Zinedine Zidane

At 51 years old, Zinedine Zidane has this physical status:

Zinedine Yazid Zidane (born 23 June 1972), popularly known as Zizou, is a French professional football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. He most recently coached Spanish club Real Madrid and is one of the most successful coaches in the world. Also widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Zidane was a playmaker renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, ball control and technique. He received many individual accolades as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or.

Zidane started his career at Cannes before establishing himself as one of the best players in the French Ligue 1 at Bordeaux. In 1996, he moved to Italian team Juventus, where he won several trophies including two Serie A titles. He moved to Real Madrid for a world record fee at the time of €77.5 million in 2001, which remained unmatched for the next eight years. In Spain, Zidane won several trophies, including a La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League. In the 2002 Champions League final, he scored a left-foot volleyed winner which is considered to be one of the greatest goals in the competition's history.

Capped 108 times by France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final, and was named to the All-Star team. This triumph made him a national hero in France and he received the Legion of Honour in 1998. He won UEFA Euro 2000 and was named Player of the Tournament. He also received the Golden Ball as Player of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. He retired as the fourth-most capped player in French history.

In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and in the same year was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Zidane is one of eight players to have won the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. He was the ambassador for Qatar's successful bid to stage the 2022 World Cup, the first Arab country to host the tournament.

After retiring as a player, Zidane began his coaching career at Real Madrid Castilla. He remained in the position for two years before taking the helm of the first team in 2016. In his initial two and a half seasons, Zidane became the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row, won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each, as well as a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España. This success led to Zidane being named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. He resigned in 2018, but returned to the club in 2019 and proceeded to win another La Liga and a Supercopa de España title. He left the club once again in 2021.

Personal life

At the age of 17, Zidane met his future wife, Véronique Fernández (born in Aveyron of Spanish descent), while playing for Cannes in the 1988–89 season. Married in 1994, they have four sons: Enzo Zidane Fernández (born 24 March 1995), Luca Zidane Fernández (born 13 May 1998), Theo Zidane Fernández (born 18 May 2002), and Elyaz Zidane Fernández (born 26 December 2005).

On 12 July 2019, his elder brother Farid died of cancer at the age of 54.

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Early life and career

Zinedine Zidane was born in La Castellane, Marseille, France, on June 23, 1972. He is the youngest of five siblings. Zidane is a Muslim of Algerian Kabyle descent. His parents, Smael and Malika, emigrated to Paris from Aguemoune, a Berber-speaking city in northern Algeria, before the Algerian War began in 1953. The family, who had lived in Barbès and Saint-Denis, found no work in the area, and in the mid-1960s, they migrated to La Castellane, in Marseille's northern Marseille suburb.

His father worked as a warehouseman and nightwatchman at a department store, often on the night shift, while his mother was a housewife. The family lived a decent life by the neighborhood's high crime and unemployment rates, which was well known in Marseille. Zidane attributes his close upbringing and father as his "guiding light" in his career.

It was in Castellane where Zidane's children were playing in football games at the age of five, when the neighborhood's children took part in the Place Tartane, the 80-yard plaza that served as the main square of the housing project. When growing up, Zidane named former Marseille players Bla_ Slikovi, Enzo Francescoli, and Jean-Pierre Papin as his heroes. Zidane gained his first player's license after joining the youth team of a Castellane youth team with the name of US Saint-Henri. Zidane joined SO Septèmes-Vallons after spending a year and a half at Saint-Henri. Zidane remained with Septèmes until the age of 14, when he was chosen to attend a three-day training camp at the CREPS (Regional Centre for Sport and Physical Education) in Aix-en-Provence, one of the French Football Federation's many such footballing institutes. It was here that AS Cannes scout and former player Jean Varraud, who recommended Zidane to the club's training center director, was spotted. Diego Maradona's performance left an indelible mark on the 1986 World Cup, with Zidane praising Maradona "was on another level."

Club career

Zidane joined AS Cannes for a six-week stay, but he didn't retire from the club for four years to play at the highest level. Having left his family behind to join Cannes, he was invited by Cannes Director Jean-Claude Elineau to leave the dormitory he shared with 20 other trainees and move with him and his family. Zidane later found peace while living with the Elineaus.

It was at Cannes that Zidane's first coaches noticed that he was young and vulnerable, and he was prone to assault spectators who insulted his race or family. Jean Varraud, his first coach, encouraged him to channel his rage and concentrate on his own game. Zidane spent his first weeks at Cannes mostly on cleaning as a punishment for punching an opponent who mocked his ghetto origins. He suffered from occasional violence throughout his career as a result of his inner turmoil of being an Algerian-Frenchman suspended between cultures and being able to navigate La Castellane's harsh streets.

In a French Division 1 match against Nantes, Zidane made his professional debut with Cannes on May 18th. He scored his first goal for the club on February 10, 1991, when it defeated Nantes 2–1 in a 2–1 victory. Zidane was given a Mercedes by Cannes chairman Alain Pedretti, who had promised him one day after scoring his first goal for the team. Zidane demonstrated extraordinary technique on the field, giving a glimpse of the talent that might carry him to the top of the world game. After finishing fourth in the league, the club secured its first European football berth by qualifying for the UEFA Cup in his first full season with Cannes. This is the club's highest finish in the top flight since being relegated for the first time from the first division in the 1948-1949 season.

Zidane was born in the 1992–93 season, winning the 1995 Intertoto Cup after beating Karlsruhe and finishing runner-up against Bayern Munich in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup. He played a variety of midfield combinations with Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry, which would be the trademark of both Bordeaux and the 1998 French national team. "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?" Blackburn Rovers boss Kenny Dalglish had expressed interest in signing both Zidane and Dugarry, which club owner Jack Walker reportedly asked. Zidane was sold to Newcastle United for £1.2 million at the start of the 1996 season, but the club turned down the bid after seeing that he was not strong enough for the English First Division. Zidane received the prestigious Ligue 1 Player of the Year award in 1996.

Zidane was offered the opportunity to join Europe's top clubs in the spring of 1996, deciding on a move to UEFA Champions League champion Juventus after a string of standout performances for both Bordeaux and France. Zidane's impact in Italy was immediate, winning the 1996-97 Serie A crown and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup. In his first season, he was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year. Zidane's increasing fame in the sport saw him selected in a European XI to face a World XI, which featured a forward line of Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta in December 1997.

Zidane came as Juve's playmaker, with Del Piero recalling, "Zidane had a natural gift," the team's captain said, "which contributed to his sole interest in assisting the team." He was not a selfish player. He had a natural ability to be a leader and a team player. I was lucky to play with him." He lost in the 1997 UEFA Champions League Final 3–1 to Borussia Dortmund because he was unable to make an appearance against Paul Lambert's close marking.

Zidane scored seven goals in 32 games in the league to help Juventus beat Juventus 1997–98 Serie A and thus hold the Scudetto. Juventus made their third straight UEFA Champions League Final appearance in Europe, but Los Angeles lost 11-0 to Real Madrid. Zidane was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998 and won the Ballon d'Or. Juventus finished second in the 2000-01 Serie A, but were disqualified in the Champions League's group stage after Zidane was barred from headbutting Hamburger SV player Jochen Kientz. For the second time, Zidane was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year in 2001.

Zidane joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of 150 billion Italian lire (about €77.5 million by fixed exchange rate; a total of 12.8 billion pesetas) in instalments; and agreed to a four-year deal. In Madrid's 2–1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, the newest addition to the Galácticos era of global stars. In his first season with the club, Zidane scored a volley shot with his weaker left foot from the edge of the 18-yard box. The aim has been dubbed one of the best in Champions League history. Zidane's most emotional goal celebrations came as he rushed towards the touchline with mouth wide open, screaming in adoration, despite the severity of the attack.

Zidane also assisted Real Madrid win the 2002–03 La Liga championship, playing alongside Luo Figo in midfield, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In 2004, fans voted him the best European footballer of the previous 50 years in UEFA's fiftieth-anniversary Golden Jubilee Poll.

Although Zidane's last season of club football ended without a trophy, he had a blast against Sevilla in a 4–2 victory in January 2006. With nine goals and ten assists in 28 games, Real Madrid's second highest goalscorer and assists provider behind teammates Ronaldo and David Beckham respectively. Zidane, who had announced his plans to retire after the 2006 World Cup, played his farewell match and scored in a 3–3 draw with Villarreal on May 7, 2006. With ZIDANE 2001-2006 below the club emblem, the squad wore commemorative shirts. "Thanks for the music," the 80,000 fans inside the Santiago Bernabéu banner read: "Thanks for the magic."

Zidane appeared for Madrid in an All Stars Match against Manchester United in 2012, which resulted in a 3–2 victory for Real. He was named by Marca in April 2013 as one of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history."

International career

Zidane is regarded as a citizen both France and Algeria. It was rumored that coach Abdelhamid Kermali refused Zidane a job for the Algerian team because the young midfielder was not strong enough. In a 2005 interview, Zidane denied the rumors, saying he would not have been ineligible to play for Algeria because he had already played for France.

Zidane was a member of the French under-21 squad that received a bronze medal at the 1993 Mediterranean Games in Languedoc-Roussillon. On Saturday, he played for France in a friendly against the Czech Republic, ending in a 2–2 draw after Zidane scored twice to help France beat a 2–0 deficit. Zidane took over the playmaker role after Eric Cantona was banned for a year in January 1995 for assaulting a fan.

Despite not being at his best during the tournament, France made it to the last four. Zidane was still not fully established in the French team, and his performance during the entire tournament was below average, but he did score in the penalty shootout in both the quarter-final and semi-finals. In a penalty shootout against the Czech Republic, France was disqualified in the Euro 96 semi-finals.

Zidane participated in his first World Cup in 1998; the tournament was held in his home country, France. The French team won all three games in the group stage, with Zidane setting up Christophe Dugarry's goal in the first match against South Africa from a corner and contributing to Thierry Henry's first goal in the second match against Saudi Arabia; however, Zidane was disqualified in the second match for a stamp on Fuad Anwar, becoming the first French player to receive a red card in a World Cup Finals match. France defeated Paraguay 1–0 in the first round of sixteen games against Paraguay, with Zidane scoring the first spot kick in the shoot-out. In the semi-finals, France defeated Croatia 2–1. Although Zidane was involved in the team's success, he had yet to score a goal at the World Cup.

In the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, Zidane and France continued to compete against Brazil, the defending champions and favorites. From the kick-off, France overruled Brazil, with Zidane scoring two similar goals, both headers from corner kicks taken by Emmanuel Petit and Youri Djorkaeff. With one hand on the World Cup trophy, the Courtesy of Zidane's two goals lifted France into the half-time break 2–0. Petit scored his third goal in stoppage time to win by 3–0 and France's first World Cup title. Zidane was named man of the match and was to be named in honor of the Legion of Honour later this year. More than a million people attended the Champs-Élysées in Paris, with major events centered around the Arc de Triomphe.

France won Euro 2000, becoming the first team to hold both the World Cup and the European Championship since West Germany's 1974 victory. Zidane scored two goals, a bending free kick against Spain in the quarter-finals, and a penalty in the semi-final against Portugal. Zidane Player of the Tournament has been named by UEFA.

Zidane himself claims to be at his best during the tournament, while the UEFA website states, "In Belgium and the Netherlands, Zidane dominated a major championship in a way no one had figured before Diego Maradona in 1986." With clever flicks, mesmerizing stepovers, slaloming runs, and masterful vision, 'Zizou' shone brilliantly from the start of his game against Denmark to the final against Italy, casting a spell on his opponents.'

France entered Japan/Korea as the reigning world and European champions, but the French team was unable to score in either match and without their talisman. Despite being completely fit, he was forced to return to the third game early, but did not have to prevent France from being ignominiously eliminated in the group stage without scoring a single point; the worst show by a defending champion in the game's history.

With victories over England and Switzerland, France dominated their group at Euro 2004 before being knocked out in the quarter finals by eventual champions Greece in a surprising 1–0 loss. Zidane converted an impending loss into a 2–1 victory in the first match against England. Zidane resigned from international football following France's demise.

France struggled to qualify for the 2006 World Cup after veteran key players such as Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly, Claude Makélélé, and Lilian Thuram were among the retirees, including Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly. Zidane stepped out of retirement and was immediately reinstated as team captain at coach Raymond Domenech's behest. Zidane, as well as Thuram and Makélélé, made their competitive return for France in a 3–0 win over the Faroe Islands on September 3, 2005. The trio helped France progress from fourth place to top in their qualifying group. Zidane earned his 100th cap for France on Saturday, defeating Mexico 1–0 in what would be his last match at Stade de France on May 27. After Desailly, Thuram, and Didier Deschamps, Zidane became France's fourth player to reach 100 caps.

The 2006 Finals were off to a slow start, with Zidane returning to set up a goal for Patrick Vieira and scoring oneself in the second round match against Spain. In the rematch of the 1998 final, France held Brazil to only one shot on goal in the quarterfinals. Zidane was instrumental in Thierry Henry's decision and was named Man of the Match by FIFA for his efforts. France defeated Portugal in the semi-finals, and as in Brussels six years ago, Zidane's penalty kick ended the match and sent France to another major final.

Having already announced that he would leave Real Madrid after the 2005-06 season, the world of football already knew Zidane's second World Cup final would be his last match of his career. Zidane, along with Pelé, Paul Breitner, and Vavá, ranked France seventh in the World Cup finals in Berlin, seven minutes ahead of the sixth world Cup finals, with Valiant, Pelé, and Vavá all scoring in second place. During the first period of extra time, he was close to scoring his second goal, but Gianluigi Buffon saved his header. Zidane was sent off in the 110th minute of the game after headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest, so he did not participate in the penalty shootout, which Italy beat 5–3. This was Zidane's 14th overall expulsion, and he joined Cameroon's Rigobert Song as the only players to be banned from two separate World Cup tournaments. In addition to being the first sent off in extra time, he became the fourth player red-carded in a World Cup final. Zidane's activities made news around the world, although Le Figaro, in France, called his head-butt "odious," and L'Équipe's front page asked, "What should we tell our children, for whom you have been an example for ever?" How can this happen to a man like you? Zidane had been lauded for his efforts during the tournament, with Pep Guardiola stating that he wields so much power on the team that "France are never disorganized." Zidane was named the tournament's best player on the day the final was announced.

The Place de la Concorde in Paris was bursting with thousands of fans waving flags and chanting "Zizou!" upon his return to France.

Zizou!

"The French president Jacques Chirac led the parades and homages." Chirac's words represented the French people's displeasure with Zidane's defiance: 61% of French people said they had already forgiven him for his conduct, while 52% said they understood it. Zidane's appearances in the knock-out rounds were "ranked among his finest in a blue shirt," according to French journalist Philippe Auclair. Zidane had given the team hope as the tournament's protagonist, with the French daily newspaper Libération ostensibly saying, "France was dreaming with Zidane for a month." Zidane remained a symbol for French society, but one French writer wrote, "It's good for us to see our national hero is fallible." Marco Materazzi had insulted Zidane's sister, causing Zidane's heightened indignation and reaction. Zidane said he would "rather die than apologise" for Materazzi's headbutt in the final, but also said he may not have lived with himself" had he been allowed to sit on the field and help France win the tournament. "If you take a look at the fourteen red cards I had in my career," he said later, "12 of them were a result of provocation." This isn't justified; this isn't an excuse, but "my passion, temper, and blood made me react" was the catalyst.

Zidane resigned from professional football after his red card in the final, and he said he did not go back on his decision. He was banned by FIFA from playing three games on the red card. In one of FIFA's humanitarian programs, he promised to complete three days of community service with children. Zidane tied for the most cards issued in World Cup matches with Brazil's Cafu, with six out of six.

Coaching career

In November 2010, Zidane was hired as a special advisor to Real Madrid's first team in reaction to the late Real Madrid coach José Mourinho's request for the former Real Madrid coach to work more closely with the team. Zidane was supposed to attend Champions League events and functions, as well as attend pre-match gatherings, preparation sessions, and meetings with the head coach. In July 2011, it was revealed that he would be Real Madrid's next athletic director. Zidane was named assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid in 2013.

Real Madrid announced in June 2014 that Zidane will be the head coach of Real Madrid's B team, Real Madrid Castilla. Miguel Galán, the head coach of the Spanish National Football Coach Education Centre (CENAFE), told Zidane for serving as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach without having the required coaching credentials on August 29. "No one who has nothing to do with football will be unaware that Zidane is serving as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach this season," Galán said. Real Madrid deny it is a fait accomplice that has been widely promoted, as shown by media reports. Although Castilla's first game in the Segunda División B. Santiago Sánchez is the Los Blancos' head coach and Zidane as his assistant, Galán claims, "this system only exists on paper." The truth is entirely opposite: Zidane is portraying himself as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach, though Mr Sánchez's job, as a colleague, simply boils down to providing the badges.

Real Madrid reported Rafael Bentez's dismissal on January 4th, and on the same day, Zidane was appointed as the club's new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Real Madrid defeated Deportivo La Corua 5–0 in a La Liga match, his first match as the club's new manager took place five days later. Zidane led his team to a 2–1 victory over Barcelona on April 2nd, bringing an end to Barça's 39-match unbeaten streak. He was on his first El Clásico as a coach. Zidane led Real Madrid to a spot in the Champions League final on May 4th by defeating Manchester City 1–0 on aggregate. Madrid finished second in La Liga, scoring 90 points and just one point behind champions Barcelona. Real Madrid's eleventh Champions League title was won after a 5–3 shoot-out victory over Atlético Madrid on May 28 with the achievement being dubbed "La Undécima." Zidane made the European Cup both as a player and a mentor, as well as as the second man (after Miguel Muoz) who was defeated by Real Madrid. Except for French-Argentinian Helenio Herrera, he was also the first French coach to win the award.

Real Madrid began their 2016–17 campaign, marking Zidane's first full season in charge of the club, as well as a win over Sevilla in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup. Madrid lost their 35th straight match, which set a new club record. In the final of the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, the club defeated Japanese outfit Kashima Antlers 4–2 on December 18, 2016. Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals in the second leg of the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Sunday, beating Barcelona's previous record of 39 matches unbeaten in all competitions from the previous season. In La Liga, the team's undefeated streak came to an end after losing 1–2 away to the same opposition three days later. On aggregate, the team was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo 3–4 on aggregate. Madrid lifted the league championship for the first time in five years in May, winning the first title in five years and accumulating 93 points in the process. Real Madrid's Champions League final victory over Juventus on June 3rd brought the club's first team to successfully defend their crown in the UEFA Champions League era, and the first to win consecutive titles in the competition since Milan in 1989 and 1990. Real Madrid's title was its 12th, extending the previous record and its third in four years. The achievement is also known as "La Duodécima." Zidane became only the second manager to win the European Cup in his first two seasons as a coach, alongside fellow Real Madrid coach José Villalonga.

Real kicked off the 2017-18 season by winning its second straight and fourth overall UEFA Super Cup victory over Manchester United. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3–1 in the first leg of the 2017 Supercopa de Espaa, then beating Barça 2–0 in the return leg, ending their 24-match scoring streak and winning their second trophy of the season. This award placed Zidane del Bosque as the third most influential Real Madrid coach in the country, with seven titles, one less than Luis Molowny. This also meant that Zidane had won as many titles in his coaching position in Real Madrid as games had been lost during his tenure. Zidane's success earned him the title of Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. Zidane lifted his eighth trophy as coach in the FIFA Club World Cup final on December 16th, defeating Brazilian club Grêmio 1–0 and becoming the first team to hold the trophy. Madrid was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganés on away goals on January 24. Real's league campaign was also a letdown, with 76 points and a 17th place finish behind champions Barcelona. Madrid fared much better in the Champions League, winning three straight titles in the European Cup/Champions League since Bayern Munich in 1976, as well as the first team to win three consecutive titles in the European Cup/Champions League since 1979. He was one of three players to win the European Cup three times, alongside Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti, while also becoming the first coach to win the trophy in three seasons in three consecutive seasons. Zidane resigned as Real Madrid coach on May 31, five days after the Champions League final, citing the club's "need for change" as his reason for leaving.

Real Madrid's poor showing in the months after Zidane's departure, which resulted in expulsion from the Copa del Rey at home and a brief period of contention in the Champions League, as the clubs' long run of glory in the tournament came to an end, was announced on Sunday by Zidane's former teammate Santiago Solari (who himself had only been in the sport for five months) and his head coach's return to Barcelona ended on March 11th.

The 2019-20 season seemed to be a promising one for Madrid, signing Eden Hazard, Luka Jovi, Éder Militó, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, Reinier, and other players for a total of more than €350 million. Zidane led Madrid to their first trophy in his second spell in the Supercopa de Espaa final on January 12, 2020, defeating cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout. La Liga was revived in June and Madrid won ten games in a row to capture the team's 34th league title after a three-month absence due to the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. In total, the team won 87 points. It was Zidane's second championship in his coaching career. Real Madrid's collective attitude was lauded by international and Spanish media as they cracked multiple records, including the number of scorers and retaining their best league defensive record in 30 years, with 21 of his players attempting to get on the scoresheet during the campaign. After going trophyless this season, Zidane went back for a second time on May 27th, 2021.

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