‘Zizou’ on the hot seat

Zinedine Zidane steadied himself at the edge of the box, eyes never wavering as the ball descended from the Glasgow night sky, before twisting his body, arching his left leg and bulleting the volley into the top corner and his own place in Real Madrid folklore.

For the thousands of fans who adoringly chanted “Zizou, Zizou” as they flocked to his first training session after being appointed Real Madrid manager, the 2002 Champions League-winning strike at Hampden Park is the enduring memory of Zidane’s career.

Not for them the head-butt in the 2006 World Cup final for France, which others may remember him for.

Zidane the footballer was an artist.

The best player of his generation — the midfielder played between the Diego Maradona carnival of the 1980s and the sublimely talented Lionel Messi era of recent times — Zidane is one of the most graceful footballers to have ever lived.

But not for Zidane the jinking, beguiling runs of the 5ft5 Maradona or 5ft7 Messi. It was a different kind of artistry.

Oh yes, he could — easily, almost effortlessly — dribble round players, but at 6ft1, Zidane’s game was one of poised precision, his head constantly raised with his body ever ready to receive and then release the ball.

Mesmerising passes

Footballers speak of ‘touch’ — of being able to control a football when it is passed by a teammate. Chest, thigh or inside or outside of either foot, Zidane was a master, with his ability to then manipulate and move the ball often breathtakingly.

What made Zidane such a great footballer was that he was able to give himself the precious gifts of space and time on the field. Time to play, time to deceive defenders before they got close enough to him and time to pick out those mesmerising passes.

And it is time that will prove the biggest attribute to the 43-year-old as Real Madrid manager.

Zidane has no experience of coaching at Real Madrid and only relatively short spells as assistant manager then manager of the club’s reserve side at arguably the world’s biggest football team.

Little wonder then that commentators have called his appointment a gamble — but predominantly from the stance that it is a gamble for Real Madrid to appoint such an inexperienced manager when their great rivals Barcelona, as proved by November’s 4-0 demolition at the Santiago Bernabeu, are ahead of them.

It is a gamble for Zidane too.

From Maradona to John Barnes to Lothar Matthaus to Bobby Moore, football is littered with great players who failed to transfer their ability on the pitch to tactical nous and success from the dugout.

Even Johan Cruyff and Kenny Dalglish, two of the most widely touted achievers as player and manager, have checkered careers on the touchline, with both spending large spells away from the game.

Pele, considered the greatest player of them all, didn’t even attempt management because of the fear of being made to “suffer”, he admitted.

Night in Glasgow

Since Zidane’s retirement as a player, Real fans have been made to suffer their arch-rivals Barcelona lording it over Spain’s establishment side with one of the greatest teams ever seen, triumphing domestically and in the Champions League, the holy grail of European football.

Even Carlo Ancelotti’s success in winning ‘La Decima’, Madrid’s coveted 10th holy grail European triumph in 2014, and the first since Zidane’s night in Glasgow, failed to spare him the sack from ruthless club owner Florentino Perez a year later when he won nothing.

Rafael Benitez, Ancelotti’s successor and the man Zidane has replaced, lasted seven months before Perez fired him.

It is Zidane’s status and legacy that are now at great risk from Real’s relentless pursuit to regain the undisputed title of number one club in world football.

But it is that status that will help him. Barring a catastrophe, he will be allowed time to build his side. Where ire emanated from Perez towards Ancelotti, and the owner and the supporters to Benitez, dispensation will be granted from both to Zidane.

It will only be granted for so long though. What is imperative for Zidane is controlling the egos in the dressing room — especially the ones that reportedly warned Perez to not dare re-appoint Jose Mourinho as manager.

It is already being reported that Cristiano Ronaldo may leave, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

For too long, Real has been about individuals, not the collective.

Zidane may be a gifted individual, but first and foremost he is a team player. While Messi and Ronaldo achieved superstardom as teenagers, Zidane worked for his success, having to wait until 24 for his ‘big move’, to Juventus, and 29 for his transfer to Real.

As Marcello Lippi, Zizou’s former Juventus coach, and a World Cup-winning manager, stated: “Zidane never played the prima donna.”

At Real Madrid, it is time for change.