Massimo Zappino

Brazilian footballer

Massimo Zappino
Personal information
Massimo Zappino with Frosinone in 2017
Full name	Massimo Zenildo Zappino
Date of birth	(1981-06-12) 12 June 1981 (age 42)
Place of birth	Pesqueira, Brazil
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Catania	0	(0)
2001	Acireale	0	(0)
2002–2004	Nocerina	27	(0)
2004–2008	Frosinone	81	(0)
2007	→ Chievo (loan)	0	(0)
2008	→ Pro Sesto (loan)	14	(0)
2008–2009	Foggia	0	(0)
2009	→ Lecco (loan)	14	(0)
2009	Taranto	0	(0)
2009–2010	Como	13	(0)
2010–2011	Varese	35	(0)
2012–2018	Frosinone	101	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Massimo Zenildo Zappino (born 12 June 1981) is a former Brazilian footballer of Italian descent who played as a goalkeeper.

He also holds an Italian passport.^[1]

Playing career

In summer 2007, he was exchanged with Vincenzo Sicignano but failed to make permanent move. In summer 2008 he was signed by Foggia in exchange with Nunzio Di Roberto to Frosinone^[2] In June Foggia acquired the remaining 50% registration rights from Frosinone.

In July 2009 he signed a 2-year contract with Taranto as the joint-ownership bid accepted.^[3]^[4] It changed to definitive deal in late July.^[5] He then left for Como on free transfer.^[6]

On 2 September 2010 he joined Serie B club Varese He was the first choice keeper. The team finished fourth but failed to win the promotion playoffs.

On 1 November 2015 he made his debut in Serie A with Frosinone, eventually conceding 4 goals to Fiorentina.

After leaving Frosinone in 2018, he shortly joined Promozione amateur club Siracusa in 2019, being released just a few weeks after his signing due to physical and fitness problems, with no first team appearances.^[7]

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Zappino stayed on in Syracuse and started a career as a goalkeeping coach and scout.^[8]

In 2022, he was hired as the new goalkeeping coach of Eccellenza Sicily amateurs Real Siracusa.^[9]

Personal life

Zappino was born in Pesqueira, Brazil to a poor family, and then successively adopted by an Italian family from Syracuse, Sicily.

Honours

Frosinone

Serie C1 runner-up and promotion playoff winner: 2006

References

^ "LECCO, E' FATTA PER MASSIMO ZAPPINO" (in Italian). Calcio Lecco 1912. 2009-01-06. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
^ "TRIS DI ACQUISTI DEL FROSINONE" (in Italian). Frosinone Calcio. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
^ "INGAGGIATO IL PORTIERE ZAPPINO" (in Italian). tarantochannel.tv. 2009-07-09. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
^ "Ufficiale: Zappino al Taranto". US Foggia (in Italian). 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
^ "Zappino è tutto del Taranto". US Foggia (in Italian). 23 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
^ Zalamena, Andrea (2009-08-05). "Como, Zappino vicino alla firma". Tutto Mercato Web (in Italian).
^ "Calcio – Siracusa, Massimo Zappino risolve il contratto. Terminata l'esperienza sicula" (in Italian). Tg24.info. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^ Salines, Alessandro (25 July 2021). "La nuova vita di Zappino. L'ex portierone scopre ed allena talenti" (in Italian). AlessioPorcu.it. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^ "ECCSICILIA: EX SERIE A E B È IL NUOVO PREPARATORE DEI PORTIERI DEL REAL SIRACUSA" (in Italian). TuttoCalcioDilettanti. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.