Inter Milan - Italian Football League - Javier Zanetti - Photograph

Photograph signed by former Inter Milan and Argentina national team player Javier Zanetti. Autograph obtained in person. Photograph size approximately 30 x 20 cm. You can see the exact moment the autograph was signed.

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Javier Zanetti is a former Argentine footballer. He played as a right-back or centre-back and spent almost his entire career at Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A. He is the player with the third-most appearances in the history of the Argentina national team (first surpassed by Javier Mascherano and then by Lionel Messi) and the Argentine player with the most professional appearances. Since June 30, 2014, he has been vice president of Inter Milan in Serie A, the team where he is considered one of the greatest idols in the club’s history.

Zanetti played for Inter from 1995 until his retirement, taking over the captain’s armband on August 29, 1999. Known for his versatility, he was equally adept on the left and right, having played on both flanks, as a centre-back and as a winger. He could slot easily into several midfield positions, especially as a defensive midfielder.

Known as “Pupi” in Argentina, Zanetti was born in Buenos Aires and acquired the nickname “El Tractor” shortly after moving to Italy, where his strength, flexibility, stamina, and ability to join the attack earned him great respect. Toward the end of his career, he played mainly in right midfield. He ended a four-year goal drought when he scored on November 5, 2006. For the Argentina national team, he played as a right-back and was able to switch easily between defending and attacking. Zanetti won five Serie A titles with Inter Milan (all consecutively, between 2006 and 2010), earning the nickname “Il Capitano” (“The Captain”) among fans and the press after taking over the captain’s armband at Inter Milan. From the 2011–12 season, he was the first non-Italian player to captain a Serie A team. He holds the record for appearances by a player born outside Italy for an Italian team, and his 834 official appearances for the club put him at the top of Inter Milan’s all-time appearances list. Zanetti, who retired at Inter Milan, is also known for his charity work, running a foundation that helps underprivileged children in Argentina. He was named a FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children’s Villages project in Argentina, and in 2005 received the Ambrogino d’Oro, awarded each year in Milan, for his work with the PUPI Foundation. Zanetti is also a global ambassador for Special Olympics.

On May 22, 2010, Zanetti made his 700th appearance for Inter, on the day of the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich. The team’s 2–0 victory earned them the treble (Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League in the same year), capping a historic season. On October 20, 2010, he scored against Tottenham Hotspur to become the oldest player to score in the Champions League, at the age of 37 years and 71 days. This record has since been surpassed by Filippo Inzaghi and Ryan Giggs.

He played for the Argentina national team from 1994. With his national team, he won the gold medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and the silver medal at Atlanta 1996. In October 2007, Zanetti became the player with the most appearances for the national team, surpassing Roberto Ayala. He played in two World Cups, two Confederations Cups, and five Copa América tournaments with the national team.

He was included in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers, compiled by Pelé at FIFA’s request.

Inter Milan retired his number 4 shirt in recognition of his career with the club (1995–2014).