No beating around the bush and straight to the point: today is the birthday of one of the greatest players of his generation – Zinedine Zidane.
When he played, it was like a poet entwining feet and ball to create magic that became etched in the hearts of many fans. Zidane is many things; a legendary player, an illustrator of football as an art, a talented manager and, above all, a man full of wisdom.
It is wits that allowed him to get the better of other players, making him such a treat to watch in the process. However, this is not a piece to appreciate the player, rather a eulogy lauding the man for some great sayings that had him for its source.
And here are 7 such quotes.
#1 “The door can never be closed for good to any player.”
Life can difficult at times for every human in this world. Footballers, despite earning millions, are no exception. In fact, there comes a time in every footballer’s life when critics start to claim he is washed up, fans begin to jeer and media attempts to cloud the reputation with scathing reviews.
However, these are the times that define the mental strength of a player. The ones who keep trying without giving up end up being the inspiration that everyone speaks of.
And this quote by Zinedine Zidane perfectly depicts that as it oozes the truth: the doors can’t be closed forever.
#2 “Life is full of regrets, but it doesn't pay to look back.”
On the field, he was a magician. An artist who weaved a beautiful tapestry of mesmerising passes with the ball at his feet. Off it, he is one of the wisest men there is.
The thing about life is that comes with a lot of things, but regrets is one of the most prominent features that is packaged in with it. However, we can all learn from the unpleasant things we did in the past and become better by not repeating it again. And Zidane tried to convey the same message.
#3 “I was lucky to come from a difficult area. It teaches you not just about football but also life. There were lots of kids from different races and poor families. People had to struggle to get through the day.”
Tragedy and hardship are that teacher that tests you first and then you learn from it, unlike normal teachers who teach first and then take exams. It is a universally accepted fact that sometimes, struggles in life makes you a stronger person.
Living as an immigrant in a country is never easy. La Castellane – where Zidane grew up – was a place filled with immigrants and workers, a poor neighbourhood where a young boy had a huge dream. The legendary Frenchman’s father was a warehouse worker with a limited salary, yet he provided the role of an inspiration to his son.
Growing up in a difficult area was apparently a boon for Zidane, according to himself. It made him mentally strong, which is the most important aspect to be successful in life.
#4 “Sometimes words are harder than blows.”
One of the most repetitive teachings in the Indian epic – The Mahabharata of Vyasa – is to refrain from doing anything that could result in someone getting hurt. In the epic, it has been stated multiple times that arrows pierce the skin and inflict pain on the body, but darts of words impale the heart, perpetuating perpetual agony on the victim.
It seems as though Zinedine Zidane is a student of that school of thought as he came up with a brilliant quote to summarise one of the teachings of the great book.
#5 “Music was important. Football was the easy part.”
Bob Marley once said that when music hits you, all the pain drains away with it.
All difficult surroundings has one thing in common: music. In times of adversity, it is music that helps sooth the mind, to let go of the emotions that we keep holding within ourselves.
As has been mentioned earlier, Zidane was raised in a tough environment – and music was one of the integral parts of his upbringing. Football, for him, was easy – music, important.
#6 “The day Spain begin winning, they won’t stop.”
We all remember Paul the oracle octopus fondly for his correct predictions during the 2010 World Cup. He acclaimed a lot of praise for his psychic abilities as his prophecies were true till the very end.
However, what very few people know is that Spain’s reign of triumph was forecasted a long time ago by the French maestro. Indeed, years prior to their Euro 2008 glory, Zinedine Zidane highly rated the talent that the country possessed and hence knew that it was only a matter of time before they began dominating the world of football.
#7 “I love Madrid. I am happy to be here. I have been here three years and hope to be here longer. But I am proud of where I come from and never forget the people I grew up with.”
Real Madrid is a club that housed many legendary players in the course of its history. From the root stages of Alfredo di Stefano to the current happenings of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Blancos never had a dearth of world class players defending their crest.
And Zinedine was another bright star in the Galacticos’ galaxy.
Signed for a then world record fee in 2001, he played for the club since then and until his retirement in 2006, but his marriage with the club was not even close to being over. 10 years later, he finds himself sitting in the manager’s throne and has already carved his name in history to become the only Real Madrid manager to win a Champions League title within 5 months of appointment.
And it was all possible because he loves the club.
Happy birthday, Zizou! Here is hoping we will celebrate many more of them!
