment of Dick Advocaat's U-turn on the Socceroos' coaching position, the FFA are currently frantically trying to figure out who they should offer the job to.
Zola – who was capped 35 times and scored eight goals in a six year career with the Azzurri - remains an outside chance to be offered the job by the FFA.
However, with Graham Arnold and Rob Baan on hand to offer advice specific to Asian football, the former Chelsea great's appointment could be a master stroke.
Buonavoglia was a star striker in the old NSL with Newcastle Breakers and Parramatta Power before Sydney coach Pierre Littbarski called up "Jockey" for the World Club Championship qualifiers in Tahiti in 2005.
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