Zinedine Zidane
The playmaker who led Juventus to two Serie A titles and back-to-back Champions League finals.
Zinedine Zidane joined Juventus from Bordeaux in 1996, winning two Serie A titles (1996–97 and 1997–98) and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup. He played as an attacking midfielder just behind Alessandro Del Piero, helping the club reach consecutive UEFA Champions League finals in 1997 and 1998.
- Role
- Attacking Midfielder
- Affiliation
- Juventus FC (1996–2001)
- Major Honours
- 2x Serie A Champion, 1x Intercontinental Cup
- Status
- Retired Legend
- Notable Achievement
- Reached 2 UEFA Champions League Finals with the club
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Zidane arrived at Juventus in the summer of 1996 after standout performances for Bordeaux. His impact was immediate: he won the 1996–97 Serie A title and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, earning the award for Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year that season. He played alongside Alessandro Del Piero, who later noted Zidane's unique ability to be both a great player and a selfless team man. In his second season, he scored seven goals in 32 league matches as Juventus retained the Scudetto. The club reached their third consecutive UEFA Champions League Final in 1998 but lost 1–0 to Real Madrid. Zidane left for Real Madrid in 2001 for a then-world-record fee of €77.5 million.
In Their Own Story
In December 1997, Zidane was selected for a European XI that faced a World XI featuring Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta. On the pitch, he operated as the creative hub, linking play with elegance while defending his teammates' backs. Though Juventus lost the 1997 Champions League Final to Borussia Dortmund (3–1) under tight marking from Paul Lambert, and again in 1998 to Real Madrid, his performances cemented his status as a global star before his historic transfer.
Reader's Guide
Zidane's time at Juventus (1996–2001) was defined by domestic dominance and European contention. He won two Serie A titles, the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, and reached two Champions League finals. Recognized as one of Italy’s best foreign players in his debut season, he left in 2001 after a world-record transfer to Real Madrid.
Did You Know?
- Zidane was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year in his first season at Juventus (1996–97).
- He scored seven goals in 32 league matches during the 1997–98 season as Juventus won back-to-back Serie A titles.
- Juventus lost consecutive Champions League finals to Borussia Dortmund (1997) and Real Madrid (1998) while Zidane was at the club.
- In December 1997, Zidane was chosen for a European XI that faced a World XI featuring Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta.
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