The wonderful world of Walter Zenga: Watch the new Wolves boss' Elvis-themed wedding vow renewal
He starred in an Italian soap opera, married a glamorous wife 22 years his junior and had a rumoured fling with Madonna at the height of a glorious footballing career.
Yesterday, he announced his passion for Wolves and declared they were the biggest English club in Italy.
Welcome to the wonderful (and occasionally wacky) world of Walter Zenga.
The 56-year-old goalkeeping legend has swapped the bright lights of Milan, Bucharest, and Dubai for sunny Wolverhampton – and was officially unveiled as Wolves' new head coach under Chinese rule yesterday.
Benvenuto a Bilston, Walter!
With his ripped jeans, trendy shades, tattooed legs and open necked shirt, he is far removed from the understated, stoic, and business-like Kenny Jackett.
He looks like he'd be more at home on the catwalk than following in the footsteps of Stan Cullis.
Voted the best goalie in the world three times, his life has been as colourful off the pitch as it has on it.
He has dated, and married a series of beautiful women with whom he has five children.
His first wife was model Elvira Carfagna, who was once a Miss Italia contestant. His second was Italian TV star Roberta Termali. But it is current love Raluca who Wolves fans will be getting more acquainted with at Molineux.
Zenga met the blonde Romanian, who can reportedly speak eight languages, by chance on a flight. They married in 2005 aged 23 and 45 respectively and renewed their vows in a Las Vegas chapel in 2008.
More than 10,000 people have watched the pair's vow renewal – complete with Vegas vicar and an Elvis tribute act – on Zenga's own YouTube page.
The ceremony, including a quick run through, lasts a total of 14 minutes with two renditions by 'Elvis' in a golden jacket that would shame TV presenters of the 70s and 80s.
Walter even keeps a straight face when the preacher –oblivious to the groom's fame – asks him his name, checking for the record: "Walter . . . Zenga?"
The fact that the star then 'aired and shared' shows his sense of humour – hopefully.
Including Wolves, he's coached an incredible 16 teams in 18 years across Italy, Turkey, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf at household names such as Al-Shaab and Gaziantepspor.
He did of course play at the highest level with 58 caps for Italy and 328 appearances for Inter Milan.
After Italia '90, where the Italians finished third and Zenga kept five clean sheets, it was widely rumoured he had a romance with Madonna, who described him as Italy's 'sexiest player'.
His sharp reflexes enabled him to make great and spectacular saves between the posts.
It was such heroics that saw him nicknamed Spider-Man and caught the eye of the American pop legend.
During his days on the pitch – when he had a mop-topped haircutt – he also had a lucrative deal with Sega and was the face of the Sega Mega Drive (remember those, kids?) and Sega Mega System consoles with Roberto Mancini.
In 1994, Zenga transferred to Sampdoria, and then to Padova two years later.
And he was one of the first players to pioneer a move to America – more than a decade before David Beckham would do the same.
He moved to New England Revolution to compete in Major League Soccer.
During a game versus Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1997, he caused a stir when he celebrated a goal by running to the sidelines to kiss then-girlfriend – actress and lingerie model Hoara Borselli.
While embraced in a lingering snog, Mutiny took a quick kick-off and narrowly missed scoring into an open goal.
Shortly after, Zenga's remarkable life took a new twist. He left football completely to pursue an acting career in 'lusty' Italian soap opera Costanza with Borselli.
But it was not long before he was back in football and entered the world of management. After a managerial career mostly in Eastern Europe or the Middle East he was linked with moves to Bolton and Southampton that never materialised.
He has managed in Serie A three times with varying success.
Despite his flamboyant characteristics, in one interview with Italian media he insists he is no 'playboy' but rather that he has been on an 'adventure'.
Turning his hand to philosophy, he said: "I'm a citizen of the world. Wherever I go the important thing is for us (him his wife and children) to have a roof over our heads so we can be together. It's family that matters."
If the early days of the Fosun era are anything to go by, Wolves fans are in for a interesting ride.
Yesterday, he delivered an assured performance at his unveiling, where some members of the press tried to goad him about his record.
He was firm, he was funny, he was charismatic and assured.
"Don't believe everything you read on the internet," he said.
"Sometimes I left jobs because I didn't get a salary for six months – the internet doesn't tell you that."
He knows about Steve Bull and Billy Wright and the 'passion' of the Wolves fans.
"We are going to work, study, run – do everything we can 100 per cent. This is what I promise."
Passionate, hard-working and dedicated to football heart and soul; let's hope Walter's next big love story is with the South Bank.
