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Commenting on Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stéfano once said, “he dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk gloves on each foot.” Zidane, World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner, took a little time out of his day to effectively demonstrate these observations on some unsuspecting French amateurs.
Returning to the indoor court where he furnished his skills during small-sided games, Zidane, circa when he had more hair on his head, absolutely demolishes any player whose foolish enough to come close to him. For the victims, it must have seemed an unfair, embarrassing and, ultimately, unforgettable experience.
What’s truly astonishing is how simple he makes the game look. Rarely ever looking bothered or taxed, hardly ever breaking out of a slow trot, Zidane glides across the court while the others seem overly restricted by their own anatomies. It’s poetry and elegance in motion, the man looks otherworldly.
For Zidane, his talent on the pitch was never in question. His swan song at the 2006 FIFA World Cup ended tumultuously, but he was also the best player at the tournament and the recipient of the 2006 World Cup Golden Ball. He was named in the World Soccer Greatest XI of All-Time and was a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
His most difficult task in football could certainly be his latest: reclaiming the La Liga and Champions League crowns from Barcelona as manager of Real Madrid. His experience in management has been limited to managing the Real Madrid Castilla or B team, not unlike the route Pep Guardiola took with Barcelona.
While Zidane may not be the most experienced option for Madrid, there's no doubting the will of a champion. When asked what he would settle for between now and the end of the season, Zizou replied, “Winning everything.”
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