Dino Zoff

Oldest World Cup winner and legendary Italian goalkeeper.

Dino Zoff, born 28 February 1942, is an Italian former goalkeeper. Widely considered one of the finest ever to play the position, he holds the record as the oldest World Cup winner, captaining Italy to the 1982 title at 40 years, 4 months, and 13 days old. In that tournament, he was named best goalkeeper and selected for the team of the tournament, keeping two clean sheets—an honour he also earned after Italy won the 1968 European Championship on home soil. He remains the only Italian to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship. At club level, Zoff enjoyed major success with Juventus, claiming six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and a UEFA Cup. He also reached two European Champions' Cup finals (1972–73 and 1982–83) and finished as runner-up in the 1973 Intercontinental Cup.

Quick Facts

Born: 28 February 1942
Birthplace: Mariano del Friuli, Italy
Height: 1.82 m / 6 ft
Position: Goalkeeper
Total caps: 642

Facts from the source article.

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.

Did You Know?

Zoff made his senior debut for Italy on 20 April 1968 in a 2–0 win against Bulgaria.
He played in all three of Italy's matches in Euro 1968, saving two penalties in the penalty shoot-out in the semi-final, and keeping a clean sheet in the replay of the final as Italy won the championship.
Zoff 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.
He holds the record for most consecutive matches played in Serie A (332), a streak which went unbroken from 21 May 1972 until his final league appearance with Juventus in 1983.
At 41 years and 86 days, Zoff is the oldest player to have appeared in a European Cup or UEFA Champions League final.