French football owes a lot to Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry. Crowned world champions in 1998 and European champions in 2000, the two former French internationals have left their mark on the history of their discipline. And after their playing career, they took the same path by becoming coaches: “Zizou” successfully on the Real Madrid bench; “Titi” with more difficulty in Monaco and Montreal, before winning an Olympic silver medal at the head of the Espoirs.
More than for glory, it is to transmit their passion that they followed this trajectory. And it is undoubtedly thanks to them that another legend of French sport has also decided to take the plunge. Close to both men, Tony Parker decided, at the age of 43, to get closer to the field. Having become club president and entrepreneur after hanging up his career, the former basketball player recently began training to become a coach. And he has already found a job!
How Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry convinced Tony Parker
The FFBB made it official on Friday, it is at the head of the French U17 team that he will begin his new life. “I am happy to be able to start my coaching career with the France team. For me, it’s quite a symbol”entrusted the former playmaker of the San Antonio Spurs, quadruple NBA champion, to
The Team. Last August, “TP” spoke of this unexpected reconversion on RMC, explaining how the two former Blues had greatly influenced him.
“Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry spoke to me about their passion. I have this desire to transmit, to give back to French basketball and this is the next stage of my lifehe then said. We talked about that and I know that this discussion gave them a lot of happiness, they are in the same process as me, of wanting to transmit. After a lot of conversations, it seemed obvious to me to move to this level to pass on, to give back to my sport. »
