Although he retired from playing in 2006 after the World Cup in Germany, Zinedine Zidane signed two years earlier with Real Madrid until 2007.
Zinedine Zidane’s debut at Real Madrid was painful. So much so that the French world champion thought after only a few months with the Merengue of giving up everything. “I decided to stop playing football, to put an end to my career for good. I can not stand it anymore. I’m sorry,” he said to Florentino Perez. The Madrid president then found the words to reassure him and asked Luis Figo and Raul to facilitate his adaptation.
Six months later, Zinedine Zidane offered the ninth Champions League with an incredible volley and the love story between the native of Marseille and Real could truly begin. The successes were not as numerous as hoped, notably with only one Spanish championship title, but the marriage was a real success. While he had initially signed up until 2005, an extension was announced with great fanfare on February 20, 2004, just twenty years ago: Zizou would continue his career until 2007.
“It’s a great day for Real Madrid”
“It’s something important, I’m delighted,” explained the Frenchman. My family feels good here, me too. We’ll see what happens afterwards. I want to please people, to please myself and to enjoy the years I have left.” justified the one who had suggested shortly after his arrival in the Spanish capital that Real would be his last club. “It’s a great day for Real Madrid. We will be able to enjoy Zinedine for two more years. It’s an opportunity for Real and its supporters,” enthused Florentino Perez.
But the marriage between Real Madrid and the player Zidane ultimately lasted less long than expected. Two years later, Zinedine Zidane decided to call it quits and give up the last year of his contract. “ I know myself well enough and I have seen myself playing for two years. I can’t be satisfied with what I’ve achieved over the last two seasons…, he then explained. I say stop playing high-level football because my body tells me so, because my head tells me so… You must not cheat. I have always been honest with myself.»
