Paolo Zanetti

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Paolo Zanetti

| image = Alessandro Rosina and Paolo Zanetti (Paolo Zanetti).jpg

| caption = Zanetti with Ascoli in 2007

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|12|16}}

| birth_place = Valdagno, Italy

| height = 1.84 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Hellas Verona (head coach)

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1997

| youthclubs1 = Ponte dei Nori

| youthyears2 = 1997–2001

| youthclubs2 = Vicenza

| years1 = 2001–2003

| clubs1 = Vicenza

| caps1 = 45

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2003–2006

| clubs2 = Empoli

| caps2 = 52

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2006–2007

| clubs3 = Ascoli

| caps3 = 29

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2007–2011

| clubs4 = Torino

| caps4 = 72

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2010

| clubs5 = → Atalanta (loan)

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2011–2012

| clubs6 = Grosseto

| caps6 = 14

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2012–2013

| clubs7 = Sorrento

| caps7 = 13

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2013–2014

| clubs8 = Reggiana

| caps8 = 27

| goals8 = 1

| totalcaps = 254

| totalgoals = 7

| nationalyears1 = 2000

| nationalteam1 = Italy U19[http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=2083&squadra=2 FIGC archive] (in Italian)

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2000–2001

| nationalteam2 = Italy U20 B

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2001–2002

| nationalteam3 = Italy U20

| nationalcaps3 = 13

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| nationalyears4 = 2002–2003

| nationalteam4 = Italy U21

| nationalcaps4 = 5

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2017–2019

| managerclubs1 = Südtirol

| manageryears2 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs2 = Ascoli

| manageryears3 = 2020–2022

| managerclubs3 = Venezia

| manageryears4 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs4 = Empoli

| manageryears5 = 2024–

| managerclubs5 = Hellas Verona

}}

Paolo Zanetti (born 16 December 1982) is an Italian professional football manager and former player, currently in charge as the head coach of Serie A club Hellas Verona. As a player, he played as a midfielder.

Club career

Zanetti started his career at his hometown club Vicenza.

=Empoli=

Zanetti was sold to Empoli in a co-ownership deal in July 2003,{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/2003/07/12/LESPO_LES02.html|title= E' Paolo Zanetti il rinforzo per il centrocampo |date=12 July 2003|access-date=4 September 2016|work=Il Tirreno|publisher=Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso|language=it}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/CalcioMercato2003.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030718112725/http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/CalcioMercato2003.pdf|title=Calcio Mercato 2003|trans-title=Football Market 2003|date=17 July 2003|publisher=Lega Calcio|language=it|access-date=4 September 2016}} for €671,400 fee (about 1.3 billion lire).Vicenza Calcio S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2007, [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.] (in Italian)

In his first season with Empoli, he just made 13 appearances in Serie A. However, Empoli was relegated to Serie B at the end of the season and Zanetti followed the club.

Zanetti played 30 games in the 2004–05 Serie B season, helping the club to win promotion back to Serie A. However, he just made nine appearances for the club in Serie A in the following season. In June 2006 Empoli signed him outright from Vicenza,{{cite web|url=http://www.lega-calcio.it/comun/0506/Partecipazioni2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708012139/http://www.lega-calcio.it/comun/0506/Partecipazioni2007.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2006 |title=partecipazioni 2006–07 |date=20 June 2006 |publisher=Lega Calcio |language=it |url-status=dead }} for an additional €125,000 fee, making Empoli had paid Vicenza €796,400 in total.

=Ascoli=

After acquiring the remaining 50% registration rights from Vicenza in June 2006 for an additional €125,000 transfer fee, Empoli sold Zanetti to Ascoli in another co-ownership deal for €400,000 transfer fee in July.Empoli F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2007, [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.] (in Italian){{cite web|url=http://www.ascolicalcio.net/altre_news.asp?id=1702|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023159/http://www.ascolicalcio.net/altre_news.asp?id=1702|title=Mercato bianconero|archive-date=23 July 2011|access-date=4 September 2016|trans-title=Market "White-Black"|date=7 July 2006|publisher=Ascoli Calcio 1898|language=it|url-status=unfit}}

=Torino=

In May 2007, Zanetti said he would stay on at Ascoli, despite them being relegated to Serie B.[http://www.ontheminute.com/news/news.php?news=5610 Ascoli midfielder Zanetti: I'll renew my contract], ontheminute.com, 24 May 2007 Ascoli bought the full registration rights of the player for an additional €750,000 fee, (making Ascoli had paid €1.15 million transfer fee in total) but sent Zanetti, along with Saša Bjelanović, to Torino in another co-ownership deals for €1 million fee each, in a five-year and three-year contract respectively.Torino F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2007, [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.] (in Italian) In the mid of same season Torino bought him outright for an additional €500,000 (making Torino had paid Ascoli €1.5 million transfer fee for Zanetti in total)Torino F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2008, [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.] (in Italian) and Bjelanović was also bought by Torino for an additional €60,000 in June 2008.

During 2009–10 season, ultras of Torino attacked the players during David Di Michele's birthday party.{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieB/07-01-2010/torino-senza-pace-602573468254.shtml|title=Il Torino è senza pace Ora si parla di sciopero|date=7 January 2010|access-date=15 May 2010|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|publisher=RCSMedia Group|first=Fabrizio|last=Turco|language=it}}{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=722099&cc=4716|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622101320/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=722099&cc=4716|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2011|title=Torino fans in player restaurant attack|date=7 January 2010|access-date=15 May 2010|work=Soccernet|publisher=ESPN Inc.}} After the incident the players involved: Di Michele, Massimo Loviso, Riccardo Colombo, Aimo Diana, Marco Pisano, Francesco Pratali, Zanetti were transferred to other clubs and only Rolando Bianchi, Matteo Rubin and Angelo Ogbonna were remained.

On 19 January 2010, Atalanta B.C. signed him on loan from Serie B club Torino F.C. until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.atalanta.it/atalanta/news.do?dispatch=readNews&id=1562|title=ZANETTI ALL'ATALANTA|date=January 2010|publisher=Atalanta B.C.|language=it}} {{dead link|date=September 2016|fix-attempted=yes}}

=Grosseto=

After being inactive from football for a season, Zanetti joined U.S. Grosseto F.C. on 8 August 2011 in a one-year deal.{{cite news|url=http://www.usgrosseto1912.it/web/content/paolo-zanetti-al-grosseto|title=Paolo Zanetti al Grosseto|date=8 August 2011|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=U.S. Grosseto F.C.|language=it|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328002400/http://www.usgrosseto1912.it/web/content/paolo-zanetti-al-grosseto|archive-date=28 March 2015}} Torino and Zanetti terminated the contract between the two parties in mutual consent.Torino F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2011, [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.]

=Sorrento=

In January 2012 he was signed by Sorrento Calcio.{{cite web|url=http://www.sorrentocalcio.net/stampa-e-multimedia/archivio-notizie/1171-arriva-paolo-zanetti-dal-grosseto.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419050153/http://www.sorrentocalcio.net/stampa-e-multimedia/archivio-notizie/1171-arriva-paolo-zanetti-dal-grosseto.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2013|title=ARRIVA PAOLO ZANETTI DAL GROSSETO|date=31 January 2012|access-date=28 March 2013|publisher=Sorrento Calcio|language=it}} In May 2012 he signed a new two-year contract with Sorrento.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/lega-pro/esclusiva-tmw-zanetti-continuera-con-il-sorrento-352603|title=ESCLUSIVA TMW - Zanetti continuerà con il Sorrento |date=15 May 2012|access-date=4 September 2016|publisher=Total Market Web|first=Gianluca|last=Losco|language=it}}

=Reggiana=

On 23 January 2013, he was signed by Reggiana.{{cite news|url=http://www.reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=5352&lang=ita|title=Definito l'ingaggio di Zanetti|date=23 January 2013|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=A.C. Reggiana 1919|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325042113/http://www.reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=5352&lang=ita|archive-date=25 March 2015}} On 26 August 2013, he signed a new two-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=8923&lang=ita|title=Zanetti allunga al 2015, Panizzi alla SPAL|date=26 August 2013|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=A.C. Reggiana 1919|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325042241/http://reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=8923&lang=ita|archive-date=25 March 2015}} On 18 November 2014 Zanetti retired and became a backroom staff of the first team ({{langx|it|collaboratore tecnico di Prima Squadra}}).{{cite news|url=http://reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=15619&lang=ita|title=Zanetti entra nello staff tecnico|date=18 November 2014|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=A.C. Reggiana 1919|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170745/http://reggianacalcio.it/Apps/WebObjects/ReggianaCalcio.woa/wa/viewNews?id=15619&lang=ita|archive-date=2 April 2015}}

International career

Zanetti was a player of Azzurrini in 2001 UEFA European Under-18 Championship qualificationThe event was renamed to U-19 from 2001 onward to reflect the age limit at the end of the season instead of the start of the season. i.e. age limit unchanged He played twice. After the elimination of Italy from the competition, he also played for the U-19 team (de facto U-20 B) in two friendlies, against Netherlands (who still in the Euro U-19 competition){{cite web|url=http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/uitslagen/team/20/8330|title=Uitslagen: Onder 19 [2000]|date=2016|access-date=4 September 2016|work=onsoranje.nl|publisher=KNVB|language=nl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907170803/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/uitslagen/team/20/8330|archive-date=7 September 2016}} and Germany respectively in March and May 2001. In the 2001–02 season, he played 13 times for the U-20 team, including matches in a four nations tournament. In the following season, he played once for the U-21 team in 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification as well as 3 friendlies. In his only competitive appearance in the U-21 Euro, he was a substitute of Samuele Dalla Bona.[http://www.figc.it/nazionali/TabellinoGara?squadra=2&codiceGara=2016 Match Report] from FIGC archive (in Italian) He played his final appearance in national team against Austria on 19 August 2003, another friendly match.

Managerial career

After retiring, Zanetti stayed at Reggiana as a technical collaborator and then as a youth coach.

In 2017, Zanetti took on his first head coaching job at Serie C club Südtirol. After two seasons ended with two consecutive promotion playoff appearances, on 7 June 2019, he left Südtirol for Serie B club Ascoli. He was sacked by Ascoli on 27 January 2020 following a 0–1 home loss to Frosinone that left the club in the bottom half of the Serie B league table.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascolicalcio1898.it/index.php/news/dettaglio/comunicato-esonero-per-paolo-zanetti|title=Comunicato: esonero per Paolo Zanetti.|date=27 January 2020|website=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|access-date=27 January 2020}}

On 27 May 2021, Zanetti secured Venezia's return to Serie A after a 2–1 aggregate win in the promotion play-off over Cittadella, thus ending their 19-year exile from the top flight.{{cite news|url=https://football-italia.net/venezia-promoted-to-serie-a/|title=Venezia promoted to Serie A|website=Football Italia|date=27 May 2021|access-date=27 May 2021}} On 27 April 2022, Zanetti was sacked by the club following a run of eight straight defeats that saw Venezia bottom of the Serie A table.{{cite news|title=Paolo Zanetti relieved of managerial duties|url=https://www.veneziafc.it/en/news/paolo-zanetti-relieved-of-managerial-duties|access-date=27 April 2022 |date=27 April 2022|publisher=Venezia F.C.}}

On 6 June 2022, Serie A club Empoli, a former team of his as a player, announced they had hired Zanetti on a two-year deal as their new head coach.{{cite web |publisher=Empoli FC |language=it-IT |accessdate=6 June 2022 |date=6 June 2022 |url=https://empolifc.com/paolo-zanetti-e-il-nuovo-allenatore-dellempoli/ |title=Paolo Zanetti è il nuovo allenatore dell'Empoli}} After guiding Empoli to a mid-table placement in the club's 2022–23 Serie A campaign, Zanetti was dismissed on 19 September 2023 following a dismal start to the new season, with four losses in the first four games and following a 0–7 defeat against Roma.{{cite web |url=https://empolifc.com/comunicato-ufficiale-45/ |publisher=Empoli FC |date=19 September 2023 |accessdate=19 September 2023 |title=Comunicato ufficiale |language=it}}

On 13 June 2024, Zanetti was unveiled as the new head coach of Hellas Verona, signing a one-year contract with an extension option for one further year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hellasverona.it/news/paolo-zanetti-e-il-nuovo-allenatore-dellhellas-verona |publisher=Hellas Verona FC |access-date=13 June 2024 |date=13 June 2024 |title=Paolo Zanetti è il nuovo allenatore dell'Hellas Verona}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat. !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align=left\|Südtirol \|{{fbaicon\|Italy}} \|align=left\|6 July 2017 \|align=left\|7 June 2019 {{WDL\|85\|35\|29\|21\|for=95\|against=75\|diff=yes}}
align=left\|Ascoli \|{{fbaicon\|Italy}} \|align=left\|7 June 2019 \|align=left\|27 January 2020 {{WDL\|24\|10\|3\|11\|for=37\|against=34\|diff=yes}}
align=left\|Venezia \|{{fbaicon\|Italy}} \|align=left\|14 August 2020 \|align=left\|27 April 2022 {{WDL\|81\|25\|25\|31\|for=96\|against=111\|diff=yes}}
align=left\|Empoli \|{{fbaicon\|Italy}} \|align=left\|1 July 2022 \|align=left\|19 September 2023 {{WDL\|44\|10\|13\|21\|for=39\|against=65\|diff=yes}}
align=left\|Hellas Verona \|{{fbaicon\|Italy}} \|align=left\|12 June 2024 \|align=left\|present {{WDL\|34\|9\|5\|20\|for=31\|against=62\|diff=yes}}
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|268\|89\|75\|104\|for=298\|against=347\|diff=yes}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat.

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}