Dino Zoff

Lore & Background

Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability, and he has a place in the history of the sport among the very best in this role, named the third greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. He holds the record for the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1,142 minutes) set between 1972 and 1974. Haiti's Emmanuel Sanon ended the streak at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, in the Haiti–Italy group match. With 112 caps, he is the eighth most capped player for the Italy national team. In 2004, Pelé named Zoff as one of the 100 greatest living footballers. In the same year, Zoff placed fifth in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, and was elected as Italy's golden player of the past 50 years. He also placed second in the 1973 Ballon d'Or, as he narrowly missed out on a treble with Juventus. In 1999, Zoff placed 47th in World Soccer magazine's 100 Greatest Players of the Twentieth Century.

Reader's Guide

After retiring as a footballer, Dino Zoff moved into management, taking charge of the Italy national team and leading them to the final of Euro 2000, where they were defeated by France. He also managed several Italian club sides, including his former club Juventus, with whom he won both the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia in the 1989–90 season—trophies he had also secured as a player during his career. In September 2014, Zoff published his Italian autobiography, *Dura solo un attimo, la gloria*.

Zoff is widely considered among the finest goalkeepers in football history, noted for his outstanding ability and consistency. He holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spell without conceding a goal in international tournaments, a streak of 1,142 minutes set between 1972 and 1974, which was ended by Haiti’s Emmanuel Sanon at the 1974 World Cup. He is the oldest player ever to win the World Cup, captaining Italy to victory in 1982 at age 40, and was named best goalkeeper of that tournament, keeping two clean sheets. He also won the European Championship with Italy in 1968 on home soil, earning selection to the team of the tournament, and is the only Italian to have won both major international titles. At club level, Zoff enjoyed great success with Juventus, winning six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and a UEFA Cup, and reaching two European Cup finals. He finished second in the 1973 Ballon d’Or and was named the third-greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS, behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. Pelé included him among the 100 greatest living footballers in 2004, and he was elected Italy’s golden player of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. With 112 caps, he is the eighth most capped Italian player.

Did You Know?

• Zoff made his Serie A debut with Udinese on 24 September 1961, in a 5–2 defeat to Fiorentina.
• He holds the record for most consecutive matches played in Serie A (332), a streak from 21 May 1972 until his final league appearance in 1983.
• Zoff produced a 903-minute unbeaten streak in Serie A during the 1972–73 season.
• He is the oldest player to have appeared in a European Cup or UEFA Champions League final, at 41 years and 86 days.