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Zinedine Zidane has won everything with Real Madrid. During his two stints on the Merengue bench, the former playmaker collected no less than 11 trophies in just over four years as coach. A success which owes a lot to its ability to win the support of all its players. This is evidenced by the anecdote given by Frédéric Hermel, former correspondent for L’Equipe in Madrid and biographer of the former Bordeaux player.
“Zidane, he had crazy authority in the locker room. I remember a discussion I had one day with Zizou. Where he had to leave (Mateo) Kovacic in the stands. It actually made him sick. Because he told me that this guy doesn’t deserve what I’m forced to do to him. He said to me: “It makes me suffer, I spoke to him, I explained to him that there was a bloated group and that at the time we couldn’t have that many players.” he told Génération After on RMC.
Zinedine Zidane was unanimous
“Seeing how he practices all week and not being able to put it on, it hurt him. And why did the guy accept? Because Zizou was going to talk to him and explain to him and at one point or another, he compensated,” he added. Even the players sidelined by Zinedine Zidane did not hold it against him, like Achraf Hakimi, who was forced to leave Real Madrid, his training club, to find playing time.
“I have immense respect and affection for him. He trusted me, allowed me to play in an incredible team with whom I won the C1. I learned a lot from him,” he explained three years ago about the former Ballon d’Or.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
