Zinedine Zidane

1.1. Childhood and Education

Zidane's earliest introduction to football came at the age of five in La Castellane, where he joined neighborhood children playing on the Place Tartane, a plaza roughly 80 yd by 12 yd (approximately 8611 ft^{2 (800 m2)} or two basketball courts in size), which served as the main square of their housing complex. He was a fan of Olympique de Marseille and admired players such as Blaž Slišković, Enzo Francescoli, and Jean-Pierre Papin. At age ten, Zidane received his first player's license after joining the junior team of a local club from Castellane called US Saint-Henri.

After spending a year and a half at US Saint-Henri, Zidane moved to SO Septèmes-les-Vallons, following persuasion from Septèmes coach Robert Centenero to the club's director. He remained with Septèmes until he was 14. During this period, he sometimes played for the Provence regional select team but did not receive extensive playing time. He also practiced Judo in his childhood, achieving a brown belt by age 11.

At 14, Zidane was selected to attend a three-day training camp at the CREPS (Regional Centre for Sports and Physical Education) in Aix-en-Provence, one of the football institutes run by the French Football Federation. It was here that AS Cannes scout and former player Jean Varraud spotted him. Despite an unimpressive performance playing as a libero due to another player's absence when Varraud came to observe him again, Varraud saw his potential and recommended him to Cannes' training center director. Zidane's father initially opposed his move away from Marseille, but his mother supported it, believing it offered educational opportunities the family could not otherwise provide. At this age, observing Diego Maradona's performance at the 1986 FIFA World Cup left an indelible mark on Zidane, who later stated Maradona "was on another level."

1.2. Family Background

Zinedine Zidane's family history is deeply rooted in the story of Algerian migration to France. His parents, Smaïl and Malika, left the Berber-speaking village of Aguemoune in northern Algeria in 1953, before the Algerian War for independence began. They initially settled in the working-class Parisian districts of Barbès and Saint-Denis. Facing limited employment opportunities, they moved to La Castellane in Marseille in the mid-1960s, a district known for its high crime rates and unemployment.

Smaïl worked as a warehouseman and a department store security guard, often taking night shifts, while Malika managed the household as a housewife. Despite the challenging environment, the family maintained a relatively stable life. This strict upbringing instilled strong values in Zidane, who often credited his father as a major influence on his career and personal discipline. His connection to his Algerian heritage is profound, seeing it as an integral part of his identity, alongside his French nationality.

Zidane met his future wife, Véronique Fernández, when he was 17 years old, during his time playing for Cannes in the 1988-89 season. Véronique is of Spanish descent, originally from Aveyron. They married on 24 May 1994 and have four sons: Enzo Alan Zidane Fernández (born 24 March 1995), Luca Zinedine Zidane Fernández (born 13 May 1998), Théo Zidane Fernández (born 18 May 2002), and Elyaz Zidane Fernández (born 26 December 2005). All four sons have followed their father into football, playing in the Real Madrid academy system. Enzo, Luca, and Théo have gone on to become professional footballers. To minimize the pressure of their famous father, his sons were often registered under their mother's surname, Fernández, in the Real Madrid academy. His elder brother, Farid, who, along with his brother Nordine, managed Zidane's image rights, died of cancer at the age of 54 on 13 July 2019. His uncle, Jamel Zidane, was also a former footballer who played for KRC Genk in the Belgian league and represented the Algerian national team.

2.1. Club Career

Zidane's journey through club football saw him develop from a promising young talent in France to a global superstar in Italy and Spain, collecting numerous titles along the way.

2.1.4. Real Madrid CF

In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of 150 billion Italian lire (approximately 77.50 M EUR by fixed exchange rate, or a reported 12.8 billion pesetas) paid in installments. He signed a four-year contract. The transfer came about after a casual encounter at a UEFA reception in Monaco on 23 August 2000, where Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez reportedly asked Zidane on a napkin if he wanted to join Real Madrid, to which Zidane scrawled "Yes."

As the latest addition to the "Galácticos" era of global stars, Zidane initially found it difficult to adapt to the pressure from the media and life in Spain, even confiding in friends that he wished to retire. However, he gradually settled in. He wore the number 5 jersey, having requested his preferred number 21 which was already taken, and with Pérez's preference for lower numbers. The number 5 had previously been worn by the club's captain, Manuel Sanchís, who had recently retired.

In his first season, Zidane scored a famous match-winning goal, a left-foot volley from the edge of the 18-yard box, in Madrid's 2-1 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final. This goal is widely cited as one of the greatest in Champions League history, leading to widespread acclaim, with L'Équipe calling it "a goal that will be talked about forever" and France Football stating, "Zidane is blessed by God." The magnitude of the strike provoked one of Zidane's most emotional goal celebrations, as he ran screaming towards the touchline. This goal secured Zidane his first UEFA Champions League title and completed his collection of the four major football trophies (World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or).

The following season, Zidane played alongside Luís Figo in midfield, helping Real Madrid win the 2002-03 La Liga title. For his contributions, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In 2004, fans voted him as the best European footballer of the past 50 years in UEFA's fiftieth-anniversary UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll.

While Zidane's final season of club football ended without a trophy, he achieved a personal milestone by scoring his first career hat-trick against Sevilla in a 4-2 victory in January 2006. He finished the season as Real Madrid's second-highest goalscorer behind Ronaldo, and tied with David Beckham as the club's leading assist provider, with nine goals and ten assists in 28 games. On 7 May 2006, Zidane, who had already announced his plans to retire after the 2006 World Cup, played his farewell match, a 3-3 draw with Villarreal CF. The squad wore commemorative shirts with ZIDANE 2001-2006 below the club logo, and the 80,000 fans inside the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium held up a banner reading, "Thanks for the magic." One minute before the end of the match, manager Juan Ramón López Caro substituted Zidane, allowing him a standing ovation, after which he embraced Juan Román Riquelme in the tunnel and exchanged jerseys. He officially retired from club football after the World Cup.

In 2012, Zidane featured for Madrid in an All Stars Match against Manchester United, which Real won 3-2. In April 2013, he was named by Marca as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history."

2.2. International Career

Zinedine Zidane's international career with the French national team began in 1994 and culminated in his final professional match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final. Both France and Algeria considered Zidane a citizen. There were rumors that former coach Abdelhamid Kermali denied Zidane a position for the Algerian squad because he felt the young midfielder was not fast enough. However, Zidane dismissed these rumors in a 2005 interview, stating that he would 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 won a bronze medal at the 1993 Mediterranean Games in Languedoc-Roussillon.

2.2.3. 1998 FIFA World Cup

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was Zidane's first World Cup appearance, and it was held in his home country, France. The French team won all three of their group stage matches. Zidane contributed to the team's goals by setting up Christophe Dugarry's goal against South Africa from a corner kick and assisting Thierry Henry's opening goal against Saudi Arabia. However, he was sent off in the latter match for a stamp on Fuad Anwar, becoming the first French player to receive a red card in a World Cup Finals match.

Without their key playmaker, France managed to win their round of sixteen match against Paraguay 1-0. Upon his return to the side, France defeated Italy 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals, with Zidane successfully converting the first penalty in the shootout. France then triumphed over Croatia 2-1 in the semi-final. Despite playing a crucial role in the team's progression, Zidane had yet to score a goal in the tournament leading up to the final.

Zidane and France faced the defending champions and tournament favorites, Brazil, in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final at the Stade de France. France dominated the match from the outset, with Zidane scoring two similar goals-both headers from corner kicks taken by Emmanuel Petit and Youri Djorkaeff. These two goals gave France a 2-0 lead at halftime. Petit added a third goal deep in stoppage time, sealing a historic 3-0 victory and France's first-ever World Cup title. Named Man of the Match for his pivotal performance, Zidane instantly became a national hero in France. His image, along with the words "Merci Zizou," was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Over a million people lined the Champs-Élysées to celebrate the victory, with celebrations centered around the Arc de Triomphe. Later that year, he received the Legion of Honour, a prestigious French order of merit.

2.2.4. UEFA Euro 2000

Two years after their World Cup triumph, France went on to win UEFA Euro 2000, becoming the first team since West Germany in 1974 to simultaneously hold both the World Cup and the European Championship titles. Zidane finished the tournament with two goals. He scored a spectacular bending free kick against Spain in the quarter-final and then netted the golden goal from a penalty kick in the semi-final against Portugal, securing France's place in the final. He also assisted Thierry Henry's goal in France's opening group match, a 3-0 win over Denmark. UEFA recognized Zidane as the Player of the Tournament.

Zidane himself believes he was at his peak during Euro 2000. The UEFA website described his performance, stating, "In Belgium and the Netherlands, Zidane dominated a major championship in a way no individual had managed since Diego Maradona in 1986. From the opening game against Denmark to the final against Italy, 'Zizou' shone brightly, casting a spell on his opponents with clever flicks, mesmerising stepovers, slaloming runs and masterful vision."

2.2.7. 2006 FIFA World Cup and Final Retirement

With the mass retirement of veteran key players like Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly, Claude Makélélé, and Lilian Thuram, France faced a difficult qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. At the urging of coach Raymond Domenech, and following public appeals from figures like former coach Aimé Jacquet and even French President Jacques Chirac, Zidane came out of international retirement in August 2005. He was immediately reinstated as team captain, alongside Thuram and Makélélé, who also returned. Their competitive comeback was marked by a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands on 3 September 2005, a victory that helped France climb from fourth place to win their qualifying group. The French public's excitement was palpable, with a mobile phone company even running an advertisement stating, "Tu nous as tellement manque!" (How much we missed you!). Thierry Henry famously commented, "God exists and he has returned to the France team." On 27 May 2006, Zidane earned his hundredth cap for France in a 1-0 friendly win over Mexico, which also served as his last match at the Stade de France. He became the fourth French player to reach 100 caps, after Desailly, Thuram, and Didier Deschamps.

France endured a slow start to the 2006 Finals. After being suspended for the third match of the group stage due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Zidane returned to orchestrate a goal for Patrick Vieira and score one himself in the second round match against Spain, a 3-1 victory. In the quarter-final, France faced Brazil in a rematch of the 1998 final, holding them to just one shot on goal. Zidane assisted Thierry Henry's decisive goal and was named Man of the Match by FIFA. Pelé described Zidane's performance as "magical." France then confronted Portugal in the semi-final. As in Brussels six years prior, Zidane's penalty kick proved decisive, sending France to another major final. This penalty also halted Portugal's 19-match winning streak and broke coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's 12-match unbeaten record at World Cups. After the match, Zidane exchanged jerseys with his former Real Madrid teammate Luís Figo.

Having already declared his retirement after the expiration of his Real Madrid contract at the end of the 2005-06 season, the 2006 World Cup Final in Berlin was set to be the last match of Zidane's illustrious career. Seven minutes into the game, Zidane put France ahead with a Panenka-style penalty kick that struck the crossbar and bounced just over the goal line. This made him only the fourth player in World Cup history to score in two different finals, alongside Pelé, Paul Breitner, and Vavá. He was also tied with Vavá, Pelé, and Geoff Hurst for the most goals in World Cup finals (three), a record later broken by compatriot Kylian Mbappé in 2022. He nearly 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. This marked the 14th overall expulsion of Zidane's career and made him, along with Rigobert Song of Cameroon, one of only two players ever to be sent off during two separate World Cup tournaments. It was also notable that the referee, Horacio Elizondo, acted on the advice of the fourth official, as he did not directly see the incident. Zidane became the fourth player to be red-carded in a World Cup final, and the first to be sent off in extra time.

Zidane's actions in the final made headlines worldwide. In France, Le Figaro called his head-butt "odious," while the front page of L'Équipe posed the question, "What should we tell our children, for whom you have become an example for ever? ... How could that happen to a man like you?" Despite this, Zidane had garnered widespread plaudits for his performances throughout the tournament. The day after the final, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.

Upon his return to France, the Place de la Concorde in Paris was filled with thousands of fans waving flags and rhythmically chanting "Zizou! Zizou!", and tributes were led by then-French president Jacques Chirac. Chirac's words resonated with the French public, as polls conducted immediately after the incident showed significant support for Zidane: 61% of French people stated they had already forgiven him, while 52% expressed understanding of his actions. According to French journalist Philippe Auclair, Zidane's performances in the knock-out rounds were "ranked among his finest in a blue shirt." The French daily newspaper Libération captured the national sentiment by stating, "For a month, France was dreaming with Zidane." Zidane remained an icon to the French public, with one French writer noting, "It's good for us to see our national hero is fallible." It was later revealed through interviews that Marco Materazzi had insulted Zidane's sister, which triggered Zidane's intense reaction. In 2010, Zidane stated that he would "rather die than apologize" to Materazzi for the headbutt but also admitted that he "could never have lived with himself" had he been allowed to remain on the pitch and help France win the match. He later reflected on his disciplinary record, saying, "If you look at the fourteen red cards I had in my career, twelve of them were a result of provocation. This isn't justification, this isn't an excuse, but my passion, temper and blood made me react."

Following his red card in the final, Zidane confirmed his retirement from professional football, stating he would not go back on his decision. FIFA's disciplinary action sentenced him to complete three days of community service with children in one of FIFA's humanitarian projects, rather than a three-match suspension, given his retirement. Zidane concluded his international career by tying with Brazil's Cafu for the record of most cards received in World Cup matches, with six. He finished his international career with 108 caps and 31 goals, making him France's fourth-most capped player in history.

3.1. Philanthropy and Ambassadorial Roles

Zidane has actively engaged in philanthropy and ambassadorial duties, leveraging his global recognition for social causes. Since 2001, he has served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stating that "everyone can do something to make the world a better place." He has regularly co-captained teams with Ronaldo in the annual "Match Against Poverty" events benefiting UNDP, scoring and assisting in many of these matches. For instance, in November 2008, he participated in the fifth annual match in Málaga, Spain, assisting a goal in a 2-2 draw.

In February 2007, Zidane played in a charity match in northern Thailand for the Keuydaroon children's AIDS charity, where he scored and assisted, helping raise 260.00 K THB (approximately 7.75 K USD), which funded the construction of two schools and 16 three-bedroom houses. In June and July 2009, he toured Canada with "Zidane & Friends," including former teammates like Fabien Barthez and Samuel Eto'o, playing exhibition matches that directed some proceeds to UNICEF. In June 2010, he participated in the biennial Soccer Aid event at Old Trafford, Manchester, playing for the Rest of the World team against England, which his team won. He also took part in a charity match at Old Trafford in June 2013, as part of a Manchester United Legends vs. Real Madrid Legends fixture, raising funds for the Manchester United Foundation. In April 2015, he reunited with Ronaldo for the 12th Match Against Poverty in Saint-Étienne, France, with two-thirds of the proceeds dedicated to Ebola recovery efforts in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In June 2018, he played a charity game with his 1998 France World Cup-winning teammates against an All-Star side featuring Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, where he provided an assist and scored a free-kick.

Beyond charity matches, Zidane has served as an ambassador for significant sporting bids. In September 2010, he was appointed an ambassador for Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Following FIFA's announcement of Qatar as the host on 2 December 2010, Zidane expressed his satisfaction, stating, "I was saying that football belonged to the whole world. I'm proud to have made my contribution to a new country getting the World Cup. Qatar and the entire Middle East as a whole deserves this event and that makes me happy. It's a victory for the Arab world." He has also supported two Olympic bids for Paris, including the 2012 Summer Olympics (which London narrowly won) and Paris' successful bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

3.2. Advisor and Sporting Director at Real Madrid

Zidane's return to professional football administration began in November 2010 when he was appointed as a special adviser to Real Madrid's first team. This role came at the request of then-Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, who sought Zidane's closer involvement with the team. In this capacity, Zidane was expected to participate in Champions League events, travel with the first team regularly, and attend pre-match gatherings, training sessions, and meetings with the head coach.

In July 2011, his role evolved significantly when he was announced as Real Madrid's new sporting director. This followed a period of internal conflict between Mourinho and then-General Director Jorge Valdano, which led to Valdano's dismissal and the restructuring of the club's sporting hierarchy. Zidane assumed a key decision-making position alongside general director Jorge Valdano (initially) and sporting director Miguel Pardeza.

After stepping down from the sporting director role in the 2012-13 season, handing it over to Fernando Hierro, Zidane focused on the Real Madrid youth academy. In 2013, he successfully obtained his UEFA coaching license, allowing him to take on a more hands-on role in coaching. He was subsequently appointed as an assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid for the 2013-14 season, contributing to the team's successes, including winning the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

4.1. Real Madrid Castilla

In June 2014, Real Madrid announced that Zidane would take on his first head coaching role as the manager of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team. However, this appointment quickly stirred controversy. On 29 August, Miguel Galán, the director of the Spanish National Football Coach Education Centre (CENAFE), reported Zidane for acting as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach without possessing the necessary Level 3 coaching badges required for teams in the Segunda División B or higher.

Galán explicitly stated that "No one who has anything to do with the football world can be unaware that Zidane is acting as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach this season. It is a fait accompli that has been widely accepted, as shown by media reports, and Real Madrid do not deny it." While the official match reports listed Santiago Sánchez as the head coach and Zidane as his assistant, Galán argued that "This hierarchy only exists on paper. The truth is the exact opposite: Zidane is acting as Real Madrid Castilla's head coach, while, with all due respect to him as a colleague, Mr Sánchez's role basically boils down to providing the badges." On 27 October 2014, the Spanish Football Federation suspended Zidane for three months due to this infraction. However, Real Madrid successfully appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leading the Spanish Football Federation to withdraw the ban. In 2015, Zidane finally obtained his UEFA Pro License, qualifying him for senior coaching roles.

4.2. Real Madrid (First Stint)

On 4 January 2016, Real Madrid announced the dismissal of Rafael Benítez and, on the same day, appointed Zidane as the new head coach of the club on a two-and-a-half-year deal. His first match as manager took place five days later, a dominant 5-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña in a La Liga match. In his inaugural El Clásico as a coach, held on 2 April at the Camp Nou, Zidane guided his team to a 2-1 win against Barcelona, famously ending Barça's 39-match unbeaten run. This victory also made him the first Real Madrid coach since Bernd Schuster in December 2007 to win his first El Clásico match. On 4 May, Zidane led Real Madrid to the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final by defeating Manchester City 1-0 on aggregate. While Madrid finished second in La Liga with 90 points, just one point behind champions Barcelona, their European campaign culminated in triumph. On 28 May, Real Madrid secured their eleventh Champions League title, dubbed "La Undécima", after a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over city rivals Atlético Madrid. Zidane became the seventh man to win the European Cup both as a player and a coach, the second (after Miguel Muñoz) to achieve this feat with Real Madrid, and the first French coach (excluding the French-Argentine Helenio Herrera) to win the trophy.

Real Madrid commenced their 2016-17 campaign, Zidane's first full season in charge, with a victory in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. On 10 December 2016, Madrid played their 35th consecutive match without a loss, setting a new club record, which they later extended to 40 matches, breaking Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 matches unbeaten across all competitions from the previous season. On 18 December 2016, the club defeated Japanese side Kashima Antlers 4-2 in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick. Their unbeaten streak concluded with a 1-2 away loss against Sevilla in La Liga three days later. While the team was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo 3-4 on aggregate, they achieved significant success in the league. In May 2017, Madrid won the league title for a record 33rd time, their first in five years, accumulating 93 points. On 3 June 2017, Real Madrid's Champions League final victory against his former club Juventus resulted in Real Madrid becoming the first team to successfully defend their title in the UEFA Champions League era, and the first to win consecutive titles in the competition since Milan in 1989 and 1990 (when it was known as the European Cup). This triumph, known as "La Duodécima", marked Real Madrid's 12th European title and Zidane's first-ever league and Champions League double as a manager. Zidane also became only the second manager, alongside fellow Real Madrid coach José Villalonga, to win the European Cup in his first two seasons in management.

Real Madrid kicked off the 2017-18 campaign by winning their second consecutive and fourth overall UEFA Super Cup in a 2-1 victory against Manchester United. This made Zidane the first manager to win two consecutive UEFA Super Cup titles since Arrigo Sacchi's Milan in 1990. Five days later, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona at the Camp Nou 3-1 in the first leg of the 2017 Supercopa de España and then beat Barça 2-0 in the return leg, winning their second trophy of the season with a 5-1 aggregate score and ending Barcelona's 24-consecutive match scoring record in El Clásico matches. This title tied Zidane with Vicente del Bosque as the third most successful Real Madrid coach with seven titles, one short of Luis Molowny. It also meant that, at that point, Zidane had won as many titles in his coaching position at Real Madrid as he had lost games during his tenure. Zidane's sustained success led to him being named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. On 16 December 2017, Zidane secured his eighth trophy as coach as Real beat Brazilian club Grêmio 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final, becoming the first team to retain the trophy. On 24 January 2018, Madrid was knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage by Leganés on away goals. The team's league campaign was also a disappointment, as Real collected only 76 points and finished third, 17 points behind champions Barcelona. Madrid, however, excelled in the Champions League, once again progressing to the final where they defeated Liverpool 3-1. This made them the first club to win three straight titles in the Champions League era, as well as the first team to win three consecutive titles in the European Cup/Champions League since Bayern Munich in 1976. Zidane became one of only three managers, alongside Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti, to win the European Cup three times, while also becoming the first coach to win the trophy in three consecutive seasons. On 31 May, five days after the Champions League final, Zidane unexpectedly announced his resignation as Real Madrid coach, citing the club's "need for change" as his rationale for departing.

4.3. Return to Real Madrid (Second Stint)

Following a period of poor results for Real Madrid after Zidane's departure-culminating in elimination from the Copa del Rey at home to Barcelona, a league loss to the same opponent at the same venue which opened up a 12-point gap between the clubs, and an unexpected home 4-1 defeat to Ajax in the Champions League that ended their long run of success in that competition, all within the span of a week-his former teammate Santiago Solari (who had only been in the post for five months after Julen Lopetegui's equally brief spell in charge) was dismissed. Zidane subsequently returned as the Real Madrid head coach on 11 March 2019, signing a contract until the summer of 2022. He revealed that he accepted Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez's offer after the second phone call.

The 2019-20 season appeared promising for Real Madrid, as the club embarked on a significant spending spree in the summer of 2019, investing over 350.00 M EUR to sign players such as Eden Hazard, Luka Jović, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and Reinier. On 12 January 2020, Zidane secured his first trophy in his second spell, leading Madrid to victory over cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout in the 2020 Supercopa de España final. This marked his 10th title as a manager with Real Madrid, achieved in just 187 matches (3 years and 10 months), a significantly faster pace than Miguel Muñoz, who also won 10 titles but over an eight-year period. After a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, La Liga resumed in June. Madrid then embarked on a remarkable 10-game winning streak, securing the team's 34th league title with a total of 87 points. This was Zidane's second league title in his coaching career. His collective mindset and emphasis on player rotation were lauded by international and Spanish media, as Real Madrid broke several records, including having 21 different players score during the campaign and maintaining their best league defensive record in 30 years. For this achievement, he won the Miguel Muñoz Trophy for La Liga's best manager. Zidane departed for a second time on 27 May 2021, following a trophyless season, and was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti. He was reportedly approached to become coach of the United States after the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup but declined the offer.

5.1. Characteristics as a Player

Zidane was an attacking midfielder with a distinctive playing style characterized by elegance, vision, and exceptional technical ability. His core attributes on the field included exquisite ball control, precise passing, and tactical intelligence. His movements on the pitch, often likened to ballet due to their grace, combined high body balance with the ability to execute multiple actions seamlessly. He possessed an exceptional first touch and was renowned for his dribbling skills and flair, including his signature La Roulette pirouette and step overs. Former Brazilian international Rivaldo noted, "His elegance of movement on the pitch and his skills are uncanny," while journalist Sid Lowe wrote, "Zidane was football's answer to the Bolshoi Ballet. Zidane was elegance above all else."

Despite being naturally right-footed, Zidane was capable of using either foot with great proficiency. His technique and coordination allowed him to execute shots and volleys with extreme power and precision, particularly from outside the penalty area. He was also a proficient free kick and penalty kick specialist. As a classic number 10, his natural position was behind the strikers, but his versatility meant he could also play as a second striker, a winger, or as a central midfielder or deep-lying playmaker, orchestrating his team's attacking plays from deep with his vision and passing. While not primarily known for his goalscoring, he was capable of both assisting and scoring goals, including several crucial headers throughout his career due to his height and physical strength. He also drew praise from his managers for his defensive work-rate. Although not the quickest player, he possessed good agility and acceleration, combined with excellent positioning and outstanding spatial awareness.

Zidane's personality on the field was sometimes marked by a fiery temperament, leading to occasional violent conduct that resulted in red cards. For instance, after a 2006 FIFA World Cup group match against South Korea, where he received a yellow card and was substituted, he reportedly kicked and broke a locker room door out of frustration, a door that was later preserved by the stadium. However, his former Juventus managers, Lippi and Ancelotti, praised him as a team player on whom his teammates could always rely. Despite media criticism for his occasional disciplinary lapses and accusations of drifting in and out of games or lacking leadership qualities, Zidane established himself as a consistent and decisive player and an influential captain at the international level throughout his career.

5.2. Reception and Influence as a Player

Zinedine Zidane's impact on football is undeniable, and he is consistently ranked among the sport's all-time greats. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times (1998, 2000, 2003), an achievement only matched by Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2002, ESPN described Zidane as "the greatest player in the world in the world's biggest game." In a 2002 FIFA poll, he was selected for the FIFA World Cup Dream Team. In 2004, he was voted UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years and was included in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé.

His peers have also consistently hailed him. Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović commented, "Zidane was from another planet. When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the ten other guys just got suddenly better. It is that simple." David Beckham has described Zidane as "the greatest of all time," while Barcelona star Xavi stated in a 2010 interview that Zidane was "best player in the '90s and early 2000s." Brazilian defender and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos noted, "He is the best player I've seen. Supporters arrived earlier at the Bernabéu just to see him warm-up." Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho revered him as "one of the best footballers of all time, one of my idols." Current Chelsea and Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard regards Zidane as "the best ever," learning from his idol by "watching him on television and online for hours."

Zidane's reserved and humble character, despite his immense fame, contributed to his widespread popularity. In a 2004 poll conducted by French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Zidane was voted as "the most popular Frenchman of all time." In 2014, a poll by French TV channel TF1 named him the best player in French league history. In 2016, a study led by French newspaper Le Parisien declared Zidane "best French player of all time." His influence extended to a generation of players who were often dubbed "Zidane's successor" or "Zidane 2nd," including figures like Yoann Gourcuff, Samir Nasri, and Karim Benzema, who Alex Ferguson noted reminded him of Zidane in his body use. Even his sons, particularly Enzo, who played as an attacking midfielder like his father, garnered significant media attention as potential "Zidane 2nd" figures.

9.1. Club Statistics

9.2. International Statistics

Scores and results list France's goal tally first.

9.3. Managerial Statistics

10.1. Player Honours

Bordeaux

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1995-96

Juventus

• Serie A: 1996-97, 1997-98
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1997
• UEFA Super Cup: 1996
• Intercontinental Cup: 1996
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1996-97, 1997-98

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2002-03
• Supercopa de España: 2001, 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 2001-02
• UEFA Super Cup: 2002
• Intercontinental Cup: 2002

France U16

• Syrenka Cup: 1987

France

• FIFA World Cup: 1998; runner-up: 2006
• UEFA European Championship: 2000

10.2. Managerial Honours

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2016-17, 2019-20
• Supercopa de España: 2017, 2020
• UEFA Champions League: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
• UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

10.3. Individual Honours

• French Division 1 Young Player of the Year: 1993-94
• French Division 1 Player of the Year: 1995-96
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 1996-97, 2000-01
• Onze d'Argent: 1997, 2002, 2003
• FIFA XI: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002
• ESM Team of the Year: 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 1998
• L'Équipe International Champion of Champions: 1998
• L'Équipe France Champion of Champions: 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star team: 1998, 2006
• World Soccer Awards Player of the Year: 1998
• France Football 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 País European Player of the Year: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003
• Onze de Bronze: 1999
• World Soccer's Selection of the 100 Greatest Footballers of the 20th century: 1999
• 2nd French Player of the Century (France Football): 2000
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2000
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000, 2004
• Serie A top assist provider: 2000-01
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2000-01
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003
• Don Balón Award: 2001-02
• La Liga Best Foreign Player: 2001-02
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004
• UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years: 2004
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006
• IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2006
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2006
• UNFP Honorary Award: 2007
• AFS Top-100 Players of All Time #5: 2007
• Marca Leyenda Award: 2008
• Golden Foot Legends Award: 2008
• ESPN Team of the Decade: 2009
• ESPN Player of the Decade: 2009
• Fox Sports Player of the Decade: 2009
• Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade: 2009
• Sports Illustrated Player of the Decade: 2009
• Don Balón Team of the Decade: 2010
• Don Balón Player of the Decade: 2010
• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: 2011
• UEFA team of teams: 2011
• UEFA Champions League Best Player of the Past 20 Years: 2011
• Équipe type spéciale 20 ans des trophées UNFP: 2011
• Real Madrid Greatest XI of All Time: 2012
• World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time: 2013
• Real Madrid Hall of Fame: 2014
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (substitute): 2015
• IFFHS Legends: 2016
• UEFA European Championship All-Time XI: 2016
• FourFourTwo's Selection of the 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time #8: 2017
• Juventus Greatest XI of All Time: 2017
• L'Équipe Best French Player of All Time: 2018
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team (Silver): 2020
• IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team: 2021
• IFFHS All-time Europe Men's Dream Team: 2021
• FourFourTwo's 100 best football players of all time #5: 2022
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2022

• La Liga Manager of the Month: April 2016, May 2017
• UEFA La Liga Team Revelation of the Year: 2015-16
• UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2015-16
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach - Runner-up: 2016
• The Best FIFA Football Coach: 2017; Runner-up: 2016, 2018
• France Football French Manager of the Year: 2016, 2017
• Le Buteur Coach of the Year: 2016
• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2016-17, 2019-20
• France Football UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2016-17
• Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21
• ESPN Manager of the Year: 2017
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2017, 2018
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017
• RMC French Manager of the Year: 2017
• Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2017
• World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year: 2017; Runner-up: 2018
• France Football 22nd Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019
• Sports Illustrated 34th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019
• Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2019-20
• L'Équipe-s Best Club Coach: 2020
• FourFourTwo's 36th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2020
• Globe Soccer Awards Coach of the Century 2001-2020 (Runners-up)
• IFFHS's 38th All Time World's Best Coach: 2021

10.4. Orders and Recognitions

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998
• National Order of Merit: 2006
• Officer of the Legion of Honour: 2008

11.1. Player Records

• The most expensive footballer in history: 2001-2009
• Most FIFA World Cup Final matches scored in: 2 matches (shared with Pelé, Vavá, Paul Breitner and Kylian Mbappé)
• Most red cards received in FIFA World Cup matches: 2 (shared with Rigobert Song)
• Midfielder with the most appearances in the ESM Team of the Season: 4 appearances (between 1997-98 and 2003-04)
• One of the two players in history to be named player of the year in 3 of the Top 5 Leagues: Division 1 Player of the Year (1996), Serie A Footballer of the Year (2001), Don Balón Award (2002)
• Only player in history to win the World Cup and the European Championship while being named best player of both competitions
• Most FIFA World Player of the Year awards: 6 in total (3 FIFA World Player of the Year awards, 1 FIFA World Player of the Year Silver award and 2 FIFA World Player of the Year Bronze awards)
• Most goals scored in World Cup finals: 3 goals (shared with Vavá, Pelé and Geoff Hurst)

11.2. Managerial Records

• Best winning streak in the history of La Liga: 16 games (shared with Pep Guardiola)
• Most consecutive away wins in the history of La Liga: 13 games
• Manager with the lowest number of defeats after 100 games (in Spanish football): 8 losses
• Manager with most trophies after 100 games (in Spanish football): 7 titles
• Longest unbeaten run in Real Madrid history: 40 games
• Longest unbeaten run in Spanish football: 40 games
• First French manager, except the French-Argentinian Helenio Herrera, to win UEFA Champions League: 2015-16
• Longest scoring run (all major competitions) in European football: 73 games
• Only manager in history to win two consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies in its modern format: 2015-16, 2016-17
• Only manager to win three consecutive European Cup/UEFA Champions League finals: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
• Only manager in Real Madrid history to win four trophies in one season
• Only manager in Real Madrid history to win the UEFA Super Cup twice
• First manager to win two consecutive UEFA Super Cup titles since Arrigo Sacchi
• Quickest manager in the history of the Top 5 Leagues to win 7 titles with a single club: 19 months
• Quickest manager in the history of the Top 5 Leagues to win 8 titles with a single club: 23 months
• Quickest manager in history to be named FIFA Football Coach of the Year: 653 days
• Most The Best FIFA Football Coach awards: 3 in total (1 The Best FIFA Football Coach award and 2 The Best FIFA Football Coach Silver awards)
• Only person in history to win the Onze d'Or award as a player and as a manager
• Only person in history to win FIFA's Player of the Year award and Coach of the Year award
• Only person in history to win the IFFHS award as the best playmaker and as a manager
• Only person in history to win the FIFA Club World Cup trophy successively as a manager
• Only manager in Real Madrid history to win five trophies in a calendar year
• Only person in history to win the FIFA Club World Cup/Intercontinental Cup twice as a player and twice as a manager
• Only person in history to be named French Player of the Year twice and French Manager of the Year twice
• Highest score for a manager winning the IFFHS World's Best Club Coach award: 326 points
• First manager to reach three consecutive UEFA Champions League finals since Marcello Lippi: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18