Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola and club
chairman Bruce Buck paid tribute to Eden Hazard at the Football Writers’
Association Player of the Year awards ceremony in London last night.
Hazard was named as this year’s winner of the award a fortnight ago but was unable to attend the ceremony, which was held at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, to collect his prize due to urgently needed dental surgery.
The Belgian, who was also recently named PFA Player of the Year, has enjoyed a wonderful season for the Blues, starting every league game so far and playing an integral role in both our Premier League title and Capital One Cup triumphs.
Zola, who scored 80 goals in 312 Chelsea appearances, was a player in a similar mould to Hazard, thrilling supporters with his creative ability on the ball and endless array of impressive skills, and the Italian praised our current number 10 as he addressed the audience.
‘I’m delighted to be here to pay tribute to the Football Writers’ Player of the Year 2015,’ said Zola.
‘It was a privilege for me to receive the award back in 1997 and tonight is about paying tribute to a very young, very talented player, who has won this award, as well as a championship medal this season.
‘He’s an exceptional player, one with huge potential. With his skills and ability he’s the type of player supporters want to watch, he’s fantastic.
‘His record this year has been exceptional, he’s played 51 games and scored 19 goals. Everybody knows Hazard can do exceptional things with the ball going forward, but what I didn’t know about was his work-rate defensively, which is unbelievable, and I think that’s why he’s become such an instrumental player for Chelsea. It’s a fantastic quality to have and I don’t remember in my time tracking back so much.
‘A lot of the credit has to go to Chelsea and Jose ( Mourinho) for allowing Hazard to grow into the player he is now. Jose has played a big part, teaching him how to be effective when the opposition have the ball.
‘I’m also delighted because he’s another Chelsea player, like me, to win this prestigious award.’
Club chairman Buck was then invited on to the stage to collect the award on behalf of Hazard, and he complimented the player on his temperament and character.
‘Franco and Eden are players with many similarities: amazing technique, very professional, surrounded by great team-mates Franco was, and Eden is, able to produce skills with a ball that border on magic,’ he said.
‘In each match, Eden’s opponents batter him and bruise him, but Eden gets up, brushes himself off and plays on. We at Chelsea agree wholeheartedly with your (the FWA’s) selection of Eden as Footballer of the Year.
‘When he first came to Chelsea three years ago, we were pretty confident that he would win this award one day and he has asked me to apologise on his behalf for not being here tonight.’
Hazard was named as this year’s winner of the award a fortnight ago but was unable to attend the ceremony, which was held at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, to collect his prize due to urgently needed dental surgery.
The Belgian, who was also recently named PFA Player of the Year, has enjoyed a wonderful season for the Blues, starting every league game so far and playing an integral role in both our Premier League title and Capital One Cup triumphs.
Zola, who scored 80 goals in 312 Chelsea appearances, was a player in a similar mould to Hazard, thrilling supporters with his creative ability on the ball and endless array of impressive skills, and the Italian praised our current number 10 as he addressed the audience.
‘I’m delighted to be here to pay tribute to the Football Writers’ Player of the Year 2015,’ said Zola.
‘It was a privilege for me to receive the award back in 1997 and tonight is about paying tribute to a very young, very talented player, who has won this award, as well as a championship medal this season.
‘He’s an exceptional player, one with huge potential. With his skills and ability he’s the type of player supporters want to watch, he’s fantastic.
‘His record this year has been exceptional, he’s played 51 games and scored 19 goals. Everybody knows Hazard can do exceptional things with the ball going forward, but what I didn’t know about was his work-rate defensively, which is unbelievable, and I think that’s why he’s become such an instrumental player for Chelsea. It’s a fantastic quality to have and I don’t remember in my time tracking back so much.
‘A lot of the credit has to go to Chelsea and Jose ( Mourinho) for allowing Hazard to grow into the player he is now. Jose has played a big part, teaching him how to be effective when the opposition have the ball.
‘I’m also delighted because he’s another Chelsea player, like me, to win this prestigious award.’
Club chairman Buck was then invited on to the stage to collect the award on behalf of Hazard, and he complimented the player on his temperament and character.
‘Franco and Eden are players with many similarities: amazing technique, very professional, surrounded by great team-mates Franco was, and Eden is, able to produce skills with a ball that border on magic,’ he said.
‘In each match, Eden’s opponents batter him and bruise him, but Eden gets up, brushes himself off and plays on. We at Chelsea agree wholeheartedly with your (the FWA’s) selection of Eden as Footballer of the Year.
‘When he first came to Chelsea three years ago, we were pretty confident that he would win this award one day and he has asked me to apologise on his behalf for not being here tonight.’
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