Simone Zaza

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Lore & Background

Zaza joined Torino on 17 August 2018, on loan for €2 million with a €12 million obligation to buy at the end of the season. The move came after spells abroad at West Ham United and Valencia, and before Torino he had played for Atalanta, Sampdoria, Juve Stabia, Viareggio, Ascoli, Sassuolo, and Juventus. At the international level, Zaza made his senior debut for Italy in 2014 and represented his nation at UEFA Euro 2016. He scored his first goal for Italy in the 16th minute of their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway, a 2–0 victory. At Euro 2016, he came off the bench to set up Éder's match-winning goal against Sweden in the 88th minute, qualifying Italy to the Round of 16. In the quarter-final penalty shoot-out against Germany, he missed his penalty after a bizarre trot up to the ball, and Italy were eliminated 6–5. Zaza later apologized, saying, 'I am sorry to have let the Italian people down. I missed the most important penalty of my life and I will carry this burden with me forever.'

In Their Own Story

The half-time whistle blew at the Stadio Olimpico, and Torino trailed 2–0. New manager Davide Nicola had taken charge, and the granata faithful were restless. In the second half, Zaza scored twice to complete the comeback, turning a 2–0 deficit into a 2–2 draw. It was his first game under Nicola, and the two goals announced that Zaza—on loan from Valencia with an obligation to buy—would fight for the shirt. He had arrived in Turin on 17 August 2018, for a €2 million loan fee, with a €12 million obligation to buy at season's end. The goals that night were not just points salvaged; they were a statement that Zaza, who had scored a hat-trick in under 10 minutes for Valencia against Málaga on 19 September 2017, still had that explosive quality. For the Torino faithful, that second-half performance became the defining image of his time in granata: a striker who, when the game was slipping away, grabbed it by the scruff and dragged it back.

Reader's Guide

Simone Zaza · Torino FC · 2018–2022 · Striker

Torino era: Zaza joined Torino on 17 August 2018 on loan from Valencia for €2 million, with a €12 million obligation to buy at the end of the season. His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 31 August 2022. In his first game under new manager Davide Nicola, he scored two second-half goals to turn a 2–0 half-time deficit into a 2–2 draw. Career context: Before Torino, Zaza played for Atalanta (2008–2010), Sampdoria (2010–2013, with loans to Juve Stabia, Viareggio, and Ascoli), Sassuolo (2013–2015), Juventus (2015–2016, winning a domestic double of Serie A and Coppa Italia in his first season), West Ham United (loan, 2016–2017, 11 appearances without scoring), and Valencia (2017–2018, where he scored a hat-trick in under 10 minutes against Málaga). After Torino, he retired as an Italian former professional footballer. International: Zaza made his senior Italy debut in 2014, scored his first goal in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway, and represented Italy at UEFA Euro 2016. He set up Éder's match-winner against Sweden and missed a penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out loss to Germany.

Did You Know?

• Zaza scored a hat-trick in under 10 minutes for Valencia against Málaga on 19 September 2017.
• He made 11 appearances for West Ham United without scoring—eight in the Premier League and three in the EFL Cup.
• Zaza's first Serie A goal came on 1 September 2013 for Sassuolo in a 4–1 loss to Livorno.
• He scored the opening two goals of a 4–0 win over cross-city rivals Torino in the Coppa Italia on 16 December 2015 while playing for Juventus.
• Zaza's penalty miss against Germany at Euro 2016 featured a 'bizarre trot up to the ball'; he later apologized, saying 'I missed the most important penalty of my life.'