ZINEDINE ZIDANE (FRANCE / REAL MADRID CF) 2006, 2017, 2018

Picture : Zidane received the IFFHS Playmaker Award 2006 in Switzerland.

IFFHS AWARDS – THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER 2006 : ZINEDINE ZIDANE (FRANCE / REAL MADRID CF)

                                   THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 2017, 2018 : ZINEDINE ZIDANE ( FRANCE / REAL MADRID CF)

PRESENTATION

Zinedine Yazid Zidane, born 23 June 1972 in Marseille (France) , is one of the greatest players of all time, winning the greatest World Trophies : World Cup, UEFA Euro,  Champions League, Ballon D’OR and currently holds the record of the best World coaches with 3 Champions League titles in a row ! He is the only ONE in the World to have win a IFFHS Award as Player “THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER 2006″ and two others “THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 2017 and 2018″ as COACH !

After US Saint Henri and SO Septemes-les-Vallons, he ended his youth career in Cannes (1986-1989) where he became international with France National team U17 to U21. He signed there his debut in the French ligue 1 in 1989. He stayed 3 seasons in Cannes (61 matches, 6 goals) and joined Girondins de Bordeaux in 1992. His talent was recognised in France, Europe and in the World. He won the UEFA Intertoto Cup 1995 with his club where he played 139 matches and scored 28 goals. He was crowned French Ligue 1 Player of the year 1995/96.

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Zidane with FC Juventus

He was transferred to Italy and FC Juventus in 1996. Five years in Turin ( 151 matches, 24 goals) allowed him to World Class football and to win 2 Serie A titles (1996/97, 1997/98), one Supercoppa Italiana 1997, one UEFA Super Cup 1996, one FIFA Intercontinental Cup 1996 and one UEFA Intertoto Cup 1999. He received many individual distinctions : Serie A Player of the Year 2000/01, Bronze awards Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player 1997, UEFA Midfielder of the year 1998, BALLON D’OR 1998, FIFA WORLD PLAYER 1998 and 2000, Silber at BALLON D’OR 2000. He was an elite playmaker, renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique.

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Zidane with Real Madrid CF

In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid CF in Spain. He played there 5 seasons (155 matches, 37 goals) and won one La Liga title 2002/03, 2 Supercopa de Espana 2001 and 2003, one Champions League 2001/02, one UEFA Super Cup 2002 and one FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2002 ! Like with Juventus, he earned many distinctions : FIFA World Player of the year 2003, Don Balon Award 2001/02, UEFA Footballer of the year 2002, UEFA Best European Player of the past 50 years in 2004 and he received the first Award in the IFFHS History of THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER 2006 !

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Zidane with France and the World Cup 1998

Capped 108 times with France, Zinedine Zidane won the FIFA World Cup 1998 (scoring two goals in the final against Brazil), the UEFA Euro 2000 and was runner-up at the FIFA World Cup 2006 ( he was sent off against Italy ), his last game in his career. He was crowned BALLON D’OR and FIFA WORLD PLAYER in 1998, UEFA Player of Euro 2000, FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 2006, be part of the FIFA World Cup All Star team 1998 and 2006, receiving the Award of THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER by IFFHS.

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Zidane , Real Madrid’s coach with 3 consecutive Champions League

After retiring as a player in 2006, Zidane wanted to begin a new career in coaching. He learned his new job with patience and began his head coaching at Real Madrid Castilla in 2014 after being assistant of José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Real. He took the helm of the first team of Real Madrid in January 2016. In his two and a half seasons, he won 3 UEFA Champions League titles in a  row (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18), 2 UEFA Super Cups 2016 and 2017, 2 FIFA Club World Cup 2016 and 2017, one La Liga title 2016/17 and one Supercopa de Espana 2017 !

His success in this period saw him crowned as THE FIFA Best Men’s Coach 2017 (second in 2016 and 2018) and as THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 2017 and 2018 by IFFHS (second in 2016). He resigned in May 2018 but returned to his club as manager in March 2019 following the poor results.

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Zidane’s 2 IFFHS Trophies for the World’s Best Coach

Zidane hold many records : he is the only Player in history to be named Player of the year in 3 of the TOP 5 leagues : France (1996), Italy (2001), Spain (2002) ; he his the only Player in History to win the World Cup and the UEFA Euro while being named Best Player of both competitions ; he has the most FIFA World Player Awards (6) ; he is the only manager to win 3 consecutive Champions League ; he is the only person in history to win FIFA Player of the Year and FIFA Coach of the year ; he is the only person in History to win an IFFHS Award as Player and as Coach ; he is the only person in history to win the FIFA Club World Cup as player and as manager (twice)  and many more.

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Zidane, a Legend of Real Madrid CF

His name is entered in the Legend of the World Football. He appears in each ALL TIME TEAM (FIFA, UEFA, IFFHS LEGEND, …) of the year, of the Decade and of the Century.  In Madrid, Zidane is in the Hall of Fame of Real because he made HISTORY with this club as Player and as Coach.