Zenga

Walter Zenga

Full Name : Walter Zenga
Born : 28.04.1960
Born in : Milano, Italy
Height : 188 cm
Weight : 84 kg
Postion : Goalkeeper


Statistic Club Career

07/1997 - 06/1998 ==> New England Revolution, USA
07/1996 - 06/1997 ==> Calcio Padova, Italy
07/1994 - 09/1996 ==> Sampdoria, Italy
07/1982 - 06/1994 ==> Inter, Italy
07/1980 - 06/1982 ==> Sambenedettese, Italy
07/1979 - 06/1980 ==> Savona, Italy
07/1978 - 06/1979 ==> Salernitana, Italy
07/1977 - 06/1978 ==> Inter, Italy

Zenga came back to Inter Milan in 1982, after starting his professional career in 1978 in the lower divisions of Italian soccer (his first team was Salernitana in Serie C1, and he also played for Savano and Sambendettese). Zenga became Inter's starter in his second year with the team, and continued in that position for 11 seasons, until 1994, winning a Scudetto in the 1988-1989 season and the UEFA Cup in 1991 and 1994, his last season with the club. After being one of the backup goalkeepers (third choice) at the 1986 World Cup, Zenga became the starter when during the 1998 European Championship in West Germany, Zenga was still first choice goalkeeper when Italy hosted the tournament in 1990, and led the team to a third-place finish during which he set a record of five consecutive clean sheets, and a total of 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record still standing. He finished his international career with 58 caps for his country.

In 1994, Zenga transferred to Sampdoria, and then to Padova two years later. He then moved on to New England Revolution and Major League Soccer. Zenga played in goal for them in the league's second season in 1997, then left to pursue an acting career (he and his girlfriend starred in an Italian soap opera). During a game versus the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1997, he celebrated a goal by running to the sidelines and making out with his girlfriend, as the Mutiny barely missed the open net straight from the kickoff. Zenga came back to the Revs in 1999, as a player-coach, but only lasted a year in both those positions.

Internationals Career

World Cup 1990, Italy
World Cup 1986, Mexico
EURO 1988, Germany



Manager Career

04/2008 - 06/2009 ==> Calcio Catania, Italy
09/2007 - 11/2007 ==> Dinamo Bucuresti, Rumania
07/2006 - 01/2007 ==> Gaziantepspor, Turkiye
07/2005 - 06/2006 ==> Crvena Zvezda, Serbia
07/2004 - 05/2005 ==> Steaua Bucuresti, Rumania
07/2002 - 12/2003 ==> National Bucuresti, Rumania

After he left New England Revolution, Zenga retired from active football, choosing to pursue a coaching career. After a short stint with Milan amateurs Brera Calcio, Zenga moved to Romania in 2002, first managing National Bucharest and then Steaua Bucharest. In the summer of 2005, after being fired from Steaua before the end of the season, Zenga joined Red Star Belgrade. leading the Serbian team to a double (national league and national cup in Serbia & Montenegro). In the 2006 summer, Zenga was called to coach Turkish side Gaziantepspor; however, after a poor beginning (5 wins in 17 league matches), he resigned in January 2007 in order to accept an offer from United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain FC. After just 5 months in charge Al-Ain sacked Zenga, who was announced in September 2007 as new Dinamo Bucharest coach, replacing Mircea Rednic, but resigning only two months later following a 1–0 loss in a local derby lost to Steau. He worked as a football commentator and pundit for Italian public broadcasting service RAI until 1 April 2008when he replaced Silvio Buldini as manager of Catania. He made his Serie A debut on April 6 with a crush 3–0 home win to Napoli. leading them to a dramatic relegation escape during the final minutes of the league, after a 1–1 home draw against AS Roma.

During his playing career, Zenga was nicknamed Uomo Ragno (Spider Man) due to his goalkeeping skills, especially his agility.

Recently, Zenga declared in an interview that he would like to manage Brazilian side Palmeiras.