{"id":156436,"date":"2025-09-23T23:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T23:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/156436\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T23:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T23:13:09","slug":"premier-league-legend-lands-surprise-ryder-cup-role-with-team-europe-after-forging-close-friendship-with-star-golfer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/156436\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League legend lands surprise Ryder Cup role with Team Europe – after forging close friendship with star golfer"},"content":{"rendered":"

By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 14:57 EDT, 23 September 2025 | Updated: 15:06 EDT, 23 September 2025 <\/p>\n

Team Europe have been preparing for the Ryder Cup<\/a> with the help of a former footballer in a Chelsea<\/a> legend.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Ryder Cup will get underway on Friday<\/a>, with Team Europe looking to retain the title they won two years ago.<\/p>\n

The European team took home the title in Italy, with Luke Donald looking to go back-to-back as captain, but up against it on away soil with the competition taking place in New York.<\/p>\n

Keegan Bradley is the person tasked with overturning the pain at Bethpage Black Course, Bethpage State Park, and has three days to do just that at the weekend.<\/p>\n

But Team Europe may have a trick up their sleeve, with a Premier League<\/a> legend in the form of a Chelsea icon having earned a spot in the squad to try and help his continent’s bid.<\/p>\n

Bizarrely, Gianfranco Zola is part of Team Europe to help the players deal with the pressure from the US fans – something he was used to during his playing career.<\/p>\n

\"Chelsea <\/p>\n

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has earned a spot on the Team Europe Ryder Cup team<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Chelsea legend will be tasked with driving around\u00a0vice-captain Francesco Molinari<\/p>\n

\"Though <\/p>\n

Though a keen golfer, the Italian made his name playing football playing for the likes of Chelsea<\/p>\n

Speaking to Sky Sports this week, he said: ‘First of all, you have to absolutely be able to enter into a kind of protection bubble.<\/p>\n

‘This is one of the first things you need to learn if you play football, because sometimes the environment can be like that [against you].<\/p>\n

‘So you have to use it to your advantage and you have to get motivated by that. I’m sure, from what I’ve seen, they look easy. So it should not be a problem’.<\/p>\n

Zola is a keen golfer, and has been enlisted as the designated buggy driver for Europe vice-captain Francesco Molinari.<\/p>\n

The 42-year-old will be driving Molinari around the course after building a friendship with the golf star, and the duo are often practicing partners.<\/p>\n

Zola is thought to have played in several Pro-Ams in his golfing career, and boasts a single-figure handicap.<\/p>\n

Despite his love for golf, though, it was on the football field where he made a name for himself, winning the likes of the Premier League (twice) and the FA Cup with Chelsea.<\/p>\n

He played 312 times for the Blues, while also starring for the likes of Napoli and the Italy national team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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