After retiring as a footballer, Zoff went on to pursue amanagerial career, coaching the Italy national team, with which he reached theEuro 2000 final, losing to France, and several Italian club teams, including his former clubJuventus, with which he won anUEFA Cup and aCoppa Italia double during the1989–90 season, trophies he had also won as a player. In September 2014, Zoff published his Italian autobiographyDura solo un attimo, la gloria.[12]
Dino Zoff was born inMariano del Friuli,Friuli-Venezia Giulia,Italy into a farming family. Upon his father's suggestion, Zoff initially also pursued studies to be a mechanic in case his football career proved to be unsuccessful. As a young aspiring footballer, Zoff was also interested in other sports, and his two main role models were the cyclistFausto Coppi, and the race walkerAbdon Pamich.[7][13]
Zoff's career got off to an inauspicious start, when at the age of fourteen he had trials withInter Milan andJuventus, but was rejected due to a lack of height.[7] Five years later, having grown by 33 centimetres (supposedly due to his grandmother Adelaide's recommended increased daily intake of eight eggs),[7][14] he made hisSerie A debut withUdinese on 24 September 1961, in a 5–2 defeat toFiorentina, although Zoff was not criticised for any of the goals he conceded.[15] Zoff made only four appearances in hisfirst season for Udinese, as they were relegated toSerie B. He played thenext season as the club's starting goalkeeper, helping the club toSerie A promotion, before moving toMantova in 1963, where he spent four seasons, making 131 appearances.[16]
His performances for Mantova in the top flight caught the attention of larger clubs, while Italy's national coach at the time,Edmondo Fabbri, even considered bringing him as a back-up for the1966 FIFA World Cup, although he ultimately chose to bring Enrico Albertosi,Roberto Anzolin, andPierluigi Pizzaballa instead. In 1967, Zoff was transferred toNapoli, in exchange for fellow goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni, and a transfer fee of 130 million Lire; he spent five seasons in Naples, making 143 Serie A appearances with the club. During this time, he began to achieve increasing recognition in Italy, also making his International debut with theItaly national side in 1968, and earning a place in Italy's squads atEuro 68 and the1970 World Cup.[13][15][17] He played in all 3 of Italy's matches in Euro 1968, saving two penalties in the penalty shoot-out in semi-final, and keeping a clean sheet in the replay of the final as Italy won the championship. He did not play in the 1970 world cup final when Italy lost 4-1 to Brazil, as Albertosi was preferred, keeping Zoff on the substitutes' bench.
Following his achievements with the national side, and due to his performances during his time with Napoli, Zoff was signed byJuventus in 1972, at the age of 30, where he resumed his success. In eleven years with Juventus, Zoff won theSerie A championship six times, theCoppa Italia twice and theUEFA Cup once, also reaching twoEuropean Cup finals, another semi-final in1978 (during which Zoff played a decisive role in the club's shoot-out victory overAjax in the quarter-finals by saving two penalties),[18] and the semi-finals of theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup during the 1979–80 season.[15] In 1973, he placed second in theBallon d'Or, following hisSerie A title victory, also narrowly missing out on an historicaltreble with Juventus, after reaching both theEuropean Cup and theCoppa Italia finals that season, in which his club were defeated, however; Juventus also finished as runners-up in the1973 Intercontinental Cup that year. In winning the1977 UEFA Cup final againstAthletic Bilbao, Zoff came out on top against his 'twin', the Basque goalkeeperJosé Ángel Iribar.[19][20]
Overall, Zoff made 479appearances for Juventus in all competitions, making 330Serie A appearances with the club (all of which came consecutively, a club record),[21] 74 in theCoppa Italia, 71 inEuropean competitions, and 4 in other club competitions. He is currentlyJuventus's 6th record appearance holder in all competitions, their 7th all-time appearance holder in Serie A, their 3rd all-time appearance holder in the Coppa Italia, their 7th all-time appearance holder inUEFA club competitions, and their 9th all-time appearance holder in international club competitions.[22]
Zoff (left) with Juventus in 1975, beside his historical understudyMassimo Piloni; on background, teammateFabio Capello.
Zoff won his final Serie A championship with Juventus during the1981–82 Serie A season, also winning the1982 FIFA World Cup withItaly that year, as his team's captain. During the following1982–83 season, the final season of his career, Dino Zoff won theCoppa Italia withdefending Serie A champions Juventus, and he reached his secondEuropean Cup final with the club in 1983; Juventus were defeated 1–0 byHamburg in Athens on 25 May, after Zoff was beaten byFelix Magath's long-distance strike; this was the final club match of his career. His final league appearance came in a 4–2 home win overGenoa on 15 May 1983.[15]
Upon retirement, Zoff held the records for the oldestSerie A player, at the age of 41, and the mostSerie A appearances (570 matches) for more than 20 years, until the2005–06 season, when the records were broken byLazio goalkeeperMarco Ballotta, andAC Milan defenderPaolo Maldini respectively. Behind only former AC Milan goalkeeperSebastiano Rossi, who overtook him during the 1993–94 season, Zoff hasconceded the fewest goals in a single Serie A season; behind onlyGianluigi Buffon and Sebastiano Rossi, he has also gone themost time unbeaten in Serie A without conceding a goal, producing a 903-minute unbeaten streak during the 1972–73 season, a record that stood until Rossi overtook him in the 1993–94 season;[nb 1] Buffon broke the record during the 2015–16 season.[26][27] He also held the Serie A record for most consecutive clean sheets alongside Rossi (9), until Gianluigi Buffon overtook them both with his 10th consecutive clean sheet in 2016. With 570 Serie A appearances, Zoff is also thesixth highest appearance holder in Serie A of all time, and he is the fourth oldest player in Serie A to have ever played a match.[22] He holds the record for most consecutive matches played in Serie A (332), a streak which went unbroken from 21 May 1972 (in a 0–0 home draw with Napoli againstBologna), until his final league appearance with Juventus in 1983.[15] At 41 years and 86 days, Zoff is also the oldest player to have appeared in a European Cup or UEFA Champions League final.[28]
Prior to representing the senior Italian side, Zoff had won a gold medal with theItaly under-23 side at the1963 Mediterranean Games. On 20 April 1968, Zoff made his senior debut forItaly, playing in a 2–0 win againstBulgaria in the quarter finals of the1968 European Championships, in Naples.[29] Zoff ended up being promoted to starting goalkeeper over his perceived career rivalEnrico Albertosi[30] during the tournament, and Italy proceeded to win the European Championship on home soil, with Zoff taking home a winners' medal after only his fourth international appearance, keeping two clean sheets, and winning the award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Zoff was left out of the Italian starting eleven in the1970 World Cup, however, and was Albertosi's deputy throughout the tournament, as Italy went on to reach thefinal of the World Cup, and were defeated 4–1 byBrazil. He returned to the starting line-up, however, ahead of Albertosi, in Italy's disappointing1974 World Cup campaign, during which they would be eliminated in the first round.[13][22]
Franco Causio, the Italian presidentSandro Pertini, Zoff (lower left) and the coachEnzo Bearzot on their return from Spain with the 1982 World Cup they just won.
From 1972 onwards, Zoff became Italy's undisputed number 1, and he participated in the1978 World Cup with Italy, during which he managed a fourth-place finish, keeping 3 clean-sheets. Italy were eliminated in the semi-final, in a 2–1 loss to theNetherlands. After the match, Zoff was criticised for making a fairly uncommon error, as he was beaten by a strike from distance byArie Haan.[22] Zoff was also Italy's starting goalkeeper once again at the1980 European Championships on home soil, however, helping his side to finish the tournament in fourth place once again. During the 1980 European Championship, Zoff kept three clean sheets, only conceding one goal in the bronze medal match, which Italy would lose on penalties; Zoff was elected as the goalkeeper of the tournament once again, an honour he had previously managed after winning the tournament in 1968. Throughout these two tournaments, Zoff established a record for most consecutive minutes unbeaten in aEuropean Championship, which was later beaten byIker Casillas in2012. Zoff had also established the record for most minutes unbeaten European Championship qualifying, which was also beaten, by compatriot Buffon in2011. He still holds the record, however, for most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at the European Championships including qualifying, having kept eight consecutive cleans sheets between 1975 and 1980, while going unbeaten for 784 minutes. Alongside Casillas, Buffon, andThomas Myhre, he is the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships, having conceded only one goal in the 1968 European Championships; of these players, only Zoff and Casillas won the title while achieving this feat.
Zoff's greatest accomplishment, however, came in the1982 World Cup in Spain, where he captained Italy to victory in the tournament at the age of 40, making him the oldest ever winner of the World Cup; throughout the tournament, he kept two clean sheets, and produced a crucial goal-line save in the final minutes of the last second-round group match against favourites Brazil on 5 July, which enabled the Italians to earn a 3–2 victory and advance to the semi-finals of the competition.[15][31][32][33] On 11 July, at the age of 40 years and 133 days, he became the oldest player ever to feature in aWorld Cup final;[34] following Italy's 3–1 victory overWest Germany at theSantiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, he followed in the footsteps of compatriotGianpiero Combi (1934) as only the second goalkeeper to captain a World Cup-winning side (laterIker Casillas andHugo Lloris repeated thisfeat forSpain andFrance in the2010 and2018 World Cups respectively). Due to his performances, he was voted as theBest Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Regarding Zoff's importance during Italy's victorious World Cup campaign, his managerEnzo Bearzot said of him:[13][22]
He was a level-headed goalkeeper, capable of staying calm during the toughest and the most exhilarating moments. He always held back both out of modesty and respect for his opponents. At the end of the Brazil match, he came over to give me a kiss on the cheek, without saying a single word. For me, that fleeting moment was the most intense of the entire World Cup.[7]
Zoff also holds the record for the longest stretch (1,142 minutes) without allowing any goals in international football, set between 1972 and 1974. That clean sheet stretch was ended by Haitian playerManno Sanon's beautiful goal during Italy's 3–1 win over Haiti in the first round of the 1974 World Cup. Zoff made his final appearance for Italy on 29 May 1983, in a 2–0 away loss toSweden, in aEuro 1984 qualifying match. At the time of his retirement, Zoff's 112 caps were the most ever by a member of the Italy national team. He currently sits in sixth place in this category, as well as second among goalkeepers, with Gianluigi Buffon having surpassed the latter record.[13][22]
Zoff was a traditional, effective, and experienced goalkeeper, who usually favoured efficiency and caution over flamboyance and making saves, although he was also capable of producing spectacular dives and decisive saves when necessary due to his strength and athleticism. He was particularly regarded for his outstanding positioning and handling of the ball, in particular when coming out to collect crosses, as well as his concentration, consistency, calm mindset, and composure under pressure; he was also an elegant player, who possessed good reactions and excellent shot-stopping abilities. Zoff was also noted for his attention to detail during matches, as well as his ability to read the game, anticipate his opponents, communicate with his defenders, and organise his back-line, which also enabled him to start attacking plays quickly from the back after claiming the ball. Despite his serious and reserved character, Zoff also drew praise for his leadership skills, correct behaviour, and competitive spirit, which led him to serve as captain of his national side, and enabled him to inspire a sense of calmness and confidence in his teammates. On occasion, however, Zoff was accused by certain pundits of occasionally struggling when facing long-range shots, and for not always being particularly adept at stopping penalties. Known for his work-rate in training, dedication, and discipline as a footballer, in addition to his goalkeeping skills, Zoff also stood out for his stamina, longevity, and determination, which enabled him to avoid injuries and have an extensive and highly successful career; due to his constant desire to improve himself, he was able to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout his entire career, even with his advancing age towards the end of his career, into his late 30s and early 40s.[nb 2] Considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time,[52][53] in 1999 he was elected in a poll by theIFFHS as the third bestgoalkeeper of the 20th Century – afterLev Yashin (1st) andGordon Banks (2nd) – as well as Italy's best keeper of the century, and the second best European keeper of the century – behind only Yashin.[8][13]
After his retirement as a player, Zoff went into coaching, joining the technical staff at Juventus, initially as a goalkeeping coach, although this experience proved to be unsatisfactory for him.[13] He subsequently coached the Italian Olympic side, his first experience as a coach, helping the team to qualify for the1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, before returning to Juventus in a coaching role; the Italian Olympic side eventually managed a fourth-place finish in the final tournament. Zoff served as Juventus's head coach from 1988 to 1990.[13] In 1990, he was sacked, however, despite winning theUEFA Cup and theCoppa Italia during the1989–90 season, while also helping the club to a third-place finish in the league.[13] He then joinedLazio, where he became the coach in 1994, and later the club's sporting director, winning theCoppa Italia in1998, and helping the club to anUEFA Cup final the same season, and was defeated by compatriotsInter.[15]
In 1998, Zoff was appointed as the head coach of the Italy national team. Although Italy were still cautious and organised defensively, Zoff used a more open, fluid, and attacking style of play than that used by his more defensive Italian coaching predecessorsCesare Maldini andArrigo Sacchi. Zoff helped the team toqualify for Euro 2000, and he introduced several younger players to the team, such asFrancesco Totti,Gianluca Zambrotta,Stefano Fiore,Massimo Ambrosini,Christian Abbiati,Marco Delvecchio, andVincenzo Montella.[28][54][55] Although Italy were not top favourites because of a young squad, he coached a young Italy squad to a second-place finish inEuro 2000, suffering a 2–1 extra-time defeat at the hands of reigningWorld Cup ChampionsFrance in thefinal, due to a golden goal byDavid Trezeguet. En route to the final, a ten-man Italy had eliminated co-hosts theNetherlands in the semi-finals in a penalty shoot-out, after a 0–0 draw, following extra-time, with a tightly contested defensive display against a more offensive-minded Dutch side.[56][57] In the final of the tournament, Italy had been 1–0 up for most of the second half, and were less than sixty seconds away from winning the tournament, before France forwardSylvain Wiltord scored in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time to equalise, and send the match into extra time.[58] Despite reaching the final, Zoff resigned a few days later, following strong criticism fromAC Milan president andpoliticianSilvio Berlusconi.[59] Zoff was voted theWorld Soccer Manager of the Year in 2000.[60]
Zoff returned to defendingSerie A,Coppa Italia, andSupercoppa Italiana champions Lazio as a manager for the next season, replacingSven-Göran Eriksson in 2001, and finishing third inSerie A. The following season, he resigned on 20 September, after only the third match, due to a poor start to the2001–02 season.[15] In2005, he was named the coach ofFiorentina as a replacement forSergio Buso. Despite saving the team fromrelegation on the last day of the season, Zoff was let go. This would be the final club he coached.[61][62]
As a manager, Zoff was known for his use of tactics based upon thezona mista system (or "Gioco all'Italiana"), which was a cross between thecatenaccioman-marking andzonal marking systems. Although he was initially known for fielding a4–4–2 formation, at Euro 2000, he used a5–2–1–2 system with Italy. His teams often used asweeper, who, in addition to his defensive duties and organisational responsibilities, was also required to start plays from the back. He preferred not to base his team's play on set plays and formations, as he believed that cultivating a good relationship with his players and fostering a winning team mentality were the keys to getting the best out of them, and that this would also allow their natural creativity to come through in matches.[63][64][65][66]
On 28 November 2015, it was reported Zoff was hospitalised for three weeks with a viral neurological infection, which made it difficult for him to walk.[70][71] On 23 December 2015, it was reported Zoff had been recovering well, however stating, "For the first time in my life, I was actually afraid... When I say scared, I wasn't afraid for myself, but for those around me. My wife, my son, my grandchildren. My tribe, basically. I would've really hurt them by leaving." He also revealed, "One night I saw two figures at the end of my bed. They had the faces ofGaetano Scirea [one of his former, deceased teammates] andEnzo Bearzot [one of his former, deceased coaches]. They were both smiling. I wasn't asleep, it wasn't a dream. I told them: 'Not yet, not now.' And I am still here."[72]
Most consecutive appearances inSerie A with Juventus: 330 (1972–1983)[21]
Most consecutive appearances in Serie A: 332 (1972–1983)[15]
Longest period time without conceding a goal in international matches: 1142 minutes (1972–1974).[9]
Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at the European Championships including qualifying: 784 (1975–1980)
Fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships: 1 (1968) (alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, and Thomas Myhre)
Fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships by a tournament-winning starting goalkeeper: 1 (1968) (alongside Iker Casillas)
One of four goalkeepers to win the FIFA World Cup as captain: 1982 (alongside Gianpiero Combi, Iker Casillas, and Hugo Lloris)[13][22]
^Giuseppe Ottomano (29 August 2016)."Iribar Josè: il gemello di Zoff" [Iribar Josè: Zoff's twin] (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved15 January 2018.
^Bortolotti, Adalberto; D'Orsi, Enzo; Dotto, Matteo; Ricci, Filippo Maria."CALCIO - COMPETIZIONI PER NAZIONALI" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved26 February 2020.
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