View source for Walter Zenga

{{Short description|Italian footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Walter Zenga
| image = WalterZenga.jpg
| caption = Zenga coaching [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in 2016
| fullname = Walter Zenga<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legaseriea.it/uploads/default/attachments/comunicati/comunicati_m/7593/files/allegati/7647/cu192.pdf |title=Comunicato Ufficiale N. 192 |trans-title=Official Press Release No. 192 |publisher=Lega Serie A |page=4 |date=20 March 2018 |access-date=6 December 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729071108/https://www.legaseriea.it/uploads/default/attachments/comunicati/comunicati_m/7593/files/allegati/7647/cu192.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|4|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Milan]], Italy
| height = 1.88 m
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub = [[ASD Siracusa Calcio 1924|Siracusa]] (club manager)
| youthyears1 = 1969–1971
| youthclubs1 = Macallesi 1927
| youthyears2 = 1971–1978
| youthclubs2 = [[Inter Milan Youth Sector|Inter Milan]]
| years1 = 1978–1994
| clubs1 = [[Inter Milan]]
| caps1 = 328
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1978–1979
| clubs2 = → [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] (loan)
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1979–1980
| clubs3 = → [[Savona 1907 F.B.C.|Savona]] (loan)
| caps3 = 23
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1980–1982
| clubs4 = → [[S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]] (loan)
| caps4 = 67
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1994–1996
| clubs5 = [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
| caps5 = 41
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1996–1997
| clubs6 = [[Calcio Padova|Padova]]
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1997–1998
| clubs7 = [[New England Revolution]]<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/>
| caps7 = 22
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 1998–1999
| clubs8 = [[New England Revolution]]
| caps8 = 25
| goals8 = 0
| totalcaps = 530
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1984–1986
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 15
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1984
| nationalteam2 = [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy Olympic]]
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1986–1992
| nationalteam3 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
| nationalcaps3 = 59
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs1 = [[New England Revolution]] (player/coach)
| manageryears2 = 2000–2001
| managerclubs2 = [[Brera Calcio|Brera]]
| manageryears3 = 2002–2003
| managerclubs3 = [[AFC Progresul București|Naţional București]]
| manageryears4 = 2003
| managerclubs4 = [[AFC Progresul București|Naţional București]] (technical director)
| manageryears5 = 2004–2005
| managerclubs5 = [[FCSB|Steaua București]]
| manageryears6 = 2005–2006
| managerclubs6 = [[Red Star Belgrade]]
| manageryears7 = 2006–2007
| managerclubs7 = [[Gaziantepspor]]
| manageryears8 = 2007
| managerclubs8 = [[Al Ain Club|Al-Ain]]
| manageryears9 = 2007
| managerclubs9 = [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
| manageryears10 = 2008–2009
| managerclubs10 = [[Calcio Catania|Catania]]
| manageryears11 = 2009
| managerclubs11 = [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]]
| manageryears12 = 2010
| managerclubs12 = [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
| manageryears13 = 2011–2013
| managerclubs13 = [[Al-Nasr Dubai SC|Al-Nasr]]
| manageryears14 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs14 = [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
| manageryears15 = 2015
| managerclubs15 = [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
| manageryears16 = 2015–2016
| managerclubs16 = [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]]
| manageryears17 = 2016
| managerclubs17 = [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| manageryears18 = 2017–2018
| managerclubs18 = [[F.C. Crotone|Crotone]]
| manageryears19 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs19 = [[Venezia F.C.|Venezia]]
| manageryears20 = 2020
| managerclubs20 = [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]]
| manageryears21 = 2023–2024
| managerclubs21 = [[Persita Tangerang]] (technical director)
| manageryears22 = 2024
| managerclubs22 = [[Emirates Club|Emirates]]
| manageryears23 = 2024–
| managerclubs23 = [[ASD Siracusa Calcio 1924|Siracusa]] (club manager)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ITA}}}}
{{MedalComp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 Italy]]|}}
{{MedalComp|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1988 UEFA European Championship|1988 West Germany]]|}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|2nd|[[1986 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1986 UEFA]]|}}
}}

'''Walter Zenga''' {{postnominals|post-noms=[[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|Cavaliere OMRI]]}} ({{IPA|it|ˈvalter ˈdzeŋɡa, - ˈdzɛŋ-}}; born 28 April 1960) is an Italian professional [[association football|football]] [[manager (association football)|manager]] and former player, currently club manager at [[Serie C]] club [[ASD Siracusa Calcio 1924|Siracusa]]. 
 
He is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2012/01/25/news/buffon_miglio_portiere_25_anni-28741113/|title=Buffon miglior portiere degli ultimi 25 anni|newspaper=[[la Repubblica]]|language=it|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy98.html|title=IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1998|website=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/luglio/05/cosa_resta_questa_Italia_ga_0_9807053256.shtml|title=Cosa resta di questa Italia|newspaper=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]|author=Lodovico Maradei|date=5 July 1998|access-date=10 July 2016}}</ref> and one of Italy's best keepers ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|title=IFFHS' Century Elections - Europe - Keeper of the Century|website=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

He was a long-time [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] for [[Inter Milan]] and the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]]. During his playing career, Zenga was part of the Italian squad that finished fourth at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]] in Los Angeles and was the starting goalkeeper for the Italian team that finished third in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] tournament held in Italy, keeping a World Cup record unbeaten streak.<ref name=alt/> A three-time winner of the [[IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper]] Award, Zenga is regarded by pundits as one of the best goalkeepers of all time,<ref>{{cite web|title=Legend of Calcio: Walter Zenga|date=13 September 2012|url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2012/09/legend-of-calcio-walter-zenga/|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref> and in 2013 was voted the eighth best goalkeeper of the past quarter-century by [[IFFHS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/2013/01/17-295541/Iffhs,+Buffon+miglior+n.1+ultimi+25+anni|title=Iffhs, Buffon miglior n.1 ultimi 25 anni|newspaper=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=17 January 2013|access-date=13 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230007/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/2013/01/17-295541/Iffhs,+Buffon+miglior+n.1+ultimi+25+anni|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> In 2000, he also placed 20th in the ''World Keeper of the Century'' Elections by the same organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|title=IFFHS' Century Elections: World – Keeper of the Century|author1=Karel Stokkermans|date=30 January 2000|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref>

After retiring as a player, Zenga briefly became an actor in an Italian [[soap opera]] and also a [[Color commentator|pundit]] on Italian TV. Since 1998 he has worked as a [[manager (association football)|head coach]] and managed clubs in the United States, Italy, Turkey, Romania, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and England.

==Club career==
Zenga joined [[Inter Milan]] in 1982, after starting his professional career in 1978 in the lower divisions of Italian football (his first team was [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] in [[Lega Pro Prima Divisione|Serie C1]], and he also played for [[Savona 1907 F.B.C.|Savona]] and [[S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]]). Initially, (in the [[1982–83 Serie A|1982–83]] season) he was the substitute of [[Ivano Bordon]], who was one of the top Italian goalkeepers of his era, as he had been [[Dino Zoff]]'s reserve in the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]]. However, Zenga played Inter's matches in the [[Coppa Italia]], impressing enough that the club decided not to buy another goalkeeper after Bordon's decision to move to [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] during the summer of 1983. Zenga became Inter's starting goalkeeper in the [[1983–84 Serie A|1983–84]] season, where he conceded only 23 goals, better than any other goalkeeper in that season.<ref name=storiedicalcio>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/walter-zenga.html|title=Walter Zenga: l'Uomo Ragno non muore mai|trans-title=Walter Zenga: Spider-Man never dies|publisher=Storie dei Calcio|author1=Beppe Di Corrado|language=it|access-date=21 October 2015}}</ref>

The next season would prove to be bittersweet for Zenga: although he continued to play excellently, he did not manage to win any trophies. In Italy, Inter was the main rival of [[Hellas Verona F.C.|Hellas Verona]] who won the first and, to this day, only [[List of Italian football champions|''Scudetto'']] of its history in 1985, while in Europe he had to suffer two bitter and quite controversial defeats at the hands of Spanish giants [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], both times in the [[UEFA Cup]] semi-finals. However, personal success was growing: he became a fan favourite due to his qualities and his love for the team, his fame was now nationwide thanks to his larger than life personality and he quickly established himself as one of the premier goalkeepers of the country, which led to him being called up to Italy's squad for the 1986 World Cup.<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

Apart from enjoying the selection for a World Cup, the summer of 1986 proved to be important for Zenga also at club level. In fact, Inter signed [[Giovanni Trapattoni]], who left [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] after a highly successful 10-year stint, to manage the team. Meanwhile, the trio formed by Zenga, [[Giuseppe Bergomi]] and [[Riccardo Ferri]] (who respectively occupied the positions of goalkeeper, right-sided full-back, and man-marking centre-back/stopper) was becoming the cornerstone of the team and of the Italian team also. In the [[1986–87 Serie A|1986–87]] season. Inter closely fought [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] for the ''Scudetto'', finishing third despite a series of injuries which plagued the team in the final weeks of the season (among others, [[Marco Tardelli]], [[Alessandro Altobelli]] and [[Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]] had to watch the final matches from the bench). However, Zenga imposed himself as the best goalkeeper in Italy, finishing the 30 matches-long season conceding only 17 goals and by being picked by new Italy's manager [[Azeglio Vicini]] as the starter in the goalkeeping position.<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

The next season would prove to be disappointing for Inter and Zenga: the team struggled all the season, due to lack of compatibility between the two main forwards (team's captain Altobelli and the newly acquired [[Aldo Serena]]) and between the two offensive midfielders [[Gianfranco Matteoli]] and the Belgian [[Vincenzo Scifo]]. Plus Zenga, dissatisfied with the way the club was managed, decided to leave Inter and join the then dominant Napoli. However, the move did not materialize and Zenga remained with Inter. The highlight of the season for Zenga was the participation in the [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 UEFA European Championships]] with Italy.<ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name="itv"/>

However, the next season would prove to be one of the best for Inter and Zenga. The team, reinvigorated by the acquisitions of the young Italians [[Alessandro Bianchi (footballer born 1966)|Alessandro Bianchi]] and [[Nicola Berti]], the Germans [[Andreas Brehme]] and [[Lothar Matthäus]] from [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] and the Argentine [[Ramón Díaz]] dominated the season, winning the league title with a record haul of 58 points and breaking several other records during the year. Such a performance is even more impressive if the whole quality of the tournament is taken in consideration: in second position there was the [[Diego Maradona]]-led Napoli and in third position the star-studded and future European champion [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]. Zenga ended the season conceding only 19 goals, the best goalkeeper again in that respect.<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

The [[1989–90 Serie A|1989–90]] and [[1990–91 Serie A|1990–91]] seasons proved to be bittersweet for Inter: although the team remained a title contender, it didn't manage to take another success on home soil, except for the victory in the [[Supercoppa Italiana]] played in November 1989 against Sampdoria. The 1991 season turned out to be a close fight between Inter and Sampdoria, with the title decided in a match played in Milan, which Inter would lose 0–2 allowing [[Gianluca Vialli]] and [[Roberto Mancini]] to win the league title. However, Inter won the [[1990–91 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] that year, defeating, among the others, [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]] and [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]] on the road to the final against [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]. Inter won the first match 2–0 and lost only 1–0 in Rome, achieving the first European success since the 1960s. After that match, manager Giovanni Trapattoni left the team, as he decided to return as coach of Juventus.<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

On a personal scale, Zenga experienced in these seasons the peak of his career. For three consecutive years (1989–1991) he was nominated by [[IFFHS]] the best goalkeeper in the world, ahead of goalkeepers like [[Michel Preud'homme]], [[Rinat Dasaev]] and [[Andoni Zubizarreta]].<ref name=alt>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2014/jun/05/internazionale-inter-milan-serie-a-alternative-club-guide|title=Internazionale: Serie A alternative club guide|date=5 June 2014|access-date=6 June 2014|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Zenga was at his best between the posts, as his great explosiveness and sharp reflexes enabled him to make great and spectacular saves. Not known for being a great penalty saver (frequently dropping down to the ground in the middle of the goal), in his career he did however save [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]]s from [[Roberto Baggio]], [[Michel Platini]] and [[Paul Merson]].<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

Zenga continued to play for Inter until 1994, winning the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in 1991 and [[1993–94 UEFA Cup|1994]], his last season with the club.<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

In 1994, Zenga transferred to [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/22/zenga-gli-ultimi-veleni.html |title=Zenga e gli Ultimi Veleni |work=la Repubblica |language=it |date=22 July 1994 |access-date=5 December 2023 }}</ref> and then to [[Calcio Padova|Padova]] two years later.

===New England Revolution===

On March 4, 1997, [[Major League Soccer]] allocated Zenga to the [[New England Revolution]].<ref name="New England Revolution Club History">{{cite web |url=https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |title=Club History Coach and Player Registry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135826/https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=September 18, 2024 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made his Revolution debut in the [[1997 New England Revolution season|1997 season]] opener on March 29, a 1–0 victory over the [[Dallas Burn]].<ref name="2024 Media Guide">{{cite book |title=2024 Media Guide |publisher=New England Revolution|url=https://revolution.1rmg.com/season/2024/media-guide/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322013528/https://revolution.1rmg.com/season/2024/media-guide/ |access-date=September 18, 2024|archive-date=22 March 2024 }}</ref> He made his home debut on April 20, in a 2–1 victory over the [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]].<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> During a game versus the Tampa Bay Mutiny, he [[Goal celebration|celebrated a goal]] by running to the sidelines and making out with his girlfriend, as the Mutiny barely missed the open net straight from the kickoff.{{citation needed |date=September 2024}}

In June On July 20, the club placed Zenga on injured reserve following a knee injury.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> He would fly to Italy following the Revolution's 4–2 victory over Tampa Bay on July 18 for arthroscopic surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/07/18/tonight-tampa-bay-mutiny-vs-new-england-revolution/ |title=TONIGHT: TAMPA BAY MUTINY VS. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION |author=Page Rodney |date=July 18, 1997 |access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref> [[Scott Coufal]] and [[Jeff Causey]] would fill in for Zenga until his return to net on September 12.<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Zenga was awarded [[MLS Player of the Month]] honors for the month of September, the first Revolution player to ever win the award.<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Despite missing time, Zenga was a finalist for the [[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]] [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award]]. He additionally represented the Revolution in the [[1997 MLS All-Star Game]], and won the team's Most Valuable Player Award.<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Prior to the All-Star game, at a fan event in [[Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island]], then-Providence Mayor [[Buddy Cianci]] presented Zenga with a bottle of his personal marinara sauce, "Mayor’s Own Marinara Sauce."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1997/06/19/zenga-real-prize/50617150007/ |title=Zenga a Real Prize |author=Chapman, Doug |date=June 19, 1997 |access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref> The Revolution supporter's group [[Midnight Riders (MLS supporters association)|the Midnight Riders]] named Zenga their 1997 "Man of the Year."<ref name="Man of the Year Award">{{cite web|url=https://midnightriders.com/events-awards/man-of-the-year-award/ |title=Man of the Year Award
|date=7 March 2012
|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

On January 15, 1998, Zenga announced his retirement.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> He had led the Revolution to their first playoff berth in team history,<ref name="Zenga Player Coach"/> and he finished the 1997 season with the second best goals-against average (1.27), second highest win total (15), and best league shootout record, allowing only 12 goals in 41 attempts.<ref name="Zenga Announces Retirement">{{cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1998/01/16/zenga-calls-it-quits/50583724007/ |author=Chapman, Doug |title=Zenga calls it quits |access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref> Despite his retirement, Zenga would continue his affiliation with the club as a part-time European scout.<ref name="Zenga Announces Retirement"/>

Zenga departed the Revolution to pursue an acting career (he and his girlfriend starred in an Italian [[soap opera]]),<ref name="Zenga Announces Retirement"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/05/03/kiss-of-the-spiderman-keepercoach-walter-zenga-has-awakened-long-dormant-new-england |author=Wahl, Grant |title=Kiss of the Spiderman Keeper-Coach Walter Zenga Has Awakened Long Dormant New England|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 3, 1999 |access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref> however he would return on August 24, 1998, being named Revolution head coach after the resignation of [[Thomas Rongen]] on the same day.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> Zenga led the Revolution to a 3–3 record in the final 6 matches of the [[1998 New England Revolution season]].<ref name="Zenga Player Coach">{{cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1998/10/29/revs-name-zenga-player-coach/50537272007/ |title=Revs name Zenga player-coach |author=Szostak, Mike |access-date=September 18, 2024 |date=October 29, 1998}}</ref>

Zenga stipulated that he would only return to the Revolution for the [[1999 New England Revolution season|1999 season]] if he could play as well as coach, and he became the Revolution's (and league's) first-ever player/coach on October 28, 1998.<ref name="Zenga Player Coach"/><ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> As a player-[[Coach (sport)|manager]], Zenga led the Revolution to a 10–20 record.<ref name=storiedicalcio/> After issuing an ultimatum, demanding contract extension discussions begin prior to the season's end, Zenga was relieved of his duties on September 30, with interim manager [[Steve Nicol]] being brought in to conclude the season.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1999/10/01/zenga-issues-ultimatum-gets-fired/50514049007/ |title=Zenga Issues Ultimatum, Gets Fired |date=October 1, 1999 |access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref>

==International career==
Zenga was capped 58 times for the [[Italy national football team]] at senior level between 1987 and 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ital-recintlp.html|title=Italy – Record International Players|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=José Luis Pierrend|date=14 September 2017|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> In these, he conceded only 21 goals (0.36 per game) and kept 41 clean sheets (70.69%), both averages being a record for the Italy national team. He previously featured in the Italian squad at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]], where the team managed a fourth-place finish, and also featured as one of the [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy under-21 side]]'s overage players at the [[1986 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]], as the team's starting goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1986/10/29/zenga-spero-non-serva-una-sera-da.html|title=Zenga 'Spero non Serva Una Sera Da Eroe' |newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=29 October 1986|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> He was also included in [[Enzo Bearzot]]'s 22-man Italy squad for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]]. Initially selected as the team's third goalkeeper behind Fiorentina's [[Giovanni Galli]] and Roma's [[Franco Tancredi]], his name was taken in consideration by Bearzot before the match against the [[Michel Platini]]-led [[France national football team|France]] due to the poor performances of Galli (who, in the end, also played against France).<ref name=storiedicalcio/>

Zenga became the Italy national side's starting goalkeeper under manager [[Azeglio Vicini]], ahead of his perceived career rival, [[Stefano Tacconi]].<ref name=alt/><ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name="MIA CARA INTER TI LASCIO COSI">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1987/11/19/mia-cara-inter-ti-lascio-cosi.html|title=Mia Cara Inter Ti Lascio Cosi'|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Licia Granello |date=19 November 1987|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="rivalità">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2002/ottobre/18/Zenga_Tacconi_quando_rivalita_era_ga_0_0210182815.shtml|title=Zenga e Tacconi: quando la rivalità era uno spettacolo|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Fabio Bianchi|date=18 October 2002|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1990/09/25/ho-fatto-troppa-panchina.html|title=Ho Fatto Troppa Panchina |newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Fulvio Bianchi |date=25 September 1990|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="beffa">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/21-05-2014/calcio-beffa-maradona-rovina-notti-magiche-80723709462.shtml|title=Calcio, La beffa di Maradona rovina le notti magiche|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Nicola Cecere|date=21 May 2014|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> During the [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 UEFA European Championships]], Zenga played all four of Italy's matches (a 1–1 draw against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], a 1–0 victory over [[Spain national football team|Spain]], and a 2–0 win over [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] in the group stage matches, and a 0–2 loss against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] in the semi-final). Here again Zenga was at the centre of controversy: in the first match against West Germany he conceded a free kick inside the penalty area due to having made too many steps while carrying the ball in his hands (an infringement rarely penalised). [[Andreas Brehme]], who would become Zenga's teammate at Inter only a few months later, scored from the resulting free kick to tie the game for West Germany. Italy reached the semi-finals of the competition.<ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name="itv"/>

Zenga remained first choice goalkeeper when Italy hosted the World Cup in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]], and helped the team to a third-place finish, during which he set a record of five consecutive clean sheets, and a total of 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record still standing.<ref name=alt/><ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/static/speciale/2010/sudafrica/storia/record-individuali.html|title=Minuti di imbattibilità portieri|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> His unbeaten streak was ended by [[Claudio Caniggia]]'s header in the semi-finals against defending champions [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], after Zenga had made an error when coming out to collect a cross; following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, Argentina advanced to the final 4–3 on penalties, while Zenga failed to stop a single spot kick in the shoot-out.<ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name=ilfoglio/><ref name="beffa"/> In the third-place match against [[England national football team|England]], Zenga conceded his second goal of the tournament when he was beaten by a [[David Platt (footballer)|David Platt]] header, although Italy managed to capture the bronze medal with a 2–1 victory.<ref name="storiedicalcio.altervista.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/mondiali_1990_inghilterra.html|title=Italia-Inghilterra: 2-1 - L'Italia non s'è persa|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=26 June 2014}}</ref>

After Italy had failed to [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying|qualify]] for the [[UEFA Euro 1992|1992 European Championship]], [[Arrigo Sacchi]] was appointed as Italy's new manager, and he eventually excluded Zenga from his side, in favour of goalkeepers who were more suited to his zonal marking defensive system, such as [[Gianluca Pagliuca]], and [[Luca Marchegiani]].<ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name="silenzio"/><ref name="fuori Zenga"/>

==Style of play==
An aggressive, consistent, physically strong, complete, and athletic goalkeeper, Zenga was nicknamed ''Deltaplano'' ("[[Hang gliding|Hang glider]]")<ref name=alt/><ref>{{cite news|author=Carlo Grandini|author2=Giulio Nascimbeni|author3=Roberto Perrone|title=Brera, la firma impossibile da imitare|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|language=it|date=20 December 1992}}</ref><ref name="sfida con Zenga">{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,33/articleid,0696_01_1995_0056_0041_10284761/|title=Peruzzi. La mia sfida con Zenga|newspaper=[[La Stampa]]|language=it|date=26 February 1995|author=Marco Ansaldo|page=33}}</ref><ref name=lastampa/> due to his excellent shot-stopping abilities, positioning, explosive reactions, bravery, and in particular for his speed, elegance, and agility, which enabled him to produce spectacular saves.<ref name=alt/><ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name=ilfoglio/><ref name=lastampa/> Despite his reputation, the media was often critical of Zenga's penalty-saving record throughout his career,<ref name=ilfoglio/><ref name=lastampa/> although he stopped penalties against notable specialists, such as [[Roberto Baggio]], [[Paul Merson]] and [[Michel Platini]];<ref name="itv">{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-08-01/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-walter-zenga/|title=10 things you need to know about Walter Zenga|publisher=ITV|date=1 August 2016|access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref> he was also criticised by pundits for his unsteady performances when coming out off his line to claim crosses, and performed best between the posts,<ref name=storiedicalcio/><ref name=ilfoglio>{{cite news|url=http://www.ilfoglio.it/ritratti/2009/06/02/walter-zenga___1-vr-8478-rubriche_c204.htm|title=Walter Zenga|newspaper=[[Il Foglio]]|date=2 June 2009|access-date=16 August 2016|author=Beppe Di Corrado|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828065619/http://www.ilfoglio.it/ritratti/2009/06/02/walter-zenga___1-vr-8478-rubriche_c204.htm|archive-date=28 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=lastampa>{{cite news|title=Pagliuca e Zenga, sfida all'ultimo volo|newspaper=[[La Stampa]]|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,27/articleid,0881_01_1991_0225_0027_12268576/|page=27|date=22 September 1991|access-date=16 August 2016|language=it}}</ref><ref name=repubblica>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1990/07/05/zenga-contro-tutti.html|title=Zenga contro tutti|author=Fulvio Bianchi|newspaper=[[la Repubblica]]|date=5 July 1990|access-date=16 August 2016|language=it}}</ref> while he was also not particularly adept with the ball at his feet,<ref name="sfida con Zenga"/> or very confident in his distribution,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,6/articleid,0909_02_1990_0170_0030_18576516/|title=Zenga: Napoli ci amerà |newspaper=La Stampa Sera|language=it|author1=Gianni Ranieri|page=6|date=2 July 1990|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> and initially struggled in teams which employed a zonal marking defensive system and the offside trap, due to his reluctancy to [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|rush out of goal]].<ref name="silenzio">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1992/09/08/sacchi-piace-il-in-silenzio.html|title=A SACCHI PIACE IL N.1 IN SILENZIO|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=LICIA GRANELLO|date=8 September 1992|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> Nevertheless, he was able to adapt successfully to the changes in regulations following the introduction of the back-pass rule, and maintained a high level of performance as his career progressed, even as goalkeepers were required to play more frequently with their feet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1993/giugno/28/portieri_anche_piedi_hanno_ali_co_0_93062814308.shtml|title=Portieri, anche i piedi hanno le ali|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=28 June 1993|access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref> In addition to his goalkeeping ability, Zenga also stood out for his strong mentality and leadership from the back, as well as his temper and flamboyant celebrations as a footballer,<ref name="itv"/><ref name="silenzio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panorama.it/sport/calcio/5-portieri-inter-scudetto-castellini/|title=5 portieri scudettati per 50 anni di Inter, visti da Luciano Castellini|publisher=Panorama|language=it|author1=Filippo Nassetti|date=8 January 2016|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> and was also known for his composure under pressure, which enabled him not to be fazed if he ever made any errors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it//2005/settembre/03/Uno_tutti_sw_0_0509031892.shtml |title=Uno su tutti |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |author1=Iacopo Iandiorio |date=3 September 2005 |access-date=30 May 2018 }}</ref>

His other nickname, ''L'Uomo Ragno'' ("[[Spider-Man]]"),<ref name=alt/> is not related to his goalkeeping skills, but rather to a curious circumstance: in 1992, while answering questions about his exclusion from the Italy national team, Zenga softly sang a song by the Italian band [[883 (band)|883]], called ''Hanno ucciso l'Uomo Ragno'' ("Someone killed Spider-Man"),<ref name="fuori Zenga">{{cite news|title=Sacchi ha deciso: fuori Zenga|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|author=Fabio Monti|page=34|date=5 September 1992|language=it}}</ref> which led pundits and supporters to call him like the [[Marvel Comics]] character.

==Managerial career==
===Early career===
Zenga became the head coach of the [[New England Revolution]] on August 24, 1998, replacing Thomas Rongen for the final six matches of the 1998 season.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> On October 28, Zenga was announced as Player-Manager of New England Revolution heading into the 1999 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/21580/mls-new-england-signs-zenga-as-player-coach.html|title=SoccerAmerica – MLS: New England signs Zenga as player-coach 10/28/1998|website=www.socceramerica.com|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref> His tenure as Player-Manager would last less than one full campaign, as he was replaced with two matches left left to play, following the Revolution's 1–0 loss to the [[Dallas Burn]], on September 30, 1999.<ref name="New England Revolution Club History"/> After he left the club, Zenga retired from active football, choosing to pursue a coaching career.

After a short stint with Milanese [[Serie D]] team [[Brera Calcio|Brera]], Zenga moved to Romania in 2002, first managing [[AFC Progresul București|Naţional București]] and then [[FCSB|Steaua București]], where he won the [[Liga I|domestic title]] and reached the Round of 16 of the [[2004–05 UEFA Cup]] after eliminating UEFA Cup winners [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] from the competition.

In the summer 2005, after being fired from Steaua București before the end of the season, Zenga joined [[Red Star Belgrade]], leading the Serbo-Montenegrin team to a [[Double (association football)|double]] ([[2005–06 Serbia and Montenegro SuperLiga|national league]] and [[2005–06 Serbia and Montenegro Cup|national cup]]).

In the summer 2006, Zenga was appointed as coach of Turkish [[Süper Lig]] side [[Gaziantepspor]]; however, after a poor start (five wins in 17 league matches), he resigned in January 2007 in order to accept an offer from [[United Arab Emirates]] club [[Al Ain Club|Al-Ain]].

After just five months in charge, Al-Ain sacked Zenga, who was announced in September 2007 as new [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] coach, replacing [[Mircea Rednic]], but he resigned only two months later following a 1–0 loss in a local derby lost to Steaua.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tuttomercatoweb.com/index.php?action=read&id=81229|website=TuttoMercatoWeb|language=it|title=UFFICIALE: Walter Zenga si dimette dalla Dinamo Bucarest|access-date=12 March 2008|date=25 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}}</ref> He then accepted a job as a football commentator and pundit for Italian public broadcasting service [[RAI]].

===Catania===
On 1 April 2008, he agreed to replace resigning boss [[Silvio Baldini]] as manager of [[Calcio Catania|Catania]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=677778.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index |title= Zenga to rally Catania troops |work= [[UEFA]] | date= 1 April 2008 |access-date= 1 April 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="zenga_catania">{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/04_Aprile/01/zenga.shtml |title=Zenga riparte da Catania |language=it |access-date=25 October 2015 |date=1 April 2008 |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|last=Finocchiaro|first=Giovanni}}</ref> He made his Serie A debut on 6 April with a 3–0 home win against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/04/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-32-a/catania-napoli/catania-napoli.html |newspaper=La Repubblica |language=it |date=6 April 2008 |access-date=11 April 2008 |title=Buona la prima di Zenga a Catania, sonoro 3–0 a un Napoli svagato}}</ref> leading them to a dramatic relegation escape during the final minutes of the league, after a 1–1 home draw against [[A.S. Roma|Roma]].

Confirmed at the helm of Catania for the [[2008–09 Serie A|2008–09]] season, Zenga proved to be fit for the Italian top flight, leading the ''rossoazzurri'' to impressive results in the early part of the season, and agreeing a one-year contract extension with the Sicilian club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Catania/Primo_Piano/2008/12/11/zenga_1112.shtml |title=Zenga-Catania fino al 2010 |language=it |access-date=15 October 2015 |date=11 December 2008 |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport}}</ref>

Catania's playing style under Zenga was notable for the coach's focus on free kick planning; his assistant manager Gianni Vio is known to work exclusively on this particular side of football tactics during the weekly training sessions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.siciliasport.net/Gianni-Vio-lo-stratega-dei-calci.html |title=Gianni Vio, lo stratega dei calci piazziati |language=it |access-date=13 December 2008 |date=18 November 2008 |website=SiciliaSport|last=Finocchiaro|first=Giovanni}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}}</ref> He guided Catania to a mid-table finish and the Serie A points record for the eastern Sicilian side; at the final home game of the season he announced he was parting company with his club by mutual consent.

===Palermo===
On 5 June 2009, after being linked with the managerial job at [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] it was revealed that Zenga had agreed a three-year contract with [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]] to replace outgoing manager [[Davide Ballardini]]; the move was seen as a massive surprise due to the ''Rosanero'' club being rumoured to be interested in several other managers and the bitter rivalry between them and Catania, the only two Sicilian teams playing in the Italian top flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Palermo/05-06-2009/zenga-uomo-nuovo-50492606646.shtml |title=Zenga, l'uomo nuovo per un EuroPalermo |language=it |access-date=5 June 2009 |date=5 June 2009 |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport}}</ref> He debuted with a 4–2 [[Coppa Italia]] win over [[SPAL 1907]], and a 2–1 home win against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] in the first week of the Serie A season. However, a number of disappointing results followed, ending in an unimpressive 1–1 home tie to Catania that led Palermo chairman [[Maurizio Zamparini]] to remove Zenga from his managerial duties on 23 November, after only thirteen league games in charge of the ''rosanero''.<ref name="zenga_sacked">{{cite news |url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0910/news_scheda.jsp?id=18942 |language=it |publisher=US Città di Palermo |access-date=23 November 2009 |date=23 November 2009 |title=Walter Zenga sollevato dall'incarico |archive-date=27 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127152751/http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0910/news_scheda.jsp?id=18942 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Middle East===
On 11 May 2010, he was announced new head coach of [[Saudi Professional League]] club [[Al-Nassr]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Estero/11-05-2010/ha-firmato-biennale-l-al-nasr-603940253307.shtml |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |access-date=11 May 2010 |date=11 May 2010 |title=Ha firmato un biennale con l'Al-Nasr}}</ref> He was removed from his position on 24 December after a string of poor results led Al-Nassr to be overtaken at the top of the league table.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101224/sp_soccer_afp/fblksaitazenga |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=24 December 2010 |date=24 December 2010 |title=Walter Zenga fired as Al-Nasr coach |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101143140/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101224/sp_soccer_afp/fblksaitazenga |archive-date=1 January 2011}}</ref>

On 6 January 2011, Zenga was appointed as new head coach of [[Al Nasr SC (Dubai)|Al Nasr]] in the [[UAE Pro-League]].<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/inter-and-italy-legend-zenga-appointed-as-al-nasr-coach-1.741222 Inter and Italy legend Zenga appointed as Al Nasr coach | GulfNews.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Return to Italy===
On 4 June 2015, Zenga returned to Italy, and was appointed head coach at [[Serie A]] side [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] for the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/zenga-sbarca-a-genova-quanta-emozione-finalmente-sono-tornato/|title=Zenga sbarca a Genova: "Quanta emozione, finalmente sono tornato!"|date=4 June 2015|access-date=5 June 2015|publisher=U.C. Sampdoria|language=it}}</ref> However, after he was sacked in November, and replaced by [[Vincenzo Montella]] as head coach,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/sport/vincenzo-montella-replaces-former-arabian-gulf-league-manager-walter-zenga-at-sampdoria-1.31606|title = Vincenzo Montella replaces former Arabian Gulf League manager Walter Zenga at Sampdoria|date = 16 November 2015}}</ref> he later returned to the Middle East to manage bottom placed club [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]], however he was unable to turn around the club's fortunes and left the club on 20 February 2016 by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport360.com/article/football/arabian-gulf-league/164983/bottom-placed-al-shaab-terminate-walter-zengas-contract-by-mutual-consent/|title=Bottom-placed Al Shaab terminate Walter Zenga's contract by mutual consent|date=20 February 2016|access-date=20 February 2016|publisher=Sport 360|language=en}}</ref>

===Wolverhampton Wanderers===
On 30 July 2016, Zenga was appointed head coach of [[Football League Championship]] side [[Wolverhampton Wanderers]] for the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-walter-zenga-appointed-as-wolves-new-head-coach-3215301.aspx|title=NEWS {{!}} Walter Zenga Appointed as Wolves New Head Coach|date=30 July 2016|website=www.wolves.co.uk|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> Despite having never managed in England, he cited his vast foreign experience as enough to succeed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walter Zenga: Wolves boss says he is experienced enough to take charge of club|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36941419|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> On 2 August, he made his first signings, buying Icelandic striker [[Jón Daði Böðvarsson]] from [[1. FC Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]] and bringing in Portuguese midfielder [[João Teixeira (footballer, born 1994)|João Teixeira]] on a season-long loan from [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves: Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Joao Teixeira join Championship club|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36941426|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

In his first game on 6 August, Zenga's team drew 2–2 away to [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], coming back from a 2–0 deficit with ten players;<ref>{{cite news|title=Rotherham United 2-2 Wolves|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36929897|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> he described his first game as an "amazing experience".<ref>{{cite web|title=Rotherham 2-2 Wolves: Walter Zenga hails first taste of English football|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10525941/rotherham-2-2-wolves-walter-zenga-hails-first-taste-of-english-football|website=Sky Sports|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> Zenga took Wolves on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, and eight points from his first four league games, including a 3–1 win at local rivals [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Birmingham City 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers|work=BBC Sport |date=19 August 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37067354|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> He praised the Wolves players' spirit and credited them  with leading them to the unbeaten start.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walter Zenga: Wolves boss says players' spirit has led to unbeaten start|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37144822|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

Following the end of the summer transfer window, Zenga, having made ten new signings since his appointment, claimed that the Wolves squad was so strong that he could field two different teams if needed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walter Zenga: Wolves head coach 'can play two teams' with strengthened squad|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37308941|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> Following a 4–0 loss to [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], Wolves beat promotion favourites [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], to end their five-game winning run.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newcastle United 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers|work=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37324949|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Brentford|work=BBC Sport |date=23 September 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37392408|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> Zenga claimed his team's subsequent performances showed that the defeat to Barnsley was "an accident".<ref>{{cite web|title=Walter Zenga delights in stunning Wolves win|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/09/17/walter-zenga-delights-in-stunning-wolves-win/|website=Express and Star|date=17 September 2016 |access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> Wolves then went on a five-game winless run, losing four, that would lead to his dismissal.

Despite the insistence of [[David Edwards (footballer, born 1986)|Dave Edwards]] that Zenga retained the support of the Wolves players, he was dismissed on 25 October following only 4 wins out of the club's first 14 Championship fixtures and Wolves 18th in the table.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walter Zenga has Wolves squad's full support – Dave Edwards|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37742033|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37765308 |publisher=BBC Sport |language=en |access-date=25 October 2016 |date=25 October 2016 |title=Walter Zenga: Wolves part company with head coach}}</ref> On 7 April 2017, Wolves director Jeff Shi said: "I liked Walter. He was passionate, a really lovely guy... Later we found out it was not a good match. We had to change very quickly... The only big mistake in my mind was the coach appointment at the beginning of the season."<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves: Jeff Shi says Walter Zenga appointment was 'only big mistake'|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39534382|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

===Return to Italy===
On 8 December 2017, Zenga was appointed [[F.C. Crotone|Crotone]] manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/113979/official-crotone-appoint-zenga|title=Official: Crotone appoint Zenga|publisher=Football Italia|date=8 December 2017}}</ref> The team was relegated to Serie B at the end of the year.

Zenga returned into management on 11 October 2018 as he was named new head coach of Serie B club [[Venezia F.C.|Venezia]] in place of [[Stefano Vecchi]].<ref name="zenga_venezia">{{cite news |website=TuttoMercatoWeb |language=it |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=11 October 2018 |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/ufficiale-venezia-esonerato-vecchi-panchina-affidata-a-zenga-1167327 |title=UFFICIALE: Venezia, esonerato Vecchi. Panchina affidata a Zenga}}</ref> He was sacked on 5 March 2019, after a run of four losses in five games had the club fighting relegation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/135417/venezia-sack-zenga-cosmi|publisher=Football Italia|title=Venezia sack Zenga for Cosmi|date=5 March 2019}}</ref>

On 3 March 2020, Zenga was appointed new head coach of Serie A club [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]], signing a contract until 30 June 2021, with Under-19 coach Max Canzi named as his assistant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagliaricalcio.com/news/ultimissime/19651/walter-zenga-nuovo-allenatore-del-cagliari|title=Walter Zenga nuovo allenatore del Cagliari|publisher=Cagliari Calcio|language=it|access-date=3 March 2020|date=3 March 2020|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303173606/https://www.cagliaricalcio.com/news/ultimissime/19651/walter-zenga-nuovo-allenatore-del-cagliari|url-status=dead}}</ref> His debut for the [[Sardinia]]n club was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Italy|coronavirus pandemic]] and subsequent [[2020 Italy coronavirus lockdown|nationwide lockdown]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Zenga: 'Rules must be respected' |url=https://www.football-italia.net/151212/zenga-rules-must-be-respected |access-date=22 March 2020 |publisher=Football Italia |date=15 March 2020}}</ref> He won three and drew four of his 13 games in charge as the team finished 14th, and was replaced by [[Eusebio Di Francesco]] in August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cagliari appoint Di Francesco to replace Zenga as coach |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-italy-cag/cagliari-appoint-di-francesco-to-replace-zenga-as-coach-idUKKBN24Z15N |access-date=10 August 2020 |publisher=Reuters |date=3 August 2020}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On 27 September 2024, Italian Serie D club [[ASD Siracusa Calcio 1924|Siracusa]] announced the hiring of Zenga as a "club manager" and "brand ambassador", in a non-coaching role within the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.siracusanews.it/siracusa-calcio-e-ufficiale-walter-zenga-e-un-nuovo-dirigente/ |publisher=Siracusa News |date=27 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024 |title=Siracusa calcio, è ufficiale: Walter Zenga è un nuovo dirigente}}</ref>

==Style of management==
As a manager, Zenga usually uses a four–man back-line with his teams, while he has used several different tactical systems and formations in midfield and attack throughout his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/06/18/ecco-tutti-moduli-di-zenga-per.html |title=Ecco tutti i moduli di Zenga per l' operazione Champions |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Prestigiacomp |first1=Dario |last2=Tripi |first2=Valerio |date=18 June 2009 |access-date=5 June 2020 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Zenga has been married three times; he has five children.

===Marriages and relationships===
In 1982, young professional goalkeeper Zenga—playing on loan in [[San Benedetto del Tronto]] with Serie B side [[U.S. Sambenedettese]]—married the local [[Model (person)|model]] and 1980 Miss [[Marche]] Elvira Carfagna, having first met her at Palazzina Azzurra on the [[San Benedetto del Tronto Waterfront|town's waterfront]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Laura |last=Ripani |url=https://www.corriereadriatico.it/sonar/donna/elvira_carfagna_zenga_sonardonna_personaggio_san_benedetto_triathlon_ironwoman-3318331.html |newspaper=[[Corriere Adriatico]] |language=it |access-date=19 July 2025 |date=22 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022164913/https://www.corriereadriatico.it/sonar/donna/elvira_carfagna_zenga_sonardonna_personaggio_san_benedetto_triathlon_ironwoman-3318331.html |archive-date=22 October 2017 |title=Elvira Carfagna: "Le botte da mio padre e i giorni bui con Zenga. Ma io vinco sempre" |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Laura |last=Ripani |url=https://www.corriereadriatico.it/marche/marche_ma_che_fine_ha_fatto_elvira_carfagna_miss_marche_prima_moglie_walter_zenga_oggi_nonna_triatleta-7968108.html |newspaper=[[Corriere Adriatico]] |language=it |access-date=23 May 2024 |date=2 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303212117/https://www.corriereadriatico.it/marche/marche_ma_che_fine_ha_fatto_elvira_carfagna_miss_marche_prima_moglie_walter_zenga_oggi_nonna_triatleta-7968108.html |archive-date=3 March 2024 |title=Elvira Carfagna, da Miss Marche (e moglie di Zenga) a triatleta: "Versace mi volle come modella" |url-status=live}}</ref> As Zenga re-joined Inter, the couple moved to [[Milan]]. During his marriage to Carfagna, Zenga had an [[extramarital affair]] with television presenter [[Marina Perzy]] throughout 1985.<ref name="larepubblica-feb1988">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/02/14/gli-amori-di-walter.html |newspaper=[[la Repubblica]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=14 February 1988 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Gli amori di Walter |url-status= }}</ref> Already subject of media rumours, the ongoing affair generated public interest that culminated in February 1985 during an [[1984–85 Inter Milan season|international break]] when Inter goalkeeper Zenga could not be reached to accept a national team call-up for a friendly match as [[Italy national football team_results (1970–1989)#1985|part]] of Italy's FIFA World Cup preparation. After Italian Football Federation officials' failure to get a hold of the young goalkeeper through his wife who didn't know where he was, it was discovered that Zenga was on a romantic weekend getaway with his [[Mistress (lover)|mistress]] Perzy.<ref name="vlad">{{cite web |first=Attilio |last=Monzo |url=https://www.lebombedivlad.it/2021/12/16/numero-14-gli-amori-del-giovane-walter/ |publisher=Le Bombe di Vlad |language=it |access-date=8 December 2025 |date=16 December 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Gli amori del giovane Walter |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first= |last= |url=https://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/tre-uomini-e-una-porta.html |publisher=Storie di Calcio |language=it |access-date=9 December 2025 |date=5 October 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Tre uomini e una porta |url-status= }}</ref> The event reportedly even prompted Inter president and owner [[Ernesto Pellegrini]] to privately intervene with both Zenga and Perzy.<ref name="vlad"/> In November 1986, with his affair with Perzy behind him, Zenga had a child, son Jacopo, with his wife Carfagna. By late 1987, he became romantically involved with another television personality, {{ill|Roberta Termali|it}}, whom he had been co-hosting a weekly Friday evening program, ''{{ill|Forza Italia (television program)|it|Forza Italia (programma televisivo)|lt=Forza Italia}}'', with since September 1987 on [[Odeon 24|Odeon TV]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Matteo |last=Cruccu |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/vita-spericolata-walter-zenga-arabia-romania-televendite-mogli-litigi/presentatore-tv.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=31 July 2015 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Walter Zenga e la sua vita spericolata, tra Arabia e Romania, televendite, mogli e litigi |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.corriereadriatico.it/gossip/elvira_carfagna_prima_moglie_walter_zenga_camerino_roberta_termali_barbara_d_urso_ultime_notie-5768729.html |newspaper=[[Corriere Adriatico]] |language=it |access-date=23 May 2024 |date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304021457/https://www.corriereadriatico.it/gossip/elvira_carfagna_prima_moglie_walter_zenga_camerino_roberta_termali_barbara_d_urso_ultime_notie-5768729.html |archive-date=4 March 2024 |title=Elvira Carfagna, prima moglie di Walter Zenga: "L'ho trovato in un camerino con Roberta Termali" |url-status=live}}</ref> The relationship led to Zenga leaving his family and moving in with Termali in January 1988.<ref name="larepubblica-feb1988"/> Decades later, in February 2021, while appearing as guest on [[Barbara D'Urso]]'s {{ill|Live - Non è la d'Urso|it|lt=talk/variety show}} on [[Canale 5]], Carfagna publicly accused Termali of "stealing her husband" and "pretending to be her friend in order to get to [Zenga]".<ref>{{cite web |first=Daniela |last=Vitello |url=https://www.perizona.it/elvira-carfagna-roberta-termali-si-finse-mia-amica-e-mi-rubo-walter-zenga/ |publisher=Perizona.it |language=it |access-date=8 December 2025 |date=8 February 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Elvira Carfagna: “Roberta Termali si finse mia amica e mi rubò Walter Zenga” |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Rossella |last=Martielli |url=https://news.fidelityhouse.eu/gossip/elvira-carfagna-prima-moglie-di-zenga-accusa-roberta-termali-si-prese-mio-marito-503251.html |publisher=FidelityNews |language=it |access-date=8 December 2025 |date=8 February 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Elvira Carfagna, prima moglie di Zenga, accusa Roberta Termali: "Si prese mio marito" |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first= |last= |url=https://www.ildecoder.com/walter-zenga-la-prima-moglie-elvira-carfagna-contro-la-seconda-moglie-roberta-termali-e-la-resa-dei-conti/ |publisher=IlDecoder.com |language=it |access-date=8 December 2025 |date=12 February 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Walter Zenga, la prima moglie Elvira Carfagna contro la seconda moglie Roberta Termali: è la resa dei conti |url-status= }}</ref>

Two years into Zenga's relationship with Termali, the couple's first child, son Nicolò, was born out-of-wedlock in December 1989. Zenga and Termali wed in September 1992 in a notable ceremony at the Via Palestra municipal gardens in Milan with Zenga's Inter teammate [[Davide Fontolan]] as the groom's best man and a prominent guest list that included Milan mayor [[Giampiero Borghini]], Inter head coach [[Osvaldo Bagnoli]], Inter vice-chairman [[Giuseppe Prisco|Peppino Prisco]], Italy national team manager [[Azeglio Vicini]] as well as footballers such as [[Gianluca Vialli]] and [[Ruud Gullit]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/derived/1992/09/29/issue_full.pdf |newspaper=[[l'Unità]] |language=it |access-date=8 December 2025 |date=29 September 1992 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Zenga e la Termali Matrimonio calcio-tv L'ex et Vicini, Gullit e Vialli tra gli ospiti (page 27) |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Salvatore |last=Riggio |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/cards/calciatori-separazioni-divorzi-tradimenti-totti-altri/walter-zenga-roberta-termali.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=13 September 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Calciatori matrimoni, tradimenti, separazioni e divorzi: Totti, Piqué e gli altri: Walter Zenga e Roberta Termali |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Salvatore |last=Riggio |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/cards/walter-zenga/tre-matrimoni-cinque-figli-vita-avventurosa.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=21 July 2025 |date=29 May 2023 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Walter Zenga: l'Inter, l'Indonesia, il Postino per la De Filippi, liti epiche, 3 matrimoni, i figli |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Andrea |last=Schianchi |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/27-12-2024/l-uomo-ragno-e-la-regina-della-tv-tra-walter-zenga-e-roberta-termali-fu-vero-amore_preview.shtml |newspaper=[[Gazzetta dello Sport]] |language=it |access-date=21 July 2025 |date=27 December 2024 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=L'Uomo Ragno e la regina dello sport in tv: Zenga-Termali, fu vero amore |url-status= }}</ref> Their second child, son Andrea, was born in September 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2002/luglio/25/nuova_sfida_Zenga_Bucarest_per_ga_0_020725475.shtml |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |access-date=8 June 2009 |date=25 July 2002 |title=La nuova sfida di Zenga: a Bucarest per rinascere}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1997.

After divorcing Termali, now veteran professional footballer Zenga entered a relationship with television presenter {{ill|Hoara Borselli|it}}, sixteen years his junior. With Zenga winding down his playing career in the United States, the couple lived in the country as he began transitioning into football coaching. Still unsure as to which line of work he ultimately wanted to pursue after playing professional football, Zenga also took media jobs in Italy, often with his new partner. The couple ended up spending six years together during which they notably co-hosted [[home shopping]] programs on privately owned television channels in Italy, selling appliances and [[consumer goods]] such as [[vacuum cleaners]] and [[Electrical muscle stimulation|electro-stimulators]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Matteo |last=Cruccu |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/vita-spericolata-walter-zenga-arabia-romania-televendite-mogli-litigi/imbonitore.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=31 July 2015 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Walter Zenga e la sua vita spericolata, tra Arabia e Romania, televendite, mogli e litigi |url-status= }}</ref>

In May 2005 while coaching in [[Bucharest]], Zenga married 23-year-old [[Romania]]n woman Raluca Rebedea, 22 years his junior.<ref name="gazzetta0408">{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2008/aprile/22/Zenga_cuore_diviso_due_ga_10_080422042.shtml |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |access-date=8 June 2009 |date=22 April 2008 |title=Zenga cuore diviso in due}}</ref> Three years later, in June 2008, the couple organized another wedding ceremony while on vacation in [[Las Vegas]]; held in a [[List of wedding chapels in Las Vegas|Vegas chapel]], Zenga posted the [[Las Vegas weddings|wedding]] footage on his YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite news |first=Clemente |last=Lisi |url=https://nypost.com/2009/04/16/former-italy-goalie-ties-the-knot-in-vegas/ |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |language=en |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=16 April 2009 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Former Italy Goalie Ties the Knot in Vegas |url-status= }}</ref> On 19 November 2009, Rebedea gave birth to their daughter Samira Valentina.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time4news.ro/monden/raluca-si-walter-zenga-au-devenit-parinti/ |publisher=Time4News |language=ro |title=Raluca si Walter Zenga au devenit parinti |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009162820/http://www.time4news.ro/monden/raluca-si-walter-zenga-au-devenit-parinti/ |archive-date=9 October 2011}}</ref> Though the family resided in [[Dubai]], in April 2010, Zenga stated his willingness to take [[Romanian nationality law|Romanian citizenship]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/gigi-a-fost-eclipsat-de-zenga-187322.html |newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor |language=ro |title=Gigi a fost eclipsat de Zenga }}</ref> which he reportedly obtained in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.click.ro/sport/fotbal/zenga-povestit-peripetiile-din-romania-vezi-ce-patit-la-fc-national-steaua-si-dinamo |website=Click.ro |language=ro |access-date=21 June 2012 |date=3 April 2012|title=Zenga a povestit peripeţiile din România!}}</ref> The couple's second child, son Walter Jr., was born in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilsussidiario.net/news/raluca-rebedea-chi-e-la-moglie-di-walter-zenga-il-gossip-sulla-crisi-e/2414880/ |publisher=Il Sussidiario.net |date=2 October 2022 |access-date=17 November 2023 |title=Raluca Rebedea, chi è la moglie di Walter Zenga/ Il gossip sulla crisi e… |language=it}}</ref> In October 2020, Zenga made the dissolution of his and Rebedea's 14-year marriage public via a lengthy [[Instagram]] post, revealing that the two "hadn't been a couple for some time" and identifying the reasons for the split in "both the distance, created because of [Zenga's] work as a [football] coach, as well as due to [Rebedea's] radical change", adding he had already filed for divorce at the Dubai Court of Appeal before concluding that "the freedom I've always given her has somehow turned against us [as a couple]".<ref name="larepubblica">{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2020/10/07/news/zenga_divorzio_dalla_moglie_non_la_riconosco_piu_ma_sul_web_scoppia_la_polemica_sessista-269766161/ |newspaper=[[la Repubblica]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=7 October 2020 |title=Zenga si separa dalla moglie: ''Le ho dato troppa libertà''. E sul web scoppia la polemica sessista}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/20_ottobre_08/walter-zenga-annuncia-divorzio-la-liberta-che-ho-sempre-a-raluca-ci-si-ritorce-contro-0c02bd56-0947-11eb-86e2-3854c59f54db.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=8 October 2020 |title=Walter Zenga annuncia il divorzio: "La libertà che ho sempre dato a Raluca mi si è ritorta contro"}}</ref> Zenga's particular statement about "the freedom he had given to his wife" triggered a reaction by Italian journalist {{ill|Selvaggia Lucarelli|it}} who criticized the former goalkeeper for "considering his wife's freedom a concession".<ref name="larepubblica"/> The resulting controversy online in Italy led to Zenga removing the post.<ref name="larepubblica"/>

===Children===
Zenga's son with Carfagna, Jacopo Zenga, became a professional footballer himself, playing in [[Serie D]] after spending time with Inter and [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]] at youth level.

The younger of Zenga's two sons with Termali, Andrea Zenga, also pursued professional football for a few years before turning to modelling and celebrity reality television in Italy. In September 2018, he appeared with his fiancé Alessandra Sgolastra on the {{ill|Temptation Island VIP (Italy, first season)|it|Temptation Island VIP (prima edizione)|lt=first season}} of ''{{ill|Temptation Island VIP|it|lt=Italian Celebrity Temptation Island}}'' on [[Canale 5]] as well as on the [[Grande Fratello VIP season 5|fifth season]] of ''[[Grande Fratello VIP]]'' (Italian Celebrity Big Brother) in December 2020. The ''Grande Fratello VIP'' appearance was marked by his opening up about harbouring ill feelings regarding his father Walter's alleged absentee parenting, a claim that received a lot of press in Italy including reaction from the parties involved.<ref>{{cite news |first=Salvatore |last=Riggio |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/21_gennaio_05/zenga-guerra-andrea-papa-non-c-mai-stato-walter-parla-me-solo-se-sarai-esempio-6aee8ea6-4f67-11eb-9394-990bd512afa6.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=5 January 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Zenga in guerra. Andrea: "Papà non c'è mai stato". Walter: "Parla di me solo se sarai un esempio" |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/21_gennaio_27/walter-zenga-l-ex-moglie-roberta-termali-chieda-scusa-nicolo-andrea-c3ac9f78-60c5-11eb-b90c-509c7d96fdd2.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |access-date=14 July 2025 |date=27 January 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Walter Zenga, l'ex moglie Roberta Termali: "Chieda scusa a Nicolò e Andrea" |url-status= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Eva |last=Carducci |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/televisione/elvira_carfagna_la_prima_moglie_di_walter_zenga-5722109.html |newspaper=[[Il Messaggero]] |language=it |access-date=19 July 2025 |date=28 January 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |title=Elvira Carfagna, la prima moglie di Zenga: "Non è vero che Walter non parla con i figli" |url-status= }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{NFT player|14097}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other<sup>1</sup>
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[U.S. Salernitana 1919|Salernitana]] (loan)
|1978–79
|rowspan="1"|[[Lega Pro Prima Divisione|Serie C1]]
|3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Savona F.B.C.|Savona]] (loan)
|1979–80
|rowspan="1"|[[Lega Pro Seconda Divisione|Serie C2]]
|23||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||23||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[A.S. Sambenedettese|Sambenedettese]] (loan)
|1980–81
|rowspan="1"|[[Lega Pro Prima Divisione|Serie C1]]
|33||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||0
|-
|[[1981–82 Serie B|1981–82]]
|rowspan="1"|[[Serie B]]
|34||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!67!!0!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!71!!0
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Inter Milan]]
|[[1982–83 Inter Milan season|1982–83]]
|rowspan="12"|[[Serie A]]
|0||0||5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5||0
|-
|[[1983–84 Inter Milan season|1983–84]]
|30||0||5||0||6{{efn|name=UEF|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||41||0
|-
|[[1984–85 Inter Milan season|1984–85]]
|25||0||10||0||8{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||43||0
|-
|[[1985–86 Inter Milan season|1985–86]]
|30||0||4||0||10{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||44||0
|-
|[[1986–87 Inter Milan season|1986–87]]
|29||0||9||0||8{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||46||0
|-
|[[1987–88 Inter Milan season|1987–88]]
|26||0||11||0||6{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||43||0
|-
|[[1988–89 Inter Milan season|1988–89]]
|33||0||5||0||5{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||43||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Inter Milan season|1989–90]]
|31||0||4||0||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCI|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||38||0
|-
|[[1990–91 Inter Milan season|1990–91]]
|32||0||4||0||12{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||48||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Inter Milan season|1991–92]]
|31||0||6||0||2{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||39||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Inter Milan season|1992–93]]
|29||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||34||0
|-
|[[1993–94 Inter Milan season|1993–94]]
|32||0||5||0||12{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|–||49||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!328!!0!!73!!0!!71!!0!!1!!0!!473!!0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
|[[1994–95 UC Sampdoria season|1994–95]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Serie A]]
|34||0||4||0||8{{efn|name=UWC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCI}}||0||47||0
|-
|[[1995–96 UC Sampdoria season|1995–96]]
|7||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!41!!0!!4!!0!!8!!0!!1!!0!!54!!0
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Calcio Padova|Padova]]
|[[1996–97 Serie B|1996–97]]
|rowspan="1"|Serie B
|21||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||22||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[New England Revolution]]
|[[1997 New England Revolution season|1997]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Major League Soccer]]
|22||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2{{efn|name=MLP|Appearances in [[1997 Major League Soccer season|MLS Cup Playoffs]]}}||0||24||0
|-
|[[1999 New England Revolution season|1999]]
|25||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!47!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!2!!0!!49!!0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!530!!0!!82!!0!!79!!0!!4!!0!!695!!0
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="eu-football">{{Cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=23405 |title="Walter Zenga – eu-football.info" |access-date=13 June 2025}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1986||3||0
|-
|1987||10||0
|-
|1988||10||0
|-
|1989||10||0
|-
|1990||14||0
|-
|1991||8||0
|-
|1992||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!59!!0
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|20 April 2024}}

{| 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="9"|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|[[New England Revolution]] {{#tag:ref|During Zenga's tenure as manager, MLS rules did not allow for draws|name="draws"|group="nb"}}
|{{Flagicon|USA}}
|align=left|24 August 1998
|align=left|30 September 1999
{{WDL|36|13|0|23|for=71|against=88|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Brera Calcio|Brera]]
|{{Flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|31 October 2000
|align=left|18 January 2001
{{WDL|9|1|4|4|for=?|against=?|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Progresul București|Naţional București]]
|{{Flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|24 July 2002
|align=left|10 September 2003
{{WDL|47|20|8|19|for=67|against=56|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FCSB|Steaua București]]
|{{Flagicon|Romania}}
|align=left|1 July 2004
|align=left|20 May 2005
{{WDL|40|21|8|11|for=57|against=31|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Red Star Belgrade]]
|{{Flagicon|Serbia}}
|align=left|22 July 2005
|align=left|12 June 2006
{{WDL|43|33|6|4|for=102|against=36|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Gaziantepspor]]
|{{Flagicon|Turkey}}
|align=left|1 August 2006
|align=left|3 January 2007
{{WDL|21|8|5|8|for=28|against=29|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]
|{{Flagicon|UAE}}
|align=left|7 January 2007
|align=left|30 June 2007
{{WDL|15|6|5|4|for=14|against=15|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
|{{Flagicon|Romania}}
|align=left|3 September 2007
|align=left|24 November 2007
{{WDL|13|6|4|3|for=21|against=12|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Calcio Catania|Catania]]	
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}	
|align=left|1 April 2008
|align=left|30 June 2009
{{WDL|50|16|10|24|for=56|against=64|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[US Palermo|Palermo]]
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}	
|align=left|1 July 2009
|align=left|23 November 2009
{{WDL|14|5|5|4|for=21|against=20|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
|{{Flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}	
|align=left|11 May 2010
|align=left|24 December 2010
{{WDL|16|7|8|1|for=33|against=19|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al-Nasr Dubai SC|Al-Nasr]]
|{{Flagicon|UAE}}
|align=left|6 January 2011
|align=left|13 June 2013
{{WDL|94|36|26|32|for=162|against=142|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]]
|{{Flagicon|UAE}}
|align=left|21 October 2013
|align=left|14 May 2014
{{WDL|35|15|10|10|for=60|against=51|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[UC Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}
|align=left|11 June 2015
|align=left|10 November 2015
{{WDL|14|5|4|5|for=21|against=21|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]]
|{{Flagicon|UAE}}
|align=left|1 December 2015
|align=left|20 February 2016
{{WDL|10|1|1|8|for=12|against=31|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
|{{Flagicon|England}}
|align=left|30 July 2016
|align=left|25 October 2016
{{WDL|17|6|4|7|for=20|against=21|diff=yes}}			
|-
|align=left|[[F.C. Crotone|Crotone]]
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}
|align=left|8 December 2017
|align=left|19 June 2018
{{WDL|23|6|5|12|for=29|against=36|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Venezia F.C.|Venezia]]
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}
|align=left|12 October 2018
|align=left|5 March 2019
{{WDL|19|5|7|7|for=18|against=22|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]]
|{{Flagicon|Italy}}
|align=left|3 March 2020
|align=left|2 August 2020
{{WDL|13|3|4|6|for=11|against=16|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Emirates Club|Emirates]]
|{{Flagicon|UAE}}
|align=left|5 January 2024
|align=left|23 April 2024
{{WDL|7|1|2|4|for=8|against=18|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|536|214|126|196|for=811|against=728|diff=yes}}	
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Inter Milan'''<ref name=eurosport.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/walter-zenga_prs23443/person.shtml|title=Walter Zenga|website=Eurosport.com|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>
* [[Serie A]]: [[1988–89 Serie A|1988–89]]
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1989 Supercoppa Italiana|1989]]
* [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1991 UEFA Cup Final|1990–91]], [[1994 UEFA Cup Final|1993–94]]

'''Sampdoria'''
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]] runner-up: [[1994 Supercoppa Italiana|1994]]

'''Italy U21'''
*[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]] runner-up: [[1986 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1986]]<ref name="finale andata Euro 1986 Under-21">{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/under21/match/71604--italy-vs-spain/|title=Italia 2-1 Spagna|publisher=UEFA|language=it|access-date=22 May 2018|archive-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707123229/https://it.uefa.com/under21/season=1986/matches/round=1733/match=71604/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Italy'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] third place: [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1990italy 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy], FIFA</ref>
*[[UEFA European Championship]] third place: [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]
*[[Scania 100 Tournament]]: 1991<ref>[https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2016/09/tournaments-part-6-scania-100-1991.html?m=1 Tournaments-Part 6 – Scania 100 (1991)] Soccer Nostalgia. Tuesday, September 20, 2016</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[Guerin d'Oro]]: 1987<ref name="Guerin d'Oro">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/italpoy.html|title=Italy – Footballer of the Year|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper]]: 1989, 1990, 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy.html|title=IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=27 March 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>
* [[Best European Goalkeeper|UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year]]: 1990
*Pirata d'Oro (Internazionale Player of the Year): 1987<ref>{{cite web |author=Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it |url=http://inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=24665&stringa=%22player%20of%20the%20year%22 |title=F.C. Internazionale Milano |website=Inter.it |date=17 November 2006 |access-date=14 October 2017 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819174527/http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=24665&stringa=%22player%20of%20the%20year%22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[MLS Player of the Month]]: 1997
* [[Midnight Riders (MLS supporters association)|Midnight Riders]] Man of the Year Award: 1997<ref name="Man of the Year Award"/>
* [[MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]]: [[1997 MLS All-Star Game|1997]],<ref>[https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/all-star-game-flashback-1997-valderrama-named-mvp-again All-Star Game flashback, 1997] at MLSsoccer.com
</ref> [[1999 Major League Soccer All-Star Game|1999]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Inter Milan Hall of Fame]]: 2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inter.it/it/news/86203/hall-of-fame-ecco-i-4-vincitori-della-prima-edizione |title=Hall of Fame, Ecco I 4 Vincitori Della Prima Edizione |website=Inter.it |language=it |date=9 March 2018 |access-date=30 May 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142637/https://www.inter.it/it/news/86203/hall-of-fame-ecco-i-4-vincitori-della-prima-edizione |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Coach===
'''Național București'''
*[[Cupa României]] runner-up: [[2002–03 Cupa României|2002–03]]

'''Steaua București'''
*[[Liga I|Divizia A]]: [[2004–05 Divizia A|2004–05]]

'''Red Star Belgrade'''
* [[First League of Serbia and Montenegro|Serbia and Montenegro SuperLiga]]: [[2005–06 Serbia and Montenegro SuperLiga|2005–06]]
* [[Serbia and Montenegro Cup]]: [[2005–06 Serbia and Montenegro Cup|2005–06]]

'''Al Ain'''
*[[UAE President's Cup]] runner-up: 2006–07

'''Al Jazira'''
*[[UAE League Cup]] runner-up: [[2013–14 UAE League Cup|2013–14]]

===Orders===
:*[[File:Cavaliere OMRI BAR.svg|left|50px]] 5th Class / Knight: ''[[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana]]'': 1991<ref name="5th class">{{cite web |url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Onorificenze.aspx?pag=3045&qIdOnorificenza=&cognome=&nome=&daAnno=1800&aAnno=2014&luogoNascita=&testo=&ordinamento=2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150320014016/http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Onorificenze.aspx?pag=3045&qIdOnorificenza=&cognome=&nome=&daAnno=1800&aAnno=2014&luogoNascita=&testo=&ordinamento=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2015 |title=Onoreficenze |website=.quirinale.it |language=it |date=30 September 1991 |access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper}}
{{Best European Goalkeeper}}
{{Pirata d'Oro}}
{{Inter Milan Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Italy squads
| bg = #0066bc
| fg = #FFFFFF
| bordercolor = silver
| list1 = 
{{Italy football squad 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Italy squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Italy squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Italy squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{AS Progresul București managers}}
{{New England Revolution managers}}
{{FCSB managers}}
{{Red Star Belgrade managers}}
{{Gaziantepspor managers}}
{{Al Ain FC managers}}
{{FC Dinamo București managers}}
{{U.S. Città di Palermo managers}}
{{Al-Nassr FC managers}}
{{Al-Nasr SC managers}}
{{Al Jazira Club managers}}
{{U.C. Sampdoria managers}}
{{Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. managers}}
{{Cagliari Calcio managers}}
{{Emirates Club managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zenga, Walter}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Milan]]
[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Italy]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:Serie C players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Inter Milan players]]
[[Category:US Salernitana 1919 players]]
[[Category:Savona FBC players]]
[[Category:AS Sambenedettese players]]
[[Category:UC Sampdoria players]]
[[Category:Calcio Padova players]]
[[Category:New England Revolution players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Italian football managers]]
[[Category:Serie A managers]]
[[Category:Serie B managers]]
[[Category:Serie D managers]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer head coaches]]
[[Category:Liga I managers]]
[[Category:Serbian SuperLiga managers]]
[[Category:Süper Lig managers]]
[[Category:Saudi Pro League managers]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:New England Revolution head coaches]]
[[Category:FC Progresul București managers]]
[[Category:FCSB managers]]
[[Category:Red Star Belgrade managers]]
[[Category:Gaziantepspor managers]]
[[Category:Al Ain FC managers]]
[[Category:FC Dinamo București managers]]
[[Category:Catania FC managers]]
[[Category:Palermo FC managers]]
[[Category:Al-Nassr FC managers]]
[[Category:Al-Nasr SC (Dubai) managers]]
[[Category:Al Jazira Club managers]]
[[Category:UC Sampdoria managers]]
[[Category:Al-Shaab CSC managers]]
[[Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:FC Crotone managers]]
[[Category:Venezia FC managers]]
[[Category:Cagliari Calcio managers]]
[[Category:Emirates Club managers]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Romania]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Serbia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in England]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Romania]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Serbia]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Romania]]
[[Category:Romanian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Italian sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]