Zinedine Zidane: A Career of Triumphs and Tribulations

Zinedine Zidane: A Career of Triumphs and Tribulations 

Zinedine Zidane also known as “Zizou” is one of the most iconic football players of all time, known for his incredible skills on the field and his ability to lead his team to victory. Born in Marseille, France in 1972, Zidane grew up in a working-class family with four older siblings. His parents had migrated to France from Algeria in the 1950s and worked hard to make a life for themselves and their children. 

From a young age, Zidane showed a talent for football, and he idolized players like Jean-Pierre Papin and Enzo Francescoli. He began playing for local youth teams, and at the age of 14, he was scouted by the Cannes academy. This was the start of his professional football career. 

Despite his talent, Zidane struggled with his temper on the field, often reacting badly to opponents who fouled him and earning red cards. However, his talent could not be denied, and in 1992, he moved to Bordeaux, where he spent four seasons and helped the team reach the UEFA Cup final. 

There was strong interest from Premier League club Blackburn in signing Zidane, but their chairman famously replied, “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?” In 1996, Zidane joined Italian team Juventus, where he was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year in his first season. He won the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year, an award given to the best footballer in Europe. 

Zinedine Zidane’s performances in the 1998 FIFA World Cup played a pivotal role in helping France lift the trophy for the first time in their history. The tournament held in France was a memorable one for the French, and Zidane’s displays were a major reason for their success. 

The French team had a star-studded lineup, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, and Patrick Vieira, but Zidane was undoubtedly the team’s talisman. He had already won the Serie A title with Juventus and was coming off a successful club season, but his performances in the World Cup were on another level. 

In the group stage, France faced South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Denmark. Zidane’s performances in the group stages were not particularly outstanding, but he still managed to score a goal in their second match against South Africa, which they won 3-0. 

However, it was in the knockout stages that Zidane showed his class. In the round of 16 match against Paraguay, France struggled to break down their opponents, and it was not until the 113th minute that the game was finally settled by a Laurent Blanc golden goal. Zidane had an average game but was a crucial part of the buildup to the winning goal. 

In the quarter-finals, France faced Italy, and it was a match that will always be remembered for the drama of the penalty shootout. After a goalless 90 minutes, the game went into extra time, but neither team could break the deadlock. The match went to penalties, and Zidane was one of the five French players to step up to take a penalty. He coolly converted his spot-kick, helping France to win 4-3 on penalties. 

In the semi-finals, France faced Croatia, who had caused a surprise by reaching this stage of the tournament. Zidane had an outstanding game, scoring two goals to help his team win 2-1 and secure their place in the final. 

The final was against Brazil, who were the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy. However, Zidane put in a masterful display, scoring two headers in the first half to give France a 2-0 lead. His first goal was a powerful header from a corner, while his second was a well-placed header after a cross from Emmanuel Petit. 

France eventually won the game 3-0, with Petit adding a third in stoppage time. Zidane was named the player of the tournament and was widely hailed as one of the best midfielders in the world. Zidane’s performances in the 1998 World Cup marked the beginning of his rise to international stardom. 

The year 2000 was a significant one for French footballer Zinedine Zidane. After winning the World Cup with his national team in 1998, Zidane was determined to lead France to glory once again, this time at the UEFA European Championship, also known as Euro 2000. 

Zidane had established himself as one of the best footballers in the world by the turn of the millennium, and his performances at Euro 2000 further cemented his status as a true great of the game. The tournament was hosted jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands and featured 16 teams, including defending champions Germany and perennial powerhouses such as Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. 

France was drawn in a tough group alongside Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. Zidane had missed France’s opening game against Denmark due to suspension, but he returned for the second match against the Czech Republic. The game was tied at 1-1, but Zidane scored a crucial goal in the 70th minute to give France a vital victory. 

In the final group game against the Netherlands, Zidane was instrumental in securing a 2-3 victory for France, which ensured that they finished top of the group. Zidane scored a brilliant free-kick in the 32nd minute to give France the lead, and although the Dutch equalized through Patrick Kluivert, Zidane’s assist for Sylvain Wiltord’s winner ensured that France would advance to the knockout stages as group winners. 

France faced Spain in the quarter-finals, and once again, Zidane proved to be the difference-maker. With the game tied at 1-1 in the 92nd minute, Zidane scored a sensational goal to send France through to the semi-finals. Zidane collected the ball outside the penalty area, turned past two Spanish defenders, and then curled a left-footed shot past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares. 

In the semi-finals, France faced Portugal, with Rui Costa, Luís Figo & Nuno Gomes, who had been one of the standout teams of the tournament. Zidane was again the hero, scoring a penalty in the 117th minute of extra time to give France a 2-1 victory and send them through to the final. The penalty was controversial, with Portugal claiming that Abel Xavier’s handball had occurred outside the penalty area, but the referee awarded the spot-kick, and Zidane made no mistake from 12 yards. 

In the final, France faced Italy, who had been impressive throughout the tournament. The game was a tense affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. Zidane had a relatively quiet game by his high standards, but he was involved in the key moment of the match. In the 94th minute, Zidane received the ball just outside the Italian penalty area and was fouled by Marco Materazzi. The Italian defender appeared to insult Zidane, who reacted by headbutting him in the chest. The referee, Horacio Elizondo, showed Zidane a red card, and the French captain was sent off in his final international appearance. 

Despite Zidane’s dismissal, France went on to win the final on penalties, with David Trezeguet scoring the decisive spot-kick. Zidane was named player of the tournament, becoming only the second player after German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn to win the award in consecutive major international tournaments. 

Zidane’s performances at Euro 2000 were typical of his career. He was the driving force behind France’s success, with his creativity, vision, and technical ability setting him apart from his peers. Although his red card in the final was a disappointing end to the tournament, it did not detract from his incredible performances 

After one more season at Juventus, Zidane joined Spanish team Real Madrid for a world-record fee of 150 billion Italian lira in 2001. Zidane was an instant success at Madrid, scoring a stunning left-foot volley to win the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen in his debut season. However, Madrid’s “Galactico” project, which included Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo, and David Beckham, was top-heavy and overloaded with attacking stars. Despite their talent, the team struggled to win major titles during Zidane’s time at the club, winning only one La Liga title in his five years there. 

Despite this, Zidane’s individual performances were still incredibly impressive, and he continued to win awards and accolades throughout his career. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times, in 1998, 2000, and 2003, and was named the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. 

However, Zidane’s career was not without controversy. In the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, Zidane infamously headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi, earning a red card and effectively ending his international career. The incident was widely condemned but it did not tarnish his legacy as one of the all-time greats of the game. Zidane later apologized, but it remains a dark moment in his otherwise illustrious career. 

Here are some quotes that are said about Zinedine Zidane 

Catch you in the next one.