Zinedine Zidane

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Zindine Zidane Zidane Zizu.jpg
Zidane in 2013
Personal information
Full name
Zinedine Yazid Zidane[1][2]
Date of birth 23 June 1972 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth Marseille, France
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position
Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
Real Madrid Castilla (manager)
Youth career
1982 1983
US Saint-Henri
1983 1986
SO Septemes-les-Vallons
1986 1989
Cannes
Senior career*
Years Team
Apps
(Gls)
1989 1992
Cannes 61
(6)
1992 1996
Bordeaux
139
(28)
1996 2001
Juventus
151
(24)
2001 2006
Real Madrid
155
(37)
Total
506
(95)
National team
1988 1989
France U17
4
(1)
1989 1990
France U18
6
(0)
1990 1994
France U21
20
(3)
1994 2006
France 108
(31)
Teams managed
2013 2014
Real Madrid (assistant)
2014
Real Madrid Castilla
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
Appearances (Goals).
Zinedine Yazid Zidane[3] (French pronunciation: [zinedin zidan] ( listen), born
23 June 1972), nicknamed "Zizou", is a French former footballer and current coac
h of Real Madrid Castilla. He played as an attacking midfielder for the France n
ational team, Juventus and Real Madrid.[4][5] Renowned for his elegance, vision,
ball control and technique, Zidane was named the best European footballer of th
e past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll,[6] and has been described as on
e of the greatest players in the history of the game.[7][8][9]
At club level, Zidane won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League with R
eal Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus and an Intercontinent
al Cup and a UEFA Super Cup each with both aforementioned sides. His 2001 transf
er from Juventus to Real Madrid set a world record fee of an equivalent 75 millio
n. On the international stage with France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, s
coring twice in the final, and UEFA Euro 2000 where he was named Player of the T
ournament. The World Cup triumph made him a national hero in France, and he rece
ived the Lgion d'honneur in 1998.
Zidane has won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, a feat achieved on
ly by Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,[10] and the Ballon d'Or once.
He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 20
01 and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002. Zidane received the Golden Ball for
player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup, and in the final against Italy w

as infamously sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. Prior to th
e World Cup, he announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.
After retirement, Zidane became assistant coach at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancel
otti for the 2013-14 season. After a successful year in which the club won the U
EFA Champions League and Copa del Rey, Zidane became the coach of Real Madrid's
B team, Real Madrid Castilla.[11] In 2010, Zidane was an ambassador for Qatar's
successful bid to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first Arab country to host
the tournament.[12]
Contents
1 Early life and career
2 Club career
2.1 Cannes
2.2 Bordeaux
2.3 Juventus
2.4 Real Madrid
3 International career
3.1 Euro 1996
3.2 1998 World Cup
3.3 Euro 2000
3.4 2002 World Cup
3.5 Euro 2004
3.6 2006 World Cup
4 Retirement
4.1 Charity activities
5 Coaching career
5.1 Real Madrid Castilla
6 Reception and legacy
7 In popular culture
8 Personal life
9 Career statistics
9.1 Club
9.2 International
9.2.1 International goals
10 Honours
10.1 Player
10.2 Country
10.3 Club
10.4 Individual
10.5 Order
10.6 Records
10.7 Assistant Manager
11 Notes and references
12 External links
Early life and career
La Castellane in the northern suburb of Marseille where Zidane was born
Zinedine Yazid Zidane (Arabic: ??? ????? ????? ???????) was born on 23 June 1972
in La Castellane, Marseille in southern France. Zidane is of Algerian Kabyle Be
rber descent.[13][14] His parents, Smail and Malika, emigrated to Paris from the
village of Aguemoune in the Berber-speaking region of Kabylie in northern Alger
ia in 1953 before the start of the Algerian War. The family, which had settled i
n the city's tough northern districts of Barbes and Saint-Denis, found little wo
rk in the region, and in the mid-1960s moved to the northern Marseille suburb of
La Castellane in the 16th arrondissement of Marseille. In 1972, Zidane was born
there as the youngest of five siblings. His father Smail worked as a warehousem
an / nightwatchman at a department store, often on the night shift, while his mo

ther was a housewife.[13] The family lived a reasonably comfortable life by the
standards of the neighborhood, which was notorious throughout Marseille for its
high crime and unemployment rates.[14][15]
It was in Castellane where Zidane had his earliest introduction in football, joi
ning in at the age of five in football games that the neighbourhood's children p
layed on the Place Tartane, an 80-by-12-yard plaza that served as the main squar
e of the housing complex.[16] In July 2011, Zidane named former Olympique Marsei
lle players Bla Sli kovi, Enzo Francescoli and Jean-Pierre Papin as his idols while
growing up.[17][18]
At the age of ten, Zidane got his first player's licence after joining the junio
r team of a local club from Castellane by the name of US Saint-Henri.[19] After
spending a year and a half at US Saint-Henri, Zidane joined SO Septemes-les-Vall
ons when the Septemes coach Robert Centenero convinced the club's Director to ge
t Zidane.[19]
Zidane stayed with Septemes until the age of fourteen, at which time he was sele
cted to attend a three-day training camp at the CREPS (Regional Centre for Sport
s and Physical Education) in Aix-en-Provence, one of several such footballing in
stitutes run by the French Football Federation. It was here that Zidane was spot
ted by AS Cannes scout, and former player, Jean Varraud who recommended him to t
he training centre director of the club.[4]
Club career
Cannes
"He d go past one, two, three, five, six players
it was sublime. His feet spoke wi
th the ball"
Jean Varraud, former player who discovered Zidane.[4]
Zidane went to AS Cannes for a six-week stay, but ended up remaining at the club
for four years to play at the professional level. Having left his family at the
age of fourteen to join Cannes, he was invited by Cannes director Jean-Claude E
lineau, to leave the dormitory he shared with 20 other trainees and to come and
stay with him and his family. Zidane later said that while living with the Eline
aus he found equilibrium.[13]
It was at Cannes where Zidane's first coaches noticed that he was raw and sensit
ive, prone to attack spectators who insulted his race or family.[20] His first c
oach, Jean Varraud, encouraged him to channel his anger and focus on his own gam
e. Zidane spent his first weeks at Cannes mainly on cleaning duty as a punishmen
t for punching an opponent who mocked his ghetto origins.[20] The occasional vio
lence that he would display throughout his career was shaped by an internal conf
lict of being an Algerian-Frenchman suspended between cultures, and surviving th
e tough streets of La Castellane where he grew up.[20]
Zidane made his professional debut with Cannes on 18 May 1989 at the age of sixt
een in a French Division 1 match against Nantes.[21] He scored his first goal fo
r the club on 10 February 1991[22] also against Nantes in a 2 1 win. After the mat
ch during a party for all the Cannes players, Zidane was given a car by Cannes c
hairman Alain Pedretti, who had promised him one the day he scored his first goa
l for the club.[23] On the pitch, Zidane displayed extraordinary technique on th
e ball, offering glimpses of the talent that would take him to the top of the wo
rld game.[4] In his first full season with Cannes, the club secured its first ev
er European football berth by qualifying for the UEFA Cup after finishing fourth
in the league. This remains the club's highest finish in the top flight since g
etting relegated for the first time from the first division in the 1948 49 season.
[24]
Bordeaux

Zidane was transferred to Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1992 93 season, winning the
1995 Intertoto Cup after beating Karlsruhe,[25] and finishing runner-up against
Bayern Munich in the 1995 96 UEFA Cup,[26][27] in four years with the club. He pl
ayed a set of midfield combinations with Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry
, which would become the trademark of both Bordeaux and the 1998 French national
team. In 1995, Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish had expressed interest i
n signing both Zidane and Dugarry, to which team owner and chairman Jack Walker
reportedly replied, "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?"[
28] Also towards the beginning of the 1996 season, according to football agent B
arry Silkman, Zidane was offered to Newcastle United for L1.2 million, but the c
lub turned down the offer after watching him, claiming that he was not good enou
gh for the English First Division.[29] In 1996, Zidane received the award for Li
gue 1 Player of the Year.[30]
Juventus
"He is a special player. He creates space where there is none. No matter where h
e gets the ball or how it comes to him, he can get out of trouble. His imaginati
on and his technique are amazing"
Juventus teammate Edgar Davids.[31]
After a series of consistently outstanding performances for both Bordeaux and Fr
ance, Zidane had offers to join Europe's top clubs in the spring of 1996, decidi
ng on a move to UEFA Champions League winners Juventus during the close season.[
32] Zidane's impact in Italy was immediate, winning the 1996 97 Serie A title and
the 1996 Intercontinental Cup.[33] He lost in the 1997 UEFA Champions League Fin
al 3 1 to Borussia Dortmund when he was unable to make an impression against the c
lose marking of Paul Lambert.[34] The following season, Zidane scored seven goal
s in 32 matches in the league to help Juventus win the 1997 98 Serie A and thus re
tain the Scudetto. In Europe, Juventus made their third consecutive UEFA Champio
ns League Final appearance, but lost the game 1 0 to Real Madrid. In 1998, Zidane
was named FIFA World Player of the Year, and won the Ballon d'Or. Juventus finis
hed second in the 2000 01 Serie A, but were eliminated in the group stage of the C
hampions League, after Zidane was banned for head-butting Hamburger SV player Jo
chen Kientz.[35] In 2001, Zidane was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Yea
r for the second time.[36]
Real Madrid
With David Beckham at Real Madrid in 2003
In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of 150 billion Italian
lire.[37] (about 75 million[38]) and signed a four-year contract. He scored a fa
mous match-winning goal, a volley hit with his weaker foot, in Madrid's 2 1 win ov
er Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final completing his perso
nal quadruple. The goal has been cited as one of the greatest in Champions Leagu
e history.[39][40][41]
"He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk
gloves on each foot. He makes it worthwhile going to the stadium
he's one of th
e best I have ever seen."
Alfredo Di Stfano on Zidane after he was named World Player of the Year in 2003.[9
]
The next season, Zidane helped Real Madrid to win the 2002 03 La Liga and was name
d the FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In 2004, fans voted him
as the best European footballer of the previous 50 years in UEFA's fiftieth-anni
versary Golden Jubilee Poll.[6]
While Zidane's final season of club football ended without a trophy, he enjoyed
success on a personal note by scoring his first hat-trick against Sevilla FC in
a 4 2 win in January 2006.[42] He ended the season for Real Madrid as their second
highest goalscorer and assists provider behind team-mates Ronaldo and David Bec

kham respectively, with nine goals and ten assists in 28 games.[43] On 7 May 200
6, Zidane, who had announced his plans to retire after the 2006 World Cup,[44] p
layed his farewell match and scored in a 3 3 draw with Villarreal. The squad wore
commemorative shirts with ZIDANE 2001 2006 below the club logo. The 80,000 fans in
side the Estadio Santiago Bernabu held up a banner reading: Thanks for the magic .[4
]
In 2012, Zidane featured for Madrid in an All Stars Match against Manchester Uni
ted which resulted in a 3 2 win for Real. In April 2013, he was named by Marca as
a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history".[45]
International career
Both France and Algeria consider Zidane a citizen, but he was ineligible to play
for the Algerian national team. It was rumoured that coach Abdelhamid Kermali d
enied Zidane a position for the Algerian squad because he felt the young midfiel
der was not fast enough.[46] However, Zidane dismissed the rumour in a 2005 inte
rview, saying that he would have been ineligible to play for Algeria because he
had already played for France.[47]
He earned his first cap with France as a substitute in a friendly against the Cz
ech Republic on 17 August 1994, which ended in a 2 2 draw after Zidane scored twic
e to help France erase a 2 0 deficit. After ric Cantona was handed a year-long susp
ension in January 1995 for assaulting a fan, Zidane took over the playmaker posi
tion.[48]
Euro 1996
Despite not being at his best during the tournament, France reached the last fou
r. Zidane was not yet fully established in the French team and his level was qui
te average during the whole event, but he managed to score in the penalty shooto
ut in both the quarter-final and semi-final. France was eliminated in the Euro 9
6 semi-finals in a penalty shootout against the Czech Republic.[49]
1998 World Cup
Zidane wore number 10 throughout his international career
The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the first World Cup that Zidane participated in. It
was held in his home country France. The French team won all three games in the
group stage but Zidane was sent off in the second match against Saudi Arabia for
a stamp on Fuad Anwar, becoming the first French player to receive a red card i
n a World Cup Finals. Without their playmaker France proceeded to win 1 0 in the l
ast sixteen game against Paraguay and, on his return to the side, defeated Italy
4 3 on penalties after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals. France then defeate
d Croatia 2 1 in the semi-final. Zidane played a major role in the team's accompli
shment, though he had yet to score a goal at the World Cup.
Zidane and France went on to play against defending champions and favourites Bra
zil at the Stade de France in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final. France dominated Br
azil from the kick-off, with Zidane scoring two similar goals, both headers from
corner kicks taken by Emmanuel Petit and Youri Djorkaeff. Courtesy of Zidane's
two goals, France went into the half-time break 2-0 up with one hand already on
the World Cup trophy.[4] Petit added a third goal deep in stoppage time to seal
the 3 0 win and France's first ever World Cup. Zidane became an instant national h
ero, and over one million people celebrated the victory on the Champs-lyses where
a huge image of Zidane was projected on the Arc de Triomphe along with the words
"Merci Zizou".[50][51][52]
Euro 2000
Two years later France won Euro 2000, becoming the first team to hold both the W
orld Cup and the European Championship since West Germany in 1974. Zidane finish
ed with two goals, a memorable bending free kick against Spain in the quarter-fi
nal and the golden goal in the semi-final against Portugal, and was named Player

of the Tournament by UEFA.[53]

2002 World Cup
As reigning world and European champions, France entered the 2002 World Cup as f
avourites but a thigh injury prevented Zidane from playing in France's first two
matches and without their talisman, the French team failed to score in either m
atch. He was rushed back prematurely for the third game despite not being fully
fit, but could not prevent France from being ignominiously eliminated in the gro
up stage without scoring a single goal; the worst performance by a defending cha
mpion in the history of the competition.[54]
Euro 2004
At Euro 2004, France topped their group with wins over England and Switzerland,
before being knocked out in the quarter finals by eventual champions Greece in a
surprise 1 0 loss. In the opening match against England, Zidane scored a free kic
k and penalty in stoppage time to turn defeat into a 2 1 victory for France. After
France's elimination Zidane announced his retirement from international footbal
l.[55]
2006 World Cup
Zidane during the 2006 World Cup Final
With the mass retirement of veteran key players such as Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel
Desailly, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram, France struggled to qualify for th
e 2006 World Cup. At the urging of coach Raymond Domenech, Zidane came out of re
tirement and was immediately reinstated as team captain.[56] Zidane, along with
Thuram and Makelele, made his competitive return for France in a 3 0 win over the
Faroe Islands on 3 September 2005. The trio helped France rise from fourth place
to win their qualifying group.[57] On 27 May 2006, Zidane earned his hundredth
cap for France in a 1 0 friendly win over Mexico, in what would also be his last m
atch at the Stade de France. Zidane became France's fourth player to reach 100 c
aps, after Desailly, Thuram and Didier Deschamps.[58]
France had a slow start to the 2006 World Cup and, after being suspended for the
final match of the group stage, Zidane returned to set up a goal for Patrick Vi
eira and score one himself in the second round match against Spain. In the quart
er-final France held Brazil to just one shot on goal in the rematch of the 1998
final. Zidane assisted Thierry Henry's deciding goal and he was named Man of the
Match by FIFA.[59] France faced Portugal in the semi final and, as in Brussels
six years earlier, Zidane's penalty kick decided the contest and sent France to
another major final.[60]
Before the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ba
ll as the best player of the tournament.[61] Having already announced he was to
retire after the expiration of his Real Madrid contract at the end of the 2005 06
season, the world of football already knew Zidane's second World Cup final was t
o be the last match of his career. Seven minutes into the match Zidane put Franc
e ahead with a penalty kick and became only the fourth player in World Cup histo
ry to score in two different finals, along with Pel, Paul Breitner, and Vav, in ad
dition to being tied for first place with Vav, Pel and Geoff Hurst with three Worl
d Cup final goals apiece. He almost scored a second goal during the first period
of extra time but his header was saved by Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Zidane was then sent off in the 110th minute of the game after headbutting Marco
Materazzi in the chest,[62] so he did not participate in the penalty shootout w
hich Italy won 5 3.[63] Zidane's actions made headlines all over the world, while
in France Le Figaro called his head-butt "odious", and the front page of L'Equip
e asked: "What should we tell our children, for whom you have become an example
for ever? ... How could that happen to a man like you?".[60]
"The match you played last night was full of talent and professionalism. I know
that you are sad and disappointed but what I want to tell you is that the whole

country is extremely proud of you. You have honoured the country with your excep
tional qualities and your fantastic fighting spirit, which was your strength in
difficult times, but also in winning times."
President of France, Jacques Chirac, pays tribute to Zidane in Paris after the 20
06 World Cup.[60]
Upon his return to France, the Place de la Concorde in Paris was filled with tho
usands of fans waving flags and rhythmically chanting "Zizou! Zizou!", and tribu
tes were led by the French president Jacques Chirac.[60] Chirac's words reflecte
d the feeling of the French public, with polls done in the immediate wake of the
incident showing support for Zidane: 61% of French people said they had already
forgiven him for his actions while 52% said they understood them.[60] According
to French journalist Philippe Auclair, Zidane's performances in the knock-out r
ounds were, "ranked among his finest in a blue shirt".[60] As the player of the
tournament, Zidane had given the team hope, with the French daily newspaper Libra
tion stating; "For a month, France was dreaming with Zidane".[60] Zidane remaine
d an icon to the French public, and one French writer stated, "It's good for us
to see our national hero is fallible."[60] It was later discovered through inter
views that Marco Materazzi had insulted Zidane's sister, which led to Zidane's h
eightened anger and reaction. In 2010, Zidane said that he would "rather die tha
n apologize" to Materazzi for the headbutt in the final,[64] but also admitted t
hat he "could never have lived with himself" had he been allowed to remain on th
e pitch and help France win the match.[65] He later said that "If you look at th
e fourteen red cards I had in my career, twelve of them were a result of provoca
tion. This isn t justification, this isn t an excuse, but my passion, temper and blo
od made me react."[66]
Following his red card in the final, Zidane retired from professional football a
nd confirmed that he would not go back on his decision.[67] He was sentenced by
FIFA to a three match suspension for the red card.[68] He agreed to complete thr
ee days of community service with children in one of FIFA's humanitarian project
s.[69]
Retirement
Since his retirement, Zidane has regularly played for the Real Madrid Veterans t
eam. He has also made several futsal appearances. In an interview in June 2008,
Zidane stated that he wanted to return to football, but that he had no immediate
plans to do so.[70]
On 1 June 2009, Zidane was announced as the Advisor to the President after Flore
ntino Perez was named President of Real Madrid for the second time.[71] He along
with Jorge Valdano, General Director, and Miguel Pardeza, Sporting Director, we
re to be the key decision makers on the sporting side of the club.[71] After Fra
nce's dismal campaign in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Zidane said that he did not pl
an to move into coaching any time soon.[72]
Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid committee announced in September 2010 that Zidane had
been appointed as an ambassador for Qatar's attempt to host the 2022 FIFA World
Cup.[73] After FIFA announced on 2 December 2010 that Qatar had won the bid to
host the 2022 World Cup,[74] Zidane stated that he was "very pleased" with the o
utcome.[75] Zidane spoke of the message he was trying to convey in the campaign:
"I was saying that football belonged to the whole world. I m proud to have made m
y contribution to a new country getting the World Cup. Qatar and the entire Midd
le East as a whole deserves this event and that makes me happy. It's a victory f
or the Arab world."[12]
Charity activities
Zidane during an appearance for the Danone Nations Cup, 2008
Zidane in the Match Against Poverty in Bern, March 2014
On 24 February 2007, before a crowd of 10,000 fans at a match in northern Thaila

nd for the Keuydaroon children's AIDS charity, Zidane scored the first goal and
set up the second for a Malaysian teammate as the match ended 2 2. The event raise
d ?260,000 ($7,750). This money paid for the building of two schools and 16 thre
e-bedroom houses.[76]
On 19 November 2008, Zidane took part in the fifth annual Match Against Poverty
in Mlaga, Spain, which also ended in a 2 2 draw; he went scoreless but set up his t
eam's second goal. He and Ronaldo, who collaborated in conceiving the yearly eve
nt to benefit the United Nations Development Programme, regularly captain their
respective teams consisting of active footballers, other professional athletes a
nd celebrities.[77] Zidane, a UN Goodwill Ambassador since 2001, stated before t
he game that "everyone can do something to make the world a better place".[78]
In June and July 2009, Zidane toured across Canada with stops in Toronto, Montre
al, and Vancouver. Although billed as Zidane and "Friends", the likes of which i
ncluded Fabien Barthez and Samuel Eto'o, the exhibition matches featured local p
layers. Tournament organisers cited lack of sponsorship and support from the Can
adian Soccer Association for the disorganized rosters. Some proceeds were given
to Unicef.
On 6 June 2010, Zidane took part in the biennial charity event Soccer Aid. He pl
ayed for the Rest of the World team, managed by former Liverpool and Celtic forw
ard Kenny Dalglish against England alongside former Real Madrid teammate Luis Fi
go, and Celtic legend Henrik Larsson. He played against former players such as T
eddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer, as well as celebrities such as Hollywood actor
s Woody Harrelson, Mike Myers, Michael Sheen, chef Gordon Ramsay and singer Robb
ie Williams.[79] The match took place at Old Trafford in Manchester and was won
by The Rest of the World for the first time, the winning penalty scored by Harre
lson, after a 2 2 draw.[79]
On 2 June 2013, Zidane took part in a charity match played at Old Trafford as pa
rt of the Manchester United Legends vs Real Madrid Legends reverse Fixture. The
first leg took place in Santiago Bernabu Stadium. He was part of a team which inc
luded the likes of Figo, Fernando Redondo and Manolo Sanchis. This fixture raise
d funds for the Manchester United Foundation.[80]
Coaching career
In November 2010, Zidane was appointed as a special adviser to Real Madrid's fir
st team in response to an appeal made by Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for the
former Real midfielder to work more closely with the team. In his new role, Zid
ane is expected to participate in Champions League events and functions. He is a
lso to travel with the first team on a regular basis and participate in pre-matc
h gatherings, training sessions and meetings with the head coach.[81] In July 20
11 it was announced that he would become Real Madrid's new sporting director.[82
] In 2013, Zidane was appointed assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madri
d.[83]
Real Madrid Castilla
In June 2014, Real Madrid announced that Zidane will be the coach of Real Madrid
's B team, Real Madrid Castilla.[11] On 29 August, director of the Spanish Natio
nal Football Coach Education Centre (CENAFE), Miguel Galn, reported Zidane for ac
ting as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach without the necessary coaching badges.
[84] According to Galn, "No one who has anything to do with the football world ca
n be unaware that Zidane is acting as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach this sea
son. It is a fait accompli that has been widely accepted, as shown by media repo
rts, and Real Madrid do not deny it".[84] While the official match report for Ca
stilla's opening game in the Segunda Divisin B lists Santiago Snchez as the 'Los B
lancos' head coach and Zidane as his assistant, Galn states: "This hierarchy only
exists on paper. The truth is the exact opposite: Zidane is acting as Real Madr
id Castilla's head coach, while, with all due respect to him as a colleague, Mr

Snchez's role basically boils down to providing the badges".[84][85]

Reception and legacy
"Zidane is the master. Over the past ten years, there's been no one like him, he
has been the best player in the world. "
Pel.[86]
"Technically, I think he is the king of what's fundamental in the game
control a
nd passing. I don't think anyone can match him when it comes to controlling or r
eceiving the ball."
Michel Platini.[8]
"Zidane was football's answer to the Bolshoi Ballet. Zidane was elegance above a
ll else."
Sid Lowe, football journalist.[87]
Many authoritative voices have acclaimed Zidane's skills and importance in the h
istory of football, such as Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who called Zid
ane "a monster" for his performance and abilities.[88] German coach Franz Becken
bauer stated: "Zidane is one of the greatest players in history, a truly magnifi
cent player."[88] Italy's manager Marcello Lippi, who has also coached Zidane, o
pined "I think Zidane is the greatest talent we've known in football these last
twenty years, yet he never played the prima donna. I am honoured to have been hi
s manager."[88] Former England manager Kevin Keegan said; "You look at Zidane an
d think 'I've never seen a player quite like that'. Diego Maradona was a great p
layer. Johan Cruyff was a great player. They were different
but with similaritie
s. What sets Zidane apart is the way he manipulates a football, buying himself s
pace that isn't there. Add his vision and it makes him very special".[89] At the
1998 World Cup, Italian manager Cesare Maldini said: "I would give up five play
ers to have Zidane in my squad."[90]
Among his peers, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovi commented; "Zidane was from an
other planet. When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the ten other guys just got su
ddenly better. It is that simple".[91] David Beckham has described Zidane as "th
e greatest of all time",[92][93] FC Barcelona star Xavi has stated in a 2010 int
erview that Zidane was "the '90s and early 2000s best player"[94] while Brazilia
n defender and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos has said of Zidane, "H
e is the best player I've seen. Supporters arrived earlier at the Bernabeu just
to see him warm-up".[95] Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho stated; "Zidane is one o
f the best footballers of all time, one of my idols. He had such elegance and gr
ace, a wonderful touch and superb vision."[96]
Zidane advertisement in Algeria. A French national hero of Berber descent, Zidan
e is an icon in North Africa.
Displaying skills with an array of moves such as his signature La Roulette pirou
ette, step overs and close ball control, former Brazilian international Rivaldo
enjoyed watching Zidane more than any other player, stating; "His elegance of mo
vement on the pitch and his skills are uncanny."[97] Spanish midfielder Xabi Alo
nso opined, "What he could do with a football is a dream for most of us".[98] In
2005, upon Zidane's return to the French national team, his team mate Thierry H
enry stated; "In France, everybody realized that God exists, and that he is back
in the French international team. God is back, there is little left to say".[99
] Zidane has also been lauded by sportsmen outside football; having witnessed Zi
dane's goal against Deportivo in January 2002 where he dragged the ball right th
en left, turning the defender inside out, before scoring with a left foot finish
, basketball player Magic Johnson stated; "One of the most inspiring nights of m
y life. Zidane is a phenomenon."[100]
Zidane has been named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, a feat achieved
only by Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.[101] In a 2002 FIFA poll,

Zidane was selected in the FIFA World Cup Dream Team.[102] In 2004 he was voted
UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years, and was named in the FIFA 100 li
st of the world's greatest living players.[103] When Uefa.com asked players, jou
rnalists and their users to crown the best player in the UEFA Champions League o
f the past twenty years, in 2011, Zidane topped the poll ahead of Lionel Messi.[
104] In 2014, in a poll carried out by French TV channel TF1, Zidane was voted a
s the best player in the history of the French league ahead of other French foot
ball legends such as Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa.[105]
In popular culture
Zidane as he appears in the Family Guy episode "Saving Private Brian".
Zidane has had endorsements with many companies, including: Adidas, Lego, France
Telecom, Orange, Audi, Volvic and Christian Dior. These sponsorship deals earne
d him 8.6 million on top of his 6.4 million Real Madrid salary in 2006, totalling
5 million ($20.4 million) making him the sixth-highest paid footballer.[106][107
] In 2004, Forbes magazine listed his earnings of $15.8 million for the previous
12 months.[108] In May 2010 Zidane appeared in a commercial for Louis Vuitton,
indulging in a game of table football with fellow legends Pel and Diego Maradona.
[109]
In 2005 filmmakers Philippe Parreno and Douglas Gordon filmed a documentary Zida
ne: A 21st Century Portrait, which follows Zidane during an entire match, filmed
with 17 cameras. Scottish post-rock band Mogwai provided the soundtrack. The do
cumentary was part of the 2009 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.[110]
In November 2006, Zidane toured Bangladesh as the guest of Nobel Peace Prize win
ner Muhammad Yunus. He also visited the Algerian birthplace of his parents, and
met personally with Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who gave him an off
icial reception.[111] In 2012 Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed unveiled a bronze
sculpture depicting Zidane's headbutt of Marco Materazzi.[112]
On 5 November 2006, Zidane appeared in the American animated sitcom Family Guy,
seen headbutting an old lady in the episode "Saving Private Brian" as a parody o
f his headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final.[113] The infamous
headbutt has also been the subject of a lyrical essay by the Belgian novelist J
ean-Philippe Toussaint entitled La Mlancolie de Zidane (2006).
In 2010, footage of Zidane appeared in the "Waka Waka" music video by Shakira, w
hich shows him celebrating France winning the 1998 World Cup.[114] In 2014, Aust
ralian sports presenter Les Murray collaborated with the band Vaudeville Smash a
nd performed a Zidane tribute song, the accompanying video featuring four footba
llers performing ball tricks in Zidane masks, one of whom ends up headbutting a
nightwatchman.[115][116]
Personal life
Zidane's parents' house in the village of Aguemoune Ath Slimane in Algeria.
At the age of 17, Zidane met his future wife, Vronique Fernndez (born in Aveyron o
f Spanish descent),[117] while playing for Cannes in the 1988 89 season. Married i
n 1994, they have four sons: Enzo Alan Zidane Fernndez (born 24 March 1995), Luca
Zinedine Zidane Fernndez (born 13 May 1998),[118] Theo Zidane Fernndez (born 18 M
ay 2002),[119] and Elyaz Zidane Fernndez (born 26 December 2005). Enzo, Luca, The
o and Elyaz are all members of the Real Madrid Academy. Enzo (midfielder) is a R
eal Madrid C player, Luca (goalkeeper) is in Juvenil B, Theo (midfielder) is in
Infantil B and Elyaz (midfielder) in Benjamin A.[120]
Zidane has described himself as "a non-practicing Muslim."[13] He was voted one
of the "Top 10 Greatest Muslim Athletes of All Time" by Complex.[121]
Career statistics
Club

[122]
Club performance
League Cup
Season Club
League Apps
Goals
Goals
France League Coupe de France
1988 89
Cannes Division 1
0
1989 90
0
0
0
1990 91
28
1
3
1991 92
31
5
3
1992 93
Bordeaux
35
1993 94
34
6
3
1994 95
37
6
4
1995 96
33
6
1
Italy League Coppa Italia
Europe
1996 97
Juventus
Serie A
2
41
7
1997 98
32
7
5
1998 99
25
2
5
1999 2000
32
4
3
2000 01
33
6
2
Spain League Copa del Rey
Europe
2001 02
Real Madrid
La Liga
3
49
12
2002 03
33
9
1
2003 04
33
6
7
2004 05
29
6
1
2005 06
29
9
5
Country
France 200
34
45
Italy 151
24
17
2
Spain 155
37
23
3
Total 506
95
58
7
International
[123][124][125]
National Team
France 1994
1995
6
1996
12
1997
8
1998
15
1999
6
2000
13[A]
2001
8
2002
9
2003
7
2004
7
2005
5
2006
10
Total 108

Year
2
2
1
1
5
1
4
2
1
3
4
2
3
31

Apps
2

Continental
Apps
Goals

Total
Apps

Goals

Europe Total
2
0

0
0
0
10
0
1
0
Total

4
4
6
4
15

0
31
0
1
2
1
6

0
1
38
43
45
49

5
39
8
8
12

29

11
10
6
4

3
0
0
0

48
40
41
39

11
2
5
6

31

0
1
0
0
18

14
10
10
4
2

3
3
0
0
29

48
50
40
38
9

12
10
6
9
247

41
47
117

5
9
23

209
225
681

31
49
125

1
0
1
0
Total

Apps
2

Goals

Note
A Includes one appearance from the match against FIFA XI on 16 August 2000 which
FIFA and the French Football Federation count as an official friendly match.[12
4]
International goals
International goals[124] Goal Date
Venue Opponent
Score Result
Competition

11

10

1
1 2
2
2 2
3
jan
4

17 August 1994 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France

Czech Republic
2 2
Friendly Match
17 August 1994 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France
Czech Republic
2 2
Friendly Match
6 September 1995
Stade Abbe Deschamps, Auxerre, France
Azerbai
7 0
10 0
1996 UEFA Euro Qualifying
11 October 1995
Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania
Romania
1 3
1 3
1996 UEFA Euro Qualifying
5
21 February 1996
Stade des Costieres, Nmes, France
Greece
3 1
3 1
Friendly Match
6
11 June 1997
Parc des Princes, Paris, France
Italy 1 0
2 2
Tournoi de France
7
28 January 1998
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Spain
1 0
1 0
Friendly Match
8
25 February 1998
Stade Vlodrome, Marseille, France
Norway
2 1
3 3
Friendly Match
9
27 May 1998
Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Belgium
0 1
0 1
1998 Hassan II Trophy
10
12 July 1998
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Brazil
1 0
3 0
Final, 1998 World Cup
11
12 July 1998
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Brazil
2 0
3 0
Final, 1998 World Cup
12
8 September 1999
Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia
Armenia
1 2
2 3
2000 UEFA Euro Qualifying
13
23 February 2000
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Poland
1 0
1 0
Friendly Match
14
4 June 2000
Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Japan 1 1
2 2
2000 Hassan II Trophy
15
25 June 2000
Jan Breydel, Bruges, Belgium
Spain 0 1
1 2
Quarter-final, 2000 UEFA Euro
16
28 June 2000
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium
Portuga
l
1 2
1 2
Semi-final, 2000 UEFA Euro
17
27 February 2001
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Germany
1 0
1 0
Friendly Match
18
24 March 2001 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Japan 1 0
5 0
Friendly Match
19
27 February 2002
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Scotlan
d
1 0
5 0
Friendly Match
20
29 March 2003 Stade Flix-Bollaert, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
Malta 4 0
6 0
2004 UEFA Euro Qualifying
21
29 March 2003 Stade Flix-Bollaert, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
Malta 6 0
6 0
2004 UEFA Euro Qualifying
22
2 April 2003
Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy
Israel
0 2
1 2
2004 UEFA Euro Qualifying
23
6 June 2004
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Ukraine
1 0
1 0
Friendly Match
24
13 June 2004
Estdio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
England
1 1
2 1
Group Stage, 2004 UEFA Euro
25
13 June 2004
Estdio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
England
2 1
2 1
Group Stage, 2004 UEFA Euro
26
21 June 2004
Estdio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Switze
rland 0 1
1 3
Group Stage, 2004 UEFA Euro
27
17 August 2005 Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France
Ivory C
oast
2 0
3 0
Friendly Match
28
12 October 2005
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Cyprus
1 0
4 0
2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
29
27 June 2006
Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover, Germany
Spain
1 3
1 3
Round of 16, 2006 FIFA World Cup
30
5 July 2006
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany Portugal
0 1
0 1
Semi-final, 2006 FIFA World Cup

31
9 July 2006
1 1 (aet), 5 3 (pen)
Honours
Player
Country

Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

Final, 2006 FIFA World Cup

France
FIFA World Cup: 1998; Runner-up: 2006
UEFA European Football Championship: 2000
Club
Bordeaux
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995
UEFA Cup Runner-up: 1995 96
Juventus
Serie A: 1996 97, 1997 98; Runner-up: 1999 00, 2000 01
Supercoppa Italiana: 1997; Runner-up: 1998
UEFA Champions League Runner-up: 1996 97, 1997 98
UEFA Super Cup: 1996
Intercontinental Cup: 1996
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999
Real Madrid
La Liga: 2002 03; Runner-up: 2004 05, 2005 06
Supercopa de Espana: 2001, 2003
Copa del Rey Runner-up: 2001 02, 2003 04
UEFA Champions League: 2001 02
UEFA Super Cup: 2002
Intercontinental Cup: 2002
Individual
Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year
1994
Ligue 1 Player of the Year 1996
Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year
1997, 2001
FIFA World Player of the Year
Bronze award 1997, 2002[126]
ESM Team of the Year 1997 98, 2001 02, 2002 03, 2003 04
UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year 1998
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 1998, 2006
FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match
1998
World Soccer Awards Player of the Year 1998
French Player of the Year
1998, 2002
Onze d'Or 1998, 2000, 2001
Ballon d'Or 1998
FIFA World Player of the Year
1998, 2000, 2003
El Pas European Player of the Year
1998, 2001, 2002, 2003
World Soccer 100 Greatest Players of the 20th century
1999
UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament 2000
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2000, 2004
Serie A Footballer of the Year 2001
UEFA Team of the Year
2001, 2002, 2003
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2002
La Liga Best Foreign Player
2002
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2002

Italy 0 1

FIFA World Cup Dream Team

2002
FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers 2004
UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years
2004
FIFPro World XI All-Star Team
2005, 2006
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker 2006
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 2006
FIFA World Player of the Year
Silver award 2006[127]
UNFP Honorary Award 2007
Marca Leyenda Award 2008
Golden Foot Legend Award - 2008
Goal.com Team of the Decade
2009
ESPN Team of the Decade 2009
ESPN Player of the Decade 2009
Sports Illustrated Player of the Decade
2009
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
UEFA team of teams 2011
UEFA Champions League Best Player of the Past 20 Years
quipe type spciale 20 ans des trophes UNFP
2011
World Soccer Greatest XI of all Time 2013
Goal Hall of Fame
2014

2011

Order
Chevalier (Knight) of the Lgion d'honneur in 1998,[128][129] promoted to Offi
cier (Officer) in 2009[130]
Records
Oldest player to win the WC Golden Ball: 34 years and 17 days
Most goals scored in WC final matches: 3 goals (shared with Pel, Vav and Geoff
Hurst)
Assistant Manager
Real Madrid
Copa del Rey: 2013 14
UEFA Champions League: 2013 14