Gianfranco Zola was the best footballer I played with, but an England legend was technically superior

Gianfranco Zola may be considered one of the most technical players in the Premier League, but Glenn Hoddle is in a league of his own.

That is the opinion of the ex-Chelsea left Scott Mintowho has described the English legend as “absolutely sensational”.

Minto spent a season with zola at Stamford Bridge, and the pair helped the Blues end the club's 26-year wait for a trophy by lifting the FA Cup.

first Chelsea The left-back was brought to the club by Glenn Hoddle in 1994, who was the player/coach at the time, and finished his time in west London under Ballon d'Or winner Ruud Gullit in the same role.

After becoming the first Englishman to play for Benfica following his departure from Chelsea in 1997, Minto returned to Blighty to join West Ham in 1999, with Paolo Di Canio leaving a lasting impression on him.

Commenting on the best footballers he played with, the 52-year-old told talkSPORT.com: “I always say in reverse order, Di Canio, GullitZola, so Zola number one.

“Apparently Gullit was shot in the knees when he arrived at Chelsea in 1995 and was half the player he used to be.

“Well, if he was half the player he used to be, how good was he back then? Obviously he was World Player of the Year (Ballon d'Or, 1987).

“Di Canio was brilliant, again he wasn't the fastest, but I really admire people who aren't necessarily blessed with that natural physique, but can still dominate games because they are so good. And Di Canio was that.

“Zola just said, 'Give the ball to Zola as much as possible,' because he was brilliant, especially in that first season.”

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However, Zola, who was recently named on Eden Hazard's list dream team of fiveHe did not get the first place on the list of Minto's technical colleagues.

That honor went to Tottenham icon Hoddle, a two-time FA Cup winner with Spurs who also won the Ligue 1 title with Monaco. Arsene Wenger and whom Dennis Bergkamp admired as a child.

Minto said of the former Three Lions coach: “But technically the best player I played with was Glenn Hoddle.

“He brought me to Chelsea and was player/coach in my first season and in my last season as player/coach.

“Peter Shreeves (former Chelsea assistant) would take the training and we would do this drill where you keep the ball up with three touches.

“Then it would be like using your foot, thigh and head, we would all try it, there would be a few balls bouncing around but most of us could do it.

“Then it would come out of the boot, on the shoulder and the back of the neck, and the balls would bounce everywhere.

“Glenn was the only one where, using his left or right foot, the ball never landed. He was absolutely sensational. Glenn was blessed, simple as that.”

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Minto then suggested that he was a firm believer in Hoddle regaining England's reign from Gareth Southgate, having enjoyed three years in charge of the national team between 1996 and 1999.

Charlton's cult hero commented: “He was also the best tactical coach I played under.

“And until his heart attack (in 2018), I still thought he should have been the next England manager. Obviously, Gareth has done very well.

“He's probably over it now, but it's a real shame he hasn't been able to come back and be England manager again, because he still has a brilliant football mind.”