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
