In an interview with GQ, Zinédine Zidane once again spoke about his future in the France team.
Zinedine Zidane coach of the France team? The former Real Madrid coach once again confided in the magazine QG this Tuesday, June 13. Asked about his future and in particular the France team, the former Ballon d’Or explained that it was “not the moment”, but that the idea was still in his head. “I’ve often said that when you know the France team as a player and you become a coach, it’s just logical to think about it, he assures. But it’s not the moment.”
Zinedine Zidane explains that he follows what seems right and good for him. “I’ve always been ambitious and I’ve always believed in myself. I go for it. I don’t prepare things in general, I do what I feel”. So why does the French technician still not want to train for the moment? Because being a coach is pretty tough and involves big sacrifices. “Player and coach, these are two jobs that have nothing to do. When you come out of a season on the bench, you are more tired than a player. In this position, it comes from all sides: all the information comes back to you and you have the responsibility to make the decisions. Casually, it drains your energy. When I came home, my head was still there. I love what I do and I am capable of a lot work but once in a while, and it’s happened to me twice, I need to pull the plug.”
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The organic express. Born in Marseille on June 23, 1972 into a family of Kabyle origin, Zinedine Zidane was interested in football at a very young age. His first club was US Saint-Henri, near La Castellane. While doing three days at the CREPS (Regional Center for Physical Education and Sports) in Aix-en-Provence, he was spotted by the AS Cannes recruiter. He began training there in 1985. Zinedine Zidane worked and perfected his skills at the Cannes training center for six years. He rubs shoulders with professional players and also plans to make a career in football. He turned professional at the age of sixteen and it was in 1989 that he played in the First Division for the first time. This match opposes him to the FC Nantes team at the La Beaujoire stadium. He scored his first goal in the First Division in 1991. On this occasion, the president of the Cannes club (Alain Pedretti) offered him a car, a red Clio. The clubs follow one another, always more prestigious. The following year, he joined the Bordeaux club. There he meets Christophe Dugarry who becomes his friend. In 1994, Zidane was selected for the French team for the first time. During the match against the Czech Republic team, he gives France the two goals that allow them to finish in a draw. He was established in the France team in 1995 and Aimé Jacquet chose him as playmaker. Qualified in 1996 for the UEFA European Cup, the Girondins went to the final, but lost to Bayern de Munich.
Zidane’s career reached a new stage in 2001, when he was transferred to Real Madrid during the summer. The cost of this transfer breaks all records with an amount of approximately 506 million francs (more than 77 million euros) for a period of four years. With this new team, he won the Champions League in 2002. In the final match against Bayer Leverkusen, he scored a memorable goal for a right-hander (left foot volley). With Real, Zidane will confirm his stature as a contender for the title of best player in the world of the moment: he will win the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in the same year. We can add to this list a title of Spanish champion and a supercup the same year (2003).
The passage of Zidane by a great Italian club will make him a very great player from 1997, but it will take more to become a legend: in the France team, Zinedine Zidane wins the 1998 World Cup, in France and against the Brazilians , during an anthology final on July 12, 1998. The two goals he scored with a header will go down in history. This is the very first time that French players have reached the supreme title of world champion. Zidane received the Ballon d’Or and the title of best European player that same year. The great control specialist has reached an exceptional level of play. In 2000, he won the European Nations Championship with the Blues, a double (World Cup + European Nations Championship) never before achieved in the history of football. “Zizou” is awarded the title of best FIFA player of the year. Its popularity in France is considerable.
Amid several UNFP (French football awards), UEFA and other accolades, Zinedine Zidane won the Ballon d’Or in 1998. He would finish second in 2000 and third in 1997. He was also voted best FIFA Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003. For many, he was one of the best players in the world. His mastery of control, his very good vision of the game and the quality of his distribution characterize this exceptional player. Pelé is full of praise for him: “He is the master, quite simply. I would put Zidane in the five best players (in history). In the last ten years, there hasn’t been one others like him, he was the best player in the world”.
Zinedine Zidane’s post-career is initially rather vague. Zidane first devoted himself to charities, chained a few gala matches and received offers for a luxury retirement in a club in the United States or Australia. He finally returned to football in June 2009, when he joined Real Madrid’s management team as an adviser to the president. In July 2011, “Zizou” became the club’s sporting director after the departure of Jorge Valdano. On June 26, 2013, he was chosen as assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti, still with Real Madrid.
In 2015, Zidane obtained his UEFA coaching diploma and his European professional license. He must pass the DEPF (professional football coaching diploma) in 2016. On January 4, 2016, he became coach of Real Madrid in place of Rafael Benítez, in the midst of a crisis for the club, which has just chained heavy defeats. The press is skeptical at first, but Zidane’s style, between discretion, determination and a strong relationship with his stars, like Cristiano Ronaldo, will also take over the bench. With Real, Zinédine Zidane will win everything: Spanish championship (2017), Spanish Super Cup (2017), UEFA Super Cup (2016 and 2017), FIFA Club World Cup (2016 and 2017) . Above all, he will chain three victories in a row in the most prestigious competition, the Champions League, which he will win in 2016, 2017 and 2018, before announcing his departure from Real at the end of May 2018. He was recalled to the bench in March 2019, to take over from Santiago Solari, then left the club again in May 2021.
After the two historic trophies of the France team, the return to earth is cruel for the Zidane generation. The Blues lost their title of world champions in 2002, during a completely failed World Cup. The bad results don’t stop there. Two years later, during Euro 2004, the France team, led by the famous attacking midfielder, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Greece (0-1). Zidane decided to retire from international duty in August 2004. But a dramatic change a year later, on August 3, 2005, Zidane announced his return to the French jersey “to help the French team” during the 2006 World Cup.
During the latter, designated captain, he led his team to the final thanks to his extraordinary game and his flawless run. He particularly distinguished himself during the quarter-final against Brazil. Named best player of the World Cup, he is at the top until the last minutes of extra time in the final. But he cracks in the face of Marco Materazzi’s provocations and gives him a “headbutt” in the chest. Excluded from the match, he sadly ended his career watching France lose on penalties. It was on this whim that he ended his career. A terrible black spot as the epilogue of an exceptional career.