Italy's greatest 'keeper

Voted the century's top Italian goalkeeper, Dino Zoff occupied a key position at the heart of the 'Azzurri' in a 15-year international career.

At club level, 5 years at Napoli and eleven at Juventus brought equal levels of success, before he moved into management.

He was successful right from the start, winning the European Nations Cup (1968) in his first year with the national side, and going on to play in three consecutive World Cup tournaments (1974, 1978 and 1982).

Goalkeeper Dino Zoff, captain of the Italian national soccer team, smiles as he holds aloft the World Cup trophy after Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 to win the World Cup final 11 July 1982 in Madrid. It is Italy's third World title after 1934 and 1938. (Behind from left, Gaetano Scirea and Giuseppe Bergomi) AFP PHOTO/DPA

At 40 years, 4 months and 4 days, he became the oldest player ever to hold the World Cup trophy aloft, in 1982.

At club level his record is just as impressive - 6 Italian league titles, 2 Italian Cups, and 1 UEFA Cup - all won with Juventus.

For the record

Zoff holds a number of goalkeeping records.

Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff (on ground) watches Haitian forward Emmanuel Sanon score a goal during the World Cup first round soccer match between Italy and Haiti 15 June 1974 in Munich. Sanon's goal was the first goal scored against Zoff in the last 1143 minutes but Italy went on to score three goals to finally win 3-1. AFP PHOTO/DPA

He kept a clean sheet between September 20, 1972 and June 15, 1974, a total of 1143 minutes of football, playing in every one of his country's international encounters.

Between 1972 and 1983 he turned out 332 times for Juventus and in one period in the league remained unbeaten in goal for a total of 903 minutes, the equivalent of 10 full games.

(FILES) A 1982 file photo of former Italian national soccer team goalkeeper Dino Zoff, then captain of the Italian national soccer team during the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Zoff, 55, succeeds Cesare Maldini as national coach following Italy's disappointing at the World Cup where they lost to France in the quarter-finals.

He finally retired after 20 years at the top level, with 112 caps in 15 years of service - during which time he only conceded 83 goals.

Stepping into management

He continued his involvement in football by becoming coach of the Italian Olympic team, before joining Juventus in the same capacity in 1988.

With the Turin giants he won the UEFA Cup in his second year in charge, (1990), before joining Rome club Lazio.

In 1994 he took over the presidency of Lazio, a tenure he held until July 22, 1998, when he replaced Cesare Maldini as coach to the Italian national team after Italy were eliminated by France in the World Cup quarter finals.

Italian coach Dino Zoff (R) passes by French forward Thierry Henry (C) comforting Italian forward Alessandro del Piero after France won the Euro-2000 soccer final over Italy 2-1 in extra time in Rotterdam, 02 July 2000. AFP PHOTO/ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

He led Italy to the brink of victory at the European Championship in 2000, when France's David Trezeguet broke Italian hearts with a golden goal winner in extra time.

Zoff's dismay after this traumatic defeat was so complete that he resigned soon afterwards, stung in particular by bitter criticism from AC Milan president and leading politician Silvio Berlusconi.

Lazio Rome Italian coach Dino Zoff looks at his players during the Italian first league match Lazio Rome-Inter Milan, 20 January 2001 at Rome's Olympic Stadium. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

He returned to Lazio as coach in January, 2001, a position he held until last September when he resigned following the surprising home defeat to French side Nantes in the Champions League (1-3).