Javier Zanetti Retires

5/11/2014 Javier Zanetti enjoys winning San Siro swansong as Inter Milan thrash Lazio | Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2625255/Javier-Zanetti-enjoys-winning-San-Siro-swansong-Inter-Milan-thrash-Lazio.html?ico=sport^headlines 1/18
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Javier Zanetti enjoys winning San Siro
swansong as Inter Milan thrash Lazio
Inter legend Javier Zanetti played his final game at the San Siro on Saturday
Zanetti came on as a 52nd substitute for right-back Jonathan vs Lazio
Tributes before, during and after the match poured in for the 40-year-old defender
Pitch invader runs on to embrace Zanetti then player ushers him off
A Rodrigo Palacio brace and goals from Mauro Icardi and Hernanes saw Inter win
4-1
Giuseppe Biava gave the visitors an early lead
By Luke Augustus
Follow @Luke_Augustus29
Published: 20:49 GMT, 10 May 2014 | Updated: 07:39 GMT, 11 May 2014
Javier Zanetti marked his final Inter Milan appearance at the San Siro on a high as they beat Lazio 4-1 on
Saturday.
The 40-year-old, who will retire at the end of season, replaced Brazilian right-back Jonathan in the 52nd
minute to a rapturous applause from the Inter supporters.
Tributes to Zanetti were evident throughout the game. The Nerazzuri legend came on to Europe's 'Final
Countdown' during the second-half as he wore a commemorative armband sporting every Inter Milan player's
name that he had ever played with.
VIDEO Scroll down for Journey through Zanetti's 19 Inter seasons via Panini stickers
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Captain marvel: Javier Zanetti played his final game for Inter Milan at the San Siro in
Saturday's 4-1 win vs Lazio
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Emotional occasion: Zanetti (centre) ushers a tearful Inter supporter off the pitch
during injury time
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End of an era: The occasion at the full-time whistle got to Zanetti (centre) who
started to cry
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Weeping beauty: An Inter fan wipes away her tears as Zanetti is introduced to the
fans before the match
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Family time: Zanetti with his family wave to the Inter fans at the end of his final game
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Mutual appreciation: Fans hold up a sign as they celebrate their captain Zanetti's
career
In addition, his teammates wore jackets bearing his number and after the match the defender was treated to a
montage of his career as the home fans gave him a standing ovation during his farewell presentation.
In his 863rd appeareance for the San Siro outfit the former Argentina international ended the match on the
winning side as a first-half brace from Rodrigo Palacio and a Mauro Icardi strike cancelled out Lazio's opener
scored by Giuseppe Biava.
Brazil international Hernanes completed the rout against his former club late in the second-half as Inter
stengthened their grip on qualification for the Europa League next season.
The emotion of the occasion was too much for one Inter fan who ran onto the pitch during injury time to hug
the defender, who returned the favour whilst ushering to the side off the pitch.
Journey through Zanetti's 19 Inter seasons via Panini stickers
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Lift me up: Zanetti is thrown in the air after his final game
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Up and away: Zanetti is celebrated by his teammates at the end of their match
against Lazio
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Momentous occasion: Zanetti came on as a 52nd substitute for Jonathan to the
delight of the Inter fans
On Friday, the Italian outfit confirmed Zanetti's retirement after 19 trophy-laden years with the club - who will
now become the club's sporting director from next season.
Since his transfer from Argentina side Banfield in 1995, his hounours include five Serie A titles, four Coppa
Italias, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.
As well as an impressive club career, Zanetti enjoyed a successful international one with Argentina as he is his
country's most capped player, with his 145th cap coming in 2011.
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Memoies: Zanetti wore an armband which included every Inter Milan player he had
ever played with
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Dogged defender: Zanetti (left) showed all his qualities in his second-half cameo vs
Lazio
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Warm embrace: Rodrigo Palacio (left) celebrates scoring one of his goals with
Zanetti (right) in the first-half
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Captain, leader, legend: Inter fans show their gratitude towards Zanetti's 19-year
career at the San Siro
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Romy, BA, Argentina, 29 minutes ago

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5/11/2014 Javier Zanetti enjoys winning San Siro swansong as Inter Milan thrash Lazio | Mail Online

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