Son of football legend, 29, retires from the game due to 'boredom' after 16 months without a club

After spending the last 16 months as a free agent following his departure from Spanish third division side Fuenlabrada, the midfielder has made the decision to retire.

Despite interest from several clubs, Spanish outlet AS say Zidane had become ‘bored’ with football and made the decision with the full support of his family.

Growing up as the son of one of the greatest players of all time and named after his father’s idol, Enzo Francescoli, expectation was always high on Zidane.

That anticipation only grew after the midfielder spent a decade with Real Madrid’s academy and became a regular in their C and B teams.

He eventually made his first-team debut for Los Blancos in November 2016, who were at the time managed by his father, and it appeared to be off to the dream start.

Zidane came off the bench to replace Isco and scored in a 6–1 win against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey.

But this would be his one and only appearance for Real who sold him to Alaves the following summer, who proceeded to sell him to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport just six months later.

Zidane never really settled, going onto play in the lower tiers of Spain and France as well as Portugal’s top-flight, never spending more than a season with one club.

Felling he was just going around in circles, Zidane has hung up his boots, though his three younger brothers remain active in football.

Luca Zidane was part of Real’s squad that won the Champions League in 2018 under Zinedine Zidane’s management and is now a goalkeeper for Granada.

Theo Zidane also has a Champions League winner’s medal from last season and departed for Cordoba over the summer, while 18-year-old Elyaz Zidane is currently in Real Betis’ youth ranks.

As mentioned, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best and most successful players of all-time, winning countless pieces of silverware with Juventus and Real, as well as the World Cup and Euros with France.

The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner retired in 2006 and has since had two spells in Real’s dugout, guiding them to two La Liga titles, three consecutive Champions Leagues and two Club World Cups.

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