Zinedine Zidane not only wowed fans with his football skills but also inspired an entire generation of players with his mental tenacity
PASSIONATE, INSPIRATIONAL, LEADER, GENERAL, commander, a proud father, a philanthropist, and most of all a coach who would defend his players till his last breath. He was the best thing to come out of France, after Bridgitte Bardot and champagne, of course! He is Zinedine Zidane. He would walk into any team and stake claim. The sound of his steps while entering the Real Madrid dressing room would signal the players that ‘His Majesty’ had arrived.
January 4, 2016 was an important date in the history of Real Madrid Club de Futbol. The club’s official Twitter handle put to rest all speculation. It was Zidane who would be unveiled as the new Real Madrid coach. Zizou—as he is fondly called—took over the shambles of the Los Blancos from Rafa Benitez in the middle of the 2015-2016 season.
A lot of questions were raised on Zidane’s appointment as coach. The biggest of them all was: Would Zidane be half as good a coach as he was a player? Would he be able to handle the egos of individuals like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos or Gareth Bale? Would the players listen to him?
AS A PLAYER, Zidane had won everything that was on offer. The World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, domestic titles and the Ballon d’Or. It was time he won everything as a coach, too. He was the ‘Man Friday’ for the then coach Carlo Ancelotti, when they won the La Decima in 2014. He was given the reins of the Real Madrid ‘B’ team from 2014-16.
Not to mention, the Frenchman had turned the theory “Great footballers cannot be great coaches” on its head by the time he resigned from his role at Real.
This story is from the July - August 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July - August 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.
Best Fitness Games For Workout
If going to the gym and bulking up the body is your idea of getting in shape, it’s time you reconsider it. From bodyweight training to resistance and high-intensity workouts, here is how you can ace the fitness game without giving up on your workout targets for the year yet again.
Novak Djokovic Has Proved His Mettle Yet Again
Sport can be cruel and unforgiving, but it is also humbling. Over the years, many great athletes have succumbed to the various forces in playmost of which, if not all, are not under their controland while some could never reclaim their past glory, others showed why they really can never be counted out. Novak Djokovic is one of them
Do Virat Kohli's Captaincy Skills Call For A DRS?
No doubt Virat Kohli is the best batsman to have emerged from India in recent years. He is a lion among kittens, Atlas shouldering the weight of India's batting. But, as a captain overseas, he has a long way to go.
Lebron James
In 2016, Northeast Ohio’s Favourite Son Used His Incomparable Skills to Deliver a Title to a Suddenly Revitalised City, While Using His Voice to Have an Even Wider Impact.
Winter Workout: Hot Moves For Cold Days
With the advent of the chilly months, it can become tough to brave the cold and train when all you want to do is curl up under a warm blanket. Trainer Raoul Hirani and physiotherapist Tariq Wasim tell us how professional footballer keep going, without letting the cold play spoilsport.
A Steep Learning Curve
Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.
Rahul Dravid: The Great Wall Of India
Rahul Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket or, rather, the game, is not just confined to his record with the bat. A true philosopher, he continues to inspire as well as serve cricket on and off the field.
P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year
A Dream Run at the 2016 Olympics was followed by major successes on the International tour, making Sindhu the unanimous choice for the sportsperson of the Year award
