Zinedine Zidane talks Real Madrid, France job, family and more

Zinedine Zidane has appeared in the summer issue of GQ Spain, where after a photo shoot in Madrid, he gave an interview in which he looks back on his football career as a player and coach. Zidane also reflected on his two years away from the media spotlight and talked to GQ about his next challenges.

On what it’s like to coach teams like Real Madrid

“At the end of a season on the bench, you’re even more tired than a player. The two jobs have nothing to do with each other. I remember that as a player, I was focused on my performance and that of the team. I only thought about being the best I could be to help my team-mates. The coach, on the other hand, is in charge of 23 guys and never stops.”

On leaving Real Madrid and two years away from football

“When I went home, my head was always back to work. Everything falls on you and you have the responsibility to make all the decisions. It really sucks your energy.”

On his role as a father, and his family

“As a father, you need a focus for your children to listen to you, especially when they are teenagers. When my dad was taking care of me, he had my full attention. With my kids, the way I can capture their interest is through football. On that subject, they listen to me.”

Commenting on his four sons - Enzo, Luca, Theo and Elyaz - who have built careers as top-level footballers, Zidane says, “When I was still active, Enzo and Luca wanted to play all the time. I trained a lot and at home, I preferred to rest, but they wouldn’t let me.

“When we arrived in Madrid, we lived in a flat with a very small garden. I remember playing with them upstairs and having to get down on my knees because the ceiling in the attic was so low. I did a lot of things!”

On his professional future

Zidane expresses his desire to return to the dugout, but admits he doesn’t know what his next stop will be. When asked about the possibility of becoming France coach and an alleged rivalry with Didier Deschamps, he replies: “I’ve said many times that when you’ve been in the French national team as a player, then you become a coach, it’s logical to think about it, but it’s not the time.”