Gianluca Zambrotta is a name etched into the golden pages of Italian football history. With a 19-year career that spanned elite clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, and Barcelona, and nearly a century of caps for the national team, Zambrotta's on-pitch prowess was never in doubt. Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory was a triumph of grit and talent, thanks to him!
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Since retiring in 2014, the former right-back has largely stepped out of the spotlight, briefly dabbling in football management. But now, at 48, the retired star faces an entirely different challenge—one that involves his own legs.
Gianluca Zambrotta reveals struggle with Bow Legs
Zambrotta recently shared the surprising severity of his condition on Gianluca Gazzoli’s BSMT podcast, reports The Sun. The former Italy international disclosed that he suffers from Bow Legs, a severe bone deformity that curves his legs outward at the knees.
He is now due to face surgery that will involve cutting his bone to realign his legs. Labelling himself as the ‘laboratory model for surgeons,’ he said on the podcast:
I will soon have surgery on both knees.
I have visited three or four leading surgeons nationwide, and they can't explain to me how I can have these knees or how I can engage in physical activities like padel, for example.
The surgical procedure, known as an osteotomy, involves cutting small segments from his bones and inserting plates, an attempt to delay the inevitable necessity of full prosthetic legs. He said:
I'll have to have an osteotomy…Although I'll have to get one in a few years.
Hinting that his condition is severe, he added:
The doctors look at me and ask me how I walk.
What is Bow Legs?
According to WebMD, Bow Legs, scientifically known as Genu Varum, is characterised by outwardly curved legs, causing a noticeable gap between the knees even when ankles and feet touch. Typically diagnosed during childhood, Bow Legs usually resolve naturally by the age of three or four.
Several factors contribute to the development of Bow Legs. Blount’s disease, for example, occurs when growth plates around the knees develop unevenly, predominantly affecting children under three and adolescents. Another potential cause is rickets, a rare but serious condition stemming from deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus. Knee injuries or infections may also trigger the deformity later in life.
Symptoms of Bow Legs extend beyond visual curvature. Individuals may experience unstable knees, restricted hip movement, and ongoing discomfort or pain in hips and knees.
Treatment varies significantly based on cause and age. In children, bracing or minimal-incision surgeries might suffice. However, adults typically require an osteotomy—precisely the operation Zambrotta faces—to realign bones and stabilise the legs. Severe deformities sometimes necessitate external stabilisation, limb-lengthening procedures, or prosthetics.
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Sources used:
The Sun: Italy World Cup winner, 48, needs to have his bones CUT after developing severe deformity in legs
WebMD: What to Know About Bow Legs
