Paolo Zanetti

Club career

Zanetti started his career at native club Vicenza.

Empoli

Zanetti was sold to Empoli in a co-ownership deal in July 2003, for €671,400 fee (about 13 billion lire).

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

Zanetti played 30 games in the 2004–05 Serie B season, helping the club to win promotion back to Serie A. However, he just made nine appearances for the club in Serie A in the following season. In June 2006 Empoli signed him outright from Vicenza, for an additional €125,000 fee, making Empoli had paid Vicenza €796,400 in total.

Ascoli

After acquiring the remain 50% registration rights from Vicenza in June 2006 for an additional €125,000 transfer fee, Empoli sold Zanetti to Ascoli in another co-ownership deal for €400,000 transfer fee in July.

Torino

In May 2007, Zanetti said he would stay on at Ascoli, despite them being relegated to the Serie B. Ascoli bought the full registration rights of the player for an additional €750,000 fee, (making Ascoli had paid €1.15 million transfer fee in total) but sent Zanetti, along with Saša Bjelanović, to Torino in another co-ownership deals for €1 million fee each, in a 5-year and 3-year contract respectively. In the mid of same season Torino bought him outright for an additional €500,000 (making Torino had paid Ascoli €1.5 million transfer fee for Zanetti in total) and Bjelanović was also bought by Torino for an additional €60,000 in June 2008.

During 2009–10 season, Ultras of Torino attacked the players during David Di Michele's birthday party. After the incident the players involved: Di Michele, Massimo Loviso, Riccardo Colombo, Aimo Diana, Marco Pisano, Francesco Pratali, Zanetti were transferred to other clubs and only Rolando Bianchi, Matteo Rubin and Angelo Ogbonna were remained.

On 19 January 2010 Atalanta B.C. signed him on loan from Serie B club Torino F.C. until the end of the season.

Grosseto

After inactive from football for a season, Zanetti joined U.S. Grosseto F.C. on 8 August 2011 in a 1-year deal. Torino and Zanetti terminated the contract between the two parties in a mutual consent.

Sorrento

In January 2012 he was signed by Sorrento Calcio. In May 2012 he signed a new 2-year contract with Sorrento.

Reggiana

On 23 January 2013 he was signed by Reggiana. On 26 August 2013 he signed a new 2-year contract. On 18 November 2014 Zanetti retired and became a backroom staff of the first team (Italian: collaboratore tecnico di Prima Squadra).

International career

Zanetti was a player of Azzurrini in 2001 UEFA European Under-18 Championship qualification He played twice. After the elimination of Italy from the competition, he also played for the U-19 team (de facto U-20 B) in two friendlies, against Netherlands (who still in the Euro U-19 competition) and Germany respectively in March and May 2001. In 2001–02 season he played 13 times for the U-20 team, including matches in a four nations tournament. In the following season, he played once for the U-21 team in 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification as well as 3 friendlies. In his only competitive appearance in the U-21 Euro, he was a substitute of Samuele Dalla Bona. He played his final appearance in national team against Austria on 19 August 2003, another friendly match.