25 Years Ago, Zidane Started with a Draw
No goal, no assist and no victory. Zinédine Zidane’s Real Madrid debut did not immediately resemble the beginning of one of the most important stories in the club’s history. It took the Frenchman only a few months to make up for that.
Exactly 25 years ago, on 19 August 2001, Zidane made his first competitive appearance for Real Madrid. The team faced Real Zaragoza at La Romareda in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Vicente del Bosque placed his new Galáctico in the starting lineup and kept him on the pitch for 80 minutes.
Madrid took the lead in the 54th minute through Flávio Conceição. Yordi equalised for the hosts and the match ended 1–1. Zidane was replaced by Fernando Morientes. There was no spectacular individual performance yet, but the first step had been taken.
Three days later, the Frenchman played at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first time. Real Madrid defeated Zaragoza 3–0 and lifted the club’s sixth Spanish Super Cup. Raúl scored all three goals, finding the net in the 74th, 81st and 89th minutes. Zidane had left the pitch shortly before the captain’s hat-trick began, but he could celebrate his first trophy in white.
He did not have to wait long for another one. In May 2002, Madrid faced Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final in Glasgow. Zidane produced one of the most recognisable goals in football history, meeting Roberto Carlos’ pass with a perfect left-footed volley to secure a 2–1 victory.
The Frenchman spent five seasons as a Real Madrid player. He made 227 appearances, scored 49 goals and won six trophies: the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, UEFA Super Cup, LaLiga title and two Spanish Super Cups.
That could have been the conclusion of a remarkable story. Zidane returned to the club, however, and added a chapter that very few could have predicted during his quiet debut in Zaragoza.
Across two spells as Real Madrid coach, he collected another 11 trophies. His teams won the Champions League three times, the Club World Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, LaLiga twice and the Spanish Super Cup twice.
That makes 17 Real Madrid trophies as a player and coach. It all began with 80 minutes, a 1–1 draw and a performance that did not yet have anyone talking about magic.
Not every great debut needs to look great. Sometimes it only needs to become the first page of a very long story.
