Dino Zoff is one of the most successful goalkeepers in football’s history, with an enviable awards tally both at club and national level. Most people’s memory of Dino takes them back to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, which was an event that united an entire nation unlike anything else.

Clear-headed, composed and always reliable, both in character and technical ability, he always had a natural sense of positioning which allowed him to make tough saves look simple. After having first appeared in professional football with Udinese before moving to Achille Lauro’s Napoli in 1967.

His debut with the Azzurri took place when he was just over 24 years old, on 20 April 1968 in the very city of Naples he usually defended, for the return match against Bulgaria in Euros Qualifiers for the tournament that would be held in Italy a month later.

His goal remained untouched throughout his debut thanks to his calmness and personality, which was what made Ferruccio Valcareggi take a chance on him in the first place by picking him over Albertosi after the Azzurri’s previous defeat in Sofia. In the end, Italy managed to win 2-0 thanks to Prati’s goal and Domenghini’s splendid free kick that secured qualification.

He never left that spot again, and he experienced everything from the European triumph against Yugoslavia on 10 June just months after his debut, to the historic final at the Bernabeu where he lifted the World Cup as Captain after victory against West Germany.

His 112 appearances make him the sixth most capped player for Italy in history.

ITALY’S LINE-UP ON ZOFF’S DEBUT

D. Zoff, T. Burgnich, G. Facchetti (C), G. Ferrini, A. Guarneri, E. Castano, A. Domenghini, A. Juliano, A. Mazzola, G. Rivera, P. Prati .