The Far Post Header ‘Hall of Fame’ No.7 – Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane rightfully gets a place in the Far Post Header Hall of Fame. Many former players and managers regard Zidane as one of the greatest players of all-time.
The current Real Madrid boss had an illustrious playing career, being part of the French side that won the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000. He was also a member of the famous Real Madrid Galacticos team, having joined from Juventus for a world-record sum of X.
Zidane started his career at AS Cannes, a city better known for its film festival than its football club.
He was of Algerian descent and brought up in Marseille, where he was brought up in a rough neighbourhood. He would lash out at anyone who mocked him from this background, irrespective who it was. Some of his team mates and even fans targeted Zidane and he would react violently.
He made 71 appearances for the times for the club based in the south of France, scoring six times in that time. His performances drew the attention of Bordeaux, who signed him during the 1992/93 season.
Whilst at Bordeaux, Zidane began attracting interest from across Europe. Kenny Dalglish, the manager of Blackburn Rovers at the time, saw Zidane play and liked what he saw. He went to chairman Jack Walker and told him that he was keen to bring Zidane to Ewood Park. Walker’s response was “Why sign Zidane when you’ve got Tim Sherwood”!
Another English to miss out of Zidane was Newcastle United. Football Agent Barry Silkman claims to have offered them Zidane for a meagre £1.2 million but they rejected the offer. This was to be a decision that they would definitely look back on and regret!
After winning the French Player of the Year, Juventus came in for him and he began playing as a playmaker behind Alessandro Del Piero. He won the Serie A Foreign Player of the Year award in his first season in Turin. In his first two seasons at the club, Juventus won two Serie A titles in and reached two Champions League Finals, losing to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
1998 was to be a special year for Zidane. He was instrumental as France hosted and won the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the Final. On a personal level, he won the Ballon D’Or and named the FIFA World Player of the Year.
France would go on to win Euro 2000, with Zidane scoring twice in the tournament. He scored a great free-kick in the victory over Spain in the Quarter Final before scoring the golden goal from the penalty spot against Portugal to send France through to the Final.
France beat Italy 2-1 in the Final by the golden goal rule and Zidane won the Player of the Tournament award.
Real Madrid came in and signed Zidane for a world-record fee of £46 million. He won the Champions League for the first time in his debut season at the Bernabeu. His goal in the Final against Bayer Leverkusen was one of the greatest ever scored in the competition. It featured on this blog in the series ‘Football’s Greatest Goals, you can read the article by clicking here.
Real Madrid won La Liga the following season and retained the Champions League. Zidane was named World Player of the Year for a third time in six years. He now manages Real and has guided them to three Champions League victories and one La Liga title.
His playing career came to an end on the biggest stage in the most controversial of circumstances.
France had reached the Final of the 2006 World Cup and were drawing 1-1 with Italy. Zidane had scored the opening goal of the game after only seven minutes, with a cheekily chipped penalty past Gigi Buffon in the Italy goal.
The game had gone to extra-time and with ten minutes to play, Zidane and Italy’s Marco Materrazzi had an exchange of words off the ball.
Something was said by the Italian and Zidane promptly headbutted the Italian in the chest, causing Materrazzi to fall to the floor.
Argentine Referee Horacio Elizondo didn’t see the incident and neither did the two linesman. Unfortunately for Zidane, the Fourth Official did see the headbutt and Elizondo had no other choice but to send the Frenchman off. The endruring image of Zidane walking towards the dressing room and past the World Cup trophy that was on display close to the pitch remains an iconic World Cup moment.
For a player who possessed so much skill and talent, it would be impossible to think of him only for his moment of madness on his final game. Zidane was a true legend of the game and was one of the greatest players of his generation, if not all-time.
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