Inter Milan Vice-President Zanetti: ‘Chivu Was A Great Teammate & Brother To Me, He’ll Have A Successful Coaching Career’ | OneFootball

Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti says that Cristian Chivu was “a great teammate and a brother” and will also have a “successful coaching career.”

Zanetti gave his thoughts to SuperMondial, via FCInter1908. He was full of praise for the Romanian.

Cristian Chivu is three months and six matches into his Inter Milan coaching career.

The Romanian had a highly successful playing career with the Nerazzurri. He spent six years at the club, and was a key player in the European Treble win during the 2009-10 season.

Furthermore, Chivu also did well coaching Inter at several youth team levels.

However, taking charge of the first team was always going to present a different kind of challenge for Chivu.

The Club World Cup gave mixed signals. Inter had a solid enough group stage, but exited the tournament early in the knockout rounds against Fluminense.

And then, the start of Chivu’s first Serie A season at the helm has been similar.

Inter began the league campaign with a bang, demolishing Torino 5-0.

However, in Chivu’s second Serie A match in charge, Inter squandered an early lead to lose 1-2 against Udinese.

Inter Vice-President Zanetti: “Cristian Chivu A Great Teammate & A Brother To Me”

MONZA, ITALY – AUGUST 12: FC Internazionale coach Cristian Chivu looks on before the Pre-season Friendly match between AC Monza and FC Internazionale at U-Power Stadium on August 12, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti was at Inter with Chivu throughout the Romanian’s time as a Nerazzurri player.

“I played with Cristian Chivu,” he said.

“Besides the fact that he was a teammate and a brother, we had great times together,” said the former captain.

“We won a lot. He’s always been a generous guy.”

The Inter executive said that Chivu is “the kind of guy you know is always there, in the hard times and in the good times, he’s always there.”

“That’s the kind of guy that Cristian is.”

Zanetti added that Chivu “transmits all his passion.”

“Beyond his tactical ideas, he manages to convey all his passion to the players. And in my opinion, he’ll have a successful coaching career.”