SPORTS

Meet Real Madrid's Zidane dynasty

By Rediff Sports Desk
January 06, 2016

IMAGE: Zinedine Zidane, in blue, with his wife, Veronique and four sons. Photograph: Getty Images

Zinedine Zidane took over at Real Madrid on Tuesday despite limited coaching experience. 

I'm emotional, more than when I signed as a Real player: Zidane

The three-time 'World player of the Year', immediately declared that he would do his best so that the team, currently third in the La Liga after an unhappy spell under Rafael Benitez, is a winner at the end of the season.

A hero to Real fans, Zizou, as he is popularly known, added, "I will put all the heart I have into the job for this club and try to make sure things work out well."

The 43-year-old, who won the World Cup and European Championship as a player, is the 11th coach Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has installed during two terms in charge and it will be the former France captain's first top-flight management job.

He played for Real for five seasons after joining from Juventus in August 2001 and helped them win their ninth European crown with a stunning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.

He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup, having been sent off in the final for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi. France lost on penalties.

At his presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu, Zidane was accompanied on stage by his wife, Veronique, and four sons, who all look good to follow in the footsteps of their father.

So who are the four boys? Take a look at their football career.

Enzo Fernandez

IMAGE: Enzo Fernandez (eldest son of Zinedine Zidane) of Real Madrid. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Enzo, Zidane's eldest son, made his debut for Real's 'B' team in 2014.

Named after Uruguay great Enzo Francescoli, the young Zidane was called up for medical tests with France's Under-19 squad after he opted to represent Les Bleus despite having played for Spain's Under-15 side.

The 20-year-old is said to have a similar style as his father.

Managed by his father till now, he trained under Benitez with the first team on occasion. Now, chances of him doing so again may increase with his father taking over as coach of the senior team.

Luca Fernandez

IMAGE: Luca Fernandez in action. Photograph: Facebook

Luca started at the Real Madrid Youth Academy in 2004.

The 17-year-old is a goalkeeper and reckoned to be the most likely of the family to follow in his father's footsteps of playing at the top level.

Luca has played for France at the under-17 level, including at the under-17 European.

Theo Fernandez

Last March, Theo, a midfielder with Real Madrid's Infantil B (Under 13) side - now Infantil A - scored a brilliant goal which drew comparisons with those scored by his father.

The 13-year-old has a box of tricks that can surprise opposition defences.

Elyaz Fernandez

The 10-year-old plays in midfield and is left-footed. He is being described as a lad with 'good vision of play'.

He was introduced into the set-up in 2013 and plays in the Alevin B side (Under-11s).

Rediff Sports Desk

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