Simply a letter Z. The initial of a name for superheroes (Zagor, Zorro, ..) or great goalkeepers (Zamora, Zoff..) or sometimes the two things put together: Zenga, Walter Zenga to be precise - The Spider Man.

His life is one of a globetrotting coach, suitcase always to hand. He has just signed a contract with Arabian team Al Jazira, after a long string of posts around the world, from USA to Romania, Serbia, Sicily (Catania and Palermo) and now Dubai. A life on the move after one between the goal posts.

His career started with the youth team of Internazionale, the team of his birth city, which was followed by experiences in some minor series. The best season among them was with Sambenedettese, when he reached Serie B promotion. Interestingly enough, 20 years later his son, Andrea, played the same role for the same team. In 1982 Walter Zenga came back to Inter, the team of his dreams. During the first year he made few appearances in the Coppa Italia, behind the “sacred monster” of Ivano Bordon.

Starting from 1983-84, with the departure of Bordon to Sampdoria, he had the great occasion of being the number 1. And he never failed. His first match in Serie A was his own personal nigthmare; Bordon, on the other side of the pitch (Inter - Sampdoria 1-2). The final result was a loss for Zenga, but for the rest of the season he showed his huge capabilities. The Inter fans understood that for a decade their defense would feel more secure.

Thanks to 10 years of great performances and saves Scudetto came back again in Milan in 1988, on the Inter side. In Italy, that title is “lo Scudetto dei record”. The national team also reaped reward from his talent. From 1986 to 1992 he guarded the Italian goal, with the competition (and the friendship) of his rival Stefano Tacconi.

For about a decade he personified a canon of modern goalkeeping; reactive in the extension dive, strong in the organization of defense. Off the field he was histrionic, hyper communicative, never boring and at ease in with the mass media.

He was a recognised king of the goal line, even so, he had the recognised flaws. He was often criticised for picking out crosses and attempted long passes either by punching them clear or collecting them in flight. In this sense, the “self-fulfilling prophecy” will stain his career more than other event. Italy vs Argentina 1990, an easy cross, the wrong time for clearance , the head of Caniggia and the World Cup dream was over for a dammed careless goal. 

Zenga was identified as being solely responsible for that loss, and he has always rejected that claim. Being made in a World Cup game, that error was inevitably magnified. Until that moment his career had been absolutely perfect.

A love-hate relationship characterised his entire career. His direct way to talk, not "politically correct", has often divided the fans, ready to attack him after a defeat in February 1994, and ready to cry and celebrate his name after the UEFA cup winning only some months later.

So Zenga decided on a change of scene moving to Genova and Padova but it fell short for his need of football and love. For 3 years he was nominated by IFFHS for the best goalkeeper in the world. And his collection of trophies and love stories, of great results and human falls, return back to us not an invincible Spider Man, but better, one of us, as the Inter fans were singing.

Thanks to our reviewer Caroline Vondy