Walter Zenga

Walter Zenga (born April 28, 1960 in Milan) is an Italian football (soccer) player, a long-time goalkeeper for the Italian national team and Inter Milan.

Related Topics:
April 28 - 1960 - Milan - Italian - Football (soccer) - Goalkeeper - Italian national team - Inter Milan

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Zenga joined Inter Milan in 1982 after starting his career in 1978 in the lower divisions of Italian soccer (his first team was Salernitana in Serie C1, and he also played for Savona and Sambenedettese). Zenga became Inter's starter in his second year with the team, and continued in that position for 11 seasons, until 1994, winning the UEFA Cup in his last season with the club. After being the backup keeper at the 1986 World Cup, Zenga became the starter when Italy hosted the tournament in 1990, and led the team to a third-place finish. He ended up with 58 caps for his country.

Related Topics:
Salernitana - Serie C1 - Savona - Sambenedettese - UEFA Cup - 1986 World Cup - 1990

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In 1994, Zenga transferred to Sampdoria, and then to Padova two years later. From there, it was to Major League Soccer and the New England Revolution. Zenga backstopped them in the league's second season in 1997, then left to pursue an acting career (he and his girlfriend starred in an Italian soap opera). Zenga came back to the Revs in 1999, as a player-coach, but only lasted a year in both those position. He then went to Romania, first managing Naţional Bucharest and then Steaua Bucharest. In the summer of 2005, after being fired from Steaua before the end of the season, Zenga joined Serbian team FK Red Star of Belgrade.

Related Topics:
Sampdoria - Padova - Major League Soccer - New England Revolution - Soap opera - Coach - Romania - Naţional Bucharest - Steaua Bucharest - Serbian - FK Red Star - Belgrade

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Zenga was nicknamed L'Uomo Ragno (Spiderman). During a game versus the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1997, he celebrated a goal by running to the sidelines and making out with his girlfriend, as the Mutiny barely missed the open net straight from the kickoff.

Related Topics:
Spiderman - Tampa Bay Mutiny

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