31 Facts About Walter Zenga

Walter Zenga is an Italian football manager and former player who last managed Serie A club Cagliari.

Walter Zenga was a long-time goalkeeper for Inter Milan and the Italy national team.

Walter Zenga joined Inter Milan in 1982, after starting his professional career in 1978 in the lower divisions of Italian football.

However, Walter Zenga played Inter's matches in the Coppa Italia, impressing enough that the club decided not to buy another goalkeeper after Bordon's decision to move to Sampdoria during the summer of 1983.

However, Walter Zenga imposed himself as the best goalkeeper in Italy, finishing the 30 matches-long season conceding only 17 goals and by being picked by new Italy's manager Azeglio Vicini as the starter in the goalkeeping position.

However, the move did not materialize and Walter Zenga remained with Inter.

The highlight of the season for Walter Zenga was the participation in the 1988 UEFA European Championships with Italy.

Walter Zenga ended the season conceding only 19 goals, the best goalkeeper again in that respect.

Walter Zenga was at his best between the posts, as his great explosiveness and sharp reflexes enabled him to make great and spectacular saves.

Walter Zenga continued to play for Inter until 1994, winning the UEFA Cup in 1991 and 1994, his last season with the club.

In 1994, Walter Zenga transferred to Sampdoria, and then to Padova two years later.

Walter Zenga then moved on to New England Revolution and Major League Soccer.

Walter Zenga played in goal for them in the league's second season in 1997, then left to pursue an acting career.

Walter Zenga came back to the Revs in 1999, as a player-manager, but only lasted a year in both those positions.

Walter Zenga was capped 58 times for the Italy national football team at senior level between 1987 and 1992.

Walter Zenga previously featured in the Italian squad at the 1984 Olympics, where the team managed a fourth-place finish, and featured as one of the Italy under-21 side's overage players 1986 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, as the team's starting goalkeeper.

Walter Zenga was included in Enzo Bearzot's 22-man Italy squad for the 1986 World Cup.

Walter Zenga became the Italy national side's starting goalkeeper under manager Azeglio Vicini, ahead of his perceived career rival, Stefano Tacconi.

Walter Zenga remained first choice goalkeeper when Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990, and helped the team to a third-place finish, during which he set a record of five consecutive clean sheets, and a total of 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record still standing.

An aggressive, consistent, physically strong, complete, and athletic goalkeeper, Walter Zenga was nicknamed Deltaplano due to his excellent shot-stopping abilities, positioning, explosive reactions, bravery, and in particular for his speed, elegance, and agility, which enabled him to produce spectacular saves.

Walter Zenga then accepted a job as a football commentator and pundit for Italian public broadcasting service RAI.

Catania's playing style under Walter Zenga was notable for the coach's focus on free kick planning; his assistant manager Gianni Vio is known to work exclusively on this particular side of football tactics during the weekly training sessions.

Walter Zenga guided Catania to a mid-table finish and the Serie A points record for the eastern Sicilian side; at the final home game of the season he announced he was parting company with his club by mutual consent.

On 5 June 2009, after being linked with the managerial job at Lazio it was revealed that Walter Zenga had agreed a three-year contract with Palermo to replace outgoing manager Davide Ballardini; the move was seen as a massive surprise due to the Rosanero club being rumoured to be interested in several other managers and the bitter rivalry between them and Catania, the only two Sicilian teams playing in the Italian top flight.

On 6 January 2011, Walter Zenga was appointed as new head coach of Al Nasr SC in the UAE Pro-League.

Walter Zenga praised the Wolves players' spirit and credited them with leading them to the unbeaten start.

Walter Zenga claimed his team's subsequent performances showed that the defeat to Barnsley was "an accident".

Walter Zenga returned into management on 11 October 2018 as he was named new head coach of Serie B club Venezia in place of Stefano Vecchi.

Walter Zenga was sacked on 5 March 2019, after a run of four losses in five games had the club fighting relegation.

On 3 March 2020, Walter Zenga was appointed new head coach of Serie A club Cagliari, signing a contract until 30 June 2021, with Under-19 coach Max Canzi named as his assistant.

Walter Zenga has a son, Jacopo, from his marriage to Elvira Carfagna.