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Gianfranco Zola was born on the 5th July 1966 in Oliena, Sardinia, Italy. He spent the first decade of his playing career in Italy. Signed his first professional contract with Sardinian team Nuorese in 1984 recording 31 appearances and 10 goals. In 1987 he moved on to Torres (88 appeances and 21 goals). Three years later he signed for Napoli in Serie A (105 appearances and 32 goals). After leaving Napoli he joined fellow Serie A side Parma. Member of the side that won the UEFA Cup and were runners-up in Serie A and the Italian Cup in 1995. It was with the blue and yellow club that he cemented his reputation as a creative player. However, new coach Carlo Ancelotti came to see Zola as a "square peg" unable to fit into his rigid system. Zola was played out of position and ultimately made available for transfer. In November 1996, Zola joined Chelsea for £4.5m as one of several continental players signed by Ruud Gullit. He was a key player in Chelsea's resurgence that season, helping them win the FA Cup with a 2–0 win over Middlesbrough at Wembley. At the end of that season he was voted FWA Player of the Year, the only player ever to win the accolade without playing a full season in the English league. In 1997-98 he helped Chelsea win three more trophies, the League Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the Super Cup. When Chelsea made their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League in 1999-00, Zola was a key player throughout, although he found his chances in the league more limited, owing to manager Gianluca Vialli's squad rotation policy. His later years with Chelsea saw his appearances restricted by the new strike pairing of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen. In the summer of 2003, amid rumours of an impending takeover at Chelsea, Zola left Stamford Bridge to join Cagliari, the most important club from his native Sardinia. In November 2004, he was awarded an OBE - Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire in a special ceremony in Rome. He retired from playing in June 2005.
In 2006, Zola started his coaching career, being appointed as assistant to Italy's national Under-21 football team where he helped them gain a spot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where they reached the quarter-finals before being defeated 3–2 by Belgium. On the 11th September 2008, Zola agreed a three-year contract to manage West Ham United, replacing Alan Curbishley, who resigned following differences with the board.
Havirov, Czech Republic 07/07/1982
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (Ukraine)
August 2008
Season long loan
WATFORD Vicarage Road 23rd September 2008
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (Ukraine)
Return loan
Cup: 1
Lastuvka started his career at Czech side MFK Karviná. He later moved to FC Baník Ostrava for four years. The next step in his career was Ukrainian top club Shakhtar Donetsk. He played a couple of Champions-League and UEFA Cup-matches at this time. Jan joined Fulham in August 2006, just prior to the close of the transfer window and made his league debut 2nd December 2006. He left Fulham after manager Lawrie Sanchez decided not to pay the asking fee Shakhtar wanted for Lastuvka. According to the Ukrainian League regulations there have to be four domestic players on the field. Because of this rule they didn't want to take Laštůvka back. So he went on a loan to German side VfL Bochum until the end of the 2007-2008 season. At the end of the season Bochum was interested to sign him but due to the high transfer fee (4 million Euro) they decided to sign Portuguese keeper Fernandes from PAOK F.C. instead. On the 3rd August 2008 Lastuvka signed for West Ham United, making it three Czech goalkeepers at the club when Jan Lastuvka joined on a one-year loan from Ukrainian club FC Shakhtar Donetsk. The experienced performer joined his two compatriots, the highly rated shot-stopper Marek Stech, and goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko at the Boleyn Ground. Making his debut for the Hammers in a 3rd Round Carling Cup tie away defeat at Watford on 23rd September 2008 where much of the blame for the defeat was directed towards the giant Czech keeper. After making the one Cup appearance in his season loan deal on the 26th May 2009 it was announced that Lastuvka was returning to FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
No.791= Walter LOPEZ ... (2008 - 2009)
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Montevideo, Uruguay 15/10/1985
RIVER PLATE (Uruguay)
5th September 2008
Free Agent
WATFORD
Vicarage Road 23rd September 2008
RIVER PLATE (Uruguay)
Released
0/5 (0 gls) Cup: 1 (0 gls)
Walter Alberto López known as Walter López can play in either defence or midfield. Signed on 5th September 2008 from Uruguyan club River Plate he was described by Kevin Keen (caretaker manager) as 'a very attacking full-back'. Lopez had 3 caps for the Uruguayan national team when he signed for the Hammers as a free agent. Walter made his Hammers debut along with Jan Lastuvka against Watford in a Carling Cup 3rd Round tie defeat at Vicarage Road 23rd September 2008. Having failed to impress and making just five more appearances, all from the substitutes bench. Walter was realesed at the end of the 2008-09 campaign.
No.793 Diego TRISTAN ... (2008 - 2009)
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La Algaba, Seville, Spain 05/01/1976
LIVORNO (Italy)
October 2008
Free Agent
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Sub 83mins
Upton Park 8th December 2008
Released - June 2009
8/6 (3 gls) Cup: 0/3 (0 gls)
At his peak, Tristan was considered amongst the best strikers in Europe, displaying a vast array of skills: dribble, shot accuracy, aerial ability and off-the-ball movements. He was best known for his Deportivo de La Coruna spell. Tristan came through the youth teams of Real Betis B side and then Mallorca B. He made the top flight in 1999-2000 with Real Mallorca finishing the season with 18 goals from 39 matches. After nearly joining league Real Madrid during the summer of 2000, a deal which was barred by the out going president. Diego found himself joining Galician club Deportivo de La Coruna. In four seasons Tristan played 177 games produced 87 goals in the shirt of Deportivo, leaving the club in July 2006, amidst accusations he did not live like a professional athlete, and not doing all he’s capable to reach his best level. He was released along with former Hammer Lionel Scaloni on 1st September 2006. After being linked with several clubs in Spain and overseas Tristan agreed to rejoin Real Mallorca after a six-year hiatus but was released in January 2007, due to lack of fitness, form and no goals after 13 games. He signed a one-year contract with Serie A side A.S. Livorno Calcio in July 2007, but Tristan ultimately failed to impress with the Tuscany team, scoring only once in 21 outings in a season which saw them eventually drop to the Second Division. On 30th September 2008, it was confirmed he was undergoing a trail with the Hammers and on the 14th October the Spanish striker became the first new recruit under Gianfranco Zola. The 32-year-old, capped 15 times by his country, had been without a club and was a free agent since leaving Livorno at the end of the previous season. After being given time to work on his fitness, his first taste of the Premiership coming from the substitute’s bench against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a 0-2 reverse at Upton Park 8th December 2008. With Hammers first choice striker Dean Ashton out for most of the season, Diego along with David Di Michele were both given their chance at Upton Park. But sadly they failed to impress and were both shown the door in June 2009.
No.794 Savio NSEREKO ... (2009)
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Kampala, Uganda 27/07/1989
BRESCIA CALCIO (Italy)
January 2009
Undisclosed rumoured to be a club record £10m
HULL CITY - Sub 86mins
Upton Park 28th January 2009
ACF FIORENTINA (Italy)
Undisclosed fee + Manuel Da Costa
1/10 (0 gls)
Nsereko was born in Kampala and started his career at 1860 Munich in Germay. He was signed by Italian club Brescia in the summer of 2005, aged 16, the minimum age limit allowed by FIFA for international transfers among European Union nations. He made his first team debut during 2005-06 season making a total of 23 appearances for Brescia in all competitions, scoring 3 goals. On the 26th January 2009 Nsereko signed for the Hammers for an undisclosed fee, thought to have been in the £9 million, on a fourand a half year contract. He was given the number 10 shirt, following the departure of Craig Bellamy to Manchester City, which just bears the name "Savio". His Premier League debut came against Hull City coming off the bench in the 86th minute of the 2-0 victory at Upton Park 28th January 2009. The 20-year-old made eleven appearances - ten off the substitute's bench - failed to estabish himself in the side. The emergence of junior Stanislas also limited Savio's chances. Savio's departure to Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee, with Manuel da Costa going the other way as part of the deal. West Ham will see the club retain 50 per cent of his sell-on value in the future.
No.795 Radoslav KOVAC ... (2009 - )
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Prague, Czechoslovakia 27/11/1979
SPARTAK MOSCOW (Russia)
January 2009
Loan / Permanent
MIDDLESBROUGH
The Riverside Stadium 25th February 2009
Experienced Czech Republic international joined the Hammers on loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow on 30th January 2009. The versatile 29-year-old, can slot comfortably into both the defensive midfield and central defensive roles. Kovac joined Sigma Olomouc as a teenager, making his first team debut at the age of 17 and progressing to the Czech Under-21 side. After spending six years with Sigma the tall, blonge player made the switch to Gambrinus League giants Sparta Prague in the summer of 2003. Kovac’s full international debut was ina 1-0 win over Romania in October 2004. In July 2005 he moved to Spartak Moscow where he played in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League and helping Spartak to runners-up spot in the Russia League in both 2006 and 2007. The tenacious midfielder has been a regular in the Czech squad and joined West Ham United on loan for an undisclosed fee until the end of the 2008-09 season with a view to a possible permanent transfer. Radoslav made his first-team bow in the F.A. Cup tie against Middlebrough at the Riverside Stadium 1st March 2009 which resulted in a 0-2 reverse. Seemingly unable to impress Gianafranco Zola the Czech man headed back to Russia to rejoin Spartak Moscow June 2009, but by the following month he was to sign a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.
No.796 Junior STANISLAS ... (2009 - )
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Kidbrooke, London 26/11/1989
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WEST BROMWICH ALBION - Sub 68mins
Upton Park 16th March 2009
No.797 Josh PAYNE ... (2009 - )
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Born: 25/11/1990
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BLACKBURN ROVERS Sub 90+2 mins
Ewood Park 21st March 2009
