Javier Zanetti

Known as the defender and midfielder for teams including Inter Milan, Banfield and the Argentina national team, Javier Zanetti is a former professional footballer turned vice president. As such a huge name within football, Javier is now reflecting upon his nearing 30-year long career as an after dinner speaker who is able to relate his abundance of knowledge within football to corporate and school groups as well as sporting organisations.

From being rejected by Independientes youth academy to playing for one of the world’s most successful teams, it’s apparent that Zanetti has an admirable can-do mindset in which he discusses as a speaker. His career began when he signed for Talleres de Remedios de Escalada where he made over 30 appearances before joining Banfield whom he debuted for in 1993.

With his performance at Banfield attracting the attention of prolific teams including River Plate and Boca Juniors, he managed to secure his first call-up to the Argentina national team in 1994. Since then he has made more than 140 appearances for the team and has scored four goals internationally. He has also joined Inter Milan where he made nearing 900 appearances and won 15 trophies under his captaincy. The only footballer to have played under 19 different coaches, Zanetti established himself as a loyal and fan favourite player on the pitch before his retirement from the game in 2014.

Following on from his retirement, Zanetti’s skill and talent have earnt him a place at Inter Milan as the vice president. From 2014 to the present day, he continues to fulfil this role whilst also managing to write two autobiographies and offering his generosity as the FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children’s Villages project.

A football legend who was inducted into both the Italian and Inter Hall of Fame in 2018 has left his mark on the world of football and is now working to conquer the after dinner speaker circuit. An expert in leadership, coaching and effective teamwork, Javier can relate his abundance of skills to business and school organisations which have already proved to make incredible changes to a variety of companies.