By Chris Wright

For no other reason other than today being his 39th birthday (and that he’s also one of the first men – along with Dennis Bergkamp, Hristo Stoichkov and Gabriel Batistuta – that I unashamedly fell in love with), we’ve trawled the archives and fished out ten of the best photos of the young and not-so-young Zizou for you to give the once-over this fine afternoon…

The 10-year old (and captain) Zidane poses with his first club, local side US Saint-Henri de Marseille, approx. 1982

Zidane, early 1980s

Zidane (bottom row, first left) poses for a couple of team shots with his second youth side SO Septemes-les-Vallones, 1983-86

Zidane’s SO Septemes registry card

Zidane makes his debut for his first professional side AS Cannes, 1991

Zidane in action for Cannes, 1991

Zidane lines-up with his new Bordeaux teammates (a side including Richard Witschge and Bixente Lizarazu) before kick-off, 1993

Zidane shields the ball from Karlsruher defender Dirk Schuster, 1993

Zidane holds off PSG’s Jeann-Luc Sassus, 1993

Zidane makes his debut for France in a friendly against the Czech Republic – scoring twice after coming on as a substitute to secure Les Bleus a 2-2 draw, 1994

The referee intervenes to separate Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn and Zidane during the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup Final

Zidane smashes the ball away from Romania’s Georghe Hagi at his first major international tournament, Euro 96

Zidane poses for a Champions League portrait shortly after signing for Juventus (this was after being famously snubbed by Blackburn owner Jack “why would we sign him when we’ve got Tim Sherwood?” Walker) in 1996 for just £3 million

Zidane is mobbed by Juve teammates Ciro Ferrara, Attilio Lombardo and Paolo Montero after scoring against Ajax in the second-leg of the Champions League semi-final, 1997

Zidane takes a free kick against Brazil (Roberto Carlos would later top Zizou’s effort considerably) during Le Tournoi, watched over by the legends of football at Lyon’s Stade de Garland, 1997

Zidane just about evades the unorthodox challenge of international cohort Christian Karembeu (then of Real Madrid) during the 1998 Champions League final

Zidane wins, lifts then pilfers the 1998 World Cup trophy

Ronaldo, Zidane (who was bestowed with the top gong) and Davor Suker pose with their FIFA Player of the Year nomination awards, 1998

Edwin Van Der Sar and Zidane launch the new Euro 2000 ball in Anderlecht, 1999

Edgar Davids is obviously impressed by Zidane’s technique as Juventus limber up at Old Trafford, 1999

Shortly after joining Real Madrid, Zidane and his new teammates travel to visit the Giza Sphinx before participating in an exhibition match against Egypt’s Al Ahly, 2001

Herr Ballack looks on helplessly as Zidane scores that goal against Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final in Glasgow…

To be honest, we could go on…an on…and on.

(Photos: Zidanen.FR and PA)

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