Zinedine zidane:

There is an aura of optimism around the Bernabau as their former Galactico " Zizou" has been appointed to take the hot spot at Madrid after Benitez's unproductive era

( Zidane becoming Madrid 11th manager in  floriento Perez's era)

From a suburb island of France to Real Madrid legend Zidane has proved his mettle but he will have to pass this acid test of managing a big club like Real Madrid with players having even bigger egos. But Zidane would know better how to handle this star studded Madrid as he was the part of one during Real Madrid's Galactico era

Let's relive some out of the box facts of this French legend popularly known as Zidane

1: Early life

  

Zinedine Yazid Zidane was born on 23 June 1972 in a suburb of Marseille in southern France . He was the youngest among the five siblings. His father worked as a watchman in a store and mother was a house wife. The family lived in a notorious environment of Marseille known for its high crime and unemployment rates.

2 Luck or destiny? Got signed because of an unforgiving error

It was during a match with a local kick-about team called S.O Septemes that Zidane was spotted. The coach had given young Zinedine the role of sweeper, which was not exactly the boy's favorite position on the pitch. That day, Zinedine made a mistake that normally would have been considered unforgivable. He attempted to dribble around the opponent striker near the goal and after losing the ball; he gave the opposition an easy goal.

As Cannes head Coach Mr Jean Varraud witnessed the events of this match instead of thinking that the boy was simply not a good defender, he seemed to believe that Zinedine had a good technique. Mr Varraud was prepared to give the young boy a trial with A.S Cannes

3 : Love Life of Shy Zidane

   He’s been called moody and mysterious at times, but Zinedine Zidane is really just shy. So shy, in fact, that it’s a miracle he and Véronique even met.

( Zidane with his leading lady Veronique)

 The pair crossed paths dozens of times before they could speak to each other. Zidane was only 16 and in the rural French Akrea of Provence, playing for AS Cannes. The pair lived in a very strict building, with girls’ rooms on one side of the hallway and boys’ on the other. After passing for months, one day Zinedine let out a small “hello” as they passed. He did it again the next day, and soon the pair would talk regularly. Within a few weeks, he moved into a small studio and she joined him.

4: Living the dream : From foil paper trophy to leading France to worldcup

As a young boy Zidane often organized imaginary world cups with his friends that took place at the Place de la Tartane in Marseille, France. In the end, the winner would be awarded a trophy made of an aluminum foil. In the trophy, the players would drop a few coins of 10 or 20 cents to make the reward more interesting.

( Zidane scoring twice from a header in 1998 world cup against Brazil)

Zidane scored two goals in the 1998 World Cup final as France beat Brazil 3-0 on their soil but this time it was the golden beauty which is the dream of every footballer in place of aluminum foil trophy.

4: Trend Setter Zidane

 After his brilliant performance in the '98 World Cup, his 'monk' hairstyle became a trend worldwide and was sported by many men, women and children.

The age when he began losing hair on his head he said: "My wife loves me like that, so it's not a problem."

5:  Atheist Zidane

  Zidane describes himself as a 'non-practicing Muslim’ that doesn't stops him from praying before every match

 He was voted amongst the top ten Muslim athlete of all time

6: Personal achievements

·          In an online poll commissioned by UEFA on their 50th anniversary in 2004, Zinedine Zidane was voted the outstanding player of the last 50 years.

·          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 in 1998.

( Zidane won the ballondor in 1988 with juventus)

·         He is Oldest player to win the WC Golden Ball: 34 years and 17 day.

·         Most goals scored in WC final matches: 3 goals (shared with Pelé, Vavá and Geoff Hurst)

7:  Fiery Temper

   Who can forget the moment of madness from Zidane in the world cup final against Italy in 2006 when he head-butted the Italian player Marco Materazzi who allegedly said something harsh about his mother which marked the end of Zidane’s international career .

( Zidane leaving the field for the last time after receiving the red card in world cup final against Italy)

 Zidane after the incident

"Things happen on the pitch. It's happened to me many times. But I could not stand it there. It is not an excuse. But my mother was ill. She was in hospital. This people did not know."

"If I ask him forgiveness, I lack respect for myself and for all those I hold dear with all my heart. I apologize to football, to the fans, to the team.

"But to him I cannot. Never, never. It would be to dishonor me. I'd rather die. There are evil people. And I don't even want to hear those guys speak.",

( Zidane headbutting metaraazi after his harsh comments on his mother)

·         Always a rather combustible individual, Zidane was booked 13 times playing for his country.

·         Continuing on the theme of discipline, he picked up 14 red cards over the course of his career, including two for his country.

8: Zinedine Zidane and his Four sons : A football dynasty in the

making

Imagine Real Madrid with "Zizou" as the manager and all his four sons playing for Madrid's first team

All four of his sons are part of Real's academy, some just starting out in the youngest age groups, others approaching crunch time with the seniors carrying the burden of a famous father and the hopes of a similarly illustrious career.

( Zidane along with enzo,Luca,Theo and alyaz)

Zinedine Zidane's Clan

Enzo Fernandez

D.O.B: 24/03/1995

Age: 20

Position: Attacking midfielder

Current team: Real Madrid Castilla/C

International: France U19 (previously Spain U15)

Info: Enzo Fernandez is a creative player in his father's image, with a strikingly similar playing style and technical quality. He has trained with Real's first team in the past, but he is yet to fully establish himself at Castilla level under his father. Unlike his siblings, he can probably remember his father's later career and was at other academies (Juventus, San Jose) before joining the Real setup.

Luca Fernandez

D.O.B: 13/05/1998

Age: 16

Position: Goalkeeper

Current team: Real Madrid Juvenil B

International: France U17s

Info: Luca Fernandez is a highly touted goalkeeper. He skipped Juvenil C when his Infantil coach (Ruben de la Red) assumed the Juvenil B reins, which suggests he might be the real deal. Good in one-on-one situations and technically adept on the ball—very much like a modern goalkeeper—he has come through the Real system and has already trained with the first team on a couple of occasions.

Theo Fernandez

D.O.B: 18/05/2002

Age: 12

Position: Midfielder

Current team: Infantil B

International: n/a

Info: Theo Fernandez is another player who seems to play in his father's image, with his technical quality and ability to spot the incisive pass highlighted in some of the scouting reports available on him. Theo arrived at Real via affiliated feeder team Canillas, and he is said to be the son who most resembles his famous father, albeit at a very young age.

Elyaz Fernandez

D.O.B: 26/12/2005

Age: Nine

Position: Midfielder

Current team: Benjamin A

International: n/a

Info: Left-footed and good on the ball—at least, according to the limited information about him that has made its way to the internet—Elyaz Fernandez has three brothers to ask for advice as he begins his progression through the Real youth ranks. He also joined from Canillas, but he won't turn 10 until the end of 2015.

All the four sons have selected football as their carrier. Now only time will tell who will soak up the pressure of being the son of one of the best player the footballing world had ever seen and earn the same respect as his father

Best quotes on Zidane

Italian manager Cesare Maldini ( 1998 worldcup)

"I would give up five players to have Zidane in my squad."

Zlatan Ibrahimović ( On Real Madrid Galactico era)

"Zidane was from another planet. When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the ten other guys just got suddenly better. It is that simple."

Xabi Alonso

"What he could do with a football is a dream for most of us."

Pele

"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. "

Xavi

Zidane was "the '90s and early 2000s best player,"

Thiery Henry (when Zidane extended his retirement to play 2006 World Cup)

" In France everybody realized that God exits and he is back in the French national team . God is back there is little left to say"

So Zinedine Zidane may be a gamble but it was the most calculated risk taken by Perez in his most controversial year of Madrid's boss . The time will whether Zidane will add another heroic tale as a manger or it would end up in vane as managing Madrid is not everyone's cup of tea