Zinedine Zidane
"He has the body of a bear, the mind of a fox, and, errr, terrific skills"
-- Brian Moore, ITV Sport Commentator, pays tribute to Zidane during the 1998 World Cup
He did this, he claimed, because the Italian defender insulted his mother. France then lost the match.
For this moment of madness, which occured on the greatest stage and was to be the final act in his glittering playing career, he is venerated as an anti-hero 🤣 😅
A timeline of Zidane's life:
- 1972 - Born in Marseille, France
- 1986 - He joins the youth academy of French professional club Cannes, where he spends 3 years.
- 1989 - He makes he debut for the Cannes first team. He spends three years, playing in the French top division and helps his club to a historic high 4th place finish
- 1992 - Zidane's commanding performances and clear creative talent attracts a bid from Bordeaux. He signs for the club, and begins to form exciting partnerships with talented teammates, Christophe Dugarry and Bixente Lizarazu. The team competes at the very top of the division, and qualify for european comeptitions.
- 1996 - His Bordeaux team, reach the Uefa Cup final, where they lose to German giants, Bayern Munich. This stage, however, elevates Zidane's status and elite teams from around europe begin tracking him as a hot prospect.
- 1997 - Zidane signs for Juventus of Italy, the reigning Champions of Europe.
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1998 - Zidane plays a starring role for the French national team at the World Cup in France. He scores two goals in the final as France win the trophy for the first time.
Off the back of this success he goes on to win the Ballon d'Or - the most prestigious individual prize in world football. - 2000 - Zidane plays a key role in the France national team's triumph at the European Championships. He is named player of the tournament by UEFA.
- 2001 - Zidane is signed by Real Madrid for a world record fee of 77.5 million Euros. There, he plays alongside other stellar talents of world football, such as David Beckham, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo. Together they are termed The "galacticos"
- 2002 - Zidane scores a volley from outside the area to win the European Cup for his new club.
- 2003 - He wins La Liga with Real Madrid
- 2004 - He play in the French team defending their European title, but they suffer a shock defeat to Greece and exit at the quarter finals. Zidance announces his retirement from the international football.
- 2006 - Zidane is convinced to come back to play international football for France at the World Cup in South Korea. He confirms that at the end of the tournament he will retire from his playing career.
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2006 World Cup Final - Zidane is the stand-out player in the competition, and he leads France all the way to the final. He scores the opening goal for France with a "Paneka" penalty. However, Italy equalise.
In extra time he then headbutts an opponent. After confusion and shock, he is sent off. This is his last ever match in football.
France then lose the penalty shoot out.
However, Zidane is celibrated as a hero!
He wins the official player of the tournament award. Rap songs are made in his honor, and the French President publicly defends him. He is cast as a warrior, who defended his family's and his country's honor!!! 🤣 - 2014 - Zidane begins coaching the youth team at Real Madrid
- 2016 - After Real Madrid's coach is sacked part way through a season, the club turn to Zidane and promtoe him to their first team manager. He wins the Champions League in his first season as boss.
- 2017 - In his first full season as manager of Real Madrid, he wins La Liga title. He also wins the Champions League again
- 2018 - Zidane leads Real Madrid to Champions League vicory again, becoming the first manager to ever win three titles back-to-back. He resigns
- 2019 Real Madrid sack their new manager part way through the season, and turn to their old hero, Zidane. He returns, and inspires Madrid to win the league.
- 2021
Zidane resigns from Real Madrid for a second time.
We await his next move...
"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 exceptional 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 2006 World Cup.