Reto Zanni

Grasshopper Club

Zanni played his youth football with local club SC Buochs and after his time at school he started his apprenticeship as office clerk. He was scouted by Grasshopper Club and in summer 1998 moved to their youth department, signing his first professional contract with them he interrupted his apprenticeship. He commenced his professional football in GC's U-21 team, where he played for one year, occasionally being called up into the first team, despite suffering a few injuries. He played his debut with the first team on 25 July 1998, coming on as a substitute against Lugano. In Spring 1999 he played the last four games of the season with the first team. In summer 1999 Zanni advanced definitely to GC's first team under head coach Roy Hodgson. He played well under Hodgson advancing to become regular player. He kept his place in the team, even after the change of coach to Hans-Peter Zaugg. He went on to play 45 times for the GC, scoring one goal, until in November 2000 he suffered an injury and was kept out of the game until the end of the season. At the end of the season GC won the league championship.

St. Gallen (loan)

During the 2001–02 season, Zanni was on loan at St. Gallen to obtain more playing experience. For St. Gallen he played 28 league games and four in the UEFA Cup.

Return to GC

After the loan period Zanni returning to the Grasshopper-Club. However, right to the beginning of the season he was diagnosed with a fatigue…

After his time at school, Zanni had started an apprenticeship as office clerk. However, after signing his first professional contract as footballer, he interrupted his apprenticeship. After his football career Zanni returned to original plan and restarted the office studies. He did that at the Luzern vocational academy in adult education. He is now purchaser by an international specialist for high-quality screws and fasteners. Zanni is married and the couple have two sons.

Grasshopper Swiss Super League: 2000–01, 2002–03 Basel Swiss Super League: 2004–05, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11 Swiss Cup: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10 Uhren Cup: 2006, 2008 Vaduz Liechtenstein Football Cup: 2010–11