Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff in 1964

Dino Zoff ( born February 28, 1942 in Mariano del Friuli (GO), Italy ) is an Italian former football player and coach and is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history.

Zoff is the oldest player to ever win the World Cup, when he at the age of 40 years with Italy won the world title in 1982. At club level, the goalkeeper numerous successes with Juventus celebrated in the 1970s and - 80s.

Later Dino Nazionale worked as a club coach for various clubs in the Serie A in 2000 and stood as Italy coach in the final of the European Championship.

In 2004, Pelé him on the list of the best 125 living soccer players yet (FIFA 100).

Youth

Dino Zoff grew up in humble circumstances, the son of a farmer in the northern Italian Friuli and was an avid football goalkeeper early on. The lanky youth was at the age of 14 years but hardly 1,60 m tall, which is why the youth departments of both Udinese and Inter Milan did not receive it due to low body height. So began Zoff modestly, debuted at Marianese, the club of his native village, and worked hard on themselves. Zoff was a 19 -year-old in 1961 finally obliged by Udinese.

Club career

Dino Zoff resigned his post as a car mechanic and signed his first professional contract in Udine. His tenacity and his stamina had paid off. But his debut in Serie A came to disaster when he suffered five goals in the 2:5 away defeat at Fiorentina. By season's end, he rose from Udinese in the B series.

In 1963 Zoff for AC Mantova, with whom he had to descend again in 1965 as a Table, but the following season made ​​the chances of promotion. A 1-0 victory over Inter Milan on the final day of the season 1966/67, brought him satisfaction: Inter led by then to the League, but had to leave the championship because of this defeat Juventus. Zoff enjoyed the late satisfaction of having the club, who had once spurned him shown it.

After this strong season he was sold to Napoli, where he became the next five years to one of Italy's best goalkeeper. " At my time in Naples I have only great memories," Zoff says, looking back. " A wonderful city full of life. " But he pulled it further than him in 1972 Juventus offered a contract, he did not hesitate and agreed to the transfer. The Turin could be cost the services of the 30 -year-old goalkeeper Some exception; they paid 330 million lire and two players ( Carmignani and Ferradini ) to Napoli. As Keeper of the Old Lady to Zoff proved to be safer backing and beyond being an avid collector title; he won six times the Italian Championship ( Scudetto ) and twice the Coppa Italia. At the international level, he won the 1977 UEFA Cup, Juve had defeated Athletic Bilbao (1-0 and 1-2). Also in the final of the European Champions' Cup, he stood twice, but each was a loser from space: 1973 was subject to Ajax Amsterdam in 1983 and defeated the Hamburger SV Juventus 1-0.

This final defeat was one of the last games of the guide player. After eleven years with the Bianconeri announced Zoff with 41 years of his retirement from active competition. "There is one thing against which I can not fight ," he said before his final game on June 2, 1983 " and this is the age ." During his time at Juventus he had completed 330 championship games in a row and never miss a single game - an incredible series.

Career in the national team

Dino Nazionale played a total of 112 caps for Italy and participated in four World Cups.

End of the 1960s, Zoff had been working in the national team and was allowed to just celebrate his international debut in front of a home crowd in Naples. On April 20, 1968, he was careful against Bulgaria the gate of his home country and after the 2-0 win the draw was made ​​it into the semifinals of the European Championship. At the end of the title was a European champion for the Azzurri and after only four internationals had Zoff won his first title. However, following the 1970 World Cup was disappointing for the goalkeeper because he could follow the tournament in Mexico only as a replacement of Enrico Albertosi.

After his move to Turin and some blunders of competitor Albertosi be improved Zoff's cards and he was Azzurra 1972 New goalkeeper the Squadra. The qualification for the FIFA World Cup 1974 ended Italy without conceding a goal, which was mainly due Zoff: September 1972 to June 1974, he remained in twelve international matches without conceding a goal. At the World Cup finals in Germany the Haitian Sanon this series ended after 1143 minutes. The 3-1 win over Haiti was the only victory of the disappointing Italians at this World Cup, which had to travel home after the group stage.

Four years later, the new coach Enzo Bearzot familiar mainly to Turin player. Besides Zoff six other Juve professionals were in the squad for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, which eventually finished fourth.

1982 crowned Zoff his 22 - year professional career by winning the World Cup in Spain. As captain of the glory to Him over Germany ( 3-1 ) was obtained to part after the finals to be allowed to take the trophy in reception. With 40 years of trouble until today is the oldest football player who was world champion. After the tournament, the keeper explained to the resignation of the national team. As the only Italian is to be succeeded world and European champions.

Play

"Everything that I have achieved, I have achieved thanks to hard work ," Zoff said once. He was an iron- tough fighter, who coached doggedly to achieve its goals. He was a workaholic, a perfectionist, but always calm and balanced. Zoff always knew how to motivate and to put despite his age, objectives and targets.

Successes as a player

  • Italian Championship: 1972 /73 1974/75 1976 /77 1977/78 1980 /81 1981/82
  • UEFA Cup: 1976/77
  • Coppa Italia: 1978/79, 1982/83
  • European Championship: 1968
  • World Champion: 1982
  • Vice World Champion: 1970
  • World Cup Fourth: 1978

Coach

After end of his career Dino Zoff became a coach and brought in the 1989/90 season with Juventus in the UEFA Cup. As a result, he also coached the team of Lazio and ACF of Florence. After the World Cup 1998, he took over from Cesare Maldini, the Italian national football team, and two years later at the European Football Championship 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, European vice-champion. After the 1-2 defeat against France on the golden goal in extra time he resigned as coach on the same evening from his office. This was done to strong pressure from the then-president of AC Milan, Silvio Berlusconi. Zoff was succeeded by Giovanni Trapattoni.

As a coach

In the club

  • UEFA Cup: 1989/90
  • Coppa Italia: 1989/90

In the National Team

  • European runners-up: 2000
Mantova FC S.S. Lazio Serie B 1964–65 Serie A 1966–67 Serie A Italian lira 1976–77 UEFA Cup 1972–73 European Cup 1982–83 European Cup Emmanuel Sanon 1972–73 Serie A 1974–75 Serie A 1976–77 Serie A 1977–78 Serie A 1980–81 Serie A 1981–82 Serie A 1989–90 UEFA Cup A.C. Milan 1989–90 Coppa Italia Vittorio Pozzo Carlo Carcano Ferruccio Novo Giuseppe Meazza Alfredo Foni Giovanni Ferrari Paolo Mazza Edmondo Fabbri Helenio Herrera Ferruccio Valcareggi Fulvio Bernardini Azeglio Vicini Arrigo Sacchi Marcello Lippi Roberto Donadoni Cesare Prandelli
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