Zinedine Zidane was the first coach in history in three consecutive years to lead the team to the Champions League. In the following article, let’s have a look at the glorious career of this talented footballer.
Summary of Zidane’s career and achievements
Zidane has been successful in both ways as a player and a football coach. Whatever role he plays, Zidane is always devoted to the work he was pursuing. This is what makes him a legend in European football.
Not going through many clubs during his career, according to betting website W88, but wherever he goes, Zidane leaves a strong mark. Among them, he has played for two giants of Italian and Spanish football, Juventus and Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane started sticking with the ball at the age of 10. The first club he played for was Castellane. After a year playing football for his hometown club, he was officially transferred to SO Septemes-les-Vallons.
Starting his career at Cannes
Coach Zidane was initially appointed to play at AS Cannes for 6 weeks but ended up staying at the club for four years to play at a professional level. After leaving his family to join Cannes, he lived in a dormitory with 20 other trainees but later received a special invitation. The director of the Cannes club, Jean-Claude Elineau, invited Zidane to stay with him and his family. Later, Zidane shared that while living with the Elineau family, he had found a balance.
Then, he was sent to Aix-en-Provence to train and improve his football ability. Zidane made his professional debut for Cannes on May 18, 1989, in France’s first division match against Nantes. He scored his first goal for the club on February 10, 1991, also against Nantes, in a 2-1 win. After the match, at a party for all Cannes players, Zidane was given a car by Cannes president Alain Pedretti, keeping his earlier promise to give a gift when he scored his first goal for the club.
At the start of the 1996 season, Zidane received an offer to move to Newcastle United on a £ 1.2m deal. However, the club withdrew the offer after watching him play because of the thought that he was not qualified enough to play in the English Premier League. Probably it was the most pitiful decision made by this football club. In 1996, Zidane received the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award.
Zinedine Zidane became a star in Juventus’ shirt
Zinedine Zidane’s career began to brighten when in 1996, Juventus recruited him for £ 3.2 million. In that season, he helped the team win the 1996-97 Serie A and Intercontinental Cup.
A year later, Zidane joined Juventus to participate in the 1997 Champions League final. But unfortunately, the team lost in the final. At this time, experts began to question Zidane’s talent at Juventus. And in response to these questions, he returned immediately in the 1998 season.
That season, he played for Juventus a total of 32 times with 7 beautiful goals, which helped Juventus get the final again. However, Juventus failed and was the runner-up. Anyway, 1998 was a fairly successful year for Zidane and the French team. Juventus had the first historic trophy at the World Cup.
Two years later, at Euro 2000, Zidane played extremely well and brought the French national team to the championship again.
Currently, Zinedine Zidane has given up his role as a player and is taking the position of coach. He keeps doing well in this role and has gained many achievements.
4 great records Zidane has set
Winning the consecutive World Cup and the Euro, winning 2 titles of The best player in the tournaments
As mentioned above, the World Cup and Euro succession is something that very few players and the national team do. Winning both championships and getting two individual titles is an unprecedented achievement.
Sportskeeda said that this is the highest record Zidane has left for football history. This record proved that, besides being an outstanding player in the squad, Zidane was also recognized as the best player in the tournaments.
Winning the title of The best player of the season in 3 of Europe’s top 5 leagues
In 1996, before leaving Bordeaux to join Juventus, Zidane achieved the title of The best player in Ligue 1. In 2001, before saying goodbye to Juventus, he also won the title of The best player in Serie A. And just a year after playing for Real Madrid, the player immediately picked up the Don Balon award, which is the title of Best Player in La Liga.
These moments are very meaningful to Zidane, proving that he is still the best despite playing at many clubs. This is contrary to many players who can only shine in a certain team. And football fans must accept one thing, Zidane can shine in any team, under the leadership of any coach.
Moreover, these records prove that the time he was at his peak was very long. In the late 90s, Serie A converged a lot of good players, but Zinedine Zidane was still the best.
Zidane is the fastest coach to reach 8 titles
Not long at the beginning of his coaching career, Zidane was voted one of the best and most successful coaches nowadays. Helping Real Madrid win the Champions League for 3 consecutive years has proved the talent of this French coach.
Thanks to his talent and a bit of luck, Zidane quickly achieved eight titles after 23 months replacing his Rafa Benitez at Real Madrid. His fast achievements became a record in the coaching history of Europe’s top 5 leagues. That is also an achievement that even Pep could not do while leading Barcelona.
The first coach to successfully defend the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup
After only 23 months at Real Madrid, Zidane has reached 2 Champions League, 2 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 La Liga, 1 King’s Super Cup, and 2 European Super Cup. He transformed himself into a coach that won both the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Conclusions
Above is the summary of the illustrious football career of Zinedine Zidane. No longer a professional footballer, but the aura Zidane leaves for football is extremely great!