46 Facts About Javier Zanetti

Javier Zanetti started his career in Argentina, first with Talleres, and then Banfield.

Javier Zanetti is the foreign player with the most appearances in Serie A, and holds the fourth-most appearances in the league, behind only Gianluigi Buffon, Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti.

Javier Zanetti holds the record for the most appearances in the history of Inter, 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.

Javier Zanetti has the most appearances as captain in the Champions League.

Javier Zanetti 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.

Javier Zanetti's father Rodolfo was a bricklayer and his mother Violeta Bonnazola was a cleaner.

Reportedly some of Javier Zanetti's ancestors were Italian settlers brought to southern Chile by Giorgio Ricci in the aftermath of the Occupation of Araucania.

Javier Zanetti began playing football on a field in the city suburbs, maintaining the pitch in his spare time.

Javier Zanetti went 12 years without being sent off in a match.

At Inter, Javier Zanetti played under 19 different coaches, making him the only player to have played under this many coaches.

Javier Zanetti has pledged his future to the Nerazzurri, hoping to have a future behind the desk at the club in his retirement from playing.

Javier Zanetti made his debut for Inter on 27 August 1995 against Vicenza in Milan.

Javier Zanetti ended a four-year goal drought when he scored on 5 November 2006 at a home match against Ascoli, having previously scored on 6 November 2002 at an away match against Empoli.

On 27 September 2006, against Bayern Munich, Javier Zanetti played his 500th professional match for Inter and on 22 November 2006, he appeared in his 100th UEFA match, against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Javier Zanetti currently holds a club record of 162 consecutive appearances.

On 19 January 2011, Javier Zanetti overtook Inter legend Giuseppe Bergomi in Serie A appearances, his 520th match in Serie A, all for Inter.

On 11 May 2011, Javier Zanetti made his 1,000th appearance as a professional footballer playing for Inter against Roma in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.

On 20 September 2011, Javier Zanetti made the all-time appearance record in a Serie A clash against Novara, surpassing Giuseppe Bergomi.

Javier Zanetti came on as a substitute for Jonathan Moreira in the 52nd minute and wore a special armband featuring the names of every player he had played with during his career at Inter.

Javier Zanetti kept the role upon the change of ownership to the Suning Holdings Group.

Javier Zanetti debuted for Argentina on 16 November 1994 against Chile under coach Daniel Passarella.

Javier Zanetti represented his country at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, and was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.

Javier Zanetti represented Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina national team at the 2002 World Cup, playing in all matches, as Argentina finished third in their group, despite winning the opening match.

Javier Zanetti celebrated his 100th cap by helping Argentina win their 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final over Mexico on 26 June 2005, in which he won the Man of the Match award.

Javier Zanetti played brilliantly and helped Javier Saviola to score the only goal of the game that gave Argentina the first victory under Basile's second management.

That same year, Javier Zanetti was vice-captain of the Argentine squad for the 2007 Copa America, having previously appeared in the 1995,1999 and the 2004 editions of the tournament, reaching his second consecutive Copa America final.

Zanetti remained a regular under new coach Diego Maradona, although defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano took over as captain at Maradona's request.

Javier Zanetti was called again for the friendly against Japan in Saitama of October 2010 but withdrew at the last minute due to injury.

Javier Zanetti was a member of Argentina's squad for the 2011 Copa America on home soil, starting in all four of the team's matches as they were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

Javier Zanetti impressed with his qualities, his speed, power, intelligence and expertise.

Javier Zanetti earned the nickname El Tractor for his stamina and tireless energetic runs up and down the wings to aid both attack and defence.

Javier Zanetti was known amongst his teammates for consistency and fitness regime, which he has credited with prolonging his career.

Javier Zanetti was a quick, strong and physically fit player in his prime, with outstanding physical attributes, excellent ball control, dribbling, technical ability and acceleration.

Javier Zanetti began his career as a right offensive winger, but was later moved back into midfield, where he became a tactically intelligent and versatile player, who was capable of playing anywhere in midfield or in defence.

Javier Zanetti was primarily used as a wide midfielder or as a full-back or wing-back on either flank throughout his career, although he has been deployed as a central defender, sweeper, or as a central or defensive midfielder.

Javier Zanetti was even deployed in more offensive roles on occasion.

Javier Zanetti has been praised for his determination, consistency, and work-rate, as well as his discipline and longevity, which he has attributed to his diligence in training sessions.

On 23 December 1999, Javier Zanetti married his long-time girlfriend Paula de la Fuente, the daughter of a university lecturer.

Javier Zanetti has published two autobiographies: Capitano e gentiluomo in 2010 and Giocare da uomo in 2013.

Javier Zanetti is a close friend of Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder, whom he inspired to convert to Catholicism.

Javier Zanetti is not related to Cristiano Zanetti, an Italian who played alongside him for five seasons at Inter.

In 2007, Javier Zanetti collaborated with Italian singer Mina in a Spanish cover of the song "Parole parole", found in the album Todavia.

Javier Zanetti is FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages project in Argentina, and has declared his support for the Mexican Zapatista rebels.

Javier Zanetti has shown social conscience when in response to Argentina's economic crisis of 2001, which threw millions of people into poverty, Javier Zanetti, with his wife Paula, created the Fundacion PUPI in Argentina for the social integration of poor children.

Javier Zanetti said that "this spirit lies at the base of all of Inter's initiatives for youngsters:".

Javier Zanetti is featured in EA Sports' FIFA football video game series; he was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 16.