Javier Adelmar Zanetti (born August 10, 1973) is an Argentine football defender currently playing for Serie A club Internazionale, of which he has been part since 1995 and the captain since 1999. He is the most capped player in the history of the Argentine national team, as well as their current captain, and has played in the 1996 Olympic tournament and in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002.

Known as Pupi in Argentina, he was nicknamed Il Trattore (The Tractor) after moving to Italy because of his strength, resilience, stamina and his ability to run past opposing defenders when joining the attack from his right back position. Zanetti has won three Serie A titles with Inter, and since becoming their captain he is also referred to by team supporters and media as Il Capitano (The Captain). He has appeared in more than 400 Serie A matches for the club, which is the second-highest all-time total among non-Italian born players, behind Brazilian José Altafini.

Zanetti, who plans to retire with Inter and continue to work with the club thereafter, is also notable for his charitable work, running a foundation to benefit disadvantaged children in Argentina. He has been named an ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages project in Argentina by FIFA, and in 2005 he received the Ambrogino d'Oro award from the Milan townhall for his social initiative.
Early life

Zanetti was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in the harbour area in the Dock Sud district. He combined scholastic and working commitments, helping his bricklayer father by helping him in masonry alongside delivering milk, and working in his cousin's grocery shop without neglecting his passion for football. He began playing football on a pitch in the suburbs of the city, and personally took care of pitch maintenance.

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Club career

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Club Atlético Talleres

Zanetti, after being rejected by the youth divisions of Argentina's Independiente, signed for Talleres de Remedios de Escalada (a second division team at the time) but soon moved in 1993 to Argentine First Division's Banfield.

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Banfield

His debut for Banfield occurred on September 12, 1993 in a home match against River Plate. His first professional goal for Banfield was on September 29, 1993 against Newell's Old Boys in a match that ended 1-1. His outstanding performances for Banfield led him to not only becoming one of most loved players of El Taladro's fans but also getting a place in the National side. In 1994 he was requested by both giants River Plate and Boca Juniors but stayed on for another year at the club and in 1995, Zanetti finally moved to Italy's F.C. Internazionale Milano, becoming team owner Massimo Moratti's first-ever purchase.

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Internazionale

His debut for Inter occurred on August 27, 1995 against Vicenza Calcio at Milan. Throughout his stay with the club, he has won 8 trophies: the UEFA Cup in 1998 – scoring the second goal for the final with a shot outside the penalty area –, the 2005 and 2006 Coppa Italia, the 2005 and 2006 Italian Super Cup, and the 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Scudetto.

Zanetti's qualities have made him a respected footballer all around the world. He is sometimes criticized for being too soft-spoken on the pitch, but he makes up for this by being one of Inter's most consistent, reliable and trusted players. As such, he was rewarded with the club captaincy, taking over from legendary defender Giuseppe Bergomi. Being a part of the squad for the last 13 seasons and with over 590 appearances, he is currently the team's longest-tenured player, and the third overall behind Giuseppe Bergomi (758) and Giacinto Facchetti (634) in the all-time list of most capped Inter players. To Inter fans, Zanetti is one of the greatest players ever to have ever worn the colors of the black and blue. He is nowadays known as Il Capitano ("the captain").

Since the arrival of Maicon at the beginning of the 2006-07 season, Zanetti has moved from his right back position and has since been playing in midfield.[1] He ended a 4-year goal drought when he scored on November 5, 2006[2] at a home match against Ascoli, having previously scored on November 6, 2002, at an away match against Empoli. On September 27, 2006, against Bayern Munich, Zanetti played his 500th professional match for Inter.[3] and on November 22, 2006 he appeared in his 100th UEFA match against Sporting Clube de Portugal[4]

As of May 2008, Zanetti has not been sent off in more than nine years. The last time he was sent off was on February 17, 1999 in a Coppa Italia match against Parma. Zanetti said "I haven't argued with Referees, but I was very disappointed when Braschi showed me my first red card in the game against Parma a few years ago. I had nothing to do with it and he sent me off." At Inter, Zanetti has had 14 differents coaches (list), making him the only player to have played under this many coaches. His current contract with Internazionale runs until 2010. The captain has pledged his future to the Nerazzurri, hoping to have a future behind the desk at the club once he hangs up his boots after he quits playing.[5] "Inter means a lot to me," Zanetti said, "It was the first team to open the doors of European football. I was very young when I came here and I think not many teams could have had so much faith and patience with a boy in his early 20s from the very first day like Inter did with me. I will always be grateful for that. For some reason I have always felt at home here at Inter and this is why I have never thought of leaving".[6]

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National team

For Argentina, he has 118 caps (as of February 2008) since making his debut for the National team on November 16, 1994 against Chile under coach Daniel Passarella. He has since represented his country at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He was also part of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA.

In the 1998 World Cup, he scored against England on a pre-planned play.

After Roberto Ayala suffered a last minute injury which left him out of the tournament, Zanetti captained Marcelo Bielsa's Argentine national squad in the 2002 World Cup.

Javier Zanetti celebrated his 100th cap by helping Argentina win their 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final over Mexico on Sunday 26th June 2005, in which he won the Man of the match award [7].

After having been part of the team during the qualification rounds, Zanetti was not called up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by coach José Pekerman in a controversial decision [8], instead Lionel Scaloni was given a surprise selection, a move that bewildered many fans and media. "I don't know if there are any footballing or non-footballing reasons. But I can sleep peacefully because I have given so much to my national team, and I still feel a player of the Argentine national team. I'm certainly not Pekerman's kind of player," Zanetti commented after being omitted from the final squad.

With new coach Alfio Basile, Zanetti was called for a friendly match against France on February 7th. 2007. He played brilliantly and helped Javier Saviola to score the only goal of the game that gave Argentina the first victory under Basile's second management.[9]. That same year, Zanetti was vice-captain of the Argentine Squad for the Copa América 2007, having previously appeared in the 1995, 1999 and the 2004 editions of the tournament.

Since the retirement of Ayala, Zanetti has being given the captains armband. At a World Cup qualification match against against Bolivia in 17th November 2007, he became the most capped player ever for Argentina[10].
HonoursMedal record
Competitor for  Argentina
Men's Football
Olympic Games
Silver   1996 Atlanta   Team Competition
Pan American Games
Gold   1995 Mar del Plata   Team Competition

UEFA Cup Winner: 1998

Runners Up: 1997
Coppa Italia Winner: 2005, 2006

Runners Up: 2000, 2007
Italian Super Cup Winner: 2005, 2006

Runners Up: 2001, 2007
Serie A champion: 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008.
Internazionale's best player of the year 1996 (Pirata d'oro)[11]
Named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004[12].
National "Giuseppe Prisco" Award for Sport loyalty, correctness and sympathy.[
Personal life

In 1992 Zanetti met Paula, who became his wife seven years later. They live near Lake Como, where they own a restaurant "El Gaucho". Today, Paula Zanetti, daughter of a university teacher, dedicates herself to photography with good results. She enjoys 'immortalising' Javier from the touchline during Inter's home matches. On June 11, 2005 she gave birth to a baby girl, Sol Zanetti. The Inter captain commented "I'm very happy about this baby girl who has come into my life. It was a beautiful experience with my wife. My daughter will have all the happiness she deserves."

Zanetti's elder brother Sergio is a former football defender. Javier Zanetti is not related to Cristiano Zanetti, who is an Italian football player.

In 2007, Zanetti collaborated with Italian singer Mina Mazzini in a Spanish cover of the song Parole parole, found in the album Todavía.

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Charity work

In 2005 The Milan townhall awarded Zanetti with the Ambrogino d'Oro for his social initiative.

Zanetti is also the FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages project in Argentina [14], and has declared his support for the Mexican Zapatista rebels.[1]

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Fundacion Pupi

Zanetti has also proven that he has a highly-developed social conscience. In response to Argentina's economic crisis of 2001, which threw millions of people into poverty, Zanetti, with his wife Paula, created the Fundación PUPI (PUPI foundation) in Argentina for the social integration of poor children. The aim of the organization is to help children by giving them educational opportunities, as well as taking care of their nutritional requirements who were left impoverished by the country's economic crisis.

"When I look back to my childhood, many concrete scenes come to my mind, good ones and bad ones. I had a difficult childhood, and even though I don't live in my country at present, I'm well aware of what's going on there and the devastating effect it's having on our poorest children. I've always believed that our public actions need to take account of our social responsibility," he explained.

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Leoni di Potrero

Zanetti along with his compatriot and current teammate at Inter, Esteban Cambiasso unveiled this charity association to help coach young children with social isolation problems and motor coordination difficulties.

"There must always be values at the heart of sport, and this is what we have to teach children," Zanetti said, reminding those present that this spirit lies at the base of all of Inter's initiatives for youngsters[15].

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