Flashback Friday: Zinedine Zidane

Flashback Friday: Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane or zizou is widely considered as one of the best footballers from France. Renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control, flair and technique, Zidane was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, and has been described as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He also holds 2 French Player of the Year award, winning them in the years 1998 and 2002.

(zidane during 2006 final, where he was sent off.)

Zidane has won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, a feat achieved only by Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Ballon d'Or once. He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2001 and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002.

(zidane Ballon d’or 1998)

He has played for Bordeaux, Real Madrid, Juventus and Cannes, scoring 125 goals in over 600 appearances for all the clubs. Zidane’s transfer to Real Madrid was the costliest at its time, costing the Spanish giants 60 million euros in 2001.

Known for bringing the best out of his team mates, the French international has proven his worth on multiple occasions. Edgar Davids, his Juventus teammate, said “He is a special player. He creates space where there is none. No matter where he gets the ball or how it comes to him, he can get out of trouble. His imagination and his technique are amazing.”

(Zidane with Juventus)

In 1996, the French maestro was offered to EPL side Newcastle, who deemed his attributes not worthy of their club and believed that he did not have it in him to last in the EPL, coincidentally he won the player of the year award that year while winning the Serie A with Juventus.

At his peak, he helped France win the World Cup 1998 and the Euro 2000. After his high profile move to Madrid he won the Champions league in 01-02 season and la liga in the following season. His match-winning goal against Bayern in the 2002 Champions League final has been touted as one of the best in the competition’s history.

Post retirement, Zidane joined Real Madrid's front office as an adviser and was named the club's sporting director in 2011. The Midfield maestro has acted as the Real Madrid assistant coach; Later on, it was announced that he would begin coaching the Real Madrid Castilla.

Here is look at Zidane’s career highlights:-