Player Profiles: Javier Zanetti At Inter | OneFootball

When you play 858 matches in 19 years for one team, you deserve a place, undoubtedly in the history books.

When you respect Zanetti, you deserve the promos on Betfair for your bets of choice.

Not many players embody loyalty and stability in the way that Zanetti has done so. He will forever remain a legend in Inter, and this post is dedicated to appreciatively remembering a player who is in the top 5% of players to have ever won the incredible blue and black jersey of the Nerazzurri.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane.

When Did Javier Zanetti Join Inter?

The time was 1995 and the Argentine national team were touring in South Africa at the time. That was when Zanetti found out that the biggest club in Italian football wanted to sign him.

Masssimo Morrati was newly elected as President of the Club and was surely looking for ways to improve the club. So, he turned his sights to the young and only locally tested Argentine player who was both a defender and midfielder (he occasionally played in the midfield position with Inter). Zanetti became the first ever signing of Moratti.

And he was a signing to remember.

Zanetti’s Impact At Inter Milan

On August 27 1995, Zanetti began his Inter career in a game against Vicenza, an Italian club now playing in Serie B. He impressed as a defender and a leader, allowing to become captain in four years.

Zanetti was not exactly adept at goal scoring. He scored his first goal against Lazio in 1998 in a UEFA competition. One of the most memorable goals scored by Zanetti was the penalty kick that clinched the Supercoppa Italian in 2008.

He scored a total of 21 goals for the club throughout his career. From 2002 to 2006, Zanetti went on a four-year goal drought. But, that didn’t bother anyone.

Within that time — and beyond, he was exceptionally instrumental as a defender and a midfielder. Due to injuries during Mourinho’s reign as coach, Zanetti had to fill in for midfielders and he delivered well using his striker-like control of the ball and good passing to succeed. He looked at home in the midfield.

How Zanetti Liked To Play

Zanetti really understood the game of football. That’s the only way to succeed with nineteen different managers, including Mourinho. He read the play effectively and acted with the technical precision of a manager in a player’s body.

He was able to play with both his right and left foot — a further demonstration of his ability. He played on both flanks and delivered crosses conveniently from either flank.

A Few Of Zanetti’s Milestones With The Club

Javier Zanetti reached many milestones with Inter Milan. Countless.

Here are a few of the interesting ones;

– With 858 appearances, no one has appeared more for Inter Milan than J.Z;

– 15 of the 16 trophies Zanetti won came while he was captain of the club;

– He has played for 19 different managers;

– His jersey No. 4 has been retired by Inter Milan. No other player will ever wear that number for Inter;

– He lifted the Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League, Supercoppa Italian, UEFA Cup and Fifa Club World Cup trophies during his time as a player.