Dino Zoff

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Zoff's international career began with a gold medal at the 1963 Mediterranean Football Games with the Italy under-23 side. He made his senior debut for Italy on 20 April 1968 in a 2–0 win against Bulgaria in the quarter finals of the 1968 European Championships. He was promoted to starting goalkeeper during that tournament, which Italy won on home soil, with Zoff keeping two clean sheets and winning the award for best goalkeeper. He was left out of the starting eleven in the 1970 World Cup, serving as Albertosi's deputy as Italy reached the final and lost 4–1 to Brazil. He returned as starter for the disappointing 1974 World Cup campaign, where Italy were eliminated in the first round. Haiti's Emmanuel Sanon ended Zoff's record streak of 1,142 minutes without allowing goals in international tournaments at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, in the Haiti–Italy group match. He participated in the 1978 World Cup, managing a fourth-place finish with 3 clean-sheets, but Italy were eliminated in the semi-final in a 2–1 loss to the Netherlands, where Zoff was criticised for an error on a long-distance strike by Arie Haan.

In Their Own Story

The 1982 World Cup in Spain was the pinnacle. At 40 years, 4 months and 13 days, Zoff captained Italy to the title. He kept two clean-sheets in the tournament and was named best goalkeeper, also being elected to the team of the tournament. This victory made Zoff the only Italian player to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship. 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.

Reader's Guide

Dino Zoff represented Italy in four World Cups: 1970, 1974, 1978, and 1982. In 1970 he was Albertosi's deputy and did not play in the final. In 1974 he was the starter as Italy were eliminated in the first round. In 1978 he kept 3 clean-sheets as Italy finished fourth. In 1982 he captained the side, kept two clean-sheets, won the best goalkeeper award, and lifted the trophy as the oldest ever World Cup winner at 40 years, 4 months and 13 days. Zoff holds the record for the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1,142 minutes) set between 1972 and 1974. He is the only Italian player to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship. He was named the third greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. In 1999, Zoff placed 47th in World Soccer magazine's 100 Greatest Players of the Twentieth Century.

Did You Know?

• Zoff is the oldest ever winner of the World Cup, lifting the trophy as captain at 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.
• He holds the record for the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1,142 minutes) set between 1972 and 1974.
• Zoff is the only Italian player to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship.
• He was named the third greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks.
• In 2004, Pelé named Zoff as one of the 100 greatest living footballers.