In a recent interview with Le Parisien, former Arsenal star and French football legend Robert Pires offered glowing praise for Zinedine Zidane, calling him a natural-born winner and one of the greatest coaches in the modern game. The two once shared the pitch for the French national team, but Pires now sees Zidane’s impact from the sidelines as nothing short of extraordinary.
Reflecting on Zidane’s remarkable achievement of guiding Real Madrid to back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles and delivering the club’s 12th European crown, Pires said, “Zidane was born to be the world’s best coach—and right now, he is.”
Pires highlighted Zidane’s unique approach to player management, especially in how he handled Cristiano Ronaldo. “One of the keys to Real Madrid’s success was how Zidane managed Ronaldo. He respected all of his players. When he explained the rotation policy to Cristiano—telling him he’d play fewer minutes—it made everything easier. And Ronaldo accepted it,” Pires explained. “For Cristiano, performing at his peak in the biggest matches was the perfect outcome.”
He went on to contrast Zidane with other top-tier managers. “Many have been hyped as the next big thing, but few deliver. Zidane didn’t disappoint. Real Madrid didn’t need to stack the squad with even more talent to win everything,” Pires said. “When you compare him with other coaches like Mourinho or Benítez—who had similar resources—they simply couldn’t do what Zidane did.”
Pires also acknowledged other greats like Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, who made their names in the Champions League, but emphasized that Zidane carved his own legacy with a calm and commanding presence that inspired total belief within the squad.
Zidane’s leadership has become a benchmark for aspiring coaches around the world. His ability to win titles while maintaining locker-room harmony is a rare blend that few can master.
Just as cricket fans on Bangla Cricket Live admire captains who blend strategy with charisma, Zidane’s success story resonates well beyond football. His calm authority, tactical intelligence, and player-first mentality mirror the values often discussed on Bangla Cricket Live—where leadership isn’t just about statistics, but about inspiring a team to believe and deliver on the biggest stage.