Zinedine Zidane: Life, Career & Where He Is Now

Few footballers have managed to step away from the spotlight as gracefully as Zinedine Zidane. Since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, he has remained deliberately out of the dugout, turning down offers that would have put him back in front of the cameras.

Born: June 23, 1972 ·
Height: 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) ·
Estimated net worth: $120 million ·
World Cup winner: 1998 ·
Ballon d’Or: 1998 ·
UCL titles as coach: 3 (2016, 2017, 2018)

Seven key facts capture the essential Zidane — from full name to coaching timeline.

What is Zidane doing currently?

Zidane has not managed since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. According to Britannica (encyclopedia), he stepped down from his second stint as head coach at the end of the 2020–21 season. Since then, he has stayed out of the dugout despite being linked to several high-profile vacancies.

Where is Zinedine Zidane coaching now?

Nowhere. He remains involved in football through ambassadorial roles and his own company, but no active managerial post. Transfermarkt (football statistics) lists his last coaching position as Real Madrid (2019–2021).

Zinedine Zidane teams coached

• Real Madrid Castilla (2014–2016) – Transfermarkt (football statistics)
• Real Madrid first team, first stint (2016–2018) – Britannica (encyclopedia)
• Real Madrid first team, second stint (2019–2021) – Britannica (encyclopedia)

The catch: Zidane turned down several offers, including from the French national team, according to widespread reporting. His deliberate hiatus suggests he values personal timing over professional prestige.

What is Zidane’s net worth?

Three sources from different tiers give a range between $70 million and $125 million. The most commonly repeated figure in 2025–2026 media is around $120 million.

Is Zidane a millionaire? Without doubt. Even the lowest estimate places him comfortably in seven figures. His wealth comes from playing contracts at Juventus and Real Madrid, coaching salaries that reportedly reached €10 million per year at Madrid, and endorsements with Adidas, Accor, and Audi (OneFootball, football media).

Who is the richest soccer player? That title belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion according to Forbes (business publication). Zidane’s $120 million is a fraction of that, but he sits comfortably among the wealthiest former players of his generation.

Was Zinedine Zidane a smoker?

This question keeps appearing online, and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Zidane has been photographed smoking on several occasions – early in his career he was seen with a cigarette after matches. A Vice article (culture and sports magazine) from 2017 included him in a roundup of players and managers who smoked, but the piece framed it as part of a broader football-culture discussion rather than a direct confession.

No official statement from Zidane or his representatives confirms a regular habit. The available evidence suggests occasional smoking rather than heavy addiction, but without a primary source, the frequency remains unclear.

Why did Zidane retire so early?

Zidane retired from playing at age 34, immediately after the 2006 World Cup. In that tournament, he famously headbutted Marco Materazzi in the final – a moment that ended his career on a dramatic note. He cited physical and mental fatigue, and a desire to spend more time with his family.

“I stopped playing because I felt I had reached my limits physically and mentally.”

Zinedine Zidane, quoted in multiple biographies

What did Zidane do after his playing retirement?

After a short break, he returned to football as a Real Madrid assistant manager in 2013, then took over Castilla the following year (Britannica, encyclopedia). The gap between playing and coaching was only eight years – not an early retirement in the traditional sense, but a transition to the other side of the game.

The pattern: Zidane does not walk away from football; he steps back, resets, and re-engages on his own terms.

Where is Zidane living now?

Zidane lives in Madrid, Spain, with his wife Véronique and their four sons. He has maintained a home in the Spanish capital since his playing days at Real Madrid. His wife Véronique told Instagram (social media) in a rare post that “he is very present at home, a calm father.”

What is Zinedine Zidane’s religion?

Zidane was born to Algerian Kabyle parents and raised in a Muslim household. His religious practice is private, and he rarely discusses it in interviews. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) notes his Algerian Muslim background, but no recent source details his current observance.

Zinedine Zidane nationality and family

He is French, of Algerian descent, born in Marseille. He married Véronique Fernández, a Spanish-born woman of French parents, in 1994. They have four sons: Enzo, Luca, Théo, and Elyaz.

Timeline: Zidane’s career at a glance

1. 1989–1992 – Senior career at Cannes
2. 1992–1996 – Plays for Bordeaux
3. 1996–2001 – Juventus – wins two Serie A titles (Real Madrid, club’s official site)
4. 1998 – Wins World Cup with France and Ballon d’Or (Real Madrid, club’s official site)
5. 2001–2006 – Real Madrid – wins UEFA Champions League 2002
6. 2006 – Retires after World Cup final headbutt incident
7. 2014–2016 – Coaches Real Madrid Castilla (Transfermarkt, football statistics)
8. 2016–2018 – First stint as Real Madrid head coach – three UCL titles (Britannica, encyclopedia)
9. 2019–2021 – Second stint at Real Madrid – wins La Liga
10. 2021–present – No coaching role; involved in private and ambassadorial activities

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

In his own words

“I miss the pitch, but I’m not in a hurry to return.”

Zidane in a 2022 interview with L’Équipe

“He is very present at home, a calm father.”

Véronique Zidane (wife), via Instagram (social media)

These two voices – the former player and the person closest to him – paint a picture of a man who has intentionally slowed down. The trade-off: less glory, more presence.

Summary

Zinedine Zidane has built a life that lets him choose his next move without pressure. He left coaching at the top, turned down offers that would have put him back in the spotlight, and settled into a private rhythm in Madrid. The consequence for fans: the wait for his return to the touchline may continue indefinitely.

For those wondering what lies ahead for the French legend, a closer look at Zidanes coaching future offers the latest insights into his plans and personal life.

Frequently asked questions

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