What鈥檚 Zinedine Zidane really like?
He's one of the icons of world football, a Galactico for club and country. Now Zinedine Zidane is manager of Real Madrid. But what's the World Cup and Champions League winner really like? We've been finding out from those who know him best...
Zidane's big break as a player came as a 17-year-old at French club Cannes. His friend and former team-mate Luis Fernandez, a former Paris St Germain manager, says he's a big fan of communication and likes players to "express themselves". But warns he must retain his own personality and be "clear and fair" with the players.
'The polar opposite of Benitez'
Euro 1984 winner and former Cannes team-mate Luis Fernandez says Zidane mustn't "change".
For the last three years Zidane has been completing his Uefa Coaching Licence alongside numerous former French internationals including Claude Makelele and Willy Sagnol. Also on that course was former Nice coach Eric Roy who says Zidane will have learned a lot from their visits to Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid where they "immersed" themselves in the work of Pep Guardiola, Max Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti.
Roy also gives an insight in to Zidane behind the scenes, insisting he is just a "normal person".
'He's very private'
Ex-Nice coach Eric Roy was a fellow 'student' of Zidane's while on a coaching course
Learning from the best
Arguably Zidane's greatest success was lifting the World Cup with France back in 1998 on home soil. It was a star-studded team. Now after a spell in charge of Real Madrid's 'B' team, Castilla, how will he adapt to the star names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid?
Former France and Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu played with Zidane for club and country and says the appointment will be "a dream come true" for his countryman. He thinks Zidane will help Cristiano Ronaldo "shine again" and be the "leader of the team".
'He lacks experience'
Ex-Real Madrid teammate Christian Karembeu is 'sure' Zidane will be a successful manager.
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says it's a "risky decision" for the club to appoint Zidane but says the Frenchman's legendary status at the club will count for a lot.
In two stints as Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez has employed ten coaches and only 7 have lasted a year or more. As a former player at the Bernabeu, Calderon said Zidane will “know how the dressing room works", but he warned that Real Madrid managers never usually last very long in the job.
Zidane a 'Risky Decision' - Calderon
Ex-Real Madrid President says Zidane was a 'great player', but fans will 'demand titles'.
