Captain Courageous

July 11, 1982 will live long in the memory of all Italians. A World Cup
triumph after a 44-year-drought was truly a special moment. And the image of
Dino Zoff lifting the trophy will not be easily forgotten. It was the
crowning moment to a glorious career spanning three decades for the veteran
goalkeeper.

At the age of 40 he was able to get his hands on football’s biggest prize -
the oldest player ever to do so. Like a good wine from his home region of
Friuli he just got better with age. There was next to nothing in Zoff’s
trophy cabinet until he hit the age of 30. Spells with Udinese, Mantova and
Napoli confirmed him as a prodigious ‘keeper and worthy of the national
team. But they rarely put him in the hunt for honours.

It was not until he was spotted by Juventus in 1972 that the silverware
started to mount up. After a long spell battling for the Italy No 1 shirt
with Enrico Albertosi he had established himself as top dog. It was a
position he would not relinquish for a record-breaking spell.

Capped 112 times for his country, he also put together an incredible run of
1,143 minutes without losing a goal in international football. He was playing
behind one of the best defences ever assembled, but Zoff was vital in
ensuring its success. His assured play inspired confidence in everyone around
him.

By the late 1970s, however, with an impressive haul of championship medals at
Juventus to his credit many felt his powers were on the wane. The fact that
the legendary shot-stopper made it to his date with World Cup destiny says as
much about his character as it does about his physical fitness. Nobody gave
him much of a chance.

The 1978 World Cup was a cruel one for Zoff. The Azzurri needed to beat
Holland to make it to the final against Argentina and were leading the Dutch
at half time. Two thunderbolts from Brandts and Haan left the great portiere
rooted to the spot. It looked like his international career was in tatters.

"A lot of people said Zoff was too static," recalls one Italian football
history book. "In truth they were two shots nobody could have saved -
anything can happen in football and this was the proof."

Italy tried to experiment with younger ‘keepers like Paolo Conti of Roma and
Inter’s Ivano Bordon, but the old guardian of the goal kept battling back.
His form was such that by 1982 that there was no way Italy could do without
him in Spain. And he justified Enzo Bearzot’s faith with a string of
inspirational performances as Italy took the trophy.

He retired from the game a season later having established a reputation that
no Italian ‘keeper has ever come near. Zoff was a model of consistency and
professionalism which any player would aspire to. It was no surprise that he
quickly turned his hand to management.

"Zoff is a man of few words but his greatest quality is that he only speaks
when he really has something to say," said one pundit of the great
goalkeeper. "He is an expert at silence, but remember he was the only one
allowed to talk to the Press during the 1982 World Cup.

"As a manager he’s probably more at home with a zonal marking system than
Cesare Maldini," continued the critic. "But he is not averse to going
man-to-man at the back. His is style somewhere between the modern pressing
game and the traditional Italian approach."

After spells with the Italian Olympic team, Juventus and Lazio he was called
on to take over the national side in 1998. Clearly the powers that be hoped
he would transmit the same confidence to his team as he did as a player. Zoff
himself hoped he could cash in on all the goodwill that his triumphs in the
game had built up.

"I want to be the people’s Italy Coach," he said. "I think it’s possible,
and I hope it will happen, that everyone in the Azzurri set-up can work
together. As for our scheme of play that will depend on how things go in
Serie A," he added. "I’ll listen to what the club sides are telling me.
Obviously the national team must take account of any tactical indications the
League is giving."

Initially he was happy to pick a team much along the same lines as Cesare
Maldini but slowly Zoff has started to make his own mark. A string of
interesting youngsters like Francesco Totti, Gianluca Zambrotta and Nicola
Ventola have all been brought into the frame. Defeat by Denmark in the Euro
2000 qualifiers and Belgium in a friendly international stung the new boss,
but it’s probably too early to judge him.

You get the feeling that Zoff is a man who knows his own strengths and
weaknesses and works within them. That was certainly what he did as a player.
He quietly goes about his job without ever getting drawn into the
media-inspired frenzy that surround the Italian game. It is that kind of cool
which might just ensure he’s a success with the national team. And perhaps,
eventually, help him get his hands back on that famous trophy he picked up 17
years ago.

Dino’s dodgy start
Admired for his anticipation, agility and reflexes Dino Zoff couldn’t have
made a worse start to his footballing career. On his debut for Udinese he
conceded five goals. Despite that setback, he went on to become Italy’s most
capped player making 112 appearances and set a world record of 1,143 minutes
over 12 matches, without conceding a goal. At club level the courageous ‘
keeper made 570 appearances, a League best, and achieved a record of 903
goalless minutes.

STAR RATING 9/10 A record-breaking performer throughout the 1960s, 1970s and
1980s. He dominated the Italian goalkeeping scene more than any netminder
before or since.

Dino Zoff
Born: Mariano del Friuli, 28/2/42
Position: Goalkeeper
Serie A debut: To come
Clubs: Udinese, Mantova, Napoli, Juventus
Total Serie A apps: 570
Total Serie B apps: 74

Honours:
6 Scudetto (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)
2 Italian Cups (1979, 1983)
1 UEFA Cup (1977)
1 European Nations Cup (1968)
1 World Cup (1982)
International debut: Italy 2-0 Bulgaria (Napoli), 20/4/68
International caps: 112



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