Algeria: Zinedine Zidane’s moving tribute to his parents

During the "Festival dello Sport" in Italy, Zinedine Zidane answered questions from the panel. The French legend opened up about his Algerian roots.

First, Zidane shared his earliest memories with a football and his support for Olympique de Marseille. "Like all kids, I learned to love football on the streets. Forty-five years ago, in Marseille, I was always playing with a ball—I was passionate about it. Of course, I supported Marseille," he recalled.

Later, Zizou also spoke about his childhood and his parents’ journey from Algeria in a heartfelt testimony. "My parents are originally from Algeria; they emigrated to France for work, but at that time, it was difficult. I am proud of my children because they are respectful, and for me, that is the most important thing," he added.

Finally, he explained how he ultimately decided to become a coach: "When I retired, I changed my life. After three years, I didn’t know what to do—I tried many things until I enrolled in a coaching course. Of all the coaches I’ve had, the one who taught me the most was Lippi. He was very important because when I arrived in Italy, it was tough for me at first, but he always believed in me. Ancelotti was first my coach, then I became his assistant—he is a friend and played a big role in my career. He was a great coach because he listened to his players."

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.