Zinedine Zidane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zinedine Zidane

Zidane in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1972-06-23) 23 June 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth	Marseille, France
Height	1.85 m
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1981–1982	AS Foresta
1982–1983	US Saint-Henri
1983–1987	SO Septèmes-les-Vallons
1987–1989	Cannes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1989–1992	Cannes	61	(6)
1992–1996	Bordeaux	139	(28)
1996–2001	Juventus	151	(24)
2001–2006	Real Madrid	155	(37)
Total		506	(95)
National team
1987–1988	France U16
1988–1989	France U17	4	(1)
1989–1990	France U18	6	(0)
1990–1994	France U21	20	(3)
1994–2006	France	108	(31)
Teams managed
2014–2016	Real Madrid B
2016–2018	Real Madrid
2019–2021	Real Madrid
Honours Men's football Representing  France FIFA World Cup Winner 1998 France Runner-up 2006 Germany UEFA European Championship Winner 2000 Belgium–Netherlands
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Zinedine Yazid Zidane (born 23 June 1972), often called Zizou, is a famous French football manager and former player. He played as an attacking midfielder. He recently coached the Spanish club Real Madrid. Many people think he is one of the greatest football players ever.

Zidane was known for his elegant style, great vision, amazing passes, and excellent ball control. He won many awards as a player. These include being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times (1998, 2000, and 2003) and winning the Ballon d'Or in 1998.

He started his career at Cannes in France. Then he became a top player in the French league at Bordeaux. In 1996, he moved to the Italian club Juventus. There, he won several important trophies, like two Serie A titles.

In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of about €77.5 million. This was the highest transfer fee for eight years! In Spain, he won more trophies, including a La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League. In the 2002 Champions League final, he scored an amazing goal with his left foot. Many consider it one of the best goals in football history.

Zidane played 108 times for the French national team. He helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He scored two goals in the final match. This win made him a national hero in France. He also won UEFA Euro 2000 and was named the best player of that tournament. In 2006, he won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2006 World Cup. He retired as the fourth-most capped player for France.

After he stopped playing, Zidane became a coach. He started with Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid's B team. In 2016, he became the head coach of the main Real Madrid team. He made history by winning the Champions League three times in a row! He also won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each, plus a La Liga title. He was named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. He left Real Madrid in 2018 but returned in 2019. He won another La Liga title before leaving again in 2021.

Early Life and His Start in Football

La Castellane in Marseille, where Zidane was born in 1972

La Corniche, a seaside road in Marseille, with a mural of Zidane

Zinedine Yazid Zidane was born on 23 June 1972 in Marseille, France. He is the youngest of five children. His parents, Smaïl and Malika, moved to France from Algeria. Zidane is proud of his French identity and his Algerian roots.

His father worked hard as a warehouseman and security guard. His mother was a housewife. They lived a comfortable life in their neighborhood, La Castellane. This area was known for its challenges. Zidane says his strict upbringing and his father guided his career.

Zidane started playing football at age five. He played with other kids in the main square of his neighborhood. He joined his first local club, US Saint-Henri, at age ten. Later, he moved to SO Septèmes-les-Vallons. When he was 14, a scout from AS Cannes saw him play. This scout, Jean Varraud, recommended him to the club's training center. Zidane was inspired by Diego Maradona when he watched the 1986 World Cup.

Zidane's Club Career

Playing for Cannes

Zidane went to Cannes for a short visit but stayed for four years. He lived with the club director's family, which helped him feel balanced.

His first coaches at Cannes noticed he was very talented but also sensitive. He sometimes reacted strongly if people insulted his background. His coach, Jean Varraud, taught him to control his anger and focus on his game.

Zidane played his first professional game for Cannes on 18 May 1989. He scored his first goal on 10 February 1991. After that goal, the club chairman gave him a car! Zidane showed amazing skill with the ball. In his first full season, Cannes qualified for a European competition for the first time.

Time at Bordeaux

In 1992, Zidane moved to Girondins de Bordeaux. He won the Intertoto Cup in 1995. He also reached the final of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup with Bordeaux. He played very well with teammates Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry. This trio became famous for Bordeaux and later for the French national team. In 1996, Zidane was named the best player in the French league.

Success with Juventus

After his great performances, Zidane joined UEFA Champions League winners Juventus in Italy in 1996. He made an immediate impact. He helped Juventus win the 1996–97 Serie A title and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup. He was named the best foreign player in Serie A in his first season.

Zidane played as the main playmaker behind the forward Alessandro Del Piero. Del Piero said Zidane had "extraordinary talent" and always helped the team. Juventus reached the 1997 UEFA Champions League Final and 1998 UEFA Champions League Final but lost both. In 1998, Zidane won the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or.

Becoming a Real Madrid Legend

Zidane with teammate David Beckham in 2003

In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid for a world record fee. He was part of the "Galácticos" era, where Real Madrid signed many global star players. In his first season, Zidane scored a famous winning goal in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final. It was a volley with his weaker left foot. This goal is considered one of the greatest in Champions League history.

The next season, Zidane helped Real Madrid win the 2002–03 La Liga title. He played alongside Luís Figo in midfield. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In 2004, fans voted him the best European footballer of the past 50 years.

His last season as a player was 2005–06. He scored his first hat-trick against Sevilla in January 2006. On 7 May 2006, Zidane played his last club match. He scored in a 3–3 draw against Villarreal. The fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium held up a banner saying, "Thanks for the magic."

Zidane's International Career

Zidane played for France and was also a citizen of Algeria. He first played for France on 17 August 1994. He scored two goals in that game to help France draw 2–2. After another player was suspended, Zidane became the team's main playmaker.

Euro 1996 Performance

Zidane played in Euro 96. France reached the semi-finals. Zidane scored in the penalty shootouts in both the quarter-final and semi-final. France was eventually knocked out by the Czech Republic.

Winning the 1998 World Cup

After France won the World Cup, an image of Zidane was shown on the Arc de Triomphe with "Merci Zizou."

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was held in France. Zidane helped his team win all their group games. He was sent off in the second match for a foul, becoming the first French player to get a red card in a World Cup. France still won their next games without him.

In the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, France played against the defending champions, Brazil. Zidane scored two goals, both headers from corner kicks. France won 3–0, securing their first World Cup title. Zidane was named man of the match and became a national hero.

Euro 2000 Victory

Zidane's France jersey from Euro 2000

Two years later, France won Euro 2000. This made them the first team to hold both the World Cup and the European Championship since 1974. Zidane scored two goals in the tournament. One was a free kick against Spain. The other was a "golden goal" penalty against Portugal in the semi-final. UEFA named Zidane the best player of the tournament.

2002 and 2004 European Championships

France was a favorite for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. However, Zidane got injured before the tournament. Without him, France struggled and was eliminated in the group stage without scoring any goals. This was the worst performance by a defending champion ever.

At Euro 2004, Zidane scored a free kick and a penalty in stoppage time against England to win 2–1. He also scored against Switzerland. But France was surprisingly knocked out in the quarter-finals by Greece, who went on to win the tournament. After this, Zidane announced he was retiring from international football.

The 2006 World Cup Return

Zidane during the 2006 World Cup final

France struggled to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Coach Raymond Domenech asked Zidane to come out of retirement. Zidane agreed and became the team captain again. He helped France win their qualifying group.

In the World Cup, Zidane scored against Spain and Portugal. His penalty kick against Portugal sent France to the final. The 2006 FIFA World Cup Final against Italy was Zidane's last professional match. He scored an early penalty kick. He almost scored another goal with a header. However, he was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italian player Marco Materazzi. Italy won the final in a penalty shootout.

Despite the red card, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. When he returned to France, thousands of fans cheered for him. French President Jacques Chirac also praised him. Zidane later said Materazzi had insulted his sister, which led to his reaction. He retired from football after this match.

Life After Playing: Coaching and Charity

Zidane playing a backheel during a game of futsal in 2008

After retiring, Zidane often played for the Real Madrid Veterans team. He also played in futsal games. In 2009, he became an advisor to the president of Real Madrid. In 2011, he became Real Madrid's sporting director. In 2013, he was appointed assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Zidane also became an ambassador for Qatar's bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was happy when Qatar won the bid, saying football belongs to the whole world.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Zidane at the Danone Nations Cup, 2008. He is an ambassador for this football tournament for children.

Zidane has done a lot of charity work. In 2007, he played in a charity match in Thailand for a children's AIDS charity. The event raised money to build schools and houses.

Since 2001, Zidane has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador. He regularly plays in the "Match Against Poverty" with Ronaldo. These games raise money for the United Nations Development Programme. Zidane believes everyone can help make the world better.

Zidane in the Match Against Poverty in Bern, March 2014

In 2009, Zidane toured Canada for charity matches. Some of the money went to UNICEF. In 2010, he played in the "Soccer Aid" charity event at Old Trafford. He played against other famous footballers and celebrities. In 2015, he played in another "Match Against Poverty" in France. The money raised helped countries affected by the Ebola epidemic.

Zidane's Coaching Career

Zidane in 2013. He was the Real Madrid assistant coach for the 2013–14 season.

In June 2014, Zidane became the coach of Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid's B team. There was some discussion about his coaching qualifications at the time.

Coaching Real Madrid's Main Team

Zidane (right) with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos lifting the 2016 UEFA Champions League trophy

On 4 January 2016, Zidane was appointed the new head coach of Real Madrid. His first match was a 5–0 win. He led Real Madrid to a 2–1 win over Barcelona in his first "El Clásico" as coach. This ended Barcelona's 39-match unbeaten run.

On 28 May, Real Madrid won their eleventh Champions League title. They beat Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout. Zidane became only the seventh person to win the European Cup as both a player and a coach.

Zidane with his Real Madrid players after winning their 33rd La Liga title in May 2017

In his first full season (2016–17), Real Madrid started by winning the 2016 UEFA Super Cup. They also won the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. In January 2017, Madrid set a new club record of 40 matches unbeaten. In May, Madrid won the La Liga title for a record 33rd time. On 3 June 2017, Real Madrid won the Champions League final again, beating Juventus. This made them the first team to win the Champions League two times in a row!

In 2017–18, Real Madrid won their second consecutive UEFA Super Cup and the 2017 Supercopa de España. Zidane won his eighth trophy as coach by winning the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup. He was named Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017. Real Madrid also won the Champions League for the third time in a row! Zidane became one of only three managers to win the European Cup three times. On 31 May 2018, Zidane announced he was leaving Real Madrid.

Returning to Real Madrid

After some difficult results for Real Madrid, Zidane returned as head coach on 11 March 2019. He signed a contract until summer 2022.

In the 2019–20 season, Real Madrid bought many new players. On 12 January 2020, Zidane led Madrid to win their first trophy in his second time as coach, the 2020 Supercopa de España. After a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, La Liga restarted. Madrid won ten games in a row to win their 34th league title. This was Zidane's second league title as a coach. He left Real Madrid for the second time on 27 May 2021.

Personal Life

Zidane's parents' house in Algeria, which he visited in 2006

Zidane met his wife, Véronique Fernández, when he was 17. They married in 1994. They have four sons: Enzo Zidane, Luca Zidane, Théo Zidane, and Elyaz Zidane. All of his sons have also played football.

In July 2019, his older brother Farid passed away from cancer.

Career Statistics

Club Playing Statistics

International Playing Statistics

Scores and results list France's goal tally first.

Key

	Indicates goal was scored from a penalty kick
	Indicates won the match
	Indicates the match ended in draw
	Refers to unofficial matches

International goals scored by Zinedine Zidane

No.	Cap	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	1	17 August 1994	Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France	Czech Republic	1–2	2–2	Friendly
2					2–2
3	6	6 September 1995	Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre, France	Azerbaijan	7–0	10–0	UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
4	7	11 October 1995	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	Romania	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
5	10	21 February 1996	Stade des Costières, Nîmes, France	Greece	3–1	3–1	Friendly
6	26	11 June 1997	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	Italy	1–0	2–2	1997 Tournoi de France
7	29	28 January 1998	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Spain	1–0	1–0	Friendly
8	30	25 February 1998	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	Norway	2–1	3–3	Friendly
9	32	27 May 1998	Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco	Belgium	1–0	1–0	1998 King Hassan II Cup
10	39	12 July 1998	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Brazil	1–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup final
11					2–0
12	47	8 September 1999	Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	Armenia	2–1	3–2	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
13	50	23 February 2000	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Poland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
14	53	4 June 2000	Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco	Japan	1–0	2–2	2000 King Hassan II Cup
15	57	25 June 2000	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium	Spain	1–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2000
16	58	28 June 2000	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Portugal	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2000
17	63	27 February 2001	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Germany	1–0	1–0	Friendly
18	64	24 March 2001	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Japan	1–0	5–0	Friendly
19	72	27 March 2002	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Scotland	1–0	5–0	Friendly
20	81	29 March 2003	Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France	Malta	4–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
21					6–0
22	82	2 April 2003	Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy	Israel	2–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
23	89	6 June 2004	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Ukraine	1–0	1–0	Friendly
24	90	13 June 2004	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	England	1–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004
25					2–1
26	92	21 June 2004	Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal	Switzerland	1–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2004
27	94	17 August 2005	Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France	Ivory Coast	2–0	3–0	Friendly
28	98	12 October 2005	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Cyprus	1–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
29	105	27 June 2006	Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover, Germany	Spain	3–1	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup
30	107	5 July 2006	Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany	Portugal	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup
31	108	9 July 2006	Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany	Italy	1–0	1–1 (3–5 p)	2006 FIFA World Cup final

Managerial Statistics

Honours and Awards

As a Player

Bordeaux

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1995–96

Juventus

• Serie A: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1997
• UEFA Super Cup: 1996
• Intercontinental Cup: 1996
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1996–97, 1997–98

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2002–03
• Supercopa de España: 2001, 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 2001–02
• UEFA Super Cup: 2002
• Intercontinental Cup: 2002

France

• FIFA World Cup: 1998; runner-up: 2006
• UEFA European Championship: 2000

Individual Awards

• French Division 1 Player of the Year: 1995–96
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 1996–97, 2000–01
• FIFA World Cup All-Star team: 1998, 2006
• Ballon d'Or: 1998
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2003
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2000
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004 (a list of the world's greatest living players chosen by Pelé)
• UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years: 2004
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2006

As a Manager

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20
• Supercopa de España: 2017, 2020
• UEFA Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
• UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

Individual Awards

• La Liga Manager of the Month: April 2016, May 2017
• The Best FIFA Football Coach: 2017
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2017, 2018
• Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
• Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2019–20

Orders and Honors

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998 (a high French award)
• Officer of the Legion of Honour: 2008

Images for kids

• 

  Zidane during the 2006 World Cup final