Click here to view DDFC unveil Gianluca Zambrotta as Head Coach photo gallery Delhi Dynamos FC confirmed the signing of Italian Gianluca Zambrotta as their head coach for Season 3 of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Tuesday. The Lions had Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos at the helm last season and will have another World Cup winner in Zambrotta to lead their charge in the third season of the Hero ISL.The 39-year-old Italian began his professional career at his hometown club Calcio Como aged 17 and remained with the club for three years before moving to Bari after the club had just won promotion to Serie A. Following a number of impressive displays in his two seasons at Bari, Italian coach at the time Dino Zoff decided to reward the youngster by making him the first player from Bari to receive an international call-up for Italy in 50 years.Soon after his first international cap, Zambrotta joined Italy’s most successful club Juventus. Zambrotta wore the black and white stripes of the Old Lady for seven seasons and it saw him win two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana trophies and finish runner-up in the 2002-03 UEFA Champions League.In search of a fresh challenge after almost a decade with Juventus, Zambrotta moved to Barcelona where he established himself as a defensive mainstay in a back line that also featured legends like Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez. His time with the Spanish heavyweights saw him win the Supercopa de España and finish runner-up in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.Following his successful stint with the Catalan giants, Zambrotta returned to Italy and joined AC Milan. A tried and tested full-back at the highest level by this time, Zambrotta along with Filippo Inzaghi, Mark van Bommel, Alessandro Nesta and Gennaro Gattuso led the Rossoneri to their first Scudetto in seven years. He also helped Milan win the Supercoppa Italiana for the sixth time in their illustrious history. His Serie A and Supercoppa Italiana double in 2011 was also the last time AC Milan got their hands on either of the trophies.Zambrotta’s gradual transition to management began at the outset of the 2013-14 season when Swiss club FC Chiasso signed him as player-assistant manager. However, following the sacking of Chiasso’s manager, Zambrotta was named their player-manager in November 2014 and helped them avoid relegation that season, following which he brought down the curtain on his playing career and became full-time coach at the club. After severing ties with Chiasso in April 2015, Delhi Dynamos comes as Zambrotta’s second challenge of his still relatively nascent career in management, and he is looking forward to this challenge. “It’s an absolute pleasure to coach Delhi Dynamos FC. By working together, we can be successful,” Zambrotta said after the Lions announced his arrival.“I have heard such wonderful things about the ISL from friends and contemporaries I am looking forward to a great stint with this amazing club, and some amazing times in this lovely country. We will play entertaining football but our focus will only be on winning.“Alessandro de Piero [fellow World Cup winner and Delhi’s marquee player in Season 1 gave me a lot of insights into the club’s vision and philosophy. I really liked what he told and I did not have any apprehensions about coming to India."On fans’ expectations after Carlos led the team to their maiden semi-final appearance last year, Zambrotta said: “Carlos is a living legend and has been an exceptional performer for his country and club. He did very well to take the club to the semi-finals last year and I know that expectations from me will be high. But I love it that way. I am confident of taking those last two extra steps with the team."With a wealth of experience at the top level having played for European powerhouses like Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan, Zambrotta’s signing is a massive coup for the Dynamos this year. Furthermore, the former Italian international comes to the Lions camp having plied his trade under legendary managers such as World Cup winner Marcello Lippi, three-time UEFA Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti, two-time Don Balon Coach of the Year Frank Rijkaard, Italian football Hall of Famer Fabio Capello and serial Scudetto winner Massimiliano Allegri. This will sure hold him in good stead for his first taste of management and football beyond European shores.
