On May 6, 2014, Inter legendary captain Javier Zanetti confirmed in an interview that he would retire, and five years later, the memory of the former blue and black flag is still deep. He is a gentleman on the pitch, the perfect leader in the eyes of his teammates, and a spiritual symbol of Inter, the forever youngster of blue and black.
In the eyes of ordinary fans, physically strong players are almost always very clumsy. The moment the ball hits their feet, it looks very awkward, giving the feeling that you will lose your balance after a few movements. If a player has both The Upper Limb Strength of Paul Gascoigne and the delicate feet of George Best, then the player must be a great player. There was a player in the Italian Inter Milan squad who intercepted the attacking players again and again in the game to stop the opponent's attack and control the ball under his feet, organizing the team to launch a counterattack.
For many fans, such a scene is all too familiar, this is the personal strength that Zanetti showed in the game and the art of his play. The phrase "Inter Forever No. 4" is the perfect compliment to him.
Argentina is rich in two types of defenders, but Zanetti, one of Argentina's most talented defenders, does not belong to either of these two, he is neither a free-running scavenger nor a player with a dark defensive art.
Zanetti is a low-key, but technically comprehensive and very characteristic player. He is a generalist in the back, playing as a defender or playing at the back, and with his evergreen performance and amazing stability, he has brought the most glorious moments to the team with his unpretentious performance.
Throughout Zanetti's career, a long list of numbers is impressive: 5 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia, 4 Italian Super Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 Europa League and 1 Club World Cup, playing for Inter for 19 seasons as Captain Inter for 15 seasons, making 858 appearances for Inter Milan and 143 for the Argentine national team. Under this string of brilliant figures is a gentleman who maintains a humble and humble attitude at all times.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and England became a very appropriate example of Zanetti's simple, low-key but extremely practical. Irving's emergence in that mid-game, Simeone's acting skills and David Beckham's red card became the main theme of the game, while Zanetti, who stood up for Argentina to score the equalizer when he was behind, was in stark contrast to them.
Towards the end of the first half, Argentina was still trailing England 1-2, at this time Argentina won a free kick opportunity in front of the arc of the penalty area, Barty swung a shot, Veron fake shot real pass the ball into the box, Zanetti got the ball and lightly led it with his right foot and completed the turning action, then picked up his left foot and shot hard, the ball went straight into the dead corner. Glenn Hoddell's England team may not have been able to understand for a long time why a defender would have such a clever pair of feet and complete the goal like a natural striker.
Scoring goals here may seem bland right now, but it actually requires mature technique and very precise control of the ball. Although other things that happened in this crucial game overshadowed Zanetti's brilliance, he still exuded a charming charm. Compared to all the praises, trophies and accolades, Zanetti does more to enjoy the purest pleasure.
After officially hanging up his boots in May 2014, Zanetti was naturally appointed Inter's vice-chairman. While it remains to be seen whether he can bring the same joy to the fans as vice-chairman, his selfless professionalism and professionalism can be trusted.
Of course, Zanetti's low-key personality stems from his humble origins. Buenos Aires' Dock Sud district is a very different image from the romantic luxury of the Argentine capital, and it is the home of the Sanetti family from the working class, which is barren and harsh, with no wide boulevards and no romantic classical European cafes.
Zanetti's parents, one of whom were bricklayers and the other of a cleaner, worked hard to support the family. During his time with his older brother Sergio Zanetti, Javier Zanetti soon discovered that playing football was not about escaping reality, but rather a way to pursue pleasure. Since then, Zanetti has spent his free time on the local stadium and begun to pursue professional football.
Inexplicably, however, Zanetti's football career came to an almost end before it began. In 1989, at the age of 16, Zanetti auditioned for argentina's top five independent team at the time, but after several weeks of trials, the coaches thought he was too slim and weak and gave him up.
This frustration did not frighten him, and made him more clear about his goals, and he returned to school to complete his studies. After leaving school, Zanetti was happy to find a job delivering milk with her cousin. After finishing the milk delivery job that began at 4 o'clock, he was happy to assist his father as an assistant bricklayer. "I loved my father's job," Zanetti later recalled. "But most of all, I like to do things with specific and useful ideas. Building a house is a metaphor that I like very much, from the bottom to the top, which is the core of my human philosophy. ”
In 1991, Zanetti joined Argentine second division side Atlético Talleres, starting his football career from the bottom. Soon he became a qualified member of the team. Still, few people at the time would have expected him to rise to the top of world football, but that soon became a reality.
After a lonely season in the second division, Zanetti signed for Banfield. Here he quickly gained the support of the fans and was well known for his nickname "Tractor". Known for his physical strength and positive and diligent attitude, Zanetti won the hearts of Banfield fans even more after rejecting the olive branch thrown by River Plate and Boca Youth.
If It took Zanetti only a short time to establish himself at Banfield, then Argentina coach Daniel Passarella was also quick to give the 21-year-old Zanetti a chance to make his debut for the national team. Three months after the end of the 1994 World Cup, the rejuvenating Argentina team defeated Chile 3-0 in a friendly match, which marked the beginning of Zanetti's national team career and brought more opportunities for Zanetti's club career. As Zanetti's popularity in international football has grown, Zanetti's suitors have grown and are no longer limited to Argentina's domestic giants.
In the summer of 1995, Italian oil tycoon Massimo Moratti bought Inter Milan and became president of Inter Milan. In the years that followed, Moratti spent hundreds of millions of euros on superstars including Ibrahimovic, Sneijder, Figo, Vieira, Eto'o, Vieri, Ronaldo, Robert Carlos, Adriano and McCone, most of whom were at the peak of their careers when they signed for Inter.
Morati signed Zanetti on his first signing after inter milan, and although the main target of the deal was another Argentine, Sebastian Lambert, Lambert was sold to Zaragoza in 1996 after Inter's performance, and Zanetti began a long relationship with Inter.
In addition to a few actions and voices against Berlusconi, Milan is a very elegant city and the social etiquette here is also extremely strict, and in the eyes of the public here, social etiquette bears more responsibility. For the upright and gentlemanly Zaneti, Milan was undoubtedly a very suitable home for him.
Shortly after joining Inter, Milan City's fan readers, columnists and editors discovered how simple and pure Zanetti was. For 20 years, Zanetti brought only professionalism and joy every week.
Zanetti's Inter career has partnered countless team-mates and met an incredible 17 managers, which is the best proof of the evergreen tree of his football. From Hodgson to Mourinho, from Lippi to Cooper, from Benitez to Manic, every manager has made Zanetti the mainstay of the team. After the retirement of inter legendary defender Giuseppe Bergomi in 1999, Zanetti took over inter's captain's armband until his retirement.
Many excellent qualities make Zanetti an ideal leader, and although his position on the pitch is as a defender and defender, Zanetti's discipline is undoubtedly exemplary and surprising. After receiving his first red card of his career in February 1999, Zanetti's second red card was 12 years later, and it was the last red card of Zanetti's career.
The only discord between Sanetti's career occurred during the Hodgson era, when the UEFA was defeated in the second leg of the final in 1997, Inter fought their opponents to a 1-1 draw before the end of extra time, and at the end of extra time, coach Hodgson replaced Zanetti with Berti, a choice that caused Zanetti to be dissatisfied, and he was not willing to be replaced before the penalty shootout. It is worth noting that although Hodgson was blamed when he was replaced, Zanetti still embraced Hodgson after the game and resolved the contradiction, which is undoubtedly worthy of everyone's admiration.
In the 2009-2010 season, Inter won the Treble and the 36-year-old Zanetti ushered in the most glorious moment of Inter's career. His Argentine compatriot Diego Milito, who scored key goals in both the Coppa Italia and Champions League finals, still credited the treble to Zanetti's key play on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends. Mourinho used a total of 28 players that season, with Zanetti playing the most and starting every game he played.
However, Zanetti, who has been enjoying himself at the club, is not optimistic about the situation in the national team. A few days after winning the Champions League in 2010, he lost his second consecutive chance to play in the World Cup.
Prior to the 2006 World Cup, Zanetti, who had played in most of the World Cup qualifiers, was unbelievably excluded from the World Cup squad by Beckerman in the final moments. This result has puzzled many journalists and authority footballers in Europe and South America. Coincidentally, in 2010, under Maradona's chaotic command and management, Zanetti was again excluded from the list, with Mascherano taking over his captain's armband and his place being replaced by Gutierrez.
Surprisingly, Zanetti refused to stay away from the national team, choosing to keep waiting. With Maradona's dismissal, Zanetti was recalled to the national team in September 2010. Prior to the friendly match against Spain, the Argentine Football Association presented Zanetti and Batistuta with the Model Professional Player Award in recognition of their contribution to Argentine football. After being eliminated by Uruguay at the 2011 Copa America, Zanetti chose to close the door from the national team.
Back at club level, in the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, Zanetti, who was about to turn 40 at the time, still made more than 30 appearances in the season for three consecutive seasons and remained one of Inter's star players. After tearing his Achilles tendon in April 2013, his record of more than 30 consecutive appearances came to an abrupt end.
All the good things come to an end, and despite still being in good physical shape, Zanetti is just a mortal: "I just want to play at least one more game in front of the Inter fans, and I hope more than one." After the diagnosis came out, he immediately expressed resistance and pleaded.
Eventually his loyalty, physical and mental strength overwhelmed everything, and Zanetti forced himself back on the field in 2014 and competed in 12 races. On 18 May 2014, in the final round of the 2013-2014 Serie A season, Inter played for Chievo away from home, and Sanetti played for Inter for the last time as captain, unfortunately Inter lost away, failing to bring Sanetti's brilliant career to a successful end.
A clear hallmark of Zanetti's career is his meticulous hairstyle, which makes him look very fresh and young, and also makes him look very professional. He takes his profession and body very seriously, and many people, from Mourinho to Zanetti's wife, can attest to that. "It's a great honour for me to coach him," Mourinho said after winning the Treble in 2010. "He has the strength, he has the character, and that affects the player's career. Physically and mentally, he doesn't look like a 35-year-old man. ”
In addition to the brilliance and gentlemanly performance on the pitch, Zanetti is also a very passionate philanthropist and concerned about social issues. In Italy, Zanetti, along with compatriot Cambiasso, founded Leoni di Potrero, a football school designed to foster friendship among children while avoiding them indulging in television and computer games. At the same time, he and his wife formed Fundación PUPI, a foundation for socially isolated children in question, in Argentina.
As one might expect, Zanetti's every move will be a role model on and off the pitch. AC Milan legendary captain Maldini called Zanetti his "most respected opponent". Manchester United legend Giggs called Zanetti "the toughest opponent" and described him omnipotent. Before snubbing Zanetti at the 2010 World Cup, Maradona said in a public statement: "Zanetti is better than all of us." ”
The modern football world has always lacked a gentleman image, and it has shown a lot of negative images. Zanetti turned this around by showing the value of hard work, honesty and professionalism, which is why he is one of the most respected players in history.
Zanetti, the forever blue-black flag, Inter's forever legendary star.