Zidane, the greatest of the greats

Zinedine Zidane, known simply as "Zizou" to fans, is a French football legend and one of the greatest players of all time. He is widely regarded as one of the most elegant and technically gifted players to have ever played the game. His impact on football is still felt to this day, both as a player and as a coach.

 

Zidane began his professional career at Cannes in 1988 before moving to Bordeaux where he spent four years and won the French league title in 1996. He then moved to Juventus, where he spent five years and won two Serie A titles and the UEFA Intercontinental Cup. In 2001, he moved to Real Madrid, where he spent five years and won the La Liga title, the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

 

As a player, Zidane was known for his incredible ball control, vision, and creativity. He was able to score goals in a variety of ways, whether it was with his feet, head, or even his chest. His elegant and effortless style of play made him a joy to watch, and his ability to score from anywhere on the field made him one of the most feared goal-scorers of his time. He was also known for his leadership, both on and off the field. He was a natural leader, who captained both the French national team and Real Madrid.

 

Zidane's impact on football is not limited to just his playing days. His performances on the field helped to elevate the sport to a new level, and his charismatic personality and global appeal helped promote the sport to a wider audience. His impact on football can also be seen in the way the sport is played today. His emphasis on ball control, vision, and creativity helped to shape the modern game. His gameplay was the definition of number 10 player. Many of today's top players, such as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe, have cited Zidane as a major influence on their own playing styles.

 

He has won numerous individual awards throughout his career, including the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1998, the Ballon d'Or in 1998 and the UEFA Best European Footballer of the 20th century.

 

Retiring from Real Madrid after the 2006/07 season, Zidane later moved into coaching, starting with Real Madrid Castilla (B team) before becoming an assistant coach of the first team. In 2016, he was appointed as the head coach of the first team and lead the team to win three Champions League titles in a row and a La Liga title in 2016-17. Winning 3 Champions League in a row in modern football is a feat that no one had achieved before. He was widely praised for the way he managed and led the team and was able to get the best out of his star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric.

 

One of the most memorable moments in Zidane's career came in the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He led the French national team to victory, scoring two goals in the final including a stunning volley in the final minutes of the match. He was awarded the tournament's Golden Ball for being the best player of the tournament.