By Chrysanthus Ikeh
France legend, Zinedine Zidane is considered as one of the best soccer players ever to grace the football pitch and his great impact on the way football should be played will never be forgotten as expressed by these great football figures.
In the comments, Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez classify the player as having come to the club cheap despite the then world record fee of €73 million the club paid to Juventus in 2001.
Below are 15 top comments about the former Real Madrid legend compiled by Goal.
‘Zidane cost €73 million and that was cheap. Zidane’s goal in the club’s ninth Champions League win was the goal of a genius, an artist, but I still replay some of his moves in my head. He represents the elegance of a simple hero for Real Madrid.’
– Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez
‘Technically, I think he is king of what’s fundamental in the game – control and passing. I don’t think anyone can match him when it comes to controlling and receiving the ball.’
– UEFA President, Michel Platini
‘To train with Zidane for three years at Real Madrid was a dream. For me he is the greatest player of all time’
– Football legend, David Beckham
‘You look at Zidane and think ‘I’ve never seen a player quite like that’. Diego Maradona was a great player. Johan Cruyff was a great player. They were different – but with similarities. What sets Zidane apart is the way he manipulates a football, buying himself space that isn’t there. Add his vision and it makes him very special.’
– Former England player and coach, Kevin Keegan
‘He’d go past one, two, three, five, six players – it was sublime. His feet spoke with the ball.’
– former France player, Jean Varraud, who Discovered Zidane
‘Zidane is the master’
– Brazilian legend PELE
‘He is from another planet. When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the 10 other guys got suddenly better. It is that simple.’
– Swedish player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
‘The greatest player of the last 20 years? It has to be Zidane. He had everything. You never needed to tell him anything as he did it all by himself and knew what was expected.’
– Former Italy manager, Marcello Lippi
‘I would give up five players to have Zidane in my squad.’
– Former Italy coach, Cesare Maldini
‘He thinks in one second and does it in the next. He is a special player, one who is original and exceptional. He creates space where there is none. Only the very best players can do that. No matter where he gets the ball or how it comes to him, Zidane can get out of trouble. His imagination and his technique are amazing.’
– Netherlands legend, Edgar Davids
‘He dominates the ball. He is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he has silk gloves on each foot. He makes it worthwhile going to the stadium – he’s one of the best players I have ever seen.’
– Argentine and Real Madrid legend, Alfredo Di Stefano
‘I have always admired Zidane. In fact, I have one of his shirts in my closet. We exchanged shirts after a Juventus-Perugia game.’
– Former Italian player, Marco Materazzi
‘Zidane is Unique, the ball flows with him. He is more like a dancer than a football player.’
– Former German player, Franz Beckenbauer
‘You are a virtuoso, a genius of world football. You are also a man of heart, of commitment, of conviction – and that’s why France admires and loves you.’
– Former France president, Jacques Chirac
‘Nobody knows if Zidane is an angel or a demon. He smiles like Saint Teresa and grimaces like a serial killer.’
– French singer and songwriter, Jean-Louis Murat
The Renowned attacking midfielder who is known for his, accuracy, elegance, vision and technique on the pitch, made 506 appearances and scored 95 goals when he started his senior career with French team Cannes in 1989 followed by Bordeaux in 1992, Juventus 1996 and Spanish giants, Real Madrid in 2001. He also joined the French national team in 1988, making 108 appearances and scoring 31 goals until 2006.
He won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, 2003 and was named the French player of the year in 1998, 2002 among others.