The football Pink The Zinedine Zidane Issue 2 I I3

CONTENTS 4 La Castellane: The upbringing that fueled Zidane’s quest for greatness 10 Enzo Francescoli: Zidane’s idol 14 The foreword to a bestselling career: Zidane’s career in French football 20 Post-Platini decline: France, Euro ‘96 and Zidane’s new generation 26 Zinedine Zidane at Juventus: Becoming the King of Italy 34 Zinedine Zidane: “More entertaining than effective” 38 2003: When Zidane and Ronaldo stunned Old Trafford and Zizou’s sole La Liga title win 44 So near and yet so far: “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?” 48 Zidane’s swansong: The 2006 World Cup 54 Anger management: Balancing the talent with the tantrums The Zinedine Zidane Effect: Turning the Real Madrid embarrassed by Barcelona into 60 European champions I 66 Zinedine Zidane: The third lightning bolt 72 Understanding Zidanology: An inspiration to a generation 4 I I5 La Castellane:

The upbringing that fueled Zidane’s quest for greatness 6 7

Today, Zinedine Zidane is footballing royalty Castellane is a concrete maze which may Zidane building’ during and after his time taught it to himself. It is typical of the street but his humble beginnings don’t paint a not necessarily make you fall in love at first living and developing his legendary skills in footballer to be a very good ball-carrier. It picture bearing any semblance of nobility. sight. this community. While that building has now is generally very much a ‘fend for yourself’ I La Castellane is just over 10km north of the been demolished, Zidane’s legacy lives on environment to develop your skills. On the I centre of Marseille and while, near the heart This, however, was all that Yazid - as the and still casts a ray of light over the gloomy streets of La Castellane, playing football of the city, you can swoon over the glorious young Zizou was affectionately known surroundings. is, in some ways, an escape and when the gardens at Palais Longchamp, this bit of by family, friends and all those within La streets of that labyrinth transform into a grandeur doesn’t tell the whole story of life Castellane - knew and when he began to On the pitch, some of Zidane’s primary stadium for would-be stars of the game, in Marseille. Young Zidane’s palace was the play football in this area surrounded by said attributes were his dribbling and his Place de la Tartane becomes Le Stade de streets in which he sowed the seeds of a family and friends, that’s when he brought unwavering determination. His dribbling, France or Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and football legend - ‘Zizou’. life and vibrance to these, at first glance, in particular, was simply majestic. Anyone football is played for the sake of playing unspectacular streets. who’s watched Zidane, at his best, football. Before he became Zizou, the playmaker who playing a game of football could surely do would go on to win just about every honour Still to this day, this area is not without its nothing more than marvel at the legendary This is why Zidane was such an artist and he possibly could during his illustrious issues, as it is associated more with crime playmaker as he glided around the pitch, why he truly expressed himself every time playing career was ‘Yazid’ - a son of and violence than it is associated with a taking the ball past opposition player after he was on the ball. It was how he knew the Algerian immigrants, Smaïl and Malika, who rough-around-the-edges area containing opposition player with the elegance of a game. are originally from an inner beauty. figure skater the Kabylie port city However, it is an area Additionally, the streets tend to play by known as Béjaïa. full of youth and with Meanwhile, in addition to his technical different rules. Everyone wants the ball Hope is exactly youthfulness comes excellence, another part of his game that and they are prepared to take what they His parents left hope. evidently played a key role in making him want. So, in a sense, this also shows how Béjaïa in the early such a difficult player to dispossess, is, as the other prevailing element to his game 1950s, before the what Zidane Hope is exactly what mentioned, his determination. throughout his career - his determination - outbreak of the Zidane represents was born. Algerian War which for La Castellane. Despite being very good at holding onto saw the North represents He is the city’s most the ball and regularly using his frame to It’s clear that this street footballer African nation’s prosperous son. position himself between it and opposition background helped him to hone the National Liberation for La While he reached defenders, Zidane was never necessarily a dribbling side of his game but this also Front fight their the heights of global man of great strength. However, the way in shows us that in an environment in which French rulers to superstardom in spite which he played and used his body to hold every budding star wanted the ball and eventually gain Castellane. of the area in which onto the ball personified a will to not be there weren’t necessarily any rules to stop independence. he was brought up, thrown off course by any challenger. them from getting it, young Zidane was still his upbringing also provided the fuel for his capable of keeping it for prolonged periods Smaïl and Malike originally moved to Paris meteoric rise to greatness. This is the determination that we saw in and this is where his determination and but in the late 1960s, life led them to La The city provided Zidane with a stage far Zidane every time he stepped out onto the physicality, despite not being the world’s Castellane, which was originally built as a less glamorous than Le Stade de France, pitch. When in possession of the ball, he largest player, were created. neighbourhood for refugees of the Algerian where the legend would score twice to help was defiant in his belief that he was taking War that waged on from the mid-50s to the France overcome Brazil in the final of the it exactly where he wanted to regardless This allowed him to more than make up for early-60s, and quickly became home to 1998 FIFA World Cup but an arena where of any other player’s intentions and this not possessing all of the physical gifts in various families of North African origin, such the tools required to accomplish such a feat defiance was emboldened by the fact that the world and still saw him become a giant as the Zidanes. were developed - Place de la Tartane. oftentimes, he succeeded in doing just that. when running around the pitch.

La Castellane, then, is a relatively modern In this La Castellane square, grass is This element to his game was undoubtedly That only tells part of the tale of how Zizou area and there is something very ‘mid-late concrete and gravel, while stands and mastered during his development came to be from Yazid of La Castellane. 20th century’ about its architecture. It’s supporters are cold and grey apartment throughout his playing career but it was born not necessarily an area of conventional blocks. in La Castellane. While technical ability and determination beauty. Some sights in Marseille, such as were heavily evident in Zidane’s game Le Palais Longchamp and its gardens, are One of the buildings surrounding this square The way he carried the ball is something that throughout his career, so too was the full of life and vibrance at first glance but La - the G building - became known as ‘the I is difficult to teach and, in Zidane’s case, he influence of his family. 8 9

Zidane’s career was not without elements of question is - could Zizou ever have existed controversy. His success led to him and his without the intense connection and love that heritage being heavily politicised during his he had for his family? I career and while he generally tried to not get I too involved in this, he always made it clear It was, indeed, far from a palace that Yazid exactly who he was and what he stood for, and his five siblings were raised. It was a ensuring that he never, ever forgot where he modest home which created a tight bond came from. between the family members.

Zidane has made it clear throughout his It has always been made clear by the man career that he sees himself as a Kabyle from himself that the teachings of his father have La Castellane before he sees himself as made an immense impact on his life. Smaïl anyone or anything else, even a Frenchman, taught his son values that he had to learn which, it needs to be said, is something he the hard way as an immigrant who had to also holds immense pride over. work hard for everything he ever earned. Smaïl’s hard work after arriving in a new This way of identifying himself came from country allowed him and Malike to raise their his family, who he family with enough of has always seemingly everything they needed been very close to and to get by. protective of. This is A king evidenced by numerous As he passed these occasions throughout values down to Yazid, his his career in which his son then applied them to passion and temper got in his his own life. He learned the better of him as he everything he needed reacted to provocation to learn from his father. regarding his family, Smaïl’s guidance helped his upbringing or his own him, as much as anything heritage. else, to figuratively and literally ‘take the ball and This first became world. run with it’ as far as he apparent when he could. Looking back on joined AS Cannes - the first professional it thus far, these values have allowed him club of his career - and it remained an to go a great distance and leave a beautiful element to his game right up until his very mark on the world. last moment on the pitch, when he reacted to a provocative comment about his sister, Zizou was not born with abundance but he I made by Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World had everything he needed to reach heights Cup final - Zizou’s last professional game - in the footballing world that many would which saw him get sent off for headbutting argue are unparalleled. The environment the Italian in extra-time. of and the people within La Castellane moulded the young first-generation For some, this may represent a moment of Frenchman of Kabylie heritage to become a madness which left an unwanted mark on king in his own world. the end of a great career but in reality, this moment was nothing out of the ordinary for the legendary France international. This BY Fintan o’reilly reaction from Zidane to a comment about a family member was unfortunate but the 10 11 I Enzo Francescoli: Zidane’s idol I It’s the 11th of December 2000 and at a star- a warehouseman and nightwatchmen. His studded gala in Rome, FIFA are unveiling wife Malika was a housewife looking after their ‘player of the century award’. They their five children. are also announcing their player of the year award and Zinedine Zidane is in attendance. The oldest Madjid was born in 1963. Two He will go on to win that year’s honour brothers followed and a sister. The youngest beating off competition from Luís Figo and of the family, and nine years younger Rivaldo. than his oldest brother, was Zinedine. He disliked his first name and so preferred to Zidane has already cast his vote for his be known by his middle name. To this day player of the century. There is a long list his oldest friends and the residents of the of impressive names to choose from. neighbourhood he grew up in know him Would he choose Pelé or Maradona? Two only as Yazid. His father was strict but very exceptionally talented playmakers in the loving. The influence of his father plus his Zidane image? Or perhaps Michel Platini older brothers kept young Yazid from the his fellow countryman. Platini would make perils of falling into the trap that many in sense. They have several similarities. Both La Castellane had, a life of crime. His main born in France from migrant backgrounds, obsession like so many in Marseille was in Platini’s case Italy and Zidane’s Algeria. football. When he wasn’t playing he could Both talismans for the French national side be found at Stade Vélodrome. Even though in the two distinct successful era’s. Euro he has never played for them, Zidane still 84 for Platini and France 98 for Zidane. regards Olympique de Marseille as his club. Zizou turned 12 during Euro 84 when Platini lifted the trophy aloft. The perfect idol for Over 10,000 kilometres from Marseille lies any young French footballer but it was not Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. It was Platini that Zidane voted for. Nor was it joint here that Enzo Francescoli was born in winners Diego Maradona or Pelé or even 1961. Like Zidane, his family background another wonderful midfielder like Johan was of migrant stock with his family Cruyff. No, when Zidane cast his vote he hailing from Italy. Francescoli was shy and voted for who he was sure was the best introverted, speaking little but regarded as player he had ever seen: Uruguayan Enzo a good listener and being very observant. Francescoli. He supported Peñarol, one of Uruguay’s big two clubs that contest the Uruguayan Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseille in Clásico with National. Francescoli was 1972. His parents Smaïl and Malika were hoping to play for his beloved side, and I from Aguemoune in northern Algeria. They although he impressed in a trial and was moved to Paris in 1953 before the start offered a place at the club, he was frustrated of the Algerian War. In search of work, by a lack of playing time. During the trial, they lived in the suburbs of Barbès and he was only given 20 minutes on the pitch, Saint-Denis, where life could be hard. so told his father he didn’t want to sign. They found little opportunity, so in the This skinny Uruguayan just wanted to play mid-1960’s they moved to Marseille and and complete his studies. When he left settled in the La Castellane district. The school Francescoli was offered a contract at neighbourhood could be an unforgiving Montevideo Wanderers, one of the capital’s place to live with high crime rates and smaller clubs and the youthful Uruguayan, skyrocketing unemployment. Despite this already a smoker, signed up. Smaïl found work at a department store as 12 13

Francescoli made his debut for Wanderers in Ligue 1 for Juve. Francescoli decided at River, Zidane had a son with his wife In retirement, Francescoli has worked in in 1980. In his debut season, they achieved against the move to Italy which if he had Véronique whom he met while playing at television and declined several offers to their highest finish since they were last gone ahead with, then Zizou perhaps would Cannes. He named him Enzo in tribute to his coach River Plate where he had the most I champions in 1931, coming second to never have taken him as his idol. RC filed idol. successful spell of his career. He did return I Nacional. Such was Francescoli’s impact for bankruptcy and Francescoli left for to the club as head of player personnel that he was nicknamed ‘El Príncipe: The Marseille. The following season RC were Francescoli’s return to River was a great and it was Francescoli who decided that Prince. He also developed a habit of relegated. success. He may have been 33 when he they should appoint his former teammate chewing gum during games in an attempt to arrived in 1994 but age proved no barrier as Marcello Gallardo as coach following a combat mouth dryness, although this took Marseille is something of a unique city in he led River to an unbeaten league season. shock spell in the Argentine second tier. on a superstitious or mental aspect as he France. This once run-down port city has Further success came in 1996 where River Gallardo has gone on to become the most didn’t feel right during games without it. It improved immensely in recent years and is won their second Copa Libertadores. successful coach in River Plate’s history. was not long until El Príncipe won his first now attracting more and more tourists by Meanwhile, Zidane had joined Juventus cap for his country and just over a year later the year. Despite lying in the warm south following a successful spell at Bordeaux. For Zidane, retirement from playing has, he won his first honour as Uruguay won the of France on the Mediterranean coast it While he had not been part of Juve’s unlike his idol, led to a management career 1983 Copa América. can be an unforgiving place. Staunchly Champions League success in 96, it did that has brought him great success with working-class and gruff compared to Paris, mean he would play in their Intercontinental three Champions League titles in a row. On Francescoli’s performance at the it is like many port cities home to migrant Cup match against the champions of South Francescoli, Zidane has said this - “when tournament caught the eye of Argentine communities hailing mainly from north America. It just so happened that this was I saw Francescoli play, he was the player I giants River Plate, who signed him that Africa, just like the Zidane’s. One of the Francescoli’s River Plate. The match, as wanted to be. He was the player that I saw summer. Francescoli struggled at first to things that make the city so unique is the was the tradition at the time, was played in and admired at Olympique de Marseille, my adapt, but his performances improved to the importance of its football team. Everyone Tokyo. Juventus won 1-0 with a goal from idol when I played against him when I was at extent that he was named South American in Marseille is an Olympique fan. If you are Alessandro Del Piero, giving Zidane his Juventus... Enzo is like a god.” player of the year in 1984. His crowning born in Marseille then they are your team. first title with Juve. The title was important glory came in 1986 as he finished as River’s There are no two ways about it. These but the trophy Zidane took home with him The two have become friends since their top scorer with 25 goals as they secured the days there is a mural of Zidane in the city. that night was much more precious. At first meeting on the pitch in Tokyo. This is 85-86 Primera División title and the 1986 Covering 150 square meters it bears his face the final whistle, he sought out his great not surprising as not only were they similar Copa Libertadores, River’s first and long- and the words ‘Made in Marseille’. Zizou hero Enzo and had the chat with him that players, they are also similar in personality awaited. may never have played for his beloved team he had long dreamed of. Francescoli gave - quiet, introspective and shy. The mutual but the affection for which his city shows Zidane his shirt and the Juventus star was respect is there for all to see. In Geneva, at Racing Club Paris brought Francescoli for its most famous son is beyond doubt. so enamoured by it that he often slept in it. a UNICEF event Francescoli, the man who to Europe in 1986. From the modern Back in 1989 when Francescoli arrived When he did so he was Yazid the boy from Zizou named his son after, was there with perspective, this may seem like a very Zidane was 17 and already playing for La Castellane again. his son. Marco Francescoli was a budding odd move. RC had been a giant of French Cannes. When he could he would still make footballer and his hero and idol was Zidane. football but had faded from view being the pilgrimage to Stade Vélodrome and be Despite his success on his return to River, The three went to dinner that evening and usurped by the newly formed PSG in 1970. mesmerized by the new number 10. Francescoli decided to retire in 1998 after the shy, even shyer than his father, Marco, Businessman Jean-Luc Lagardère had failing to help Uruguay to qualify for the wanted to ask Zidane something. Enzo started investing in the club, and following Francescoli’s time in the south of France 1998 World Cup. Francescoli admitted he encouraged him to do so. Marco wanted to promotion from Ligue 2 one of his new was a fruitful one where he scored 11 goals couldn’t continue, despite receiving an offer know how he had learned his oriented chest investments was Francescoli. He excelled at in 28 appearances, securing the Ligue of nearly a million dollars to keep playing. He controls and other skills. Zidane smiled and the club, being voted player foreign player of 1 title. Watching footage of Francescoli cited injuries along with poor sleeping habits said, “Ask your father because I learned it all the year in 97-88 and following the arrival of at Marseille it’s clear to see how Zidane brought on by stress as his reasons for his from him.” European Cup-winning Artur Jorge, the team modelled his game on him. The deftness of retirement. Enzo had suffered from this since challenged at the top of the table, but failed touch, the drag-backs, turns and above all 1996. The year of Francescoli’s retirement to win the title. Francescoli’s performances elegance of play. Zidane has spoken of how would, of course, be Zidane’s greatest, BY James Bolam led to interest from Juventus who were he used to watch from the stands and study winning the most coveted prize in football looking to replace the retiring Michel Platini Francescoli, wishing he could meet him. He of the World Cup. The Champions League with another stylish number 10. The parallels didn’t know it yet but that time would soon followed in 2002, with Zidane scoring a with Zidane, if this move had come about, come. After a spell in Italy at Cagliari and sublime volley that his idol would have been are there for all to see; Zidane left Bordeaux Torino respectively, Francescoli returned proud of. who at the time were one of the top teams to River Plate. In Francescoli’s first season I 15

The foreword to a bestselling career: Zidane’s career in French football I For many football fans, the career of The juxtaposition between the player’s Zinedine Zidane started the minute origins and present circumstances led he pulled on the black and white shirt to conflict early in his time at Cannes. of Juventus in 1996. Others became When an opponent mocked Zidane’s

aware of the great man only when ghetto origins, he received a punch in he rampaged to World Cup glory return - a foreshadowing, perhaps, of with France in 1998. There are even how Zidane would end his career so some who only truly began to know many years later. His punishment for the depths of Zizou’s talent when he this reaction was to spend much of signed for Real Madrid at the peak his early weeks at Cannes on cleaning of his powers in 2001, becoming the duty. Zidane sometimes found himself in embodiment of the Galactico ideal conflict with spectators too, a result of and sealing his place in posterity with insults coming from the stands about his that Champions League final goal at race and family. Although Zidane (who Hampden. in those days was often referred to by I his middle name, Yazid) initially stayed But the journey to the top of those in a dormitory with other hopefuls during footballing Himalaya contained his initial six-week trial, he was later some pretty interesting foothills en invited to move into the home of Cannes route, and it would be a mistake technical director Jean-Claude Elineau to write off Zidane’s time in French - presumably in an attempt to hone his domestic football. Between making his passion and fiery nature into something I professional debut in 1989 and packing which could be used on the pitch. his bags for Italy in 1996, Zidane The unorthodox arrangement worked, managed to fit more into his early Zidane escaping his homesickness in years at AS Cannes and FC Girondins the bosom of the Elineau family and de Bordeaux than many footballers settling into his football. squeeze into their entire career. Zidane didn’t forget about home, though, and in particular, the footballing Young Yazid on the love he had left behind along the coast. French Riviera Despite never having the opportunity to play for the club, Zidane is a lifelong Although Zidane was famously born supporter of Olympique de Marseille. to Algerian immigrants in Marseille, During those early years at Cannes, he his career in professional football took advantage of the relative proximity started 100 miles along the coast in to his home by nipping off to watch his Cannes, when he joined the academy heroes from the stands when he got the of AS Cannes at the age of 14. The chance. swanky home of the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival, the wealthy After spending time in Cannes’ youth Riviera city was a far cry from Zidane’s ranks, Zidane made his professional upbringing in the rough La Castellane debut in May 1989 in a match against neighbourhood of Zidane’s childhood. Nantes, aged just 17. Even in those early days, Zidane was creating a 16 17

stir in French football. “I will never forget after having sealed promotion back to the behind their disgraced rivals (and only three Austria Salzburg (in its pre-Red Bull form) on when I saw Zidane playing for Cannes as top flight after a single season in the lower behind the best “clean teams”, PSG and away goals after two tight draws. an 18-year-old against Monaco in one of leagues. Monaco), Bordeaux had instantly announced I his first professional games,” said former themselves as being back among the Bordeaux returned to the UEFA Cup for I Tottenham sporting director Damian Comolli potential title contenders. Zidane was a key season 1994-95, but a disappointing in an interview with the BBC some years A coming of age in the component of Bordeaux’s success, playing campaign saw them dispose of Norwegian later. “He scored the most unbelievable Gironde 35 times and scoring 10 goals. side Lillestrom, only to exit the competition volley I’ve ever seen, hitting the ball into the in the second round after a shock defeat to corner from a cross. For some reason, the Bordeaux may have been newly promoted, Bordeaux never quite managed to translate Poland’s GKS Katowice. Perhaps equally goal was disallowed, for what reason I still but they were not your bog-standard “yo- that near-miss in 1992-93 to a more frustrating was the fact that Bordeaux’s don’t know. It is an image in my mind and I yo” team. Having enjoyed a golden decade sustained title challenge, their form slipping disappointing domestic form was not good will never forget it.” in the 1980s, a period in which stars such as over the next few years as they finished enough to seal a return to the UEFA Cup the Jean Tigana and Alain Giresse led the club fourth in 1993-94 and seventh in 1994-95 following season, their seventh-placed finish A couple of years later, Zidane scored a first to three titles and two Coupes de France, (in each case only a few points ahead of a only enough to qualify them for the Intertoto Cannes goal (well, his first one that counted, the club was still one of the big players in resurgent Cannes). Most alarmingly of all, Cup (a competition that had only just come anyway) and was rewarded with the gift of the French scene by the time Zidane made season 1995-95 saw the club flirt with the under UEFA’s auspices). a car from the chairman, in satisfaction of his professional debut at Cannes, narrowly possibility of another relegation (this time on a longstanding promise. In three seasons missing out on the league title to Marseille purely sporting terms), as they slumped to a The Intertoto Cup was the bizarre runt of in the Cannes first team, Zidane played a that year. At the end of the following disappointing 16th placed finish. the European litter, an unloved and little total of 61 matches, scoring six goals for season, in which they finished mid-table, understood competition that saw teams a team that had some memorable days. the club was relegated for administrative start their season in midsummer. However, Most notably, season 1990-91 (Zidane’s reasons following financial irregularities. Zidane, Dugarry and the ultimate prize for the “winners” of the first season as a first-choice starter) saw When Zidane joined them one year later in Lizarazu - committed competition (there were two that season, the team finish in a best-ever fourth place the summer of 1992, this was a club that soon increased to three) being a place in the in the table and qualify for the UEFA Cup, was impatient to re-establish itself among Europhiles early rounds of the UEFA Cup. Laborious ahead of storied sides such as Saint-Étienne France’s elite. though it may have seemed, the Intertoto and PSG. Perhaps just as excitingly for With Bordeaux’s domestic form deteriorating Cup did at least mean that the backdoor to the young Zidane, his boyhood heroes Zidane was not the only exciting young during Zidane’s spell at the club, it was “proper” European competition was slightly Marseille won the title for the third season in talent in the Bordeaux squad. Waiting for in Europe that the club really earned its ajar. Bordeaux soon kicked it open. succession, as well as reaching the final of him on his arrival at the Stade Chaban- reputation as an exciting young team. the European Cup. Delmas were two homegrown talents who The Intertoto’s schedule meant that the were causing a stir for Les Girondins - Having returned to European competition new season started on 1 July, just over Unfortunately, Cannes followed that high forward Christophe Dugarry and Basque at the first time of asking post-relegation, a month after the old one had ended. with a season of lows in 1991-92. Their full-back Bixente Lizarazu. Together, the Bordeaux entered the UEFA Cup in season Bordeaux found themselves in a very European adventure was short-lived, losing three emerging talents would go on to 1993-94. An easy 6-0 aggregate victory Nordic-centric group with Odense, HJK over Dublin’s Bohemian FC (Zidane and out to Dynamo Moscow in the second form a triad that was the basis for much of Helsinki, Norrköping and their old friends, round. Domestically, things were even Bordeaux’s subsequent success. Dugarry both netting) was followed by a Bohemians. Zidane scored four goals in worse, with Cannes sinking like a stone and much tighter 3-1 aggregate victory over four matches in the group stages, starting ending a hotly contested season second In Zidane’s first season, Bordeaux’s Swiss side Servette. The third round saw with a brace in that opening match (a 6-2 bottom of the table. One year after their ambitions of grandeur were shown to be Les Girondins drawn against German side win against Norrköping), as Bordeaux greatest ever success, Les Dragons found anything but delusional as they secured Karlsruher SC, who had already dispatched topped the group with 10 points. He themselves relegated to the second division. an impressive fourth-place finish. Having of PSV Eindhoven and Valencia (the latter by scored again in the last 16 match against been on the wrong end of the footballing an aggregate score of 8-3) in earlier rounds. Eintracht Frankfurt, and his free-scoring Cannes’ relegation would mark the break asterisks with their relegation a couple Zidane scored the only goal of the first leg side continued their march through the up of their talented side, with a number of years previously, they now found the as Bordeaux took a narrow win at the Stade competition with a quarter-final victory over of them jumping ship to stay in the top administrative gods to be working in their Chaban-Delmas, but a disappointing 3-0 Heerenveen and a 4-2 aggregate win over flight. Zidane, by now one of the division’s favour as they were upgraded to third in reverse in Germany brought the adventure Karlsruher in the semi-finals - some degree hottest prospects, was no different. His the table following Marseille’s high profile to an end. Karlsruher, for their part, made of revenge for their UEFA Cup tie two next home would be Bordeaux, a team that match-fixing scandal. Perhaps more it all the way to the semi-finals of the seasons previously. This being the Intertoto was passing Cannes in the other direction importantly, in finishing only seven points I competition, ultimately crashing out against Cup, there was no final - both Bordeaux and 18 19

fellow French side Strasbourg were crowned the most famous nights ever to take place a nervy affair, Bordeaux taking the tie after international debut four years earlier) and joint winners of the competition and had at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Scoring three consecutive home and away 1-0 wins to Dugarry (who had first played for Les Bleus sealed a place in the first round of the UEFA against the storied Milan defence was not seal their place in the two-legged final, four months previously). All three would go I Cup. Zidane, for his part, had scored five something you would have bet on anyone where they would face Bayern Munich. By on to feature at Euro 1996 shortly after their I goals in seven Intertoto ties, and it was still achieving, but that was what Bordeaux knew the time the first leg against the Germans UEFA Cup final defeat, as France reached only August! had to happen if they were to progress. An rolled around on 1 May 1996, it had the semi-finals only to be knocked out by early goal from Didier Tholot (who converted been exactly 10 months since Bordeaux the Czech Republic on penalties. The early rounds of the UEFA Cup saw a cross from the battling Lizarazu) got the started their European adventure against Bordeaux defeat Eastern European ball rolling, bringing Bordeaux within one Norrköping, and the final ultimately proved The UEFA Cup final would ultimately be the opposition in the shape of FK Vardar Skopje goal of levelling the tie and giving the home a bridge too far for the plucky French last time Zidane played for Bordeaux. With and Rotor Volgograd. A blockbuster third- crowd some belief that their favourites were underdogs. Deprived of both Zidane and the club having finished in a disappointing round tie against Spain’s Real Betis was not there solely to make up the numbers. Dugarry for the first leg due to suspension, 16th place (their European exertions won by the narrowest of margins, with Bordeaux succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in perhaps taking their toll on domestic form) Zidane scoring the crucial second leg goal in In the second half, the young partnership Munich. Unfortunately, the second leg did - and Zidane having cemented himself that Seville that ultimately decided the tie. of Zidane and Dugarry combined to outfox not follow the fairytale comeback arc of the season as one of the top talents not just in the wily Milanese defence. First, Zidane AC Milan tie, with the Bavarians taking a France (he was named the league’s Player Things got properly serious in the quarter- took a free-kick which bounced off the comfortable 3-1 win at the Stade Chaban- of the Year that season, despite Bordeaux’s finals when Les Girondins were drawn referee’s head and into a crowded box, Delmas to deservedly lift the trophy. travails), but in Europe - it was time to move against AC Milan. Managed by Fabio Dugarry showing razor quick reflexes to fire on. Juventus came calling, making a £3.2m Capello, Milan were one of the finest sides the bobbling ball into the net and send the It was a sad end to a truly epic European bid for the playmaker that saw him follow on the continent, having won the European crowd berserk. “They took the atmosphere adventure for Bordeaux, who had taken in the footsteps of national team legend Cup in 1989, 1990 and 1994 as well as to another level,” Zidane later said of the the stairs from the basement of UEFA Michel Platini in pulling on the famous black being losing finalists (to Marseille and Ajax) home fans. “They were so positive – and competition all the way to its penthouse that and white stripes. Bordeaux’s team was in the 1993 and 1995 editions. With the they transmitted that feeling to the players.” season, travelling the length and breadth of further broken up by the exits of Dugarry likes of Baresi, Maldini and Costacurta Europe in the process and facing everything (who had sufficiently impressed AC Milan marshalling their backline, they were Six minutes later and with only 20 minutes from the part-timers of Bohemians to the for them to sign him) and Lizarazu (whose hot favourites to swat aside the upstart of the tie left to play, the young Frenchmen blue-riband megastars of AC Milan and status as a Basque made him irresistible to Frenchmen of Bordeaux, by now facing their were at it again. Zidane received the ball Bayern. Their name might not have been on Athletic Club of Bilbao). In the end, the three 11th different European opponent of the from Lizarazu just inside his own half, turned the trophy, but this team had provided the players’ achievements on the continental season. Milan had already made short work and embarked on a diagonal run that took fans with memories that would never fade. and international stages meant they had of Bordeaux’s compatriots Strasbourg in the him up the left flank and into the centre outgrown Les Girondins. second round, and the smart money was on of the pitch. His first attempted through this being the tie where the momentum of ball foundered on the rocks of the Milan Moving on and looking The Bordeaux of Zidane, Lizarazu and Zidane & Co would be brought crashing to a defence, but the ball broke kindly back to back Dugarry was well and truly over, and Zizou halt. Zizou, who managed to stab it through to was about to embark on the second phase Dugarry, lingering at the edge of the 18- Zidane’s sparkling form at Bordeaux had of his career - in which he would become The first leg at San Siro certainly followed yard box on the right. One swing of the right attracted the attention of the French national a truly global superstar. However, he left that script, with Milan easing to a 2-0 win, boot and the ball rocketed into the top left team, for whom he made his debut in a behind a foreword to his story that was full Robert Baggio among the scorers. The corner of the net. Bordeaux had done it, friendly against the Czech Republic in of excitement, development, memorable relatively paltry crowd of 22,740 for such three goals against a defence that many August 1994. In a match which took place in European adventures and success against an important match perhaps indicated considered to be virtually impregnable. They the familiar environs of the Stade Chaban- the odds. The wider world may have that the Milanese crowd, so used to a held on to their lead for the remaining twenty Delmas, Zidane made an instant mark, forgotten that first phase of Zidane’s career, diet of champagne in the European Cup/ minutes, and the tie was over. The defeat climbing off the bench with his country two but you can be sure that supporters of AS Champions League, saw the UEFA Cup as of AC Milan was arguably the crowning goals down and scoring a quick brace to Cannes and FC Girondins de Bordeaux small beer - a stark contrast to fans of Les moment of the Zidane/Dugarry/Lizarazu seal a comeback draw. It was a fitting start never will. Girondins, who were delighted to be mixing generation at Bordeaux, who had shown on to a dramatic international career. it with the big boys after their time in the the continental stage that they possessed Intertoto. some of the most exciting talents in Europe. Zizou was the last of the young Bordeaux BY RODDY CAIRNS trio to play for France, slightly behind his The second leg of the tie was surely one of The semi-final against Slavia Prague was I colleagues Lizarazu (who had made his 20 21

departure of Houllier and mark. He picked up a pass from Laurent Cantona forward from the deeper-lying looked to build his team Blanc, surged forward, avoided a couple of position he had occupied beforehand, not around a larger than life tackles and unleashed a shot from 25 yards that the 18 minutes produced much. I figurehead, echoing the that rifled into the net. A star was born. That I approach France had used with star was to rise even further a couple of Cantona was, by now, a hero at Manchester considerable success in the 1980s. minutes later when, left unmarked from a Utd, and was attempting to captain his corner, he bulleted a header into the net to country to a competition that would allow Post-Platini decline:Cantona was no Platini, however, and the equalise. him the chance to thrill the same supporters Difficult Manchester Utd striker was never far away as he did at club level. He played up front France, Euroto imagine ‘96 andfrom controversy. What was needed was a The die was cast for France, not that with Nicolas Ouedec in the next qualifier, a today, but French new attacking force, a new spearhead, and Jacquet realised at the time. third 0-0 in a row, this time in Poland, and football was in a mess to that end, one of the most exciting teams while Jacquet was gaining plaudits for the Zidane’sin the earlynew 1990s. generation The glory in France was Bordeaux. fact his side was difficult to beat, the lack of days of Michel Platini on the field England and the English dynamism in attack was a definite problem. had long gone, and the most famous Already from that side, Bixente Lizarazu, French footballer of all time now occupied who scored nine goals from full-back in the Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain were A routine 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan in the dugout. There was promise of more, 1993/94 season, had made the step up. two of the best sides in France at this time, Trabzon, Turkey closed out the year, with presumed to be built around the shape of There was more attacking prowess in the and the feeling in the French press was that a new-look 4-3-3 formation allowing the Marseille squad who had brought a first shape of Christophe Dugarry and Zinedine Les Bleus would come to be a mirror of one Cantona, Papin and Loko to play alongside European Cup to the country, but even that Zidane. or the other of those two sides in years to one another in attack. When 1995 began, seemed to be fading away. come. Standing in their way before that, France were still struggling for an identity, Zidane had been around the French set-up however, and looming large, was Marseille. and Cantona was holding the trump cards A disastrous campaign had seen France since 1991, making his name for France in the team. The name Zinedine Zidane was fail to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, and in an Under 21 side that contained a lot Didier Deschamps and Marcel Desailly known, but it was not on the team sheet by while there were memorable moments in of names that would become a lot more were the part of the spine of the team, and any means. the European Championships qualifying familiar in 1998, be they Fabien Barthez or with Cantona in the forward line, joined by campaign (a couple of victories against Bruno N’Gotty. Papin ( who by now was showing his age), Accruing points one by one was never going Spain which served to highlight the skills of the influence of the southern giants was to be enough, not least when Romania had Eric Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin), Euro N’Gotty made his first full appearance for creaking as 1994 wore on. started the group in such fantastic form, 92 offered little to the French by way of the French side in an August 1994 friendly but Jacquet was seemingly neither able nor inspiration. with the Czech Republic, only the fledgeling When the European Championship willing to work with a settled nation’s fifth international match after qualifying campaign began, Jacquet turned team during Something was needed, and while Platini’s their split from Slovakia. By half-time, he to the capital. Ginola, Bernard Lama, Alain the assistant and eventual replacement Gérard and fellow debutant Lilian Thuram were Roche and Paul Le Guen all played for Houllier looked a safe pair of hands, he also marshalling a new-look 4-4-2 after Jacquet the champions, while the coming represented a continuation of a status quo re-organised due to player shortages, and force, Bordeaux, saw their star men that was getting France nowhere. the fact the Czechs were two goals to the kept on the bench. Houllier’s final international straw, good. at the end of the qualifying campaign for None of that group, nor World Cup 1994 might have been disastrous Zidane’s old team-mate Dugarry had started Lizarazu or Dugarry, were at the time, but there is a well-established that game but had struggled to produce able to puncture a resolute Slovakian defence as the phrase about omelettes and eggs, and alongside Cantona, and Lizarazu replaced the French football team was about to get another failed creator, David Ginola at campaign began with a dreary cracking. half time. The game still hadn’t turned 0-0 draw in Bratislava. The in France’s favour by the hour mark, so next game saw the influence Jacquet turned to Zidane, sending him on of Zidane begin to tell. The Success in the provinces in place of Corentin Martins in front of his French might have drawn 0-0 again in St Etienne against a home crowd at the Parc Lescure. Again, promoting from within, Aime much-fancied Romania side, but Jacquet took control of the side after the Twenty minutes later, Zidane had made his I the arrival of Zidane pushed captain 22 23

qualifying campaign. Each match provided being paralysed by it.” in Romania, and Zidane excelled again, secured by goals scored by their attacking certain answers, but posed questions going providing a goal and an assist in what players. Dugarry netted the only goal against forward, and the cohesion and direction of Zidane, despite a seemingly reluctant start turned into a routine 3-1 victory and ended familiar foes Romania, while Djorkaeff I the squad seemed lacking. and his substitution with fifteen minutes to up being the result that ensured that France gave Les Bleus the (later cancelled out) I go, did exactly that. Growing into the role, qualified for Euro ‘96. Even so, there were lead against Spain with a beautifully timed 1995 began with a friendly against the had a hand in three of the four goals, either question marks over the squad, albeit not in run and prodded effort. In the third match Netherlands, which was really the end of the directly or indirectly, as France played with the Zidane role. against Bulgaria, Blanc popped up with his beginning. Cantona captained the side on vim and freedom that had been lacking for traditional goal, and Loko sealed the deal what was to be his last appearance in a blue some time. A plan was beginning to emerge, As well as the names mentioned above, a late on. shirt, playing alongside Papin, in the coda though it still wasn’t clear who would play whole host of other players were given the of his international career. While neither ahead of that recycling plant of a midfield. opportunity to shine. Some grabbed it with Then the goals dried up. Pitted against pre- perhaps reached the heights that might both hands, such as Djorkaeff cementing tournament favourites the Netherlands in have been hoped for, seeing Papin replaced In terms of squad building, this was an his spot in the side, while others fell by the the round of 16, Jacquet pulled Zidane into by Ouedec was a signal of the scarcity of important time for France. The players wayside somewhat. Djorkaeff was such an a flatter midfield role, meaning Deschamps options and, though the Netherlands were coming into the team were judged not just important figure alongside Zidane, the two was more able to cover Dennis Bergkamp. defeated by a Loko goal, once again, the on their abilities on the field, but also their stars ascending in blue together towards the In some ways, the plan worked. In others, it French public were left wondering. integration into the squad. It is difficult to tournament gloriously. failed. know how well Zidane did on that front, but Ouedec started the next game, another there were occasions when other members Marc Keller, Mikael Madar and Cyrille The Dutch had the best of normal time, 0-0, this time in Israel, but by this stage, the of the French set-up found their treatment Pouget were some of the lesser names tried producing the better of the few chances that rumblings were that Youri Djorkaeff might be differed. before the European Championships began were created and could be rightly aggrieved the next cab off the rank. Djorkaeff entered in England – a tour of Cantona’s domestic to see a Desailly handball awarded outside the fray in place of Martins in Tel Aviv, as Midway through the campaign came haunts, without Cantona involved. the box when replays showed clearly it was both he and Ginola looked to make a mark the easiest task – a home game against within the lines. on a side that had been left distinctly bereft Azerbaijan. The Friday before the game, When qualification was finally achieved, as of an attacking force. Jacquet took a phone call from a relative the sixth-best second-placed side, France However, extra time was a different story. newcomer to the side, Christian Karembeu, did not look a name to be feared, but their Zidane and Djorkaeff picked up the baton, Everything changed with the visit of Slovakia with just nine caps to his name at that stage. long unbeaten run muddied the water with the former taking the support role and to Nantes in April, and everything changed, a little. By the start of the tournament, producing a litany of chances that his team- predictably enough, because of Zidane. Karembeu was released by Sampdoria they were fourth or fifth favourites to mate was unable to take. The most unlikely for international duty but called Jacquet emerge victorious, behind Germany, the was a pass nudged into a shockingly empty By this point, Cantona’s kung-fu kick indicating he had a family problem and his Netherlands, Italy, England and Spain. penalty area, after Zidane had bustled his had seen him banned from international spot was filled and left open for his return. Looking at the French build-up, it was way into the box. To see a pass like that football for a year, so the captain’s armband Meanwhile, Ginola, who had started his obvious why. was unlikely, but to execute it when losing had passed to Deschamps. Deschamps Premier League season in fabulous form balance, and to find Djorkaeff perfectly, operated on the right of a diamond midfield was left out. Indeed, Deschamps indicated The first friendly of the year was a 3-2 deserved better than the smothered Edwin against Slovakia, playing to the right of that they were better off without some victory over Portugal, with Zidane having a van der Sar save it received. Vincent Guerin whilst staying ahead of players and, though Ginola was not named, hand in all three goals. He turned his other Desailly and, crucially, behind the playmaker, the implication was clear. In the end, he trick, with a goal just a minute after coming When it went to penalties, the two stars Zidane. The following day, Libération came off the bench with the game long won. on for Djorkaeff. Absent from the next two of the show Zidane and Djorkaeff scored. described the three as ‘récupérateurs’, victories, he came back for the 1-0 win over Eventually, on the tenth kick, Clarence their tasks being like that of a scrap-man. That game against Azerbaijan was Germany, and the first half of the final warm- Seedorf, just as he was in the closing They retrieve waste football, pry it from the almost unfair; a brand new nation with up against Armenia. moments, was denied by Bernard Lama. Slovakians, and get it straight to the man inexperienced players, had struggled to France went through to face the surprise who might polish it into something better. keep up with much lesser players than France were a force, with the only concern package of the Czech Republic in the semi- Zidane and, though he only scored one goal, being that their strength lay defensively final. “For me, it’s not a surprise,” Jacquet noted there was a highlight reel of involvement in rather than going forward. after the game. “This guy is a genius of the game. In truth, Les Bleus should have put four or the game. At the highest level, you have to As such, it would have been satisfying five past Dusan Uhrin’s side, with chances assume enormous responsibilities without So much came to ride on the away game I that their progress through Group B was falling like Manchester rain at the feet of 24 I I25

both Djorkaeff and Zidane. However, home and the dream of a first trophy neither was able to convert from open since 1984 died in an instant. play, either snatching at shots from Jacquet could take his side away with range, or finding their path to goal too their heads held high. Euro 96 might difficult to hit the target and beat the not have been France’s tournament, goalkeeper. but having crossed the channel with hope they returned with expectation. In That isn’t to say that it was all plain two years’ time, they were to welcome sailing, but if either side looked as the world and, in the shape of Zinedine though they would go on to face either Zidane, had a player who looked like he Germany or England, it was France. might beat them.

That is, at least, until Reynald Pedros drilled his penalty low into the body of Petr Kouba, Miroslav Kadlec drilled his BY marco jackson I 27

Zinedine Zidane at Juventus: I Becoming the King of Italy

It was summer 1996 at Juventus. two-legged final against Bayern Munich. The mood in Turin was one of quiet That run had included a fabulous 3-2 satisfaction. Yet there was also aggregate victory over A.C. Milan at palpable determination. The satisfaction the quarter-final stage, all the more stemmed from the Bianconeri having remarkable as the unfashionable French just claimed their second-ever European side had lost the first leg 2-0 at the San

Champions’ Cup triumph, and they had Siro. However, Bayern Munich were done so in Rome of all places. There, much too strong for them in the decider, they had beaten a very strong, young triumphing 5-1 on aggregate. That lost Ajax side 4-2 on penalties, after the final was Zidane’s farewell to French game finished level at 1-1 after 120 domestic football.

tense, fascinating minutes. Of course, by 1996, Zidane was also an However, by the time veteran captain integral part of his national squad. That Gianluca Vialli had hoisted the large summer, prior to signing for Juventus, I silver continental trophy into the Roman he had been an important member of evening sky (his last act before moving the French team that made the short to join Ruud Gullit at Chelsea), Marcello journey across to England and then Lippi’s Juventus were no longer performed admirably at Euro ’96. Under champions of their own country. The manager Aime Jacquet, Zidane was Serie A title had been lost to old rivals usually deployed as the right-sided I A.C. Milan, and not by a small margin attacking player in a 4-3-2-1 formation I either. The Milanese had won the title at the tournament. In the later stages, he by eight points, a significant margin in a became a central midfielder in a 4-4-1- league with only 18 teams in it. 1 lineup. That ability to flexibly fit into a I number of positions equally well would Therefore, the signing of young French prove invaluable during Zidane’s career midfield prodigy Zinedine Zidane from at the top level of the game. Bordeaux for just over £3million on 1 July was considered a necessary, if Ultimately, France fell at the penultimate not exactly hold the front page, squad hurdle, losing their semi-final penalty addition. Although the young man shoot-out 6-5 to the Czech Republic at clearly had massive potential, a fact that Old Trafford. Zidane had been the first was reflected in the reasonable size of penalty taker for his country, calmly the transfer fee, he was still relatively slotting home, just as he’d done in the unknown outside of France to most 5-4 quarter-final shootout win over the football fans. Netherlands.

That unknown status had changed a However, there was no time to dwell on little when he had helped Bordeaux that semi-final disappointment with the reach the 1996 UEFA Cup final. Ably national team. In moving to Turin, Zidane assisted by international colleague was taking a massive step up in quality Christophe Dugarry, Zidane had been from Ligue 1, both in terms of those I instrumental in the club’s run to the within his own dressing room and those 28 29

he would be facing most weeks in Serie League, in which the Bianconeri were somewhat surprisingly triumphed 3-1 in the A. The Juventus side he joined included imperious. decider. Despite their utter domination of Italy, such household names as Alessandro Del Juventus were more fragile in Europe than I Piero, Angelo Di Livio, Antonio Conte, Alen In a Group also containing Manchester Despite that disappointing end to the club’s during the previous two seasons. They I Boksic and Christian Vieri. In such exalted United, Juventus finished top with 16 points European campaign, Zidane had made a finished runners-up in their Champions company, the young Frenchman was initially out of a possible 18, conceding only a single huge splash in his debut season in Italy. It League group to Manchester United, to very much just another cog in the machine. goal in their six games. Boksic and Del Piero was no surprise whatsoever when he was whom they lost 3-2 at Old Trafford. However, were lethal in the penalty area, Zidane often named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the they brought in defensive midfield kingpin He took his place in the Juventus side conducting the orchestra just behind them. Year, quite an accolade when you consider Edgar Davids from rivals A.C. Milan just that battled to an opening day 1-1 draw at the standard of the competition he faced for before Christmas. With Davids in front of Reggiana on 8 September. By the time he The New Year opened with a narrow 1-0 that title. the defence, Juventus once again advanced scored his first league goal, the clincher defeat at Parma, who had emerged as through the knock-out rounds (overcoming in a 2-0 home win over rivals Inter Milan Juventus’ main rivals for the Scudetto. That was only the beginning. If anything, the Dynamo Kiev and AS Monaco) with relative on 20 October, Juventus sat on top of the However, often the problem for the other following season Zidane stepped his game ease to face Real Madrid in the 1998 final at table. Zidane was regularly showing the sides in Serie A was that conceding a goal up yet another level. The club had signed the Amsterdam ArenA. sort of sublime skills and ability on the ball to Zidane and his teammates was the end of penalty-area poacher supreme Filippo that quelled any doubts his teammates their hopes in the match, as Juventus were Inzaghi from Atalanta during the summer. That would end in yet another deflating might have held about this quiet young extremely miserly at the back. Alongside the world-class Del Piero, the experience for Zidane and his comrades. Frenchman. pair wreaked havoc across the continent, as Despite enjoying long periods of possession, By the end of the league campaign on 1 well as domestically within Italy. Zidane was and missing several very presentable The quality of several of their rivals in June 1997, a Zidane-inspired Bianconeri the orchestrator, more often than not the openings, Juventus fell to an opportunist Serie A in 1996-97 reads like a who’s had tasted defeat just three times in 34 supplier of their bullets, though he did claim poachers’ goal by Montenegro’s Predrag who of world football royalty: A.C. Milan games and conceded only 24 goals. It seven league goals himself. Mijatovic midway through the second half. (Costacurta, Baresi, Maldini, Boban, Davids, meant that their 14 drawn games wouldn’t Yet again, it was a galling way to round off Roberto Baggio, Weah); A.S. Roma (Totti, be enough to allow second-placed Parma The Serie A title was emphatically retained an otherwise fabulous season. Balbo, Di Biagio, Tommasi); Parma (Buffon, to snatch the crown. Juventus were, once with an almost procession-like dominance. Cannavaro, Thuram, Dino Baggio, Sensini, again, champions of Italy. In their 34 league games, the men in the However, Zidane didn’t have time to dwell Crespo, Chiesa); Inter Milan (Bergomi, black and white striped shirts were defeated on that disappointment. June and July of Zanetti, Djorkaeff, Zamorano). Zidane had scored five goals, but that only just twice. Those losses were at Inter Milan, 1998 witnessed his nation hosting their told part of the story. Playing in behind who finished runners-up by five points, and second-ever World Cup tournament, and the Despite this level of competition, Zidane front players such as Alessandro Del Fiorentina, who finished fifth. It was a truly French knew they had a squad with enough quickly became the focal point of the team Piero, Michele Padovano, Alen Boksic and remarkable feat and underpinned the belief individual and collective talent to go all the from Turin. He had supreme confidence in Christian Vieri, his abilities to find space, amongst Juventus fans that Zinedine Zidane way to the final… and win it. his own ability, able to show for and receive link play and unlock the tightest of defences was now the undisputed King of Italy, a a pass despite being tightly marked. He with devastatingly accurate passing were generational talent. In blossoming his natural Wearing an iconic shirt design from Adidas, would then find a way to not only retain fundamental to the way Lippi’s team abilities to their full range he had carried Zidane was at the absolute peak of his now- possession but pose a huge threat to dominated almost every game they played. a very special team to unchartered new substantial powers, operating as the creative opponents, his imagination and technique heights. lynchpin ahead of a holding midfield duo of with the ball already virtually unmatched Having won their Champions League team captain and Juventus teammate Didier despite his relative inexperience at the top group, Juventus battled past Rosenborg Del Piero and Inzaghi had been the chief Deschamps and Arsenal’s Emmanuel Petit. level of the game. (3-1 on aggregate, with Zidane scoring the beneficiaries, claiming a fabulous 39 Serie Behind them stood the resolute “rocks” opening goal in the decisive second-leg A goals between them. The pair were in no of Laurent Blanc and Marcel Desailly, with With Zidane in regal form, defeats for victory) and then Ajax (6-2 on aggregate, doubt as to who they needed to thank for pacey attacking full-backs Lilian Thuram Juventus became a very rare event. An early Zidane adding the final goal in a 4-1 win in their stellar season in front of goal. After and Bixente Lizarazu constantly probing for season 2-1 defeat at Vicenza on 13 October Turin) to reach the final in Munich against he had retired, Del Piero summed it up: openings down either flank. 1996 would be their last league defeat of Borussia Dortmund. However, in one of the “Zidane had an extraordinary talent, which the calendar year. The Coppa Italia two- rare occasions that it happened, Scotland’s contributed to his sole interest in helping the For targets, Zidane had Youri Djorkaeff, legged quarter-final defeat to Inter Milan just Paul Lambert successfully stifled Zidane’s team. He was not a selfish player. He had a Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and old- before Christmas simply served to focus influence and creativity in the historic unique ability to be a great and to be a team Bordeaux colleague Christophe Dugarry their minds on Serie A and the Champions Olympic Stadium as the German side I player. I was lucky to play with him.” ahead of him. It was no wonder they 30 31

stormed through their opening Group stage France the lead their forging, aggressive It was the first time Zidane had finished home side scored against the general run of with ominous ease, defeating South Africa play deserved. The lacklustre Brazilian side a season at Juventus without silverware, play. Try as they might, Zidane and Juventus 3-0, Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Denmark 2-1. had star man Ronaldo very much out of and he was determined it wouldn’t happen couldn’t find an equaliser in the mud, much I sorts and never threatened to ruin the hosts’ again. That same grit amongst the rest of less a winner. Defeat gifted the Scudetto to I However, Zidane’s tournament had not World Cup party. When Petit added a third the squad, to right a wrong, led to the Turin Lazio, by a single point. gone smoothly. In the second game against with virtually the last kick of the game, it giants storming into the new season, having the Saudis at the Stade de France, he was confirmed Zidane as the midfield maestro had to commence early due to participation Season 2000/01 would be Zidane’s final shown a straight red card after 70 minutes for the new World Champions. in the Intertoto Cup competition (which they one in the Juventus colours, and despite for seemingly planting his studs into an won, to secure passage into the UEFA Cup). once again proving himself to be the leading opponent as they collided in a challenge. Suddenly you couldn’t go anywhere without creative talent in Italy, he couldn’t prevent He, therefore, played no part in the narrow seeing a kid running around in a football By the time Serie A kicked-off at the end of the Scudetto again slipping away to a rival win over the Danes in Lyon, nor the fraught, shirt with ‘ZIDANE 10’ on the back of it. The August 1999, Juventus had been playing club, this time to A.S. Roma. The pivotal nerve-racking 1-0 extra-time victory over man from Marseille was no longer just King competitively for six weeks; Zidane was part game had been the clash between the top a resolute Paraguay in the Round of 16 in of Italy, he was threatening to become the of the side which claimed a point against two in Turin on 6 May. Juventus had raced Lens. That game was won via a golden goal King of the World. As if in recognition of that Reggina on the opening weekend. Despite into an early 2-0 lead after only six minutes, from Blanc, the first time the controversial fact, FIFA awarded Zidane the World Player an early defeat at Lecce, the Bianconeri Zidane scoring the second goal himself. method had been used to decide a of the Year award for 1998; he became the stayed in contention at the top of the table, However, an uncharacteristic fumble by competitive World Cup fixture. first Frenchman to win the prize. winning every single home game for the ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar had gifted Roma rest of the calendar year, and remaining a goal with ten minutes remaining, and a Zidane returned for the quarter-final clash It would be the high-point of his career, at unbeaten away from home too. last-gasp equaliser by Vincenzo Montella against some familiar faces: Italy. Amongst least in the short term. Back in Turin, Zidane had completely deflated the Bianconeri. those lining up against him in St. Denis were sustained a knee injury before the new Serie Zidane was, again, pulling the strings, club teammates Del Piero, Vieri and Di Livio. A season had even kicked-off, and that creating chances for Inzaghi, Del Piero and Despite winning all five of their remaining What followed was the perfect example of contributed to a stop-start season for both new Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic (signed Serie A games, Juventus trailed home two two finely balanced sides cancelling each himself and Juventus. A disastrous run of from Real Sociedad in the summer) to points behind Roma. Like the club from the other out, Italian stubbornness proving the four defeats in five games before Christmas gobble up. As Christmas gave way to a new capital city, they had lost only three times equal of French invention. left the Bianconeri trailing behind front- Millennium, the enigmatic Frenchman found all season but had crucially drawn one more runners A.C. Milan and Lazio, a deficit they the net himself two weeks running, in wins game than Roma. Essentially Montella’s After 120 minutes of attrition, it was down never threatened to bridge. By the end of over Perugia and Reggina which propelled late equaliser had cost Zidane a third Serie to penalty kicks to decide a victor. As he the season, they trailed home in a dismal Juventus to top spot in Serie A. A winner’s medal in his five seasons at had done for several years, Zidane was the seventh position, 16 points behind new Juventus. first man to step up to the spot for France, champions A.C. Milan, and missed out on However, it would all end in tears. The successfully beating Gianluca Pagliuca. That Champions League qualification altogether. month of March witnessed Juventus crash It summarised a disappointing final season set the tone, as the hosts triumphed 4-3 to out of the UEFA Cup, thrashed 4-0 at Celta in Italy for Zidane. In the Champions seal a place in the semi-finals against the They did manage to battle through to the Vigo, having had two players sent-off in a League, his often-fierce temper had gotten very strong Croatians. semi-final stage of Europe’s premier club stormy opening half. Two weeks later, and the better of him. He had been red-carded competition. However, there they came with Lazio hot on their heels, they lost 2-0 early in the penultimate group phase game That semi-final game didn’t lack for drama up against a Manchester United side that to A.C. Milan at the San Siro, and then 1-0 against S.V. Hamburg for head-butting an and tension either. Zidane and France was in imperious form, on their way to an at home to the Roman side a week later, on opponent, therefore, missing the final game grimly held on to a 2-1 lead given to them unprecedented Treble for an English club. April Fools’ Day. against Panathinaikos in Athens. Juventus through two Lilian Thuram goals before United won 4-3 on aggregate, inflicting a had lost both those games 3-1, to crash Laurent Blanc was sent-off with 15 minutes devastating but thoroughly deserved 3-2 Going into the final day, 14 May, Zidane and out of Europe at the group stage for the first remaining at the Stade de France. defeat on their hosts in Turin in the second his comrades only had to win at mid-table time ever. game. By then talisman Zidane was out for Perugia to reclaim the league title. However, The twelfth day of July 1998 would the season, having aggravated his knee rivals Lazio applied pressure by winning 3-0 The failure of his club to secure silverware represent the peak of Zidane’s glittering injury a week earlier against Bologna. The against Reggina, moving a point clear of for the third season in succession (which football career, the evening he truly club had also let manager Marcello Lippi the Bianconeri. Then disaster struck, in the ultimately resulted in manager Ancelotti announced himself to a watching world. In leave, replaced in the dugout by Carlo form of a rainstorm in Perugia. It delayed being replaced by the man he himself the World Cup final against Brazil, he scored Ancelotti. the restart of the second half and turned the had succeeded, Marcello Lippi) wasn’t with two brave first-half headers to give I pitch into a quagmire. On 60 minutes, the detrimental enough to prevent Zidane

I I33 I I being awarded theI prodigious Serie A he moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid for I Foreign Footballer of the Year award for the just under £70million. Juventus had made second time of his sojourn in Italy. It would a profit of around £66million on the deal. I be a parting gift from the Italian football During his five years in Turin, Zidane had authorities to the man who had lit up their become the undisputed King of Italy. Now, I top flight with his outrageous football talents he would try to achieve that same billing in for five years. Spain.

On 9 July 2001, Zinedine Zidane became the most expensive player in history when BY rodney mccain

I I 34 35 I Zinedine Zidane: “More entertaining than I effective”

When Zidane arrived in Turin in 1996 from bracket, not just with Messi and Ronaldo but Bordeaux, he was a diligent, hard-working, also the greats of the past. It’s easy to say introverted character, a million miles away that Zidane is one of the greatest footballers from a galactico. Juventus was the perfect to have ever played the game just from club for the Frenchman to reach the next seeing him play. He might not hold many level. Giampiero Ventrone, the notorious individual records in terms of goalscoring fitness trainer nicknamed ‘The Marine’ by or assisting, as he only won the Ballon the Juventus players, was the man in charge D’or once and finished runner up once. In of whipping Zidane into an Italian workhorse addition, he only won 3 league titles and one rather than just a French playmaker. “Often Champions League in his club career. I would be at the point of vomiting by the end, because I was so tired,” Zidane once Despite this, I love that he gets the said. recognition he does. You can’t put a trophy on his touch, but when you play in the park Marcello Lippi was Zidane’s first coach with your friends and you bring the ball at Juventus. Alongside the tough fitness down perfectly, you describe it as a ‘touch sessions from Ventrone was the intense like Zidane’. When you hit a stunning volley, tactical approach from Lippi It struck a it’s a ‘Zidane volley’. A wonderful pass, chord with Zidane who described Lippi as it’s a ‘Zidane ball’. His style, his vision, his “....like a light switch for me. He switched swagger has left an impact on the game me on and I understood what it meant to that will go on forever. He entertained a work for something that mattered. Before I generation who have passed on their views arrived in Italy, football was a job, sure, but to the next generation and now that Zidane most of all it was about enjoying myself. has taken up the role of management, he After I arrived in Turin, the desire to win can inspire us all again. things took over.” Zidane has however one title that has Lippi had similar praise for his midfield eluded many great players, the World Cup. maestro, “He is, without a doubt, the In 1998 he enjoyed a fantastic season for greatest player I have ever coached, he is Juventus, before going on to win his country I the greatest player of the next 20 years. The the World Cup on home soil. However, previous 20 it was Maradona, and the next when Zidane returned to Turin, the two 20, Zidane. I am convinced of that.” seasons that followed the World Cup win were quite disastrous. Juventus had pretty In today’s era, which has been so superiorly much dominated the European game for the dominated by two players, Leo Messi previous three years; although they only won and Cristiano Ronaldo, it has driven us the Champions League once in 1996 they to compare players more and more by should have probably won it three years in a what records they hold, trophies they row, as they were comfortably the best team have or haven’t won, and game by game in Europe at the time. It was bizarre that stats, including distances ran and passes Zidane had such a poor period domestically completed. Zidane is held in the same from 1998-2000, as this was when it 36 37

seemed that he would be at the peak of and I’ve reached the summit of my art.” it was almost too perfect as it found Zidane Zidane performances. France went on to his powers. After all, these were the years Zidane was most certainly an artist on the directly, meaning he couldn’t run onto the lose the Final on penalties to Italy, a final I in-between him scoring the winning goals in pitch; the way he glided past players with ball and finish. He also did not need to that although Zidane didn’t win, he certainly a World Cup final (1998) and a tournament what looked like no effort, his touch that was adjust his position, which in a way made had the biggest impact in. I where he was by far the best player, and led often so good that he would accompany it it harder, but he still managed to connect his country to the European Championships with two or three keepy ups before moving perfectly and send the ball flying into the net He scored a chipped penalty that gracefully (2000). the ball gracefully onto a teammate. He using his weaker foot. spun off the bar then narrowly bouncing was an artist, and if you call Euro 2000 his over the line, before receiving one of In the season 1998-1999, Zidane hit his canvas you have to admit he created a The perfect technician would enjoy another football’s most memorable red cards. The first rocky patch in Turin. It was brought on masterpiece. dip in form, similar to his time at Juventus, image of Zidane leaving the game early, by a serious injury to Alessandro Del Piero, but this time it also affected his international down the tunnel, head down as he trotted Zidane’s partner in crime. Expectations Gianni Agnelli, the Juventus owner once form. You would think Thierry Henry would passed the World Cup trophy, is more grew on Zidane to step up. He struggled famously regarded Zidane as ‘more be a perfect partner for Zidane, with his famous than the images of Fabio Cannavaro massively, managing only two goals and entertaining than effective.’ Juventus pace and ability to run in behind would be a lifting the trophy for his nation an hour or so three assists all season as Juventus finished needed players who would buy into their dream for Zizou to assist. However, his new later. The end of an era. sixth. The following campaign was just as way of playing and perform roles that role at Madrid as a flashy player caused his bad if not worse, as he went eight months improved the team as a whole. Real Madrid, performances to dabble between marvellous It may appear that I have just tried to without a goal and was even booed by on the other hand, had a criteria that was and mediocre. Henry on the other hand was denigrate Zidane’s career by highlighting Juventus fans in a 1-0 victory over Venezia. a lot simpler, to put a team together of the devastatingly consistent. He was awarded that he was often inconsistent and did not Zidane said after the game “I didn’t like best individuals. Entertainment was the French player of the year five times, while win as many trophies as others, but instead, being booed and whistled in the Venezia main focus of the ‘galactico’ project. Zidane Zidane only received the award twice. it is the complete opposite. The facts found game, but I took it on the chin, as you have moved to Madrid, and just as he had to do in this article won’t ever change your mind to, I didn’t think I played that badly, but I when he moved to Turin, he had to adapt Throughout their international careers, in on what a great player Zidane was. What wasn’t the same Zidane that played two to his new surroundings. There, the power which they played together regularly, Zidane I want is us as fans to appreciate Zidane years ago.” was with the players and training was very only assisted Henry on two occasions. more. He brought us art on the pitch, relaxed going into games, so the players Zidane wanted to slow it down and play moments that we cherish. In the 1999-2000 campaign, Zidane could go out and put on a show for the fans the game at his pace, while Henry was the scored three goals from free-kicks, but who would pack out the Bernabéu. opposite, he wanted the ball quickly so By continuing to give Zidane the respect astonishingly for a player of his calibre he could be direct. Henry underlined this he rightly receives we must also go back to playing at Italy’s most dominant club, he Zidane was a free spirit in Madrid, allowed problem in 2004 when he said: “The sooner viewing football in this way, respecting those managed only one goal from open-play and and encouraged to showboat, reigniting his I get the ball, like at Arsenal, where we types of players who like Zidane, entertained one assist (which was actually Juventus’ first youth, where he would be found playing play without a playmaker, the better it is.” us as fans. Turning away from judging goal of that campaign). It’s crazy to think he football on the streets. Zidane had to return Without naming Zidane directly you know it players solely on stats and trophies. We will somehow managed to turn on the gas for to his roots as a flashy playmaker once was aimed at him. After poor showings by see a side to the game, lost if we drive the the European Championships that summer again, just how he looked when coming France as favourites at both the World Cup narrative of stats and trophies, as it should and became a world-class player again. through the ranks, before the days in Italy in 2002 and Euro 2004, Zidane announced be the players who entertain us the most where he became more of an efficient player. his International retirement in 2004. who are applauded the most. Zidane was at the peak of his powers in the 2000 European Championships, with vital Just like his time in Italy, it was Zidane’s With France struggling to qualify for the goals against Spain in the quarter-final and a second season in which he played his best World Cup in 2006, Zidane was called on BY james jackson 117th-minute winner against Portugal in the football. In 2002/03 Zidane was La Liga’s to come out of retirement and help them semi-final, both of which were direct free- stand out performer, as Madrid won the not only qualify but also compete against kicks. It wasn’t just his goals that led him to title. He was undoubtedly a France player the best teams in the world. Zidane, in the be the tournament’s best player, as some over a club player, but he would always turn weeks before the tournament, had also of his individual performances from this up for the big games. It doesn’t get much announced his retirement from club football, tournament have gone down in history. bigger than the Champions League final meaning that the World Cup in Germany and everyone remembers his goal in the 2006 would be the last chance to see one Before the tournament got underway, Zidane 2002 final, played at Hampden Park against of the greatest players ever bless us with his said in a pre-game interview before the Bayern Leverkusen. A volley that came art. Zidane did not disappoint, helping his opening game that “...at 28 I’ve matured, from a perfect cross from Roberto Carlos, I country reach the final with some authentic 38 I I39 I 2003: When Zidane and Ronaldo I stunned Old Trafford and Zizou’s sole La Liga title win

Picture the scene; it’s 2003 and Real Madrid tearing apart La Liga and Europe. This was the season before and Real Madrid were in Belgium meant that Madrid were into the are trying to reclaim La Liga and defend where Zidane would hit his peak as a player. expected to defend their crown, becoming second group stage, a format that UEFA their UEFA Champions League title. Vicente Fresh from the disappointment of Korea/ the first side in Champions League history to would abandon at the end of that season. del Bosque has quite frankly a ridiculous Japan ‘02 with the French national side, do so. squad of players to choose from. Ronaldo, Zidane would scoop up the FIFA player of Zidane was absent from the squad that beat Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, Guti and of the year award in 2003 for the third time, Unsurprisingly, Madrid finished top of their Genk and only played for 70 minutes against course Zinedine Zidane were just some and for the most part of the 2002/03 season first group stage in the competition. Roma, Roma. It was Guti and Raúl that would steal of the players in that team, who wore that would be unplayable as he led Los Blancos AEK Athens and Genk put up a better than the headlines in the two wins, but Zidane gorgeous Adidas strip. to their 29th league title and the Champions expected fight, as Los Blancos only picked would become more prominent in the League semi-finals. up two wins in the group, but it was enough second group stage. Zidane, fresh from his antics in the final to see them through. A 6-0 win over Genk at in Glasgow the season before was once Zidane had been at the forefront of the the Santiago Bernabéu alongside a 3-0 win Madrid were joined by two European again the Rolls-Royce in a midfield that was side that had won the Champions League in Rome, two draws against AEK and a draw giants in this stage of the competition. A.C. 41

Milan and Borussia Dortmund, both past history. winners of the competition would make up an exciting group alongside Lokomotiv Although Ronaldo was on a different Moscow, who were probably fearing for the planet to every other player that night, his I worst. performance wouldn’t have been possible without Zidane pulling the strings in midfield. However, things didn’t get off to the best of starts. A 1-0 defeat in Milan alongside a Zidane had carried on his form from the 2-2 draw at home to Lokomotiv meant that first leg that Madrid won 3-1. 12 minutes in, the pressure was now on, and if Dortmund he set up Figo for the opener on the night, Zidane was managed to do the unthinkable and win at pulling in Wes Brown with a fake shot and the Bernabéu, Del Bosque’s side would have teeing up the Portuguese on the edge of the to win the rest of their games to realistically box, who chipped Fabian Barthez. qualify. 16 minutes later it was Zidane again, who Jan Koller silenced the Bernabéu on 30 capitalized on Nicky Butt’s poor touch and minutes with his goal against the run of play, found Raúl, who made it 2-0. Five minutes perfect for striking the ball with his second touch just into the second half, Raúl added a third for outside the Madrid box. Dortmund had gone Madrid with a move that started once more in front and Madrid needed someone to step with Zidane in midfield. He’d been all over up for them to take the three points. Raúl the pitch that night and it was impossible equalised just before half time, and once really for anyone to stop him. The 3-1 win again Zidane would be the player to win the was unrecognisable to the early struggles in everything game for Los Blancos. the second group stage. Halfway through the second half, Figo found The second leg wasn’t particularly unique Zidane on the right-hand side, making a for Zidane’s form that season. He just darting run into acres of space. Zidane picked up where he left off. Madrid’s first carried the ball into the Dortmund box, goal at Old Trafford was typical of Zidane. before effortlessly teeing up Ronaldo to give The Frenchman won the ball inside the about that Madrid the lead. Madrid box, before starting a one-two with Steve McManaman and then spraying the Zidane was perfect for everything about that ball out wide to Guti, who found Ronaldo, period at Real Madrid. The all caps stencil who struck the ball inside Barthez’ near post lettering on the shirts, the white-collar and to give Los Blancos the lead and the first the Siemens Mobile sponsorship are all goal of his hat-trick on the night. Although synonymous with him, dictating the play in United won 4-3, Madrid’s lead from the first period at his No.5 shirt. There was no response from leg was enough to see them into the semi- Dortmund, and Madrid would only drop two final. more points in the group. Two wins against Milan and Lokomotiv alongside a draw in Ronaldo deservedly grabbed the headlines Dortmund would seal a spot in the quarter- the following morning with his hat-trick, but finals, Manchester United would await. Zidane was also in blistering form over the Real Madrid. two-legs and was a huge part of the 6-4 There isn’t much to be said about this tie, aggregate win. that hasn’t been said already. Ronaldo’s performance in the second leg got a Zidane’s former club in Juventus would standing ovation at Old Trafford and that stand in the way between him reaching second leg, in particular, is widely regarded a second consecutive European final. A as one of the best in Champions League 2-1 win at the Bernabéu in the first leg put 42 I I43 Madrid in a great position to face one of the before at the Bernabéu. Sociedad matched was needed the most to step up. He was Sociedad had done brilliantly to take the Milan sides in the final and with Old Trafford Celta’s result after they were held at home effortless on the ball, stroking it around like title race to the last day of the season but hosting the final, Zidane et al were probably by Valencia, so if Madrid lost to arch-rivals a golfer on a putting green. The assist for the inexperience of being in these types of rubbing their hands together at the prospect Atlético Madrid and Sociedad could beat Ronaldo’s opener didn’t leave the surface of situations had caught up with them. A brief of returning there. Celta, the gap would go to four points, the pitch but somehow, it meandered itself spell in the early 1980s where they picked Sociedad would be champions and compile through four players in red and white. up back-to-back titles was their only flirt But it wasn’t to be. Juventus won the Madrid’s misery even further. with success, so it was no surprise that second leg 3-1. Despite Zidane pulling a 12 minutes later it was Zidane again, who’s this Real Madrid side especially, would goal back in the 89th minute at the Stadio But like throughout Zidane’s career, it would pinpoint pass would lead to another Madrid eventually catch up with them. delle Alpi, it wasn’t enough and Juventus be him that would have a large say in how goal. This time, after collecting the ball just made it through into the final. Despite being his side would perform. It’s an overused inside the Atléti half and taking a couple of La Real did everything they could by beating one game away from the final, it had still cliche to say that ‘x is not an easy place touches to put the ball on the inside of his Atléti 3-0, but it was now out of their control. been a disappointing European campaign to get the three points’ but the Vicente foot, the Frenchman sprayed the ball out to A comfortable 3-1 win over Athletic was for Los Blancos, who should’ve really Calderón was genuinely a horrible place for the right-hand side where Figo was waiting enough to take the title back to Madrid. capitalised on the lead they had from the away sides to visit. The closeness between to trap the ball with his chest. Because of first leg against Juventus. the stands and the pitch, the hostile the pace on the ball, Figo managed to chest Zidane was once again magnificent and atmosphere and sheer steepness of the it onto his foot and knock it past the poor he replicated his pass at the Calderón for It would be the closest that Zidane would stands alongside the tough style of play that Sergi in the same move. Madrid’s third on the evening, easing the ball come to picking up the Champions Atléti employed meant that it could have through the Athletic defence on the perfect League again before he retired as a player. easily been the game that ended any hopes Like clockwork, Raúl was waiting in the box Bernabéu carpet surface and into Ronaldo, Disappointing quarter-final exits to the likes of Los Blancos picking up a single trophy to tap in the cross from Figo to make it 2-0 who sealed the title. of Arsenal and Monaco would be something that season. Even if at this point Atléti had on 18 minutes. Once again, Zidane had that would hang over Zidane’s career and just come back up from a two-year stint in started a brilliant move with a pass that had It would end up being the only La Liga title Madrid themselves, who would have to wait Segunda, they would have loved nothing indirectly resulted in a goal. that Zidane would pick up at his time at 11 years to lift Europe’s premier competition more than to have stopped their arch-rivals Real Madrid, due to how the Galacticos again. from winning the title. The Madrid Galacticos side on their day system would inevitably fall apart, and the were relentless. Ronaldo added a third on rise of Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona side that Del Bosque’s side couldn’t dwell on this for It would end up being a perfect day though 31 minutes with a goal from a well-worked would reach the 2006 Champions League too long, however, as they still had a title to for Zidane and Del Bosque’s side in the end. short corner, and Raúl completed the rout final. Although the Champions League contend for. Atléti were easily seen off 4-0 and Sociedad with just over 15 minutes to play after a win in 2002 would never have happened also lost 3-2 to Celta which opened up a whipped Zidane free-kick on the edge of the without Zidane’s performances in the final It was a surprise outfit in Real Sociedad who two-point gap between the sides going into Atléti box, only needed a single touch from and throughout that competition he was the led the table on the penultimate day of the the last day. Raúl from three yards out to complete the centre of a lot of key moments, he managed season. It had been a strange season for perfect evening for Los Blancos, especially to up his game for 2002/03 and reached the the Basque side, who had managed to put Zidane had been instrumental in the 4-0 win. with Sociedad dropping points at home. peak of his professional career. themselves in the driving seat for a surprise Just six minutes in, like he had done in the title win under Raynald Denoueix. first leg against United, he set the tempo Going into the last day of the season, the for the match with a ball that split through title was now in Madrid’s hands. If they BY james Young Sociedad had to beat Celta Vigo in order to the entire Atléti defence and into the path could beat Athletic Club at home, the remain a point clear at the top of the table, of Ronaldo, who prodded it home to give La Liga trophy would return back to the which could’ve been four after they failed to his side the lead. The beauty of Zidane Santiago Bernabéu after a year’s absence in take advantage of Celta’s 1-1 draw the week was being shown in this game when he I Valencia. 44 45

to Algerian parents Smaïl and Malika, who Foreign imports were few and far between, emigrated to Paris in 1953 prior to the the most notable during those early days start of the Algerian War. Zinedine began perhaps being Peter Schmeichel, Tony I to show an interest in football at the age of Yeboah, and of course, Eric Cantona. I five, playing the game with friends from his neighbourhood on the main square within Cantona arrived in England with a the housing project in which they lived. reputation. He was acknowledged as being a serious talent, but as with Zidane, he could He began to follow Olympique Marseille, be temperamental and had a short fuse. He idolising Enzo Francescoli and Jean-Pierre went on to help a mainly Anglo-Saxon Leeds Papin, and at the age of ten started to United team to win the last First Division play junior football. When aged fourteen, title, before a controversial move across the Zidane attended a three-day training camp Pennines to a Manchester United team led at a venue run by the French Football by Alex Ferguson. He became an icon at Federation, and it was here where he was Old Trafford, a figurehead for a young and spotted by AS Cannes. vibrant United side that was on the verge of dominance. Zidane initially went to AS Cannes for a six- week trial but ended up signing for the club, Prior to Arsené Wenger’s arrival at Arsenal, eventually turning professional. It quickly the two clubs that pushed Manchester became apparent to his coaches that he United for honours were Blackburn Rovers was sensitive and had a violent streak, and and Newcastle United. Both clubs rose from became prone to attacking players and the second tier, their charge underpinned spectators who insulted his race, something by the money of two local boys done good. which erupted at various points throughout Both had the opportunity to sign Zinedine his career. Zidane.

He made his professional debut in an end- Sir Jack Walker made his money from the of-season game with Nantes in 1989, a steel industry, going on to buy his boyhood So near and yet so far: month before his seventeenth birthday. club Blackburn Rovers, pledging to take He spent three seasons with AS Cannes, them back into the big time. In the North- helping them to their highest ever league East, property developer Sir John Hall “Why do you want to sign Zidane finish and UEFA Cup qualification in his first took on Newcastle United, making similar full season, before signing for Bordeaux promises. during the 1992/93 season. when we have Tim Sherwood?” Walker set about transforming Blackburn by At Bordeaux, Zidane became part of a investing what, at the time, were huge sums. When people get talking about the greatest transfer fee, winning numerous honours, French Holy Trinity, a formidable midfield He brought in former Liverpool manager players of the last couple of decades, they including the FIFA World Player of the Year trio that also included Bixente Lizarazu Kenny Dalglish who invested in the likes probably think about Lionel Messi, Ronaldo three times, and the Ballon d’Or once. On and Christophe Dugarry. He became the of Chris Sutton, Tim Sherwood, and Alan (both Cristiano and O Fenômeno), Rivaldo, retirement from playing, he has gone on to heartbeat of both Bordeaux and the French Shearer, who – alongside Rovers stalwarts Ronaldinho and Alessandro del Piero. Right manage Real Madrid over two spells very national team. such as Colin Hendry – helped to transform there in the mix will be Zinedine Zidane. successfully, winning two La Liga titles, and the club on the pitch, while Walker set about three consecutive Champions League titles, It was during this period that English football transforming it off. A former French international – making becoming the first manager to do so. was starting to change. The Premier League 108 appearances – Zidane began his was launched in 1992 backed by the Sky Hall took over Newcastle with the club on career with Cannes, before making his Yeah, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best. TV millions and sound-tracked by Simple the verge of relegation to the third tier and name at Bordeaux, becoming a genuine Minds, promising ‘a whole new ball game’. brought in Magpies legend Kevin Keegan. star at Juventus, and latterly one of Real Zidane is of Muslim descent and was born The early days of the Premier League were He kept them up, before leading them to Madrid’s Galácticos for a world record in La Castellane on the fringes of Marseille dominated by British and Irish players. promotion to the Premier League and the 46 47

top end of the pile thanks to signings such Thus, Zidane remained with Bordeaux for over Bayer Leverkusen to clinch the 2002 that there was a “need for change” at the as Andy Cole and returning hero Peter the time being, helping them to win the Champions League title at Hampden Park. Bernabeu. Beardsley. Intertoto Cup and qualify for the 1995/96 I UEFA Cup, where they lost to Bayern Although the Premier League continued to At the end of the 2017/18 season, Chelsea I The Magpies immediately challenged Munich in the final. Zidane’s form that attract many of the world’s best players, had sacked their manager Antonio Conte, Ferguson’s side, but it was Dalglish’s season saw him named Ligue 1 Player of the Zinedine Zidane was not one of them, and following his departure from Real Blackburn team that interrupted United’s Year. though there were always rumours. Arsenal Madrid, Zidane was linked with the vacancy march to greatness, when they won the were often linked with Zidane given the at Stamford Bridge, though in the end, 1994/95 Premier League title. It was a close- Dugarry eventually came to England, healthy French contingent at the club, but Chelsea appointed Maurizio Sarri, and run thing; Dalglish’s side clinching what was signing a loan deal with Birmingham City this was perhaps a case of people putting Zidane eventually returned to the Bernabéu the club’s first major honour in decades at before making the move a permanent one, two and two together and getting not very in March 2019. Anfield of all places on the final day of the but Zidane never arrived on these shores, much; Arsenal were never in a position to season. Blackburn lost to Liverpool, but though there was a further opportunity afford the signing of Zidane. Manchester Since the creation of the Premier League Manchester United’s failure to win at West following Blackburn’s interest. United often popped up as a possible in 1992, we have been lucky in that many Ham saw Dalglish lifting the trophy in front destination, as Sir Alex Ferguson often genuine world-class players have plied their his former supporters. Clubs all over Europe were competing for looked to buy the best. trade over here. The likes of Eric Cantona, his signature during the summer of 1996, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Cristiano The summer of 1995 saw Blackburn and according to agent Barry Silkman, Towards the end of the 2005/06 season, he Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and Sergio Agüero preparing for a first-ever Champions League Newcastle had the chance to sign Zidane, announced his intention to retire following have all played their football in England and campaign. With the potential of an extended claiming that he was offered to the club for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. In France’s left an indelible mark. calendar, Dalglish began to discuss transfer just £1.2 million. This was to be the final run to the final with Italy, Zidane put in some Sadly, for fans of English football, Zinedine business with Sir Jack Walker but shocked summer of Kevin Keegan’s first spell in of the greatest performances of his career, Zidane was never one of those players. the football world by resigning as first-team charge at St. James’ Park, and although particularly in the knock-out rounds. When he’d established his reputation as an manager to become Director of Football, they passed up the opportunity to sign emerging talent at Bordeaux, the Premier with Ray Harford replacing him. Zidane – the club claimed that he wasn’t In the final, Zidane once again excelled, League was still dominated by British and good enough for the Premier League – and put France ahead from the penalty Irish players, and in some quarters, there One of Dalglish’s big transfer targets was they did break the world-record transfer spot, becoming only the fourth player in was still suspicion towards foreign players Zinedine Zidane. Although his successful fee to bring Alan Shearer to the club from the history of the World Cup to score in despite the impact of players like Eric Liverpool teams tended to be Anglo-Irish Blackburn Rovers. two different finals. But the game went to Cantona, hence Sir Jack Walker’s comment affairs, he never shied away from the extra time, and in the 110th minute, he and his rejection by Newcastle United. By foreign market, bringing the likes of Ronny Instead of going to North-East of England, was involved in an incident that perhaps the time that a player’s nationality was of Rosenthal and Glenn Hysén to Anfield. He’d Zidane instead went to Italy, signing for provided the abiding final image of Zidane no concern to English clubs, Zidane had begun to look towards Europe for potential Juventus in a £3million deal. His impact in the player, when he butted former Everton become a superstar, unaffordable to most. new Blackburn signings, suggesting to Turin was instant, helping the Old Lady to defender Marco Materazzi and received the Walker that Zidane and his Bordeaux 1996/97 Serie A title, while he was named red card. Italy subsequently lifted the World Zinedine Zidane is one of the greatest teammate Christophe Dugarry – whose Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year. He Cup, winning a penalty shoot-out. players of my lifetime, and one of the reputations were growing quickly – would also helped Juventus to the Champions greatest of all time, and he would’ve been strengthen Blackburn’s midfield for the League Final, though this was to end in After a four-year gap, Zidane eventually idolised here if he’d graced the Premier coming season. Dalglish went on to agree a disappointment for both the club and Zidane made his first steps towards management League, and he’d have no doubt greatly deal in principle for Zidane. personally, as they were beaten by Borussia in 2010, becoming a special adviser to Real influenced the development of our game. Dortmund 3-1, with Zidane marked out of Madrid’s first team, before taking charge of Although Walker’s views on Dugarry are not the game by Paul Lambert. Real Madrid Castilla – the club’s B-Team – in Zidane was a unique talent, unquestionably known, he reportedly rubbished the idea 2014. the right player for English football, but at of bringing Zidane to Ewood Park, asking After achieving great success with Juventus the wrong time. Dalglish: “Why do you want to sign Zidane over a five-year spell, Zidane left in 2001 for In 2016, he took charge of the first team when we have Tim Sherwood?” This wasn’t Real Madrid for a world-record transfer fee, for the first time when the club fired Rafa necessarily Walker questioning Zidane’s becoming a key figure in the Galácticos era, Benitez. Zidane spent two-and-a-half years BY Dave proudlove talent, perhaps more of a case of him helping the club to numerous honours, his in charge, winning the La Liga title, and three backing a familiar player that was important most memorable moment perhaps being consecutive Champions League titles before to Blackburn’s title triumph. the spectacular volley he scored in a 2-1 win I resigning from the club in June 2018, stating 48 49

I zidane’s swansong: I

I

I I I I

The 2006 World Cup 50 51

I “Well, the pictures tell the story. He leaves In a final that was supposed to be already 32, and many top players tended Korea in Leipzig. To make matters worse, I football in disgrace. And he leaves his team dominated by Brazil and Ronaldo, it was to end their international career around that Zidane (who had been made captain for the in big trouble. France down to ten men, and Zidane who played the starring role. He was time, in an attempt to prolong their club tournament) was booked in both games, the showpiece of the world game has an the conductor of the match, at the centre football. He wasn’t the only one from that meaning for the second time he would miss unsavoury moment here.” - Martin Tyler’s of everything positive the home side were generational French side that had come the final group game of a World Cup finals. commentary from the 2006 World Cup final. producing. His two first-half goals were to the same conclusion; Marcel Desailly, Thankfully for him, France finally found enough to give the home side a lead they Bixente Lizarazu, Claude Makélélé and Lilian some form, dispatching Togo 2-0, meaning Goodbyes are always difficult to get right. never looked like relinquishing and was Thuram all felt it was appropriate to call time Zidane would have another chance to grace This is especially true if what has come given the man of the match award as the on playing for Les Bleus. the knockout stages of an international before them has been much celebrated and French lifted the World Cup for the first time. tournament with his presence. lauded. Think of popular TV shows such as That seemed that, a great international Game of Thrones or the Sopranos, or film 2002 was a far less glamorous affair for the career regrettably finishing on a low point, He assisted Patrick Viera, then scored his series such as the Batman Trilogy or the new French and Zidane, where despite being instead of one of the many glittering highs first goal in the finals in eight years against Star Wars films. Because of the anticipation reigning World and European champions, Zidane and France had achieved earlier Spain, as France eased past Luis Aragonés that has been built up over years before, they ended rock bottom in their group. between 1998 and 2000. However, just side 3-1, setting up a rematch of the 1998 there always is a sense of disappointment Zizou was injured for the curtain-raiser, over a year later, Zizou made a return to the final against Brazil. It was here that those when the ending isn’t quite what the public where France were on the receiving end of fold, alongside both Makélélé and Thuram. watching were lucky enough to witness want or expect. a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Senegal, France were struggling in their qualifying Zidane at his majestical best. Easing past who were appearing for the first time at the group for the 2006 tournament, languishing two, three midfielders with a quick turn and It is an interesting comparison when looking tournament. He also missed out from the in fourth place behind Switzerland, Israel a burst of pace, with just 35 seconds on the at Zinedine Zidane’s career as a whole, but drab 0-0 against Uruguay but was deemed and the Republic of Ireland. Coach clock. Bullying current superstars like Kaká also with a specific focus on the events of fit enough to start the crunch match against Raymond Domenech managed to sweet-talk off the ball with ease, making him appear the 2006 World Cup, and how it unfolded Denmark. However, he failed to have an the trio into reversing their decisions, and like a child in a man’s game. The game is for both him and his French side. In fact, impact, with the Danes winning 2-0. France soon enough they had helped guide France played at his tempo, being at the centre of even the final saw the absolute best of what were out, having not scored a goal. This to the top of the group, meaning Zidane all France’s positive moves, and at times it he was capable of, only to be followed by was the worst performance by a defending would be in Germany for his third World Cup genuinely appears that the game has slowed an exit from a playing career that will likely champion in the history of the competition. finals. down around him. never be forgotten. Following the surprise exit to Portugal at It was widely known that the tournament He also gets the assist for the only goal of The 2006 edition in Germany was Zidane’s Euro 2004, it appeared that Zidane’s time would be Zidane’s final swansong in his the game, delivering a whipped free-kick third appearance at the World Cup finals. playing for France had come to an end. glittering playing career. His Real Madrid right onto the foot of the unmarked Thierry 1998 was, of course, the year that he truly Zidane released a statement on his website, contract had come to an end at the end of Henry, who doesn’t have to break stride burst on to the international scene; he was saying that “I have thought long and hard the 2005/06 season, and Zizou announced before lashing it home past the helpless at the heart of France’s midfield, playing over this decision. I think that at a given his plans to retire following the conclusion of Dida. Before the tournament there had been crucial parts in their early wins in the group moment you must say ‘stop’ … There have the World Cup. It meant that all eyes would questions of whether Zidane deserved his stages. It wasn’t fully without controversy, been some great players who retired in 2000 be on him for the duration, to see if he could place in the team, considering his age and as he became the first Frenchman to be sent and 2002, other players are doing it and now end his career in spectacular fashion. his (relatively speaking) poor domestic form off in a World Cup, after a stamp on Fuad I’m doing it.” It appeared pretty final, and for over the previous two seasons. Shockingly, Anwar in the second group match against a year he stayed away from the national set- The 2002 hangover still appeared to be in those calling for him to be dropped Saudi Arabia. Following his suspension, he up, content to have closed the book on that effect for Les Bleus, as they struggled in had fallen silent after this astonishing instantly returned to the side, helping them chapter of his career. their opening two games. A 0-0 against performance. overcome Italy in the quarter-finals, and then Switzerland in Stuttgart was followed by an Croatia in the semis. The stage was set. It seemed like a good time to stop. He was I equally uninspiring 1-1 draw against South Portugal were the next team standing in 52 I53 I Les Bleus’ way, and in another tight affair, Andrea Pirlo corner. The two sides traded As captain and the designated penalty to the team. After the game, I went into the the game was decided by a penalty from blows, but neither could land a winning taker he undoubtedly would have taken dressing room and told them: ‘Forgive me. France’s captain and talisman. He had found punch. Extra time began, and Zizou responsibility in the penalty shoot out. This doesn’t change anything. But sorry form just at the right time, and was on the was close to winning it. Finding himself Without him, France missed the chance to everyone.’ brink of lifting the iconic golden trophy for unmarked by the penalty spot, he sent a make it two World Cups in eight years, as “But to him, I cannot. Never, never.” the second time. The final was to be his last powerful header towards the Italian goal. instead, the Italians lifted the trophy for the Perhaps surprisingly, the French public were ever game as a professional footballer, and it Buffon was equal to it, tipping it over the first time since 1984. a slightly more forgiving of the episode. Polls almost seemed like it was the closing act of bar with a strong right hand. The game was conducted not long after the conclusion a Hollywood blockbuster. edging ever closer to penalties. Understandably, his teammates were furious of the tournament showed that 61% of with their captain. He gave a speech to people had already forgiven him, while The match followed the script to begin with. Then it happened. All of a sudden, a red apologise, and afterwards, Domenech tried 51% understood his actions. Unlike the Within six minutes France were ahead, from card was flashed, and the most talented to begin applause, but instead was met way David Beckham was treated following yet another Zidane penalty. Florent Malouda player of his generation was walking off “only with the grinding of teeth...certain a similar incident in the 1998 World Cup, had gone down after minimal contact with the pitch. It wasn’t immediately clear what players hated their captain.” They shouldn’t Zidane certainly got off rather lightly from Italian hot head Marco Materazzi. The man had happened; play was up the other end have been completely surprised by the the fans. from Leece was only in the side due to of the pitch before the referee stopped the incident, as the fact that he was coerced Alessandro Nesta’s injury in the group game game, with Materazzi in a heap on the floor. into rash action wasn’t anything new; Zizou Despite this forgiveness, they still would against the Czech Republic, so was never The TV camera hadn’t shown it at the time, received 14 red cards during his career, of all have preferred a different outcome. meant to play such a starring role in the but replays showed the Italian and Zidane which he claimed he was provoked for 12 of Because however, you look at Zidane’s time final. The penalty was rewarded, and Zidane exchanging words as they jogged back into them. in the game, it should not have ended like faced up against Gianluigi Buffon, his almost position, readying themselves for the goal this. This was not in the script. A glittering teammate from his time at Juventus. kick. It appears light-hearted, as Zidane is Frank Lebouef, a member of the 1998 career, which amongst others included two smiling. The mood swiftly changed, with winning side described himself as Scudettos, a La Liga title, a Champions Buffon was an imposing figure, widely the French captain turning on his heels, and “ashamed” of his former teammate. The League and a World Cup winners medal considered to be one of the greatest planting his head into Materazzi’s chest. French paper Le Figaro called the incident was over in the most controversial manner goalkeepers of all time. To date, he has Whatever the insult was, it was enough to “odious”, while the front page of another, possible. stopped 30 penalties in his time, an tip Zidane over the edge, causing him to L’Equipe, went with criticism in the form of astounding figure. The stage couldn’t have erupt in dangerously aggressive fashion. a question “What should we tell our children It could have been the perfect final episode, been bigger, the pressure couldn’t have for whom you have become an example wrapping everything up in a satisfying and been higher. Zidane, oblivious to all this, It took a few seconds for everyone, both on forever...How could that happen to a man fulfilling way. Instead, it left people asking ‘I does something us mere mortals wouldn’t the pitch and watching at home, to realise like you?” wish it could have ended like this…’ even have begun to have considered. what had happened. Buffon remonstrated Cooly as you like, he panenka-ed it down with anyone who would listen, while the While clearly showing remorse for what the middle, kissing the crossbar, with it Italian manager Marcello Lippi had to happened, and seeking forgiveness from his BY Graham dropping just over the line to give France the be restrained by his colleagues. After teammates and the French people, there is advantage. It was the fifth-fastest goal in a consulting with his assistants, the referee still one person who Zidane doesn’t feel it is hollingsworth World Cup final, and would have been the had the simple task of holding aloft the red necessary to reconcile with. It doesn’t take overriding image for any other major final. card, signalling the end of Zidane’s game, a genius to work out who he is talking about However, it is of course overshadowed by and time as a professional footballer. The here. what was to follow. image of him heading down the tunnel, walking past the trophy without looking up “If I ask him forgiveness, I lack respect for The lead lasted only 12 minutes, as at it, is one that everyone who watched the myself and for all those I hold dear with all Materazzi made amends by heading in an game will remember forever. I my heart. I apologise to football, to the fans, 54 55

a slight at his North-African heritage, or his the most gifted footballers to ever play the Anger management: mother, or both. This was not true, though it game, but that talent came with a price; an We all know how the story ends. With extra ahead. The Italians took the win in a did involve a family member. aggression which would often fuel his fire to I time well underway, Zinedine Zidane trots dramatic penalty shootout. success, and on occasion, would cost him I up the pitch following an unsuccessful set After some back and forth verbal jabs, a red card. In his professional career, from piece. As he passes Italian centre-back The image of Zizou trodding off the pitch, Zidane apparent said to Materazzi “I’ll give his debut for Cannes in 1989, through to his Marco Materazzi, words are spoken. This a picture of shock and disenchantment, is you my shirt later”, insinuating that to the retirement following the 2006 World Cup, isn’t unusual. Whether it was conversation iconic. The way he calmly unwraps the tape soon-to-be World Cup winner, this was an Zizou was sent off 14 times. Twelve of these, or slander, both are commonplace on the from his wrist, walking past the World Cup act of charity to a starstruck young fan, not claims Zidane, were a result of provocation. field of play. What happened next, however, trophy as if it wasn’t a decorated opponent. became one of the most iconic moments of even there. Even Materazzi allegedly He is not using this as an excuse. He admits World Cup history. during one of retorted that that his reactions are over the top and the lowest he would costly, but it is who he is. In an interview Zidane jogs past and something is said. The moments rather have with Esquire in 2015, he stated “My passion, French midfielder takes a few steps ahead of his Zidane’s temper and blood made me react. In my of Materazzi and waits. The Italian continues sister, life I’ve always tried to soften things with to walk confidently, no-doubt assuming that and people. I have tried not to anger or provoke. he will be able to barge past his opponent. So, when I’m provoked it has double the Instead, Zidane lowers his head and thrusts effect. It builds up. Then it explodes.” it into the chest of the Internazionale defender with immense power and The first of his many red cards came for precision. Zidane was a good three inches Bordeaux, back in 1993. He was on the shorter than Materazzi, but the weight he receiving end of an elbow from his future put behind his headbutt crumbled the player international teammate, Marcel Desailly, and like he was a Styrofoam cup. was aggrieved to see the referee take no action. Soon afterwards, with the ball fired The hullabaloo that followed was baffling. into the box and confusion high, Zidane The referee and linesman weren’t supposed took his chance, striking Desailly in the face. to have known what had happened; the Zidane was provoked, but he didn’t trust play had continued around the players the system to dole out justice eventually, and, as such, the officials were following he wanted vigilante justice, and he wanted this. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon it that same day. He waited and, when the stormed out of his area to address the moment felt right, he struck his opponent. situation and suddenly, play subsided. The vindication may have felt good; the red It became apparent that the referee had with card and subsequent ban must have felt used information fed to him by an external this less gratifying. monitor to view the incident. The right call career, was made, Zidane was shown a red card, he is the comment, The hatchet was evidently buried between but the morality of this was questions – VAR epitome of the red mist the two, with the pair both going on to was not to be introduced for over a decade, cool. descended, amass over 100 caps each for France officially. If no matchday official saw this act and a legacy career between the mid-90s to mid-noughties. of foul play live then Zidane, shocking as it For nearly 15 years the had an ugly black mark This was Zidane though. He wasn’t one for may sound, should have been allowed to world wondered what had against it. holding grudges. He didn’t harbour long- stay on the field and continue the game. been said. What could Marco Materazzi lasting resentment. If someone wronged have said to Zidane that could have made The thing is, this isn’t the only mark against him then nine times out of ten, he would For right or for wrong, Zidane was him act this way? It wasn’t even a simple Zidane’s name. He is undoubtedly one of show them up on the field, the correct way. dismissed. France held on for the remainder case of a player losing his cool, he had of extra-time, but without their star penalty enough time to hear the words and plan taker – Zidane’s sumptuous chip from 12 his response. It was an act of brutality. A Balancing the talent yards in the first half had put Les Bleus planned assault. The world assumed it was with the tantrums 57

Occasionally the slight on him, his family He was heralded as a hero and the world or his heritage would be too great, and the remembers his triumphant performance in rage would spill over into an act of violence. Stade de France. He should consider himself lucky that he I was a professional footballer and not living David Beckham, a future teammate of in the ‘real world’ where such acts garner Zidane, had a similar situation during the police action rather than a short ban! World Cup that summer, however, his experience was much more traumatic than Followers of French (and latterly Italian) that of Zidane. His red card was an act of Occasionally the football were beginning to understand that rash stupidity and petulance. After being this was Zidane’s way. It was infuriating at fouled by Diego Simone, Beckham kicked times, but overall, if this was the cost of his out and caught the Argentinian. It wasn’t as greatness, his fans, coaches and teammates blatant or as openly aggressive as Zidane’s were willing to let it be. In the summer of stamp, but like the Frenchman’s assault, it slight on him, 1998, the rest of the world caught up with was in direct eye line for the referee. the aggression of Zinedine Zidane. Unlike Zidane, Beckham didn’t go on to It was the second game from France, who play an instrumental role in his country were hosting the World Cup that summer. winning the World Cup. In fact, many would his family or his Having put three unanswered goals past go on to blame Beckham for England’s South Africa, Les Bleus were facing Saudi departure, with Argentina eliminating the Arabia. They were 2-0 up and cruising English that day. Beckham was chastised into the knockout stages when defensive for his mistake, hounded by the media midfielder Fuad Amin launched in on Zizou and opposition fans, even sections of his heritage would with a tough tackle from behind. While Amin own fanbase at Manchester United. He was on the ground Zidane stayed upright, received death threats for months and one off-balanced, but able to stand straight if he newspaper led with a photo of a burning wanted. Unfortunately for his teammates, effigy of the winger. be too great, and what Zidane wanted was retribution. He stamped his right foot down on the thigh Eventually, Beckham managed to shake his of Fuad Amin, in direct line of the referee, hoodoo. Winning *that* iconic treble in 1999 Mexico’s Arturo Brizio Carter. The red card pacified his own fans at Old Trafford, and surprised nobody. scoring *that* free-kick against Greece to the rage would qualify for the 2002 World Cup went some France, and Zidane, were lucky. They were way to the Three Lion support forgiving cruising to victory and Saudi Arabia had him – his penalty against Argentina in that been playing with a man less since the 19th World Cup tie feeling like the hate had finally minute. They were able to finish the game plateaued. Nowadays, two decades on, spill over into an with a scoreline of 4-0 and their place was Beckham has become something of a media booked in the knockout rounds. Zidane was darling. given a two-game ban. He missed their final group game against Denmark, a game that Different incidents, different men, he may well have been rested for anyway, different countries and different stages act of violence. and their round of 16 tie against Paraguay of the competition, this may not be a – a 1-0 win in extra time. Upon his return, fair comparison. It is worth considering, he was influential in seeing off Italy and however, what could have happened to Croatia, before his incredible performance in Zidane. If things had panned out differently the final against Brazil. He was the catalyst then perhaps France may have exited in that final (albeit the main takeaway from the tournament early. Zidane may have that final was the bizarre Ronaldo incident). experienced similar treatment to what 58 59

Beckham suffered and maybe the second majority of games. Even the biggest bans documentary. who speared his head into the chest of an half of his career may have crumbled into wouldn’t keep him out for too long, and so opponent during a game of football, needs a disappointing tale. This didn’t happen, star-studded was their squad that they knew This was Zidane; this was the majestry. He to reevaluate their opinions. I though. Zidane got lucky. Zidane won the that there would always be an elite player played a wonderful game, left his fans with I World Cup, and once again his aggression able to fill his void if a suspension occurred. a sense of awe and wonderment for 90 Every big-name player has their vices. For was chalked up to a rash mistake. minutes, then in the space of 30 seconds, years, Cristiano Ronaldo had his diving (with The red cards became less frequent in Spain their jaws were dropped for another reason much darker personal issues lurking over The red cards continued at Juventus. He – perhaps due to a more placid defensive entirely. He was defending his teammate. He him in recent years), Lionel Messi has his tax was shown red for a high foot on Emerson, style to that stereotypical Serie A defence defended his family name. He defended his problems, George Best was an alcoholic, one of the rare dismissals in his career of the 1990s. His only straight red card principles. while Maradona became a coke addict – that felt more accidental than malicious, for Real Madrid was typical Zizou – not and we are not talking about Coca Cola in spite of its horrific nature. His most as overtly aggressive as some of his finer That was the thing about the great Zinedine here. This is not to excuse Zidane, what notable dismissal for the Old Lady was in work, but still, it showed a nasty streak and, Zidane, he had a nasty streak. He could, and he did on the pitch would have landed him a Champions League group game against importantly, was a high-stakes moment. did, fight dirty. He was cold and calculated, several jail sentences over the years in any Hamburg in 2000. he hurt opponents. The thing is, he rarely other environment, but in the grand scheme This was Zidane’s final season, 2005/06. started these fights. He was very good at of things, other elite-level players have Aggrieved to see his team a goal down Zidane: a 21st Century Portrait was a finishing them though. committed more heinous crimes. against the Germans, Zizou was on the 2006 documentary by filmmakers Douglas rough end of a tackle from Jochen Kientz. Gordan and Philippe Parreno. It focused on He was not the kind of player to leave Zidane was an artist on the pitch, and the As Kientz tried to get up, he inadvertently the playing style of Zizou; the film showing the elbow in, unprovoked. Any fight he great artists are all tortured in some way. If kicked the French midfielder. Contact was Zidane playing an entire 90-minute football appeared to start was often a reaction to a Zidane had to reach these dark moments to there, but there appeared to be no ill intent. match where the cameras were trained only late tackle, a slight on him, or in defence of achieve these lofty heights, then I’m sure we Zidane felt aggrieved, however, eyeing his on the Frenchman – his touches, his vision, a teammate. He could be a liability at times can agree it was all worth it. Well, almost all. opponent up and down whilst leaning over his movement off the ball. It aimed to show and the opposition knew that once you got I’m sure Fuad Amin, Jochen Kientz, Quique him, before unleashing a hellacious headbutt the game from his perspective, and it was under his thick skin, there was a red card in Alvarez and Marco Materazzi may not be the on the German defender. A five-game ban quite brilliantly done. There was just one him. That being said, his worst quality was biggest fans of Zizou. For those of us not resulted. slight problem… Zidane evidently doesn’t a consequence of his best quality – loyalty. personally assaulted by Zidane, I’m sure we ‘do’ overtime in the film industry. Sheer, unwavering loyalty. can all say merci pour les souvenir, Zinedine Like so many of his red cards, this was a – thanks for the memories. choice. He saw the red mist, but it wasn’t As the clock ticked over the 90-minute Zidane was no angel, far from it. Anybody an immediate reaction. He took just enough mark, Real Madrid were 2-1 up. Zidane had who claims this, or that refers only to *that* time to consider his options and he chose set up the equaliser and played very well World Cup headbutt and how Materazzi BY JACK WILLS this course of action. Whether this was in this crucial match as they chased for his was the bad guy, rather than the player the intention or not, only Zidane will know. second La Liga title. A small scuffle broke The frequency of how often these bizarre out between Guti Hernandez, Zidane’s reactions occurred does not help his case. teammate, and Villarreal defender Quique Football is a sport littered with hotheads; Alvarez. A number of players rush over to Zidane is not being singled out because defend their teammates, but Zidane, of of his reactions. It is just rare that this course, barged in heavier than the rest. level of aggression is matched with such outstanding talent. While most players played out the usual ritual of pushing each other, jumping from He left Juventus at the end of this season, side to side whilst offering up verbals, with Real Madrid making him the most Zidane laid in with heavy hands to the face, expensive player in the world. They spent a grab to the throat, taking the attention £46.6 million turning him into a Galáctico, away from everyone else and ensuring a fee that they were more than willing to the scrap was now between Alvarez spend. Rather than worrying that he may and himself. Both players received their pick up a reckless red card, they banked marching orders and Gordan and Parreno on his performances being stellar for the both received the perfect ending to their I 60 61

The Zinedine Zidane Effect: I Turning the Real Madrid embarrassed I by Barcelona into European champions

Rafa Benítez stands still on the Santiago Germain in the UEFA Champions League, Bernabéu’s touchline. His skin was peachy, was the trundling right midfielder of mass his shoulders were broad and his grin was destruction. It was bad. Very bad. blinding. But not now. Not after this. This was Benítez’s first season as manager He checks his watch. Time is just not going in the Spanish capital. The defeat to fast enough. He holds, motionless, in front Barcelona was their 12th match of the 2015- of his dugout. The 80,000-strong crowd 16 campaign but, actually, Real had started of Madridistas are glaring at him, he can quite well. They had beaten Real Betis 5-0 feel the weight of their anger on his now and Espanyol 6-0 in consecutive matches, drooping, sorry back. briefly topped the table and did not concede a goal until a tricky trip away to Athletic Club He looks out onto the pristine, green, Real in their fifth match. Madrid turf. What does he see? Sergio Ramos on the ground, helpless as Andrés But they came unstuck a week before Iniesta twists and turns past him to put Barcelona’s trip to Madrid, losing 3-2 to Barcelona further ahead of his side. Keylor Sevilla. Real Madrid do not concede seven Navas does not know what to do, except goals in two matches, and they certainly do make that confused, bewildered face that not lose two matches in a row. No manager every goalkeeper is good at making. of Los Blancos should expect to sleep comfortably after that. 21st November, 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale stand marked the beginning of the end for Benítez over the resulting kick-off. Benítez checks at Real Madrid. his watch. And again. He then checks the scoreboard to check if it is really true. He He just could not quite shake off the defeat should not have done that, it shows the to Barcelona. Hell, Real even beat local irreparable damage that Iniesta’s dainty rivals Rayo Vallecano 10-2. 10! Bale scored frame has done. There really are 40 minutes four goals, Karim Benzema notched a hat- left, and his side really is 4-0 down in El trick and Ronaldo added two more. Vintage Clásico. Real, right?

This win for Luis Enrique’s Barca extends Incorrecto. They still could not touch their gap at the top of La Liga to six points. Barcelona. The gap between the gentry and But it was more than that. A gaping chasm, the working class in La Liga was getting I lightyears apart, split the two sides filled bigger and bigger, hammering the relegation with planets, stars, a black hole - probably fodder had little relevance when Barcelona where Benítez wanted to go - and everything and Atlético Madrid were each doing the else besides. Six points may as well have same, and Real were third by the new year. been another solar system. A 2-2 draw against Valencia in January 2016 Barcelona had effected this merciless victory was the excuse Florentino Pérez needed without Lionel Messi, too. Sergi Roberto, to give Benítez the boot. He no doubt who had not yet made himself famous by thanked him for the work he had done in the scoring *that* goal against Paris Saint- Champions League, in their quest to build 62 63

on the success under Carlo Ancelotti in sides, whose best players by virtue would Being a Galáctico also requires you to 2013-14, but he was not the right manager be moved into the first-team squad, this was be ruthless. A midfield trio of Toni Kroos, First, they saw off AS Roma in the round of for the job. And Pérez knew just the man enough to impress Pérez. Luka Modrić and James Rodriguez would 16, with two routine 2-0 wins. A tie against I who was. appear to be one of the greatest of all time, VfL Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals was I He was announced as Real’s new first-team but it was not - they were beaten 4-0 by a surefire ticket to the semi-finals, then, Being a Galáctico is a state of mind. You manager on the same day that Benítez was Barcelona. One of them had to go. right…? can’t just become one by virtue of a big sacked. It was pretty harsh on the former transfer fee. It takes a gargantuan figure. Liverpool manager, maybe, but this is the And someone had to come in. For every No. A nightmare start at the Volkswagen It is about understanding that sometimes Galáctico mindset, there is no room for Xavi, there is a Seydou Keita. For every Arena saw the Germans go two goals in just winning is not enough, but losing is the sentiment, no room for emotions. Before Frank Lampard, there is a John Obi front in the first half, thanks to Ricardo end of the world as we know it. It is about the revolving door at Real Madrid City had Mikel. For every David Silva, there is a Rodriguez’s penalty and Max Arnold’s easy appearances off the pitch, as well as on it. stopped spinning, Zidane was working on Fernandinho. For Real Madrid, there tap-in, in which he gave Ramos the slip It is about being a part of the biggest sports toppling Barcelona sat in the chair which was Casemiro, an unproven, raw, largely and coolly finished past Navas. The match team the world is ever likely to see. once belonged to Benítez and had not yet unknown defensive midfielder, but he was finished 2-0. gone cold. the final piece of the puzzle. And Zinedine Zidane gets it. He has a We are back to the Galáctico mentality swagger; he remains unmoved when those His second match was a 5-1 hammering of Need a counter-attack stopping? Casemiro again. Elimination from the Champions around him have already lost themselves; Sporting Gijón. Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema will do it. Need a header cleared away from League would have been unacceptable, he is one of the greatest players in Real shared the goals, in a dominating afternoon a set-piece? Casemiro is up there. Need a especially at the hands of an inferior team Madrid’s history and he knows it. He is the in the capital. On their day, they were goal-saving clearance to keep three points? like Wolfsburg. When 80,000 Madridistas man. He gets it. perhaps the best front line in the world. Casemiro will make it. James will not. arrived at the Bernabéu for the second leg, they expected the first leg to be put right. His task was simple: turn the tide. Some But getting the best out of three And so, as the season went on, Casemiro’s And Zidane had the perfect player to do just would say only can gods do that but some unbelievably talented, all-round superstars minutes went up, and James’ went down. that at his disposal. are wrong, because he did it. His first match was not going to be enough for Zidane and It was simple, really. Real had all of the as Real’s manager was a 5-0 trouncing of Real to claw back the lost ground. That attacking talent they could ever need and He would have seen himself in Ronaldo as Deportivo de La Coruña, which saw Bale would be too easy. The three of them did not more, but they just needed someone who he watched on. When everyone else around score a hat-trick and Benzema snag a need coaching, they just needed the ball. was able to break up play to give them the him faltered, he had the weight of the world brace, but his coaching story at the club Give it to them, and they would score. They ball. Someone who was happy to screen on his shoulders and still was able to rise whose midfield he graced for five years would interchange, baffle defenders and the defence whilst those in front of him above the rest and make the night his night. begins earlier than that. finish in all manner of ways. Even Benítez flourished. got them doing that. His first goal was a simple tap-in, he In June 2014, he became Real Madrid And flourish they did. They would lose to was opportune to beat goalkeeper Diego Castilla’s manager. Well, actually, sort of. He The Galácticos in the early epochs of the only neighbours Atlético in the remainder Benaglio to a loose deflection and score. was officially assistant manager because 21st century had a problem defending. They of the league season, but even that defeat His second was a perfectly placed header he did not have any coaching badges, too had incredible options in attack, such as preceded a 12-match winning streak in from Kroos’ corner, which he met outside of whilst Santiago Sanchez was named as the Zidane, Ronaldo and Raul, but the backline which they scored three or more goals eight the near post and managed to turn into the manager. But this was true only on paper - was neglected. Claude Makelele was sold, times and ended Barcelona’s 39-game far corner. With expectation laying heavy on as Spanish football’s governing bodies were David Beckham was often shoehorned unbeaten run with a memorable 2-1 win at him, jumping so high to meet it was mighty well aware - and you would only need a few into defensive midfield and the defensive the Camp Nou. impressive. seconds at one of their matches to see who signings were not good enough. was really the manager. But, the league was always gone, Barcelona His third? Well. Vintage Ronaldo. Vintage Zidane still has nightmares about were always going to win it after *that* night Zidane’s Real Madrid. Vintage football, Zidane was the authority figure. He provided Jonathan Woodgate’s infamous debut. in Madrid. Zidane pulled off a salvage of really. It looked as though the match was the know-how that only one of the greatest He sees Thomas Gravesen trying to sorts by cementing second place ahead of going to extra-time after Ramos saw a players of the modern era could, and tackle Ronaldinho every time he blinks. At Atlético, but winning the Champions League header somehow cleared off the line, Sanchez provided the coaching badges. He Halloween, he dresses up as Carlos Diogo, became his and Real’s number one priority. but Ronaldo changed that. Really, when took charge of 57 matches, during which to remind terrified Real fans of times gone And actually, Benítez had got them off to he stood over a free-kick 25 yards out, he did complete his qualifications, and lost by. He knew where Benítez had gone wrong. the best possible start with comfortable everyone knew he was about to. only 14. For a young team playing senior I progression from the group stage. 64 65

Technically, it was not his best effort. It was Fernando Torres in attack on his own out corner in which he intended to strike. They were European champions, and not a cruise missile into the top corner, and of possession and Juanfran and Filipe Luís unflappable on the biggest stage. The only it did not inexplicably swerve to bamboozle were not as potent going forward as their Ronaldo just needed to score to seal Real’s personnel change in that time was Zidane, I the goalkeeper. It did not even go up and counterparts, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo. 11th Champions League. And he did, which tells you all you need to know. It was I over the Wolfsburg wall, it somehow went obviously. Juanfran, a former Real Madrid the start of a dynasty as Real’s manager, in through it. Lucky? No. Real had done it, 3-0; But he was not fooled by Simeone’s player, did not have the bottle when he which he would take back La Liga, complete the turnaround was complete, the semi- selections. Galácticos are never fooled. needed it most. Ronaldo did. Zidane did. a hat-trick of Champions Leagues, win the finals beckoned. Zidane is never fooled. He stuck to the style They were Galácticos, Juanfran was not, Club World Cup twice and come back and that had got Real out of the gutter Benítez and the Galácticos won. win the league again. A genius on the pitch, Manchester City stood in the way of a had left them in and onto the plane to and a genius off it. Zidane is Real Madrid, second final in as many years. Kevin De Milan, with the familiar front three, Casemiro Winning the Champions League with the and Real Madrid is Zidane. Bruyne, Sergio Agüero and co. would be anchoring the midfield and the back four we team that has won it the most often does tough, but Real were too, and a 0-0 draw at were accustomed to. not sound like a huge achievement at first, the Etihad in the first leg was a fair result. but looking back on the 4-0 El Clásico BY RYAN PLANT A ticket to the grand finale in Milan awaited Ramos, the scrooge of Atlético, put Real in defeat only six months prior, it most certainly the winners in Madrid. front with an early header. But Simeone’s was. side was not going to make it easy; indeed, Zidane’s side needed only 19 minutes to Real had a scare when they were awarded go ahead. Their domination paid off when a penalty after Pepe fouled Torres, but Bale’s cross from the right side was turned Griezmann crashed his spot-kick off the into his own net by Fernando, past the crossbar. despairing Joe Hart. All they needed to do was hold firm against the City onslaught, Real had one hand on the trophy as the which, it is not unfair to assume, Benítez’s match approached the final 10 minutes, but Real would have struggled with. Atlético scored an equaliser out of nowhere. Yannick Carrasco had found space in the His Real would not have got this far, but let penalty area to convert Juanfran’s deep us for a paragraph pretend they did. When cross to make it 1-1. De Bruyne surged forwards, Casemiro was there to halt him. The Belgian was restricted When Real scored a late leveller in the 2014 to strikes from long distance and set-pieces, edition of the final, Atlético crumbled. They which Navas dealt with comfortably. It never recovered. Zidane’s Real were never, was actually Fernandinho who had City’s ever going to make the same mistake. They best chance, but he skewed his shot wide. just could not. A team with Ramos, Ronaldo, Zidane’s Real were glamorous in attack, but Benzema etc. at the peak of their powers they were ameliorated in defence. They had never would. And they did not. done it; they were through to the final. Extra-time was closely fought, but neither A second final in two years, and, once side could find a winner. So it was to be a again, Atlético were the opponents. Diego penalty shootout to decide the victor; to Simeone and his side were desperate to decide which Madrid team had the cojones make amends for their crushing defeat in to see the job through. You know how this Lisbon in 2014, in which they were seconds went. away from their first European crown before Ramos’ late equaliser and the resulting Juanfran missed Atlético’s fourth penalty. extra-time storm. He hit the post. He was the first to blink, the first to show a sign of weakness. You could Simeone’s side was typically defensive. see in his eyes that he was not going to Saul and Koke played as auxiliary wingers, score, you could see in his ungainly run-up Antoine Griezmann dropped deep to leave that the ball was not about to nestle into the I 66 67

In life, they say that lightning will never strike Cups, including victory in the competition’s in the same place twice, perhaps meant inaugural season during the 1955-56 term more as a comfort in the face of adversity in a 4-3 victory over French side Stade de I rather than a statement of fact. However, at Reims. I the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, lightning has struck thrice – the third of which being Having hung his boots up in ’58, Muñoz Zinedine Zidane. briefly became the coach of Los Blancos’ reserve team, then named Plus Ultra CF, Of course, they are not literal lightning bolts before he was promoted to being the first- in the Spanish capital, they are uncommon team manager in 1959 for a short period, he or rarely seen occurrences that have was then made permanent in 1960 following happened in the same place. The rarity in stints from Luis Carniglia and Manuel Fleitas. question is people who have had vastly What would follow would be a trophy-laden, successful stints at a club as a player before 14-year spell in Madrid. going on to replicate their successes at the same club as a manager. As many as nine La Liga titles were claimed by his imperious Real Madrid side along with Throughout the history of football, there two European Cups; the first in 1960 and the have been countless legends at clubs second in ’66. across the world that have boasted an impressive trophy haul at the highest level, When the first European Cup during his however, it is a seldom occurrence that managerial tenure was claimed during the those same players go on to do the same as 1959-60 season, Muñoz became the first- a manager at the very same club. ever person to win the competition as a player and as a manager, something which While the names Kenny Dalglish, Pep has only been done by six other people to Guardiola and the iconic Johan Cruyff date. immediately spring to mind, it would be a tricky task to name several; particularly In fact, there is only one other of those men multiple for one club. Yet, Los Blancos Zinedine Zidane: that have won the competition as a player supporters have seen it happen on three and as a manager that have achieved both occasions. The third lightning bolt feats with the same club – Zinedine Zidane. The first of these three lightning bolts Following a trophyless season and a began his journey before the two that would half with the club, though, Muñoz left follow had even been born, that being the Before arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu Over the following 10 years, the Spaniard the Santiago Bernabéu in 1974 and was legendary Miguel Muñoz. in 1948, shortly following the stadium’s would feature in 278 official matches for replaced by Luis Molowny. Sadly, Muñoz completion in ’47, the middleman plied Los Blancos in which he helped Real to would not see the second bolt of lightning The Madrid-born midfielder is a man deep- his trade with CD Logroñés, Racing de nine pieces of silverware. The five-foot-five- strike in Madrid as he passed away at the seated in the successes of Los Blancos Santander and Celta de Vigo. inches midfielder would even score Real age of 68 in 1990. and is perhaps one of those that supporters Madrid’s first-ever goal in the European Cup. of Real today can thank for the club’s The 1947-48 season had been a solid one However, lightning is not an instantaneous gargantuan stature in world football. for Celta, they had finished fourth in La Despite his arrival in 1948, though, Muñoz act. A stepped leader, or lightning bolt, Liga and reached the final of the Copa del had to wait six years until his first piece of that is visible to the eye is a discharge of Having been born in January 1922, Muñoz Generalísimo – known as the Copa del Rey silverware at the Santiago Bernabéu. That electricity that has built up in a cloud over began his playing career during the Second today. Muñoz had done enough that season came in 1954 in the form of the La Liga title, a period of time which then becomes so World War. While the Allied forces were to convince Real of his abilities and he was three more top-flight titles would follow while strong it breaks through the ionized air. beginning to turn the tide on the Axis then signed by the Madrid-based club. he was a player in the Spanish capital. powers to overthrow the threat of Nazism In this football-based analogy, the build-up from Europe, Muñoz’s career began in 1943. The rest, as they say, is history. Muñoz also helped Real to three European to the bolt takes far longer. So, while Muñoz 68 69

did not get to see the stepped leader strike, same name. broke the world-record transfer fee and after. Up stepped Zidane. With the first the build-up began under his tenure while he forked out a whopping €77.5m to sign half coming to a close, the Frenchman’s was manager of Real Madrid. Del Bosque held this position for longer than Zinedine Zidane from Juventus. sumptuous left-footed volley proved to I Muñoz, though, as he coached Los Blancos’ be the match-winning goal and one of I This second bolt was another Spaniard, reserve side between 1987 and 1990. It Like the two bolts before him, Zidane the greatest finishes in the history of the Vicente del Bosque. Despite signing for would not be until 1999 that the Spaniard operated in midfield, but the Frenchman competition. Real Madrid in 1968, the player would learn was appointed manager of the first team. differed in nationality to his Spanish his trade from loan moves to Castilla CF, predecessors. While Zizou did not hail from From that point, Los Blancos went on to win Córdoba and Castellón. Following these The former midfielder was primed to step Spain, by the end of his playing days with the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental spells away from the Santiago Bernabéu, it into the role as he had twice acted as Real Madrid, he was treated as one of their Cup later in 2002, the 2002-03 La Liga title was Muñoz who gave Del Bosque his debut caretaker manager for the club from the own. and the Supercopa de España in 2003 – for Los Blancos during the 1973/74 season. capital, first in 1994 and then again in 1996. having already won it once in 2001. In his first season at the Santiago Bernabéu, While Muñoz left the club in the January of Over his four-year tenure at the Santiago it is doubtless that he could not have When the Frenchman called time on ’74, the build-up had started. Bernabéu until 2003, Vicente sealed an introduced himself in a better way to his playing career in 2006, Real Madrid impressive haul of eight pieces of silverware. supporters during the 2002 Champions supporters held a banner aloft which read Del Bosque went on to have a glittering Two of those were the La Liga title and League final. This would be the second Gracias por tu magia, ‘Thank you for the playing career in the capital of Spain, two were, the now-rebranded, Champions triumph in the competition of Del Bosque’s magic’, in his final match at the Santiago claiming five La Liga titles and four Copa League trophies. managerial career, and he would have Bernabéu. del Rey trophies, however, he never won Zidane to thank. the European Cup as a player. It is for that At this point, Del Bosque had become the Zidane’s journey with Real Madrid was reason that he is perhaps less emphatic sixth Real Madrid manager to guide Real In the group stages, Anderlecht and not done there, though. Like Del Bosque than Muñoz and Zidane, but his mark is still to a European Cup or Champions League Lokomotiv Moscow had been seen off twice before him and Muñoz before that, Zizou undeniable. trophy, however, he was only the second to while a win and a draw against AS Roma stepped into the coaching fray with Los have been a successful player with the club ensured an unbeaten finish in Group A. In Blancos’ reserve team. In June 2014, he While he did not win the competition which first. a similar ilk to the first group stage, Real was appointed as manager of Real Madrid is the pinnacle of European football as a would again go unbeaten in the second. Castilla. player, he came devastatingly close. In May Perhaps it is harsh to not count the man 1981, Del Bosque lined up against Bob who replaced Muñoz, Luis Molowny, The double was done against Sparta Prague After a year and a half with the B team, Paisley’s Liverpool side at the Parc des amongst this list of lightning bolts. and FC Porto while Panathinaikos were Zidane was presented his first-team chance Princes in Paris. beaten once and then drawn against. In the in January 2016 following the dismissal of He won three La Liga titles and one quarter-finals Bayern Munich were seen off Spaniard Rafael Benítez; the third bolt had Real had seen off Limerick, Budapest European Cup as a Real player and three and Real’s arch-rival Barcelona were beaten almost cracked from the clouds in Madrid. Honvéd, Spartak Moscow and La Liga titles and two UEFA Cups as a 3-1 on aggregate in the semis. Internazionale en route to the final of the manager at the club, but he is set apart by Despite having been in the job for less than competition, but the Reds proved to be a his inability to claim Europe’s Holy Grail Del Bosque and Zidane had sealed a trip to five months, the now-48-year-old manager step too far. An Alan Kennedy goal in the while at the helm of Los Blancos. Afterall, Hampden Park to face German outfit Bayer guided Real to the final of the Champions final 10 minutes of the match condemned that is the expectation of any manager of the Leverkusen, who had defied all the odds in League at the San Siro in Milan. The stage Los Blancos to heartbreak. ‘Galácticos’. reaching the final. was set for lightning to have struck thrice.

Yet, when the Spaniard called time on his Following Del Bosque’s tenure at the While Leverkusen boasted the likes of In the group stages, Shakhtar Donetsk, playing career in ’84, he did so having won a Santiago Bernabéu, supporters of Real Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack and a young Malmö FF and Paris Saint-Germain had whopping nine pieces of silverware. Madrid during two different eras had seen Dimitar Berbatov, this was a Real side been seen off as the Madrid club topped the what the age-old phrase had deemed comprised of Fernando Hierro, Roberto group. In the knockout phase, AS Roma, VfL As Muñoz had done, Del Bosque returned impossible – lightning had struck in the Carlos, Claude Makélélé, Luís Figo, Raúl Wolfsburg and Manchester City were seen to the Santiago Bernabéu at first to manage same place twice. and the imperious Zidane. off. Standing in Los Blancos’ way in the final Real’s reserve team – which by this point was their city rivals Atlético Madrid. had changed its name to Real Madrid As had happened under Muñoz’s guidance, Real had taken the lead in Glasgow early Castilla as Plus Ultra had folded due to the though, the build-up to another had begun on in the tie through Raúl, however, were Zidane’s Galacticos were provided with a demise of the insurance company with the during Del Bosque’s tenure. In 2001, Real I pegged back by a Lúcio equaliser not long tough test by Atlético as the scores were 70 I tied at full-time. Sergio Ramos had opened Santiago Bernabéu due to the club’s “need the scoring in the first half only for Yannick for change”. Carrasco to bag an equaliser around ten minutes from time. Julen Lopetegui would replace Zizou and last less than half a year, Santiago Solari The ensuing extra-time would remain followed Lopetegui and he, too, would be in goalless and with the sides locked at 1-1, position for less than six months. With Real the game headed for a penalty shootout in faltering, there was only one man to enter Italy. the fray; or re-enter it, that is.

With cool heads like Zidane himself, Lucas On 11th March, 2019, Zidane was back in Vázquez, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Ramos Madrid and since then one La Liga title and and Cristiano Ronaldo all stepped up and one Supercopa de España has made its way dispatched their spot-kicks beyond Jan to the Santiago Bernabéu. Zidane had come Oblak to seal the Champions League trophy, as a player and conquered, returned as a the 11th in the history of the club. manager and conquered again, then left and returned once more to devastating effect. A year later, Zidane would do a La Liga and Champions League double, this time In around three years at the helm of Los defeating Juventus in the final of the Blancos, the Marseille-born manager has competitions at the Millennium Stadium in become the second-most successful Cardiff. Another year on and Zizou made it a Real manager of all time with 11 pieces of hat-trick of Champions League titles. silverware to date, trailing Muñoz’s haul of 14 which he achieved over 14 years. This time at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Put to They say that lightning will never strike in the sword that day was Jürgen Klopp’s the same place twice, in reality, around 100 Liverpool side thanks to a little help from bolts strike the Earth’s surface every single German stopper Loris Karius. second of the day, so, it is a statistical fact that it will happen eventually. Zidane’s third triumph in the Champions was particularly pertinent as it meant that he While it may still be a rarity and the became the most successful Real Madrid occurrence incredibly few and far between, manager in the history of the competition. there is no one that knows it can happen More so than Del Bosque, Muñoz, Carniglia more so, in footballing terms, than those at and José Villalonga that had come before the Santiago Bernabéu. him and won two each. However, the Champions League victory BY ANDREW HAINES in 2018 would only be celebrated for a short while, as five days after the final, the Frenchman revealed his resignation from the 72 73 I UNDERSTANDING Zidanology I

An inspiration to a generation 74 75

On 13th June 2019, the Bernabéu “always compared himself” to his elusive of a stunning elimination that could have was Zidanology in its purest form. He was a atmosphere filled with a cocktail of anxiety, mentor’s standards. Zizou’s enchanting ignited another crisis and put his command beacon of inspiration for a new generation. excitement and optimism. It was an anxious performances hypnotised Hazard to master in doubt. ‘I never let things get to my head I day for Real Madrid. It was time to show off Zidanology: the complex study of translating when I played, and I will not let them get to Mario Götze, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Julian I their latest prized asset who was anticipated Zidane’s idealism into his own. my head as a coach either,’ he said.” Draxler are members of Zidane disciples. to join their Galactico Hall of Fame. Likewise, Mesut Özil was a student. On the The seduction was not one way. As Hazard Intertwined in this is his relentless winning streets of Gelsenkirchen, Özil paralleled Their pursuit to secure Eden Hazard’s began to turn heads at Lille, Zidane was mentality. In 2018, he originally left Madrid Hazard’s idolisation. He put on Zidane’s signature was long, but Madrid had finally on hand to revere him from Spain. “I would because he felt their dominance had shirt and utilised the powers the Frenchman captured the 5’9 magician that dazzled in bring him to Madrid with my eyes closed,” surpassed after completing a Champions blessed it with. “I watched how he did his the Premier League. “One of the first dreams he declared in 2009. A year later, Zidane League hat-trick. Martin noted on this, “that passes” Özil documented in 2015. “He of your life has come true”, President officially recommended him to the Madrid mentality is a big part of the Madrid Way. didn’t do tricks for the sake of it. He never Florentino Perez proclaimed to his new hierarchy. He continued his course by calling You’ve got to be that cerebral mind that wanted to show off. He just played a clever signing. “Welcome to Real Madrid. Welcome Hazard and enticing him directly during the exerts control in a hostile environment or game. He’s the player who decides games. I to your home.” 2016 European Championships. ‘It would be you simply won’t survive.” watched his technique and tried to do that in good if you came’ Zidane incited. my game, and a lot of times it worked.” Hazard gracefully accepted Perez’s warmth These attributes as a player and manager and proceeded to engage with the global Their admiring relationship is why 13th have inspired generational talent to move Nevertheless, today’s French players have media. The Belgian moved onto the next June was a day to remember for them beyond the boundaries we expect to felt the direct impact of Zidane the most. stage of the shining ceremony; the reveal both. Real Madrid signing him not only see. His core principles have acted as a “Most of the current French players grew to the fans. Hazard strolled up the steps to showed the greatness of the gifted winger, gravitational pull for footballers to look up with Zidane as a model” Axel Toudic, a the freshly groomed pitch with a perceiving but also his new manager. Zidane inspired towards Zidanology for guidance. He has French journalist, stated. “When we were hidden smile. Over 50,000 fans welcomed Hazard by gliding across the football pitch, been and still is, a role model. young, he was like a god. In almost every their new star with eager applause. The as an elegant ballet dancer floats across French person’s mind is that he is the Real Madrid anthem passed through the the stage, or as striking as Michelangelo This idea is a complicated enigma in some greatest football player our country has ever Bernabéu air like it was a spiritual hymn sculpting renaissance artwork. senses. On one hand, there is no obligation had.” to the club’s glorious empire. Hazard had for football figures to abide by society’s dreamt of this moment as he waved to the Zidane as manager has continued his moral standards we have set unconsciously Toudic referred to Zidane’s 2006 crowd and kissed the badge. inexorable trend to be one of the sport’s for our public superstars. On the other, performance against Brazil as him coming greatest minds. Scott Martin, a La Liga young people prize them as superheroes. back like the ‘Messiah’. It was these Away from the extravagant show and fans tactical expert for Total Football Analysis, The media heralds a goal, a penalty save or moments that caused Pogba to learn what dressed in Madrid’s nationalist white colours believes Zidane has changed from the hot- a Messi-esque assist like one of Stan Lee’s his countryman did with and without the ball was Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman was headed player to being a calm stabilising comic characters saving the world. The as he grew up. Studying Zidanology was not there parading Hazard’s arrival. Instead, presence. enormous exposure to these ideas places fundamental to him. Meanwhile, Mbappé Zidane, or ‘Zizou’, stayed in the shadows. the footballer into a unique position. The agreed with Toudic’s assessment. “If “Acknowledging suffering and trials leads biggest names have the largest platform to you’re a boy and you’re French, your idol is His absent presence was a missing page to calmness” he begins. “That calmness is inadvertently affect millions of people. Zidane,” he said. “I want to leave that sort to their shared storybook relationship. a product of understanding the battle. That of a mark with my values - a message in the “Everyone knows the respect I have for understanding is itself a form of control, Zidane first accomplished this by inspiring history of football.” Zidane as a player, but also as a manager. one that he uses to empower his squad. and impacting his contemporary colleagues. He was my idol,” Hazard said in 2017. “To Rather than running from trials and fears, Ronaldinho referred to him as his ‘idol’. Mbappé raises a crucial point: Zidane’s play under Zidane would be a dream.” he’s vigilant in confronting them before David Beckham viewed training with him message. On the surface, it should be clear. they become overwhelming. He’s a master for three years as a ‘dream’. Young people His remarkable record speaks for itself after The Belgian’s once thought fantasy has of psychological coaching and squad wanted a taste of this spiritual experience. all. Zizou has won 26 major trophies as a been with him since he was a boy playing management.” They became glued to their television player and manager, as well as countless in the local fields. Pascal Delmoitiez, screens. Suddenly, they started to imagine individual awards, including the Ballon the former general manager of Hazard’s He added, “Zidane said the 3-0 home win themselves controlling the ball like Zidane, d’Or. The mark in that respect has already childhood local team Stade Brainois, over Wolfsburg [in 2016] had been his best passing the ball like Zidane, dictating the been created. Though Zidane’s near-silent reminisced about Hazard mimicking moment as a coach so far. Madrid had match’s tempo like Zidane and delivering message extends further throughout the Zidane’s “trademark moves” and how he lost, 2-0, in Germany and was on the verge I on the grandest of stages like Zidane. It sport, particularly in France and their 77

national team. French colonialism of Africa has had a The players inspired by Zidane paralleled profound effect on the continent that is still his success twenty years on from the felt today. From the West African diamond I reminiscent 1998 World Cup triumph. riches and cocoa paradises in the former The players Pogba bellowed in celebration and Mbappé French Congo and Côte d’Ivoire to the crossed his arms in smugness as France North African oil fields in Algeria, there is a became two-time world champions. If there dark history of pillaging, looting and racist was any moment to show it, the former brutality. Corrupt dictators rose, fell and students of Zidanology had graduated from have risen again because of their colonial inspired the course. legacy. During this he was once again in the La Castellane, a banlieue area in Marseille, shadows, giving the new generation their is where Zidane’s outer message began to rightful place in the spotlight. Despite his transcend. The suburb is stereotypical of noticeable absence, it was a far bigger where Muslims and Africans live in France. by Zidane victory for Zidane and France than many Violence and poverty curse it. Zidane’s commentators realised at the time. The 1998 Algerian parents lived in this environment and 2018 World Cup correspond because of when they arrived from the country’s colony the unification message they presented. in 1953. It was a time when decolonisation started to take shape. France, stubbornly paralleled his Two-years ago, France’s squad was unwilling to leave their colonial crown jewel, monumentally multi-ethnical. Twelve of the pursued an eight-year war against Algeria to twenty-three squad players had ancestral keep its grip onto power. It was a disaster. roots to African regions, specifically Algeria obtained their independence. from former French colonies. An internet success twenty trend bantered ‘Africa had won the World In correlation with Zidane’s football career Cup’. Even South African TV host Trevor taking off, the French government began Noah joined in on the remark. The French to introduce measures for the Arab-Berber ambassador to the United States fired back immigrant families, associated with Algeria, at the celebrity’s use of the joke. in Paris and Marseille. Professor Paul Silverstein asserted the minority group were years on from “This, even in jest, legitimises the ideology treated like they were undermining French which claims whiteness as the only interests. Their children became accessories definition of being French,” Gérard Araud to a campaign to ‘civilise’ them through told Noah in a criticising letter. “They were sport. Zidane became an unintentional educated in France, they learned to play figure to the government’s successful sports the reminiscent soccer in France, and they are French integration policy when his fame catapulted citizens. They are proud of their country, in the 1990s. France.” The 1998 World Cup presented itself as Noah quickly defended himself. He a possible gamechanger to fast-forward 1998 World Cup said it was a way to include them in his multiculturalism acceptance into western “Africanness” and denied it was a method to society. The build-up involved Jean Marie devalue their “Frenchness”. Nonetheless, it Le Pen, the National Front president, is understandable why Araud held this view targeting the French team for their lack of strongly. The issue is sensitive for France. ‘Frenchness’. Four of the squad members, triumph. Similarly, to other European countries, including Marcel Desailly, were born outside reconciling with their history is a difficult of Metropolitan France while six others political path. came from migrant families, like Thierry 78 79

Henry and Zidane. it are one of the most curious elements Zidane’s head-butt in the 2006 World Cup regarding Zidane. His background Victory transformed the social spectacle. caused an opportune moment to attack presents him as a social justice pioneer, I France succeeded through multiculturalism Zidanology’s importance directly. Academic despite saying little on the topic. Former I and multi-ethnicism. Over a million people Yasmin Jiwani argued the media reproduced Netherlands midfielder Ruud Gullit has flooded the Champs-Élysées with a Orientalist characteristics to categorise previously called for someone of Zidane’s projection overlooking them on the Arc de Zidane. She refers to how reports used stature to contribute to the discussion. Yet Triomphe. The scene is only comparable Zidane’s “street fighting” upbringing in a he still sticks to his trusted shadows. “I to a sea of religious followers worshipping banlieue to explain his action. The head-butt would not say he has a duty to do that,” their God. In this scenario, it was French was a sign Ziziou had failed to “civilise” and Toudic said. “It is his platform, and it is up to men and women singing songs to Zidane’s returned to his “animalistic” tendencies. him what he wants to use it for.” photographic shrine. Their hero had spearheaded the triumph. The integration “Zidane’s image changed a lot just after Honnet, meanwhile, offered a separate term Black-blanc-bleu (black, white and his head-butt” RMC sport journalist Johan conclusion. “There has been a lot of racial Arab) was popularised. Zidane’s France Honnet noted. “French society was divided polemics in France in the last 20 years. achieved religious and racial unity, just like in two parts: the first understanding it’s Zidane has never been involved in these his successors promoted in 2018. something that could happen on the pitch polemics, even if he comes from an Algerian with a lot of stress and adrenaline; the other family. For me, he must be more involved in It is why the philosophy behind Zidanology being angry. They believed Zidane was social initiatives, but not in politics. I want moves beyond his skill and knowledge guilty. France lost the World Cup because him to unite France. Not to divide it.” as a football figure. It inspires racial and of his head-butt. If you remember the World religious harmony through sport. “The man Cup, without Zidane’s return, France would The polarising difference does not who had brought the biggest success in not have qualified for the tournament. Now undermine the weight of Zidanology. The French football history was Arabic. It meant everybody has forgiven him.” course has gifted the sport with a new everything”, Toudic recounted. “French generation. They may choose a different people never said Mbappé, Pogba or Kanté Most of the aftermath has been forgotten. path, adapting to the ever-changing were not French when we won it in 2018.” All that is left to remember is the heavy challenges society faces. images of Zidane in the act and walking past “People in France are experiencing tough the trophy. But the power Zidane holds goes Events occur as a domino-effect. Zidane’s times right now. The social climate is not far beyond that one moment. His legacy lectures of how to control, pass, shoot, the best. For young people in the poorest continues to grow while his illustrious lure dictate and lead was the theory behind the suburbs of Paris or Marseille, the prospects for being the mastermind at Real Madrid is a new generations’ greatness. Zidanology’s are not good. Having models like that, who present story. inspiring wheel continues to turn. His grew up with racism or didn’t grow up in the presence feels silent, yet the impact has richest of the backgrounds but succeeded Zizou has always preferred to focus on been deafening. the way Zidane did, is important. It portrays his beloved sport, rather than fighting in a message that there is hope.” the social justice frontlines. He has only given rare comments on the issues his BY ELIOTT BRENNAN This does not mean Zidanology’s inspiring inspirational image represents. He asked philosophy is bullet-proof. It has been for the French public to ‘avoid’ voting for weakened in the past. Two years after Marine Le Pen in the 2017 presidential Zidane was glorified as France’s saviour, election. Zidane even provided only a brief Algerian fans stormed the pitch in an comment on the 98’ World Cup tensions. international fixture against France to send “It was not about religion, the colour of your a message to the French government: they skin, we didn’t care about that,” he said in demanded a solution to their decimated 2018, “we were just together and enjoyed social status, not just psychological the moment.” gestures. In 2005, African and Arab minorities sparked violent riots because their The contradiction between image and community issues were still not solved. vocality is poignant. The reasons behind I