Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane was born in 1972 in Marseille, France. Zinedine Zidane's background is described as French; Algerian Kabyle (Berber) parents. Growing up, the family was working class — his father, an immigrant from Kabylie, worked warehouses and night shifts; five children in the La Castellane estate. Street football on a Marseille housing estate; the son of Algerian immigrants became France's symbol.

Born

1972 · Marseille, France

Roots

French; Algerian Kabyle (Berber) parents

Family

Working class

His father, an immigrant from Kabylie, worked warehouses and night shifts; five children in the La Castellane estate.

Education

Left for the Cannes academy at 14, boarding with a club director's family

Started with

Place Tartane

Street football on the concrete square of La Castellane, the estate where he grew up.

Affiliations & societies

None documented.

Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1. 1986 · age 14
   Spotted for Cannes

   A scout at a junior tournament sends him north; he boards with a club director's family.

2. 1991 · age 18
   First goal, first car

   The club president had promised a car for his first Ligue 1 goal — a red Renault Clio.

3. 1998 · age 26
   Two headers in the final

   France's first World Cup; the son of Algerian immigrants is projected on the Arc de Triomphe.

4. 2001 · age 29
   World-record transfer to Real Madrid€77.5M
5. 2002 · age 29
   The Hampden volley

   The Champions League-winning goal often ranked the final's greatest.

6. 2006 · age 34
   The headbutt

   Sent off in the World Cup final — his last match — after Materazzi's provocation; still voted the tournament's best player.

7. 2016 · age 43
   Coach

   Wins three consecutive Champions Leagues with Madrid — a first for any coach.