The legendary Zinédine Zidane has not only been in the hearts of the French since his World Cup title in 1998. Who are his four sons, all of whom are also footballers?
© Stuart Franklin – UEFA@Getty Images
Zinédine Zidane, children, football
Zinédine Zidane is one of the most popular and most famous personalities in French football. While his public life and professional career are well known, there are aspects of his private life that take place away from the limelight. The focus of his private life is his four sons, who – like their father – are all professional footballers.
Zinédine Zidane and his wife Véronique have four sons
Véronique Lentisco-Fernandez comes from the Aveyron region in southern France and enrolled at the Rosella Hightower School in Cannes in 1989. Her accommodation? A residence for young workers in Salon-de-Provence, where Zidane also lives. In an interview with The Team On the occasion of his 50th birthday, the former number 10 of the French national team recalled their meeting. He was only 17 years old at the time: “On February 6th, I met my wife. It was snowing in Cannes… I lost my watch in the snow and met my wife at that moment!”
It was love at first sight that led the two to the altar on May 28, 1994 in Bordeaux. One year after their wedding, their first son, Enzo, was born on March 24, 1995. Another child, Luca, followed on May 13, 1998. On May 18, 2002, the French woman with Andalusian roots gave birth to Theo, and on December 26, 2005, Elyaz followed. There is a strict rule for her football-mad sons if they want to become professional athletes: they must graduate from high school. Véronique Zidane is said to have often told them: “First school, then football.”
All the boys have become footballers
The four sons of Zinédine and Véronique Zidane have all followed the same path as their famous father Zizou. In fact, they all play in different teams and leagues, but at heart they share the same passion. Enzo Zidane began his career as a professional footballer when his father was coaching Real Madrid, and then moved to different clubs in different parts of the world, such as Switzerland, Portugal and even Rodez, the holiday resort of the Zidane clan. The former world champion even owns shares in the local club.
However, Enzo Zidane has also made his private life a priority and is the proud father of three daughters, including twins, with his wife Karen Gonçalves. At just 29 years of age, he announced that he wanted to give up his football career and concentrate on his family.
Luca Zidane plays in the second division and has already played a dozen games for Real Madrid, the club that is so dear to his father. Although he manages to make a name for himself by wearing only his first name on his shirt, among other things, the 26-year-old player explained that it is not easy to be called Zidane. In April 2023, he confided in the Spanish magazine Relief “Some people think that’s a positive thing, but it’s not. I want the football world to see me as Luca, to judge the games I play, to not compare me.”
Times have become more difficult for Theo and Elyaz Zidane. Theo left Real Madrid this summer, ending the family’s 23-year uninterrupted presence at the club. He now plays in the Spanish second division with Córdoba.
Elyaz, on the other hand, decided to move to Bétis Sevilla at the beginning of the year. He is a reserve in the third division club’s U-19 team. What will happen to these four young men remains to be seen, but their father has already explained that his name is a difficult legacy – after all, there are high expectations of his children. In October 2015, he told the newspaper The Team: “Some will tell you that it will be easier because my children lack nothing. But that’s not all. After that comes personal development. I think it will be more difficult for them.”
Also interesting:
Mario Gómez in the podcast about Manuel Neuer: “On a par with Lionel Messi”
Kylian Mbappé: He is said to have already flirted with these stars
France coach Didier Deschamps: Trial against Daniel Riolo could divert focus from Euro 2024
Sources used:
The Team: “With the Blues, it’s not over”
Relief: Luca Zidane confesses like never before: “My mother has always been the one who has been there”
