Javier Zanetti
Javier Adelmar Zanetti (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈβjeɾ saˈneti]; born 10 August 1973) is an Argentine former professional footballer. He is regarded as one of the best players of his generation, and is especially well known for having dedicated almost his entire career at Inter Milan, having a key role in the historic treble-winning 2009–10 season. Zanetti was known for his versatility as well as his adeptness on both the left and right wing, having played mostly as a full-back or wing-back on both flanks, but also spending considerable time as a midfielder. He is currently the Vice-President of Inter.
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Zanetti with Inter Milan in 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Javier Adelmar Zanetti | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 10 August 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Right Wing-back / Right winger / Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Inter Milan (vice-president) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1989 | Independiente | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Talleres | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Talleres | 33 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Banfield | 66 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2014 | Inter Milan | 615 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 714 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Argentina U23 | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2011 | Argentina | 145 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Zanetti started his career in Argentina, first with Talleres, and then Banfield. From 1995 to 2014 he played for Italian club Inter Milan and was captain from 2001 until his retirement in 2014. Having participated in 1,115 official games, he is on the list of men's footballers with the most official appearances. He is also the foreign player with the most appearances in Serie A (615), and holds the fourth-most appearances in the league, behind only Gianluigi Buffon, Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti. He holds the record for the most appearances in the history of Inter (858), as well as the record for the most trophies won with the club, with 16; five Scudetti, four Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, one UEFA Cup, one Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also has the most appearances as captain in the Champions League (82).
With the Argentina national team he played in 145 games, a figure that makes him the third player with the most appearances in the history of La Albiceleste, having held the record from 2007 to 2018. With Argentina he reached the final of the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1995 and 2005.
On retiring, Inter Milan retired his number 4 jersey and named him as its vice president. He has been named an ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages project in Argentina by FIFA, and in 2005 he received the Ambrogino d'Oro award from the city of Milan for his social initiatives. Zanetti is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.