With experience as both a player and a coach, Zinedine Zidane has shared much of his life with renowned figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Ronaldo Nazário.
As a player, he stood out at AS Cannes, Girondins de Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid, but as a coach, he has only known one club: Real Madrid. And it was at this last team where there were four players who made his career, at the very least, memorable.
Zidane remembers those who gave him back his ‘spark’
Florentino Pérez was the one who made Zidane one of the club’s “Galacticos” alongside Beckham, Nazário, and Luis Figo. However, for the French star, the Brazilian was worthy of admiration not only for the fans but also for his own teammates:
“He still is unique. I was lucky enough to play with him for a long time, next to me at Real Madrid. He really was ‘The’ phenomenon. Everything about him – plus he was so kind and funny. You wanted to do anything to be his friend,” Zidane began to L’Equipe, praising Nazário. “But you should have seen him in training. Mind-blowing. Some guys would stop playing to watch him. It was just as beautiful as during a match,” he said.
However, while on the other side of the pitch, as the club’s coach, Zinedine said he experienced something similar when he saw other stars who made their mark at Real Madrid but with whom he did not have the opportunity to share a dressing room:
“It’s also in training that you see the truly great players. I had the same feeling when I was coach at Real Madrid. I didn’t say anything. I watched Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema train. There was nothing to say except watch; they were all so talented and professional. They never lost possession,” he explained.
“That’s what motivated me as a coach too – to have that very, very high level of talent. I felt that spark again in the beautiful game we played, just like when I was a player. I played with extraordinary players. I coached extraordinary players. That’s what makes you a better player too.”
Meanwhile, Zinedane officially retired after the 2006 World Cup, but he is the only coach in history to win three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues (2016, 2017, 2018). In addition to his three Champions League titles, he has won two Spanish Leagues, two European Super Cups, two Club World Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups.
He is not currently coaching any team since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 (2019-2021), although he has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the next coach of the French national team after the 2026 World Cup, Didier Deschamps’ last.
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