00:21Before Zinedine Zidane became the world's best player, the star of Juventus and Real Madrid
00:25hosed his skills at home in France in Division 1. He started his journey with A.S. Cannes at the
00:30age of 15.
00:31And under the guidance of Guy Lacombe, the director of the training centre, and Jean Fernandes, the Cannes coach,
00:36he made his debut on the 20th of May 1989 against Nantes, coming up against future French national teammates
00:42Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps. The artist blossomed during the 1990-91 season.
00:48Yazid, as he was known to those close to him, netted his maiden Division 1 goal with this delightful lob
00:53against the Canaries.
00:56Zidane's career took off and Cannes capitalised finishing fourth at the end of the season.
01:00Zidane is able to do things over again, and that's his main quality.
01:05Zidane's exceptional talent didn't escape the attentions of Bernard Tappé's OM,
01:09but it was Alain Afoulou's Bordeaux who struck gold, enticing the progeny to the shores of the Atlantic.
01:14A transfer fee, €360,000, a paltry sum considering the limitless talent they were able to tap into.
01:21And it was there that Roland Corbis gave him the nickname that would stay with him throughout his career.
01:25Zizou.
01:26From his maiden season with the Giraudin, he mesmerised with his unmapped technique, goal-scoring instinct and artful passing.
01:33Zidane scored ten goals and helped Bordeaux to a fourth-place finish in 1993.
01:37The first of those strikes for the Giraudin came in September 1992 at Lens' Stade Ballart.
01:47Zidane bamboozled defenders and delighted the crowds with his delicate touch.
01:51And alongside Lizarazu and Dugarri, Bordeaux boasted a caviar-esque left wing,
01:56the three of them later being crowned world champions together with France in 1998.
02:22Zizou was never one to rely on natural ability alone, coupling his gifts with a tireless work ethic.
02:27After each training session, he honed his free-kick technique, swiftly becoming a master of the art.
02:32He netted over a dozen in his four years at Bordeaux, each one etched into the hearts of the Bordeaux
02:37faithful.
02:38Like this one against Paris Saint-Germain, half-keeper down at Le Mans.
02:44For Klay, he would come across again with the national team in 1994, ready to soar after being hailed as
02:50the league's best prospect.
02:53I think I can now take the next step and raise my game.
02:56I think by the end of the year, go ahead and take the next step.
03:26Zidane represented the epitome of elegance, class and pure football finesse.
03:37During his final season with Bordeaux, he played a pivotal role in one of the greatest triumphs for a French
03:42team in the European Cup, as they knocked out Fabio Capello's Elad.
04:12In 1996, whilst Bordeaux were fighting to avoid relegation, Zidane clinched the title of the league's best player.
04:18The future Ballon d'Or winner then left to join Juventus in Turin, bidding farewell to France, but filled with
04:25a sense of accomplishment,
04:26and everlasting memories.
04:28At 24, he stood ready to conquer the world.
