Cristian Zenoni
{{Short description|Italian footballer (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Cristian Zenoni
| image = KL-2018 (16) Cristian Zenoni.jpg
| caption = Zenoni in 2018
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Trescore Balneario, Italy
| height = 1.82 m
| position = Full-back
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1994–1996
| youthclubs1 = Atalanta
| years1 = 1996–2001
| clubs1 = Atalanta
| caps1 = 120
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 1996–1997
| clubs2 = → Pistoiese (loan)
| caps2 = 30
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2001
| clubs3 = Milan
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2001–2005
| clubs4 = Juventus
| caps4 = 37
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2003–2005
| clubs5 = → Sampdoria (loan)
| caps5 = 59
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2005–2008
| clubs6 = Sampdoria
| caps6 = 86
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2008–2010
| clubs7 = Bologna
| caps7 = 49
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2010–2011
| clubs8 = AlbinoLeffe
| caps8 = 32
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2011–2012
| clubs9 = Monza
| caps9 = 19
| goals9 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2001–2006
| nationalteam1 = Italy
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Cristian Zenoni ({{IPA|it|ˈkristjan dzeˈnoːni}}; born 23 April 1977) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a full-back. He is the twin brother of former footballer Damiano Zenoni.{{cite web|url=http://www.bergamopost.it/chi-e/fatto-cristian-zenoni/|title=Che fine ha fatto Cristian Zenoni|website=www.bergamopost.it|publisher=Bergamo Post|language=Italian|date=28 February 2015|accessdate=26 April 2015}}
Club career
Zenoni started his career at his native club Atalanta BC, joining the team's youth system in 1994. After being promoted to the first team, in 1996, Zenoni was loaned to Serie C1 side AC Pistoiese for a season in order to gain playing time and experience. The following season, he made his Serie A debut with Atalanta on 5 October 1997, in a 1–1 draw against rivals Brescia; in total he made 17 appearances throughout the season. Despite his promising performances for the club, he was unable to help Atalanta avoid relegation to Serie B. He later helped Atalanta gain promotion to Serie A during the 1999–2000 season, and the next season, both he and his brother Damiano established themselves as two of the most exciting young full-backs in the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-cristian-zenoni-232046|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Cristian ZENONI|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=Italian|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|date=24 April 2015|accessdate=21 January 2017}}
Described by press as a promising young prospect, in June 2001, Cristian transferred to AC Milan along with Massimo Donati for 60 billion Italian lire in a cash plus player deal (the player was majority),{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2001/giugno/03/Milan_pugno_Thuram_Inzaghi_ga_0_0106037437.shtml|title=Il Milan ha in pugno Thuram e Inzaghi|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|author1=Antonello Capone|author2=Andrea Masala|language=Italian|date=3 June 2001|accessdate=27 April 2010}} but quickly transferred to Juventus FC as part of Filippo Inzaghi's transfer in the opposite direction, he was tagged for 30 billion Italian lire or about €15.6 million. He signed a five-year contract. In the summer of 2003, Zenoni was loaned to UC Sampdoria{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=77170.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917191017/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=77170.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2012|title=Sampdoria continue signing spree|date=25 June 2003|accessdate=8 March 2010|work=UEFA.con}} with an option to sign permanently for €10 million.[http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/29_mar_2004_eng.pdf Six-Monthly Report at 31 December 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207050525/http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/29_mar_2004_eng.pdf |date=7 December 2008 }} He was loaned out to the club once again in the summer of 2004, and at the end of the 2004–05 season, after almost helping the team qualify for the UEFA Champions League, he was signed permanently by Sampdoria for €1 million.[http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/21_mar_2005_eng.pdf Six-Monthly Report at 31 December 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207051246/http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/21_mar_2005_eng.pdf |date=7 December 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://ilpalloneracconta.blogspot.ca/2008/04/cristian-zenoni.html|title=Il pallone racconta: Cristian Zenoni|website=ilpalloneracconta.blogspot.ca|publisher=Il Pallone Racconta|language=Italian|date=6 May 2013|accessdate=24 April 2015}}
After several seasons in Genoa, in 2008, Zenoni joined Bologna. In 2010, he moved to AlbinoLeffe, where he remained until 2011. He ended his career after spending the 2011–12 season with Monza, in Lega Pro. In total, he made 546 professional appearances, scoring 10 goals.
International career
After representing the Italy U21 national team three times between 1998 and 1999, Zenoni was capped at senior level for the Italy national team twice, making his debut in a 2–1 friendly home loss against Argentina, on 28 February 2001, under manager Giovanni Trapattoni.{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=1946&squadra=1|title=Nazionale in cifre: Zenoni, Cristian|website=www.figc.it|publisher=FIGC|language=Italian|accessdate=24 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/nazionale/200102/28/3a9d724706193/|title=Italia-Argentina 1-2|publisher=Rai Sport|language=Italian|date=28 February 2000|accessdate=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215850/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/nazionale/200102/28/3a9d724706193/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
He was recalled by Roberto Donadoni, for his first match as Italy's coach, in August 2006. Zenoni played the friendly match, his second and final Italy appearance losing 2–0 to Croatia on 16 August, as starter.{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/italia-croazia/italia-croazia/italia-croazia.html|title=Non va la nuova Italia di Donadoni La Croazia è più avanti: 0-2 a Livorno|publisher=La Repubblica|language=Italian|date=16 August 2006|accessdate=20 January 2017}}
Style of play
A hard-working and athletic team player, Zenoni was regarded as a talented and promising young prospect, and as one of the best players in his position in Italy in his youth. He usually played as a right sided full-back, although he was known for his offensive prowess, stamina, and ability to cover the right flank, and was also capable of playing in more advanced positions on occasion, as a right winger.
Personal life
Cristian is the twin brother of former footballer Damiano Zenoni.
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a-tim/calciatore?p_p_id=BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC_idPersona=13055 Lega Serie A profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zenoni, Cristian}}
Category:Italy men's international footballers
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:FC Pistoiese SSD players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:UC AlbinoLeffe players